Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-06
\ Revival of the Spirit

IN the olden time there were such things
rs religious awakenngs'' in Virginia.
when city and country churches held special
services for days ana sometimes for weeks.
These were called revival services and in
the rural, districts were sometimes known
rs meetings of days"--that is they we're
continued from day 10 day until every
rcachable sinner in the neighborhood was
reached One of the great results OF these
meetings was the revival of religious in
tercst and spiritual fervor among the
church members who had grown luke
warm.
BY and Ivy the travelling evangelist be-
came popular, and in time the meetings
Of days" were abandoned and the churches
depended entirely upon the work OF the
evangelist from a distance to create re-
lgious revival in the community and then
the time came whom only the rcvivalist of
rcnown and with n big reputation sue
cecdcd in drawing the crowds to the
churches for revival services. The pastors
themselves are authority for the statement
that 1t is nowadays impossible to arouse an
abiding interest i'll revival services unless
a Moody or a Sam Jones or Billy Sunday
is the advertised attraction and even then
IL is often difficult to get tho men to attend
the meetings. They say ordinary revival
services OF the old time attended only
by women and children. the men remaining
at home or visiting the clubs while the SER
vices arc in progress at the churches
y movement has been inaugurated in
Richmond to overcome these difficulties,
and it was inauguratcG by the men of the
adult Bible classes OF the Sunday schools
OF all the denominations. The plan, which
has been perfected at two recent meetings
of representatives OF these mems Bible
classes, and which has been fully set forth
III the local columns of The Times Dispatch
is for the holding OF simultaneous revival
meetings in all of Richmond's churches for
Al least one week. beginning Sunday night,
Marc: 20. and continuing until the follow
ing Sunday night. or longer, in the discrc-
ton Of the individual churches These meet
ings of week will be under the auspices of
the mems Bible classes. but under the gen
eral lead OF the pastors and church Off
Gals The officials OF all the churches as
lar as heard from, have Endorsed the move
ment, the pastors and rectors are enthusi-
astic over the prospect and the general
inceeting held Friday night when the plan
was fully outlined. showed a most wonder
full spirit of cooperation Of ali the agencies
of all the churches 1t is probable that no
movement in the religious history of Rich
mond has ever received such united and
enthusiastic support
This Is a good Sign Of the times 'rbnre
perhaps never was a time when such a
series or religious meetings was more
needed than 1t is in this day OF unres, and
reconstruction The earnest spiri, of CO.
operation and unity manifested in the very
incip:cncy OF The movement botokcns suc-
cess As one OF the speakers M Friday
nights meeting well said. The spirit mani
tested there. when it fully perva,ics the
city, as soon it must, will turn Richmond
upside down The meetings are bound 10
be successful. for the men OF the Bible
classes and of the churches have gone 10
work.