A SKETCH OF THE GREAT KENTUCKY REVIVAL
NOMINAL STATE OF THE CHURCH. UNITED EFFORTS. THE GOOD EFFECTS. W. ROGERS' TESTIMONY. LABORS OF JAS. MCGRADY. CONCORD MEETING. POINT-PLEASANT.
CANE-RIDGE THE GOOD EFFECTS OF THE WORK. OBSTRUCTED BY A SECTARIAN SPIRIT. A DESCRIPTION. FALLING EXERCISE. THE WRITER'S TESTIMONY AND REMARKS.
I HAVE LATELY READ THE BIOGRAPHY of Elder Barton W. Stone. In his Journal, written by himself, he has given an account of the GREAT REVIVAL of religion that took place in the beginning of the 19th century. I also find that good man's views ridiculed, and his judgment treated with contempt. I was young at that time, (in my 11th year), but being an eye-witness of these things, I feel myself competent to give evidence in the case. I believe the statements made by Brother Stone to be correct, and his opinion worthy of respect.
Since the writer prepared a few historical sketches of this great revival for publication, he has read an article on the same subject, worthy of notice, from the pen of Brother William Rogers, of Cane Ridge, which he here inserts, by way of introduction to his own remarks.
"About the close of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th, the more pious of the clergy, and members of the churches of the respective religious denominations in Kentucky, beheld with emotions of useful and unfeigned regret, the moral desolations which prevailed in their ranks generally to an alarming extent.
"The nominal votaries of religion were slumbering upon their posts, nor were they aware of the fatal delusion, until aroused from their lethargy by the astounding events of the great and exciting religious revival, now about to be witnessed in the west.
"Early in the year 1801, a year memorable in the annals of Kentucky, an anxious enquiry began to be instituted by the churches generally, as by common impulse, into //243// the causes of the great spiritual delinquencies that prevailed among them: and at the same time to ascertain if practicable, a remedy for the moral malady that so sorely afflicted them.
"The causes which simultaneously, and in parts distant and remote from each other, aroused the minds of so many thousands to such momentous enquiries as suggested, have not, and perhaps may not shortly, be so clearly ascertained and developed, as to be satisfactory to ALL the religious orders of the day. With many it remains a mooted question, nor would the author of these reminiscences attempt its discussion. Nay, he would not disturb it. It may not be amiss however to suggested that a retrospection of the eighteenth century, then but recently forever closed upon the world, may have exercised some agency, in conducting the minds of that generation of men, to such reflections as resulted in the great events that followed.
"We are often solemnly affected by the contemplations incident upon the close of a single year, through an event of so frequent recurrence in the life of man. But the close of a century and the introduction of another, is an era in the life of man, witnessed by much the smaller share of our race. The coming occurrences of the year in question were at first indicated in the manner already premised. And in a short time the people began to meet in small assemblages, for the purpose not only of inquiry, but for religious worship. The more experienced engaged in exhortations and prayers to God for a revival of his work. Those meetings were well attended, and conducted with becoming gravity. The Bible, hitherto looked on as a sealed book, to be believed and understood only by the favored few, divinely illuminated, was now freely - and in the spirit of much candor - read and examined. Its seeming difficulties were passed, and minds of inquirers directed to the plain and practical teachings of that blessed Book. Much good was the result.
"In the meantime ministers of the gospel had become greatly awakened to the discharge of their holy functions - their discourses were more clear and practical, and of consequence, far more interesting and effectual.
"The dogmas and speculations of the sects were now in but little request, even among the clergy. Themes of a much more noble character inspired their hearts, the spiritual growth of their flocks, and the salvation of souls. And in this manner the interest for the Christian religion increased //244// daily. These remarks apply to the denominations generally; more especially, however, to the Presbyterian church, in the bosom of which the writer was born and raised, and for which he still retains favorable remembrances.
"The interest for the Bible and the religion it teaches augmented daily, and the moral tensions of the public mind were now wound up to a high stage; when early in the month of April of the year in question, a phenomena in the religious history of the west made its appearance in the south of Kentucky more than one hundred miles from Caneridge. It was in the language of that day styled, 'The falling exercise.' The accounts of it narrated were wondrous to our ears. And still the wonder grew until the month of May: when the strange work was witnessed in the two churches of Caneridge and Concord, the former in Bourbon, the latter in Nicholas County, and both at the time, under the pastoral care of the Reverend Barton W. Stone, a young gentleman of much purity and high respect for learning, for talent and amiability of manners, in the Presbyterian ranks.
"The exercise in question soon spread in all directions, and meetings for public worship were kept up with but little intermission, not only in these two churches, but throughout the great west. The Reverend Stone was a regular and distinguished actor in many of them. The interest and the exercise was truly astounding, and thousands were the converts of that summer. Many a tall son and daughter of worldly pride was made to bear submission to Prince Messiah.
