USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 46
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Such was the moral and religious condition of the people of the great valley of the Mississippi, when the sun of the eighteenth century sat behind a gloomy cloud. All Christians, who were still interested in the cause of the Redeemer, were overwhelmed with a sadness and anxiety, bordering on despair. The religious dearth was not confined to any locality on the
*Rice's Memoirs, pp. 69-70
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American continent. It was, indeed, more marked in the newer settlements of the Great West, but it was deeply felt all over the settled portions of the continent, although the great revival began somewhat earlier in New England. It might justly have been said of the American people, as it was said of the English, by Bishop Butler, some sixty years before : "It is come, I know not how, to be taken for granted, by many persons, that Christianity is not so much as a subject of in- quiry; but that it is now at length discovered to be fictitious; and accordingly they treat it as if in the present age, this were an agreed point among all people of discernment, and nothing re- mained but to set it up a principal subject of mirth and ridi- cule, as it were by way of reprisals, for its having so long in- terrupted the pleasures of the world."* Infidelity had taken deep root in this fair land of liberty, from the District of Maine to the farthest log cabin in the great western wilderness. God had reserved to himself faithful witnesses in all the land ; but their testimony seemed to be unheeded, and the most earnest advocate of his claims " was made the song of the drunkard," and the by-word of the dissolute and debauched. During the last ten years, the number of Christians in the west had been reduced nearly one-half, in proportion to the population. " Only one person was baptized in five long years" in one of the best churches in Kentucky, "and that one excluded from the church only two months after his baptism," told the sad tale that might have been repeated with sighs and tears by the pi- ous, or re-echoed with jeers and scoffings by the profligate all over the most highly favored country that God ever bestowed on fallen men. No wonder the timid and faithless Christian feared he would never again see a sinner converted, or a gen- uine convert baptized. No wonder the proud, defiant infidel began to boast that, while Christians had been 1800 years in building up Christianity, he would " destroy it in one genera- tion."t
Poor revolutionary, storm-wrecked, infidel France had as- serted that human liberty and infidelity were inseparable, and multitudes of her fond admirers in America had re-echoed the blasphemous sentiment until it had become a principle of the
*Butlers Analogy, preface.
1The saying is attributed to " Tom Payne."
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political philosophy of the country, and it was believed by many of the statesmen, especially of the West, that to yield it up would be to endanger the liberties of the people. It was even believed that the liberties of the people would not be fully secured till they were entirely absolved from all relig- ious obligation.
Under these gloomy circumstances, the devout and intelli- gent Christian could see no grounds of hope except in the mighty power of God, exerted on the minds, and hearts of the people. Surely now, if a great religious revival suddenly pervades all the broad land, without the use of any visible ex- traordinary means, if multitudes of the profane and profligate are suddenly converted to the religion they now hold in con- tempt, if proud, boasting infidels are brought to cry for mercy at the feet of Jesus, if the number of Christians are trebled within the brief space of two years, if the bold scoffers become zealous ministers of the meek and lowly Jesus, the astonished multitudes, as well as the grave thinking philospher, will ac- knowledge that the power which shall have wrought this mighty work is of God. Yet all this shall have been accom- plished within the next two years, and surely, the wise will give the glory to God.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
THE GREAT REVIVAL AND THE ACCOMPANYING PHENOMENA.
The revival of 1800 was one of the most wonderful events of modern times. It appeared more like the sudden conversion of a nation than the regeneration and reformation of individuals. If a traveller had passed through the whole breadth of the set- tled portions of North America, in 1799, he would have heard the songs of the drunkard, the loud swearing and and obscen- ity of crowds around taverns, and the bold, blasphemous vaunt- ing of infidels, in every village and hamlet. If he had returned in 1801, he would have heard, instead, the proclamation of the gospel to awed multitudes, earnest prayers in the groves and forests, and songs of praise to God, along all the public thor- oughfares. While this wonderful religious awakening spread with great rapidity over the entire country, from the Atlantic coast to the extreme frontier settlements in the Great West, in no other locality was it so deep and powerful as in Kentucky, where the people had been most profane in their every day con- versation, and blatant in the coarsest type of infidelity. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
The revival began among the Presbyterians, in Logan county. James McGready was pastor of the Presbyterian churches at Red River, Muddy River and Gasper River, as early as 1796. At that period, there was not a single Baptist church, in all that part of Kentucky, lying south of Salt river, and west of the present line of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, except one at Severns Valley, forty miles south of Louisville. The Pres- byterians had the entire control of religious affairs in that large and now populous region of the State.
Mr. McGready was well suited to exercise a powerful influ- ence. With a strong, stentorian voice, he denounced sin in un- sparing terms, and exhorted the people with boisterous fervor,
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to flee to Christ for refuge from the wrath of a sin-avenging God. As early as May, 1797, there began to be exhibited some religious excitement in Mr. McGready's congregation on Gasper river. One woman who had been a member of the Presbyte- rian church, professed to be converted, and a number of others appeared very serious. The interest at Gasper River continued during the summer, but it was confined to a single congregation, and, in the fall entirely disappeared. During that year the Baptists gathered their first two churches in that region of the State, the Head of Muddy River, a few miles from Russellville and Hazle Creek, near the present site of Greenville. But un- der what circumstances can only be inferred.
