CHAPTER IX.

ALLEGED ABUSES in Revivals of religiON.

It was my first intention not to add anything to what has been said in the chapter on revivals respecting the abuses alleged to have been connected with them, but, on farther reflection, I consider that a few words more on that point would not be amiss.

accompaniments, such as great physical excitement, manifesting itself in sobbing, or crying, or ineffectual efforts to retain one's composure. Still, it is not the case that a preacher has it in his power to repress all such agitation. Much depends on the kind of people he has to do with. Among the rude and uneducated, who are accustomed to boisterous expressions of feeling, there will always be found more visible and irrepressible excitement than No man, certainly, who is at all acquaintin other cases, as any one who is acquainted with human nature, should be surprised ed with such classes, in any country, will to hear that the greatest blessings bestowed readily acknowledge. Judicious preachers on mankind are liable to be abused, and will certainly endeavour to suppress all even the purest and noblest qualities to be undue excitement and agitation, as inter- counterfeited. Where, then, is there any rupting the services, and preventing the matter of astonishment should we find more composed from profiting by them. that abuses mingle with religious revivals, through man's imprudence and the malignity of the great Adversary, or should we even discover some revivals which deserve to be called spurious?

It is not very wonderful, however, when a considerable number of persons who have been living all their lives in rebellion against God, and in the neglect of their souls, become, as it were, suddenly awakened out of a profound sleep, that in the distress into which they are thrown by a view of the jeopardy in which they stand, they should be ready, like Saul of Tarsus, to exclaim, "Lord! what wilt thou have me to do?" No man can be more a friend of order than I am, yet I have seen times when, under the preaching of the Gospel, such pungent distress has been produced by pressing the truth on plain and comparatively ignorant minds, that it was impossible to maintain the calmness that might be found in a congregation of bettereducated and more refined persons, among whom, nevertheless, there might be quite as much real contrition of heart for sin.

I ought, however, to premise that, whatever abuses may have at any time taken place in the revivals in America, or whatever spurious ones may have occurred, it cannot be disputed that our truly zealous, intelligent, and devoted Christians, whatever be their denomination, not only believe in the reality of revivals, but consider that, when wisely promoted, they are the greatest and most desirable blessings that can be bestowed upon the churches. There are, I admit, persons among us who oppose religious revivals, and it would be sad evidence against them if there were not. There are the openly wicked, the profane, Sabbath-breakers, enemies of pure religion in every form, and avowed or secret infidels. These form the first category, and it is not a very small one. They may be found in our cities and large towns, and sometimes in our villages, and are the very persons whom strangers are most likely to meet with about our hotels and taverns. Next, there are Roman Catholics, Unitarians, Universalists, and others whose Christianity is greatly marred with errors and heresies. These, too, almost without exception, hate revivals, nor can we wonder that they should. A third class consists of those members of our evangelical churches who conform too much to the opinions and practices of the world; It is delightful to think that revivals of are so much afraid of what they call enreligion have really occurred, and do ev- thusiasm and fanaticism as to do nothing, ery year occur, to a greater or less extent, or nothing worthy of mention, for the proin all our States, and among all the evan- motion of the Gospel; and would never be gelical denominations. And although they known to be Christians, either by the world may not always be so quietly and judi- or by their fellow-Christians, were they ciously conducted as might be desired, in not occasionally seen to take their places the newer parts of the country, and where at the communion-table. Some such there the population is somewhat rude, yet they are in all our evangelical churches, and in have certainly exerted a happy influence one or two of those whose discipline is laxupon the churches and upon society, wher-er than it should be, they constitute a conever they have occurred. siderable party.

That some excellent men, who have been eminently useful in the ministry, are not sufficiently careful in repressing unnecessary manifestations of feeling is certain, and they are to be found in all denom- | inations. Some, even, are so much wanting in prudence as rather to encourage such outbursts of feeling. But among so many ministers, widely different from each other in education, intellectual acquirements, and modes of thinking on almost every subject, entire agreement as to the best ways of conducting a revival, so far as human agency is concerned, is not to be expected.