"In due time a great camp-meeting to be held at Caneridge, in the coming month of August, was published. Such was now the general interest of the public mind, that when the meeting came, it was attended by about 2,500 [25,000 perhaps intended. See page 247. Ed.] souls. Persons were said to be in attendance from most of the states in the Union. Particularly were gathered together, on that memorable occasion, the thousands of Israel, from all the religious orders of the land. Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, &c., &c., were there, as one mighty spiritual host, assembled together, to fight the battles of the Lord. They had come up to the help of Zion. They preached and prayed and praised together; they mutually labored together for the salvation of sinners. Their objects and aims were the same; there was no schism.
//245// "Nay, more. Together, in sweetest, holiest, symbolic communion, they sat down at the one table of the one Lord, and together commemorated his sufferings and death, affording to a gazing and admiring world, a monumental exhibition of an answer to the memorable prayer of the incarnate Jesus, to his and their Heavenly Father for the union of His people. Such were the glories of the times that many good people thought assuredly the Millennium had begun to dawn upon the world.
"During this meeting of about 8 or 10 days' continuance, hundreds were the converts. Very many indeed were the subjects of the exercise in question. Numbers of them were the intimates of the writer. But forasmuch as he was himself never a subject of it - was at the time young and unexperienced, and moreover, as one far more competent has already given to the world a history of the exercise, describing its operations, effects and results, the author of this hasty sketch will not attempt to define it. He will say, however, because true, that at the time he first witnessed it, he was not entirely satisfied as to its cause, and tendencies. His mind wavered. He doubted. But it is equally true that for now more than forty years, he had ceased to question its genuineness. Most of its subjects known to him (and he was intimate with many) have, by their pious and godly lives and their triumphant deaths, long since stamped the seal of heaven upon its divine origin, and forever silenced its opposers. A few converts of that early day: some, subjects of the work in question, some not, all now greatly advanced, still survive the ravages of time, and are still buoyant with the good hope of heaven begotten in their souls at that early stage of the Reformation.
"Christian reader, pause while we propound a weighty question: Can more with truth be said of like numbers of converts at any subsequent period of the Reformation, notwithstanding the greater light in which we so much exult? Are we of the present day running the Christian race better than they? Nay more; do we run as well as they? The wise will look on these things, and learn instruction.
"At the memorable meeting at Caneridge, the early principles of reform began to dawn. And at Caneridge some short time after, the Rev. Stone, aided by the Rev. David Purviance, and a few others, 'originated and gave impulse //246// to a new reformation wave, whose onward roll shall be commensurate and coextensive with eternity.'
"The intelligent, the amiable and pious Purviance, now near four-score years of age, resides near New Paris, in the State of Ohio, and is at this time the only survivor of that veteran band who at that early date decided to take the Bible as their creed to the exclusion of all systems of human device. He still teaches with a becoming zeal the faith he, at the period in question, subscribed to."
In the beginning of the year 1801, we heard that a very extraordinary religious excitement had taken place in Tennessee and part of Kentucky, under the labors of James McGrady, and other Presbyterian preachers. Bro. Stone paid a visit to those parts where this work had commenced, early in the spring, and came home to the churches of his charge, Caneridge and Concord, thoroughly convinced that it was a great work of God. His preaching was more spiritual and interesting, and in a short time the work commenced under his labors. The first I saw of it was at William Maxwell's in Caneridge. When we arrived, it was dark; we found the people in the yard, mostly standing on their feet; but when we went to the crowd we found many persons under both physical and mental excitement. Some were happy, rejoicing in the Lord. Others were lying apparently almost lifeless. While many were praying to God most fervently for the pardon of their sins. Many professed to find forgiveness and peace to their souls on that night. The same week there was a meeting commenced at Concord meeting house. Many hundreds gathered there with wagons and provisions to camp on the ground. The work went on to the astonishment of all present. It took the name of the falling exercise from its manner of operation. It was no uncommon occurrence for persons while listening to preaching, exhortation, prayer or singing, to fall from their seat or feet to the ground, and some appeared almost in a lifeless condition: while others would cry to God in the most fervent manner, for mercy to their needy souls. Many when they felt deep and serious impressions would attempt to leave the crowd and get to themselves, but scarcely ever went far before they fell their whole length on the ground, and their groans and cries would call a small crowd to them. By this means the congregation was often divided into many companies. A great many professed to be converted from the error of their ways //247// at this meeting. Shortly afterwards there was another meeting of the same description at Point-pleasant meeting-house, on Stoner creek, Bourbon County. This church was under the care of Joseph Howe, a Presbyterian preacher. At this meeting I recollect to have seen a young lawyer, who came there a deist, from Lexington. He had fallen to the ground, confessed his sins to God, and found relief from the awful guilt and condemnation of sin, and was now standing on his feet, not pleading law, but pleading the cause of God and inviting sinners to the Savior. Children not more than ten or eleven years of age were converted at this meeting. It was perfectly astonishing to hear with what judgment they spoke of the goodness of God, and the willingness and fullness there was in the Lord Jesus to save all mankind. I knew a little girl not over nine years of age, who at this meeting became a subject of the revival, that lived a pious and exemplary life, and died in Ohio after she became a woman, having her faith and confidence yet in that God that blessed her in childhood.
