it would be nearer the truth to say, that the terrible derives whatever character of sublimity belongs to it from religious associations. The application of the epithet sublime to these, has, I trust, been sufficiently accounted for.

Religious and Missionary Intelligence.

ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE WORK OF GOD IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY.

Introductory remarks to Short Sketches of Revivals of Religion, among the Methodists in the Western Country.

(Continued from page 224.)

No. 111.

THE numbers attending the Camp-meetings, at this early period (1801,) on daily visits, whilst the meetings continued, and those attending them in their encampments, were immense.-The numbers varied, according to the population of the settlements, where the meetings were held, and other circumstances, from three to twenty thousand souls! At one of these meetings (Cabbin Creek) the scene was awful beyond description! "few if any escaped without being affected; such as tried to run from it, were frequently struck on the way, or impelled by some alarming signal to return. No circumstance at this meeting appeared more striking than the great numbers that fell on the third night; and to prevent their being trodden under foot by the multitude, they were collected together, and laid out in order, on two squares of the meeting-house, till a considerable part of the floor was covered. But the great meeting at Caneridge exceeded all. The number that fell at this meeting was reckoned at about three thousand, among whom were several presbyterian ministers, who, according to their own confession, had hitherto possessed only a speculative knowledge of religion. Here the formal professor, the deist and the intemperate met one common lot, and confessed with equal candor that they were destitute of the true knowledge of God, and strangers to the religion of Jesus Christ." One of the most zealous and active Presbyterian ministers estimated the number collected on the ground at twenty thousand souls! At this meeting as well as at all others, wherever the work broke out, the Methodists appeared to be more active and more in their element than any other people. Indeed when it first appeared

in most of the congregations, other ministers were so alarmed, not knowing what to make of it, that they would have deserted it, and their meetings too, had they not been encouraged by the Methodists. But they soon joined and moved forward cordially in the work. Having been thus inured and prepared, this great meeting brought on a general engagement. It was necessary, that such a concourse should be scattered over a considerable extent of ground; of course there were severalcongregations formed, in different parts of the encampment, for preaching and other religious exercises. In consequence of so great a collection of people, it frequently happened, that seve ral preachers would be speaking at once, to congregations as before described, generally embracing some of each denomination. Nor were they at a loss for pulpits: stumps, logs or lops of trees served as temporary stands from which to dispense the word of life! At night, the whole scene was awfully sublime. The ranges of tents, the fires, reflecting light amidst the branches of the towering trees; the candles and lamps illuminating the encampment; hundreds moving to and fro, with lights or torches, like Gideon's army; the preaching, praying, singing and shouting all heard at once, rushing from different parts of the ground, like the sound of many waters, was enough to swallow up all the powers of contemplation. Sinners falling, and shrieks and cries for mercy awakened in the mind a lively apprehension of that scene, when the awful sound will be heard, arise ye dead and come to Judgment!"

It is by no means presumable that this vast multitude of people were all induced to attend this meeting as worshippers; but it is a fact that many who were led thither by curiosity, returned with very different feelings from those with which they went.--A gentleman and lady of some note in the gay and fashionable world, went to the meeting with mirth and jesting, highly divert ing themselves at the expence (as they thought) of those poor deluded beings who were falling, and perhaps rolling in the mud and dirt, screaming and crying for mercy; led on by curiosity, and perhaps as spectators, with an expectation of returning to give an account of the wonderful sights that they had witnessed, and to laugh, ridicule and make sport of it. With such sources of gratification they were congratulating each other on their way to the meeting; and in the sequel, it was agreed, that if one should fall, the other should by no means desert; but stay and take care of the fallen one. In this sportive disposition they arrived at length at the place; but they had not been long on the ground before the lady fell! The sportive gentleman discovering the situation of his associate, paid no regard to his solemn obligation; but immediately fled with all speed: but before he had proceeded more than two hundred yards, this VOL. II.

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high minded gallant shared the fate of his companion, and meas ured his whole length on the ground!! Of course, he was soon surrounded by a praying multitude!

But these meetings did not escape censure and opposition. It is difficult indeed to controul a large collection of people, of every description; hence it is, that there might have been, and probably were, many irregularities. The enemies of these meetings who were generally prejudiced and bigoted professors, or the wicked who had no liking for them; took advantage of every circumstance, and exaggerated every unfavourable occurrence to such a degree as to give a false and dreadful colouring. The reports, and some publications, put into circulation are incredible. "What persecution ever went on," asks Mr. Asbury, "that priests had not a hand in it?" Some bigoted priests, on this occasion were quite busy. They were much worse at misrepresentation than the wicked themselves. But in them the scripture has been verified, "The measure that ye mete shall be measured to you again."