Now it is natural that European travel

lers in the United States, when not decidedly religious themselves, should chiefly associate with one or all of these three classes; and that, taking up their notions from them, they should have their notebooks and journals filled with all sorts of misrepresentations with respect to our re-men, as we still consider the greater numligious revivals. Hence many, who have never visited America, owe all their ideas on that subject to writers whose own information was partial and incorrect, and who, as their very books show, know nothing of true religion, and would never have touched upon the subject, but that they wished to give piquancy to their pages by working up for the wonder and amusement of their readers every false and exaggerated statement, and foolish anecdote, which on that subject had been poured into their

ears.

of God come to present themselves before the Lord," seldom fails to obtrude himself among them, and who can on such occasions assume the garb, as it were, "of an angel of light," contrived for a while to do no little damage to the work. Some good ber of them to have been, not content with the more quiet and prudent character which had hitherto marked the revivals, attempted to precipitate matters by measures deemed unwise and mischievous by many worthy and experienced persons, both ministers and laymen. The passions, instead of the judgment and the conscience, were too much appealed to; too much stress was laid on the sinner's natural ability, and not enough on the needed influence of the Holy Spirit; too superficial a view was presented of the nature and evidences of conversion; in a word, the Gospel was held forth in such a way as not to lead to that self-abasement which becomes a sinner saved wholly by grace.

But serious and worthy people in Europe, and particularly in Great Britain, have been prejudiced against revivals in another way. They have too readily allowed themselves to be influenced by what has been written One of the reprehended measures was by excellent men among us, who, appre- the practice of earnestly pressing those hending much danger to the cause of revi- who were somewhat awakened to a sense vals from the measures taken to promote of their sin and danger, to come, at the them by some zealous, but, in their opinion, close of the sermon, to seats immediately imprudent men, and perceiving the mis- before the pulpit, called "anxious seats." chievous results of such measures, have or seats for such as were anxious to be faithfully exposed them, and warned the saved, in order that they might be specially churches to be upon their guard; and this prayed for, and receive some special counthey have done in the columns of our reli- sels. This, though comparatively harmgious journals, in pamphlets, and in books. less, perhaps, when adopted by prudent Their endeavours met with much success men among certain classes of people, was against the Enemy, who, on failing to pre- much the reverse when attempted in large vent, had been seeking to pervert these congregations by men not gifted with exblessed manifestations of divine mercy; traordinary wisdom. It proved a poor but, as was natural, the strong language in substitute for the simpler and quieter methwhich they had been prompted to indulge od of meeting such as chose to remain afby the actual view of some evils, and the ter the public services were over, in order apprehension of worse, impressed foreign- to receive such advice as their case might ers with very exaggerated ideas of those require, or for the good old practice of evils. This result was perhaps unavoida- having special meetings at the pastor's ble, yet it is much to be deplored; for in-house, or in the church vestry or lecturejury has thus been done to the cause abroad room, for such as were "inquiring the way by men who would be the last to intend it. to Zion." It is an infelicity to which all endeav- Another measure, hardly deserving to ours for good are subject in this evil world, be called new, for it has long existed in that they are liable to be marred by prof- substance in the Presbyterian churches of fered aid from men who, notwithstanding the interior, and at one time, I understand, the fairest professions, prove, at length, to in Scotland also, that of having public serhave been more actuated by their own mis-vices during three or four days on sacraerable ambition than by a true zeal for God's glory and man's salvation. Such false friends did no small injury to the great revival of religion in 1740-43, already mentioned; and so, likewise, did the successive revivals that took place in the West in 1801-3 suffer much from the imprudence of some who desired to be leaders in the work of God. This was the case particularly in Kentucky. And within the last few years, after a blessed period marked by revivals in many parts of the country, the same Adversary who, when "the sons

mental occasions, was found hurtful, when carried to the extent encouraged by some, at what are called "protracted meetings." These, when transferred from the West to the East, and when they began to be more frequent with us, were called “four days' meetings" or "three days' meetings," from the length of time during which they were held. But when prolonged, as they were in some places-I know not how long, sometimes, I believe, for a month or forty days-the practice was regarded as an abuse, and as such it was resisted

No one, perhaps, would condemn such meetings when called for by particular circumstances; but when people seem inclined to rely more on them than on the ordinary services of the sanctuary, and to think that without them there can be no revivals and no conversions, it is time they were abolished, or at least restored to their proper use.