THE GREAT MEETING AT CANERIDGE commenced on Friday before the third Lord's day of August, 1801. From the commencement the roads were literally crowded with wagons, carriages, horsemen, and people on foot, all pressing to the appointed place, till by the Sabbath day the grove that was then open near Caneridge meeting-house, was filled with wagons, tents, and people. It was supposed that there were between twenty and thirty thousand people there. Elder Stone in his Journal remarks, "A particular description of this meeting would fill a large volume, and then the half would not be told." Stone's Biography, pa. 38. For the sake of the present and future generations, I will attempt a faint description.-
From the very commencement, an uncommon solemnity appeared to rest on the countenance of the people. Not infrequently several preachers would be speaking within the bounds of the encampment without any interruption to each other. Wagons, stumps, and logs were used for stands. The preaching and exhortations were interesting and impressive. Salvation free to all mankind was proclaimed, and the willingness of Jesus to save all that would come was urged universally by the speakers. "The word of God was quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword;" many sinners were cut to the heart, and //248// fell prostrate under an awful guilt and condemnation for sin. This was not confined to any one class. The moral, genteel and well raised, the giddy and profane, the wicked, the drunkard, and the infidel, the poor and also the rich, as well as the proud and vain, with all their gaudy attire, were brought down by the Spirit of the ALMIGHTY, and they appeared to have forgotten every thing in this world in view of their souls' eternal salvation.
I recollect having seen a small girl, not more than ten or eleven years of age, held up by a friend that stood in a wagon, while she invited sinners to the Savior. All who heard her seemed to be astonished at her eloquence and judgment manifested in inviting sinners to God. It appeared that from the mouths of children, "God had ordained strength." "He took the weak things of the world to confound the mighty;" and by this means the most stubborn sinners were brought to bow to the Savior. At this meeting and in this revival, there was a most solemn and interesting spirit of prayer manifested. In the crowds, tents, and wagons, you could hear fervent prayer. I have gone from the camp-ground into the woods, and it was difficult to get away from prayer; for more than a half mile I could see people on their knees before God in humble prayer.
This was not a sectarian meeting, although it was held at a Presbyterian meeting house. Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians were simultaneously engaged. Perfect friendship, unanimity, and brotherly kindness prevailed. They had come together, to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and "Zion was terrible as an army with banners." The meeting lasted six days; the last sermon that was delivered on the occasion was by a Methodist preacher, by the name of Samuel Hitt. It is known only to God how many were converted at this meeting. There were no means by which even to ascertain how many professed religion. The object of the meeting was not to build up any sect or party, but to bring sinners to the Savior. When the meeting was over, the people returned to their homes and friends. There were many there from Ohio, and some from Tennessee, and the excitement spread with the people, and the young converts joined the churches of their choice, and the good work of reformation went on with irresistible force, and appeared like carrying every thing before it. Many were fully persuaded that the glorious Millennial Day had commenced, //249// and that the world would soon become the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. But alas! That enemy of God and man, sectarianism, raised its hydra head, and "made war upon the saints of the most High God and overcame them," and the fair prospects of Zion were in some degree blasted. A cruel jealousy began to show itself among the leaders - some concluded that the spoils were not equally divided; others, that their craft was in danger. This engendered a disposition to draw off from each other, and the mighty army became weak by division, which always has a bad effect. If the preachers had continued in the spirit of reformation, and all let fall their sectarian names, and united in one tremendous phalanx against sin and all unrighteousness, it is my humble opinion that before this time, infidelity would have been driven from the world. Notwithstanding the pride and selfishness of little-minded men, raised a barrier in the way of the work, and in some degree obstructed it; yet, where the people continued humble and devoted to God, the good cause advanced, and sinners were converted to the Christian religion. But the bodily exercise (as it was called) seemed to change its manner of operation. The falling exercise became not so common, and the jerks succeeded. These (if possible) were harder to account for than the former, and it is impossible for me fully to describe them. The first I saw affected with them were very pious, exemplary persons. Their heads would jerk back suddenly, frequently causing them to give a yelp, or make some other involuntary noise. After this, nearly all classes became subject to them. The intelligent and the ignorant; the strong, athletic man, and weak, effeminate persons were handled alike by them. Sometimes the head would fly every way so quickly that their features could not be recognized. I have seen their heads fly back and forward so quickly that the hair of females would be made to crack like a carriage whip, but not very loud. A stranger looking on would have supposed that they would be killed instantly. Some wicked persons have taken them, while ridiculing them, and have been powerfully operated upon by them; others have taken them while trying to mimic them, and had them in good earnest. One thing that appeared almost (if not entirely) miraculous was that among the hundreds that I have seen have them, I never knew or heard of one being hurt of injured by them more than this: they have told me that when they strove against them, and made great exertions //250// to keep from them, they sometimes felt sore afterwards; otherwise they never felt any subsequent inconveniences from them.
