Smyrna times., 1893-04-05
Revival Services Ended

Revival Services Ended.
The revival services which com.
menced with Rev. w. K. Galloway.
MS initial service being on the 5th of
March, closed on Monday night, Sd
INST. constituting in some of its essen
tlal features one of the most remarka-
bic religious events that has taken
place in the town for over so wears.
The meeting of 1929, was more marked
In its demonstrations of awakening
and conversion, CONSUMING part of the
time day and night without intermis-
sion, and there have been a number of
of times since when the people were
sWayed by greater impulses and ex-
cltement, but at none of these was the
current so wide and deep, moving on
with noiseless and irresistible flow.
This was the especial distinguishing
feature when brought in contrast
with former religious awakenlngs.
For revival running through month
attended by crowded houses night
after night with persons of three score
or more years down to children of the
most tender years, embracing all
classes of society, the educated and re.
hned and the unlettered who had not
been blessed with such favorable on.
portunities, with not one shout or
even clap of the hands where some two
hundred had bowed at the altar under
the weight OF sin and arisen with the
burden removed, was indeed an anom-
ally in Methodism.
The preabher taught neither pen
ance nor days of mourning. His one
great theme was come and be saved"
sincere sorrow for sin, full -epen-
tence, accepting Christ to reign and
rule in the heart 1t was an act of
faith that only required to look and
tive. He said nothing about the way
religion should be sought other than
its simplicity, but his manner was so
gentle as to Undue seekers with the
same method of approach and accep-
tance, and thus the spirit of gentleness
and love brooded over the alter place.
The outward manifestation other
than the handshaking which the evan
gelist enjoyed in what he called "testi-
flying for Christ" in greeting new
believers, evidently thinking the arm
in the warm handshake, the lever of
the heart, was very much the same in
one part Of the house as the other.
There was as much decOrum back by
the door as the upper part of the
Church, and the sOlemnity as great
Another remarkable fact was that the
business places were most all shut up
voluntarily each night, and all hands |
assembled at the Church. Still another
feature of the revival was its catholi- !
city. A number of the EpiscOpalians |
attended and there will be additions to |
there communion the Presbyterians |
entered into it heartily headed by their |
pastor, and will be considerably siren
Rthened by the additions to their |
church. The mass of the converts
were Of course of Methodist families.
uniting husband and wife, who had
been living apart religiOusly into a
single compact of faith, reuniting
children to the faith of their fathers
md in some cases bringing whole fam
les into the church.
Rev. Mr.. Galloway had his closing
meeting on Friday night, the hearts
nat were open to impressions seem
ngly having nearly all been reached,
ma himself weary and needing rest.
lie spoke affectiOnately and tenderlv
If the people, and his work with them.
egTettlng the action of many who had
eemed deeply interested, but had let
he great opportunity, such as NAV
leyer be afforded them, pass by unim-
proved. He wished to greet them all
'efOre parting, and a hearty hand
haking followed, which occupied a
considerable time at the close of the
Meeting.
On Sunday, night Rev. Mr.. .Stengle
ook his place in the altar at the close
II the sermon extending an invitation
o the penltent, when husband, wife
nd an elderly lady bowed at the alter
nd prOsessed conversion near the close
he meeting. 1t was not deemed wise
With the evenings experience to abb
uptly close the series Of meetings, as
vas thought would be done, and so it
vas announced again for Monday |
light, when there was q fair attend
nee and one little boy at the altar
7ho prOfessed convention and gave his
anne to the church with four Others
'ho had not previously Joined, and
one others presenting themselves, the
he night services other than the regu-
u AhuFsoay night prayer meeting
'ere pronounced suspended.
The question has come up, will this
leeting result in the end like many OF
1e noisy, exciting kind that have at
iterent places preceded it? We !
mink nOtI--it was on different basis !
nd largely with a different class of !
eople, those Who'll enter into nothing j
ithout thought and strength of pur. i
ose. A number of the very young d
nd also those of maturer years NAV /
III out by the wayside, a usual thing
ith weak human nature, but there is
.asnn to believe that the larger part a
them will hold steadfaat in tue faith. $
nd that Smyrna years to come will G
ave cause to be thankful for the n
arch revival of 1898. u