1828, and lasted about ten years, without, however, having ever prevailed widely; and in some extensive districts they have been altogether unknown. Of the twice ten thousand churches of all denominations among us, in which "the truth as it is in Jesus" is preached, only a few hundreds are believed to have been affected by them, and even these have now become pretty well rid both of the abuses and their consequences. During the last four years our churches have been more extensively blessed with revivals than at any time before, and all well-informed persons, whom I have consulted, agree that those blessed seasons have never, probably, been more free from whatever could offend a judicious Christian. For these things we are glad; they demonstrably prove that, though our sins be great, the God of our fathers has not forsaken us.

Before closing the subject of the abuses attending religious revivals, although there be no special connexion between them, I may say something about camp-meetings, respecting which I have had many questions put to me in some parts of Europe. Most foreigners owe their notions of these meetings to the same sources from which they have taken their ideas of revivals— the pages of tourists, who have raked up and woven into episodes for their travels, all the stories they have chanced to meet with, and some of whom, possibly, have even gone to the outskirts of one of these assemblages, and looked on with all the wonder natural to persons who had never entered into the spirit of such scenes, so far as either to comprehend their nature or ascertain their results.

But what was thought worst of all was the proposal, for it hardly went farther, of having an order of “revival preachers," who should go through the churches, spending a few weeks here and a few there, for the sole object of promoting revivals. This was justly opposed as subversive of the regular ministry, for it is easy to see that such men, going about with a few well-prepared discourses on exciting topics, and recommended, perhaps, by a popular delivery, would throw the pastors in the background, give the people "itching ears," and in a few weeks do more harm than good. No one would deny that "evangelists" might be very useful in the new settlements, where a regular clergy cannot be at once established, and even in building up churches in the older parts of the country, or preaching to churches without pastors. Few, likewise, would deny that some zealous, able, and judicious ministers might render important services in going from church to church at the special request of the pastors for their assistance. Such men should have an eminently humble, kind, and prudent spirit, and an overruling desire to seek the interests of their brethren rather than to promote their own, and some such we have had who were widely useful. But should it be thought that the Camp-meetings, as they are called, orichurches require such men, they ought to ginated in sheer necessity among the be placed under the special control of the Presbyterians of Kentucky in the year ecclesiastical bodies to which they belong, 1801, during that great religious revival, and without whose express and continued which, after commencing in the westapprobation they ought not to undertake ern part of North Carolina, penetrated or continue such engagements. Nothing into Tennessee, and spread over all the could be more dangerous to the peace of then settled parts of the West. It so hapthe churches than that every man, who pened that, on one occasion, in the earmay fancy himself a "revivalist," or "re-ly part of that revival, so many people vival preacher," should be allowed to go had come from a distance to the adminiswherever people desire to have him, with tration of the Lord's Supper at a particuor without the consent of their pastors.lar church, that accommodation could noAccordingly, the institution of any such where be found in the neighbourhood for order was opposed, and the preachers who all, during the successive days and nights had been thus employed were urged each which they wished to spend at the place. to settle at some one spot, which they This induced as many as could to procure did; and thus the churches hear no more tents, and form something like a military of "revival preachers," or "revival ma- encampment, where, as provisions were kers," as some deserved to be called. easily to be had, they might stay till the meetings closed. Such was the origin of camp-meetings. They were afterward held at various points during that extraordinary season of religious solicitude. The country was still very thinly settled, and as a proof of the deep and wide-spread feelings that prevailed on the subject of

I have said more on this subject than I intended, but not more, perhaps, than was required. Yet, should any of my readers have been led to suppose that the abuses I have described affected our churches generally, he is mistaken. They began to manifest themselves about the year

religion, many persons attended from distances of thirty, forty, and fifty miles; nay, on one occasion, some came from a distance of even one hundred miles. It is not surprising that the meetings should have lasted for a period of several days, for many who attended them had few opportunities of attending public worship and of hearing the Gospel in the wilderness in which they lived.