I have now given a short sketch of what is called the great revival, commencing early in the nineteenth century. I have no doubt that many of my readers will pronounce it a delusion. Some of that day called it this; others called it the work of the devil; and some, witchcraft. I am of the opinion that but few, who honestly and carefully observed its operations, could pronounce it a mere human exertion. I will now give you my own opinion respecting this work:
First, I will speak of it negatively. It was not man's work, because it was beyond the power and control of man. It was not of the devil, because it had no bad effect. It made people no worse. It neither injured them physically, intellectually, morally, nor religiously. Second. It was of God, because it was superhuman, and beyond the power and control of man, or any evil spirit. Its effects proved it to be of God. It brought sinners of every description to "repent of their sins and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." The skeptic was brought to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The wicked were turned from their wicked practices to the service of the living God. The drunkard was led from his cups of intoxication to the house of the Lord. Many of those characters lived Christians afterwards; "fought the good fight, finished their course, kept the faith," and received the crown.
Bigotry, selfishness, and sectarianism gave way before the spirit that accompanied this work. A great regard was manifested for the salvation of souls, and a very extraordinary spirit of prayer was felt among Christians. So much love, peace, unanimity, forbearance, brotherly kindness, and charity, must be from the source and fountain of all GOODNESS. I have no doubt that the reason why some good men in these late days speak and write against work is they were not in it, have never seen it, and know not what they say, nor whereof they affirm. Some have said that none but weak-minded persons were subjects of these exercises. This is not correct. Men and women of the best intellects, of undoubted character, and of exemplary lives, were subjects of this good work. I am glad that Father Stone and Father Purviance have left their testimony //251// in favor of it; and many are yet living, whose grey hairs tell the tale of a long life, and point to the bourne from whence no traveler returns, that will testify with me in this case.
There is no doubt that in this, as well as all great revivals, there were some fanaticism and some mechanical excitement which had their effect but for a short time. It was also evident that some persons with corrupt hearts, and wishing to be esteemed something while nothing, acted the hypocrite and endeavored to counterfeit the good work of God, but this is no evidence that the work was not of God. There was a great difference between that revival and many of the excitements that I have since witnessed. In that, there was a great deal of prayer and wrestling with God, a very extraordinary travail of soul among Christians for the salvation of mankind. Sinners were invited to the Savior in a feeling and pathetic manner, and many were pierced to the heart, confessed their sins to God, and found peace and pardon through Jesus Christ, and afterwards continued faithful, and "walked worthy of the vocation wherewith they were called." But in these late days, many who profess to be called of God to proclaim his word, do not follow the precept and example of Elijah, in waiting and looking to God till the fire comes down from heaven; but they put fire under, and it is nothing more than a blast; something like a fire created by thrusting a lighted match into a bunch of dry straw - soon over. I am glad to see religious excitements, but I desire to see them raised by the influence of Gospel truth, and sinners drawn to the Savior, and fully reconciled to God by the death of the Son. The love of God exhibited in the gift of his Son has a more salutary influence on the hearts of mankind than any other thing that can be presented to their minds.
We may excite the passions by the presentation of frightful and terrible things. But it is time and labor worse than lost, because its influence is of short duration, and leaves the creature more hard and unbelieving, and more subject to run into infidelity than he ever was before. Preachers are but men, and too liable to pride and vanity, and the name of being the instrument in the hands of God of bringing a great number into the church, or of baptizing more converts than others, has led many into an intemperate zeal that has resulted in the final destruction //252// of many souls. But in leaving one extreme we should be careful not to run to an opposite. I have no doubt that many seeing the evils resulting from fanaticism have sunk down into a "lukewarm" state and have nothing now but "a form of Godliness, while they deny the power."
We are required to have a zeal of God, according to knowledge. If we see the worth of souls and feel the cause of God at heart, as we ought, it will lead us to an extreme for the salvation of mankind. But we should always keep in mind that one soul thoroughly converted to God is worth scores of nominal professors of Christianity.