These public testimonies against the work, particularly by ministers, were means of stirring up and encouraging those who were openly wicked, to come forth, to mock, oppose, and persecute; but even such were often unable to withstand the power; and sometimes in the very act of persecuting were struck down like men in battle: and so alarming was the sight, that others on foot and on horseback would try to make their escape, and flee away, like those who are closely pursued by an army in time of war, and be overtaken by the invisible power, under which they would be struck down, and constrained to cry out in anguish, and confess their wickedness in persecuting the work of God, and warn others not to oppose it. Thus many who were openly profane, were taken in the very act of persecuting the work, and like Saul of Tarsus were made the happy subjects, and zealous promoters of it; while bigoted professors, who had encouraged them on, remained like the "heath in the desart, that seeth not when good cometh."

THEOPHILUS ARMENIUS.

(To be Continued.)

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

On entering upon the duties of my charge, after the Conference of May, 1818, I found a society consisting of fifty four members, all in peace, but low in the exercise of religion. The congregation was small, and most of them appeared indifferent to the great work of salvation. Through the summer, the only

visible alteration for the better was an increasing assembly of hearers; and it was also remarked, that those who had been in the habit of leaving the house as soon as the preacher became plain and energetic in addressing them, would now sit and hear with attention, and some appearance of concern: but all prospects seemed to wither by reason of the general lukewarmness of the society; a room ten feet square was amply sufficient for any prayer-meeting that we could assemble.

Under these discouraging circumstances I cried to God day and night for help: I summoned my brethren to the help of the Lord, but with little apparent effect. But in the latter part of August, it pleased God to give me an intimation in my own soul, by his holy spirit, that he was ready to revive his work.

Things continued with but little variation till some time in December, when the spirit of faith and prayer began to revive, and new fire to enkindle among the members of society. Newyears' eve, observed as a Watchnight, was a memorable season. The largest proportion of the assembly that night, tarried 'til} after twelve o'clock, that I ever before saw: It was found that conviction had made its inroads among the assembly, and numbers carried home a sense of their guilt, and in distress of soul began to pray for mercy. Sabbath Jan. 3, was an auspicious day; every part of the exercise was attended with increasing measures of the divine unction; and after the evening sermon I notified a prayer-meeting to conclude the exercises of the day, and requested all who did not prefer to tarry an hour longer, to withdraw, and the remainder of the congregation to seat themselves in the lower part of the meeting-house; but although they attempted to comply, there was not room for all below. In the introduction of the prayer-meeting, I simply gave liberty for such as were in distress, and would esteem it a privilege to present themselves before the altar to be particularly prayed for, to come forward there and kneel down; and more than half a dozen volunteered immediately, and soon the house resounded with their cries. Thus the work made its first appearance, and although it progressed moderately, it was deep and genuine. On the seventeenth of that month I first let down the het for a draught, and received fourteen: repeated additions succeeded in February, March and April, till the amount received was about sixty-seven.

One peculiarity of this work was, that a large proportion of its subjects were heads of families, mostly in middle or advanced life; some who had long stood in religious profession, but had, till then, remained strangers to experimental religion; some whose lives had been notoriously irregular became subjects of renewing grace, and others had an old experience made over anew the subjects of the work also were in general made par takers of a clear and bright witness of the spirit, and became

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very bold for God. A very general conviction seemed to spread in the congregation at large, and .the prospect is, that with many, this may issue in a saving change.

The most direct instrument of awakening sinners, has been the word preached: and never was I more aided in that glorious employment than in Schenectady. Plain and pointed preaching has cut through the ranks of sinners, like a two-edged sword. That system of preaching and praying recommended in your sixteenth number of the Magazine, I had well proved the efficacy of, before I read it. The subjects of awakening mostly found deliverance in times of private, social, or public prayer. I close this in hope that a third account (see Mag. No. 15, Page 118*) may yet gratify the readers of the Methodist Maga-Your affectionate brother, WILLIAM THACHER.

zine.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE REV. WM. M'KENDREE, BISHOP OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, TO THE EDITORS. Camped in the Chocktaw Nation, April 17, 1819.

On the first day of last November, I sunk under the affliction which was pressing me down while in company with Brother Soule, in the state of Ohio.

After a sore affliction, I left the neighbourhood where I had been confined, in a very feeble state, and travelled about one hundred miles, and continued to speak occasionally; so that in much weakness I have visited New-Orleans, and partially attended to the churches through this state. For a few weeks I have gained strength considerably. It is the opinion of my physician that I should go to the north for the establishment of my health; and having a favourable opportunity, I set out, in a lit tle waggon, from Brother Gibson's, last Monday, in company with Brothers J. Lane and B. Edge.

We have camped near companies of drunken Indians-been distressed to see their situation, and incommoded with their visits through the night; but never injured or insulted; but mercifully preserved so far through our difficult journey, and from night to night blessed with the privilege of camping peace ably in the woods; a situation very favourable for contemplation. We expect to reach the settlements in eight days from this, at our rate of travelling. I intend, if the Lord will, to attend the Ohio, Conference next August. I would be with you in New-York, if I could; but here I sit, at the root of a tree, near the line between the Chocktaw and Chickasaw nations, writing to you, while Brother Lane is broiling ham and making tea for dinner. Some of our company were much alarmed last night by the sound of drunken Indians; but it proved to be

* Brother Crawford's Letter: