| Various revival movements influenced society in the 1800s, but 1858
in America and 1859 in Britain were outstanding. Typically, it followed
a low ebb of spiritual life. Concerned Christians began praying earnestly
and anticipating a new move of God's Spirit.
Revival broke out at evangelistic meetings in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada
during October 1857 with attendances at meetings reaching 6,000, and three
or four hundred converted including many civic leaders. It was widely reported.
Jeremiah Lanphier, a city missioner, began a weekly noon prayer meeting
in New York in September that year. By October it grew into a daily prayer
meeting attended by many businessmen. Anticipation of revival grew, especially
with the financial collapse that October after a year of depression. Materialism
was shaken.
At the beginning of 1858 that Fulton Street prayer meeting had grown so
much they were holding three simultaneous prayer meetings in the building
and other prayer groups were starting in the city. By March newspapers carried
front page reports of over 6,000 attending daily prayer meetings in New
York, 6,000 attending them in Pittsburgh, and daily prayer meetings were
held in Washington at five different times to accommodate the crowds.
Other cities followed the pattern. Soon a common midday sign on businesses
read, 'Will reopen at the close of the prayer meeting.' By May, 50,000 of
New York's 800,000 people were new converts. A newspaper reported that New
England was profoundly changed by the revival and in several towns no unconverted
adults could be found! In 1858 a leading Methodist paper reported these
features of the revival: few sermons were needed, lay people witnessed,
seekers flocked to the altar, nearly all seekers were blessed, experiences
remained clear, converts had holy boldness, religion became a social topic,
family altars were strengthened, testimony given nightly was abundant, and
conversations were marked with seriousness.
Edwin Orr's research revealed that in 1858-59 a million Americans were converted
in a population of thirty million and at least a million Christians were
renewed, with lasting results in church attendances and moral reform in
society.
Charles Finney (1792-1875) became one of the most famous preachers of that
era. A keen sportsman and young lawyer, he had a mighty empowering by God's
Spirit on the night of his conversion including a vision of Jesus. During
the height of the revival he often saw the awesome holiness of God come
upon people, not only in meetings but also in the community, bringing multitudes
to repentance and conversion. Wherever he travelled, instead of bringing
a song leader he brought a someone to pray, especially Father Nash. Finney
taught theology at Oberlin College which pioneered coeducation and enrolled
both blacks and whites. His 'Lectures on Revival' were widely read and helped
to fan revival fire in America and England.
Revival swept Great Britain also. During September 1857, the same month
the Fulton Street meetings began, four young Irishmen commenced a weekly
prayer meeting in a village school near Kells. That is generally seen as
the start of the Ulster revival of 1859 which brought 100,000 converts into
the churches of Ireland. Through 1858 innumerable prayer meetings started,
and revival was a common theme of preachers. God's Spirit moved powerfully
in small and large gatherings bringing great conviction of sin, deep repentance,
and lasting moral change. Prostrations were common people lying prostrate
in conviction and repentance, unable to rise for some time. By 1860 crime
was reduced, judges in Ulster several times had no cases to try. At one
time in County Antrim no crime was reported to the police and no prisoners
were held in police custody.
Edwin Orr noted that this revival made a greater impact on Ireland than
anything known since Patrick brought Christianity there. By the end of 1860
the effects of the Ulster revival were listed as thronged services, unprecedented
numbers of communicants, abundant prayer meetings, increased family prayers,
unmatched Scripture reading, prosperous Sunday Schools, converts remaining
steadfast, increased giving, vice abated, and crime reduced.
Revival fire ignites fire. Throughout 1859 the same deep conviction and
lasting conversions revived thousands of people in Wales, Scotland and England.
Revival in Wales found expression in glorious praise including harmonies
unique to the Welsh which involved preacher and people in turn. There too,
100,000 converts (one tenth of the total population) were added to the church
and crime was greatly reduced. Scotland and England were similarly visited
with revival. Again, prayer increased enormously and preaching caught fire
with many anointed evangelists seeing thousands converted. Charles Haddon
Spurgeon, that prince of preachers, saw 1859 as the high water mark although
he had already been preaching in London for five years with great blessing
and huge crowds. |