about them; but in densely-settled neighbourhoods, and especially near cities and large towns, whether in the West or the East, they are apt to give rise to disorder. The idle rabble are sure to flock to them, especially on the Sabbath, and there they drink and create disturbance, not so much at the camp itself, for the police would prevent them, but at taverns and temporary booths for the sale of beer and ardent spirThey were held, when the weather per- its in the neighbourhood. It is true that, mitted, in the midst of the noble forest. since Temperance societies have made Seats were made of logs and plank, the such progress, these evils have much diminunder rubbish having been cleared away; ished; and even in more populous places a pulpit was erected in front of the rows of good is undoubtedly done at these meetseats; and there, in the forenoon, after-ings; the thoughtless, who go to them from noon, and evening, the ministers of the mere curiosity, being made to hear truths Gospel made known the "words of eternal that they never can forget. Nor are these life." Public prayer was also held at the meetings blessed only to the lower classes, same spot early in the morning, and at the as they are called. A young man of the close of the services at night. Around, at finest talents, once my class-fellow at colproper distances, were placed the tents, lege, and afterward my intimate friend, looking to the seated area prepared for the having gone to one of them from mere cugreat congregation. Lamps were sus- riosity, was awakened by a faithful sermon pended at night from the boughs of the to a sense of his need of salvation; his trees, and torches blazed from stakes some convictions never left him until he found eight or ten feet high, in front of each tent. peace by "believing in the Son of God." In the rear of the tents, in the mornings He lived to become a most popular and eland evenings, such simple cooking opera-oquent minister of the Gospel.*

tions went on as were necessary. Each Camp-meetings are occasionally held in tent was occupied by one or two families, the Far West by the Presbyterians, espeintimate friends and neighbours sometimes sharing in one tent, when their families were not too large. A horn or trumpet announced the hour for the commencement of the public services.

Such was a primitive camp-meeting in the sombre forests of Kentucky forty years ago. Solemn scenes occurred at them, such as might well have caused many who scoffed to tremble. Such, also, both as repects their arrangements, and in many places, also, as respects the spirit that has predominated at them, have been the campmeetings held since. They were confined for years to the frontier settlements, as they ought, perhaps, always to have been, for there they were in some measure necessary. I have attended them in such circumstances, have been struck with the order that prevailed at them, and seen them become the means of doing unquestionable good. They served to bring together, to the profit of immortal souls, a population scattered far and wide, and remaining sometimes for years remote from any regular place of worship.

The reader must not suppose that all who come to these meetings encamp at them. Only families from a great distance do so. Those within a circuit even of five miles, generally go home at night and return in the morning, bringing something to eat during the interval of public worship. In the remote settlements of the Far West, the utility of camp-meetings seems to be admitted by all who know anything

cially by the Cumberland Presbyterians, as also by some of the Baptists, possibly, but for a long time they have been held mainly by the Methodists; and I understand that many among these have the impression that, except in the frontier and new settlements, they had better give place to "Protracted Meetings," which is the course, I believe, they are now taking.

Such is the account I have to give of camp-meetings. Wicked men have sometimes taken advantage of them for their own bad purposes, and such abuses have been trumpeted through the world with the view of bringing discredit on the religion of the country. Without having ever been a great admirer of such meetings, I must say, after having attended several, and carefully observed the whole proceedings, that I am satisfied that the mischiefs alleged to arise from them have been greatly exaggerated, while there has been no proper acknowledgment of the good that they have done.

In some parts of the West there is a practice, familiar to me in early life, and of which I still retain very tender and pleas-ing recollections. It consists in holding the services of the sanctuary in a forest during summer, both to accommodate a greater number of people, and also for

The late Rev. Joseph S. Christmas, some time

pastor of a Presbyterian church at Montreal in Canada, and afterward settled in New-York, where he

died a few years ago. An interesting Memoir of him. has been published.

the sake of the refreshing shade afforded order reigns to a degree not surpassed in by the trees. Seats are prepared in rows any other country. There is no confusion before a temporary pulpit made of boards, of the respective rights of the ministry and and there, from a temple made by God him- people. The duties of both are well underself, prayer and praise ascend unto Him stood everywhere. Most of the churches, "who dwelleth not in temples made with such as the Presbyterian and the Episcohands," and who is ever present where palian in all their branches, possess and contrite and believing hearts are engaged maintain a strong ecclesiastical governin worshipping Him. ment, and even the Congregational, howIn such scenes, too, it is now common, ever democratic in theory, have a governin almost all parts of the United States, ment that exercises a hardly less powerful for Sabbath-schools to assemble on the control. How seldom do we hear of disFourth of July, if the weather be good; for order occurring at the little meetings of the purpose of hearing appropriate address- Christians held for prayer and the reades, far more religious than political; of ing of the Word of God-meetings so nuuniting in prayer for the blessing of God merous, and almost always conducted by upon the country, and the country's hope, pious laymen! How seldom do private the rising generation; and of praising Him church members encroach by word or deed, from whom all our privileges, civil and re- at meetings of any kind, on the proper ligious, have been received. Temperance sphere of those who hold office in the meetings on the same occasion are now churches! Indeed, on no one point are held in our beautiful forests, and some-our churches more perfectly united in opinthing better is heard than the boastful and ion than with respect to the necessity of unchristian self-adulation, to say nothing maintaining due order and subordination. of the profaneness and ribaldry which too The ministry enjoys its full share of influoften characterized such scenes in the ence. No one ever hears of unauthorized. "olden time," when Temperance societies unlicensed persons being allowed to speak and Sunday-schools were unknown. in our meetings for public worship. Those levelling doctrines, now spreading in other countries-doctrines which would reduce the ministry to nothing, and encourage lay brethren to take it upon them to preach or

CHAPTER X.

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE CHURCH AND THE teach in the churches-I dare affirm, will

PULPIT IN AMERICA.

not make much progress among us. Attempts to introduce something of this sort have often been made, but in vain. We have, indeed, our meetings in which debate is allowed, and there the laity may even take the lead, but these meetings are about the temporal affairs of the church, or the calling of a pastor, not for the public worship of God.

A STRANGER, upon visiting extensively our evangelical churches of all denominations, would be struck, I am sure, with the order that prevails in them; and this applies equally to the smaller prayer-meetings to be found in every parish and congregation that has any life in it, and to the greater assemblies that meet for public worship. Foreigners seem impressed with Experience has also taught us the nethe idea, if I may judge from what I have cessity of maintaining order at meetings often heard hinted rather than expressed, held during revivals-occasions on which, that there is a great deal of disorder and in consequence of the strong excitement lawlessness in the United States, and they of the most powerful feelings of the human infer that there must be no less insubordi- heart, there is a special call for watchfulnation in the religious commonwealth than ness in this respect. It is a sad mistake they ascribe to the civil. But both opin- to multiply meetings unnecessarily during ions are totally unfounded. It does not revivals, or to prolong them to unseasonfollow, because of a few disturbances, ari-able hours at night, to the exhaustion of sing from the disgraceful opposition made strength, the loss of needed repose, and in some places to abolitionists, and the resentment of an exasperated populace against gangs of gamblers in others, that the whole country is a scene of continual commotion. In no part of the world have there been so few dreadful riots, attended with loss of life, as in the United States, during these last sixty years. There are bad men among us, and there are crimes, but, after all, life is quite as safe among us as in any country I have ever visited, and I have been in most of those that are considered civilized.

As for the Church, a regard for law and

the unnatural and dangerous irritation of the nervous system. Yet these are the points in which the inexperienced are most liable to err. They begin a meeting, say at seven o'clock in the evening. The preacher feels deeply, and the people are much interested. Instead of preaching for an hour, he is tempted, by the manifest attention of his hearers, to go on for an hour and a half or two hours, and instead of sending them home at half past eight o'clock, or at nine at the farthest, so that they may have time for meditation and secret prayer, in which, after all, the sinner is most like