In July, 1798, the revival spirit was again manifest at Gas- per River, and in the following September, extended to Mr. McGready's congregations on Muddy and Red Rivers. The religious interest became general in the vicinity of these churches. But, about this time, James Balch, a Presbyterian minister, came into this region, and visited Mr. McGready's con- gregations. He "had no sooner arrived, than he commenced opposing the doctrines preached, viz .: Faith, repentance and regeneration. He ridiculed the whole work of the revival, formed a considerable party and involved these young churches in disputation and confusion. In consequence of which the whole work was stopped, and the people sunk back into a state of darkness and deadness .*
This circumstance originated a dispute among the Presby- terians in Kentucky, which soon led to the formation of two parties, known as the Revival and Anti-Revival parties. The dispute continued during the great revival, and for many years afterward, and ultimated in a permanent division of the church. But these things had only an indirect bearing on Baptist history, and may be more properly treated in a subse- quent chapter.
The religious excitement was only briefly checked by Mr. Balch's violent opposition. In July, 1799, it returned again with greater power, and in August following, the excitement became so great at Gasper River that the unconverted, under a deep sense of guilt and condemnation, fell from their seats, and
*Smiths History of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, pages 567, 568
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Union Meetings.
lay helpless on the floor. This was the beginning of the "falling exercise" that prevailed so extensively among the Presbyterians and Methodists during the great revival and for some years afterward. The revival continued to increase in power and ex- tent, till, by the following spring it had reached all parts of Kentucky, then settled, and had spread far southward into Tennessee. All denominations of Christians were now aroused and heartily engaged in promoting the revival. But as it begun among the Presbyterians, at least, so far as history records the facts, we may as well follow its course among that denomination, observing at the same time, that the Methodists united with them most heartily, in all their great meetings, and that the Baptists declined attending, except as spectators. The greatest excitement prevailed, at what they called the sacramental meet- ings. Here the Presbyterians and Methodists "communed to- gether" while the restricted communion principle held by the Baptists would not have permitted their engaging in these meet- ings, had they been otherwise disposed to do so. Their princi- ples and polity have usually disposed the Baptists to avoid union meetings, and, during this revival, as at other times, they held their own meetings, and labored in their own quiet, unpretend- ing way. There may have been a few instances in which some of them took part in the great ostentatious meetings, but these occasions, if indeed such occasions occurred at all, were rare, and were exceptions to their general rule of action. The wis- dom of their course will be unquestioned, when the history of the great revival and its fruits is studied.
In June, 1800 a sacramental meeting was held at Mr. Mc- Gready's church on Red river. Much feeling was manifest on Sunday, under the preaching of John McGee, a Methodist min- ister. "On Monday, many had such clear and heart piercing views of their sinfulness, and the danger to which they were ex- posed, that they fell prostrate on the floor, and their cries filled the house. In all quarters, those who had been the most out- breaking sinners, were to be seen lying on the floor unable to help themselves, and anxiously inquiring what they must do to be saved. In a word, persons of all classes and of all ages were to be seen in agonies, and heard crying for redemption in the blood of the Lamb. Twelve precious souls, during the occa- sion, professed to have passed from death unto; life and many
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left the place, pungently convicted of their sin and danger."*
A Camp Meeting was appointed to be held near Gasper River church, in July of the same year. Some families had camped on the ground during the meeting recently held at Red River. This suggested to Mr. McGready the idea of a camp meeting. He immediately had it proclained "far and wide," · that such a meeting would be held at Gasper river in Logan county, as specified above. This was, according to Mr. Smith, the "first camp meeting in Christendom." The people came forty, fifty, and even a hundred miles. An immense concourse was in attendance. The people had no tents or cabins erected, as in after years, but slept in their wagons, or under temporary shelters formed of bed covers. The preachers for the occasion were James McGready, William Hodge, and William McGee, all Presbyterians, and perhaps some others. No special interest was noticed, till Saturday evening, when two pious females were conversing together about the state of their souls in a manner that deeply affected some persons standing by. " Instantly
the divine flame spread through the whole multitnde. Many of the unconverted became so deeply affected that they fell powerless on the ground, and cried aloud for mercy. Ministers and pious Christians passed among them, giving them instruc- tions and encouragement to close with Christ, as he is offered in the gospel. In this way the night was spent, and before Sab- bath morning, a goodly number obtained peace and joy in be- lieving. From this time the work continued to advance both day and night, until Tuesday morning, when the meeting closed. The result was, that forty-five precious souls were believed to have passed from a state of nature to a state of grace."+ A few weeks after this, a similar meeting was held at Muddy River church, at which fifty souls professed to have passed from death unto life.
The revival influence now spread rapidly in all directions. Camp meetings were held in rapid succession all over the Green River country, and a large part of Middle and East Tennessee. The same exercises accompanied all these meetings, and the same results followed. The character of the excrcises may be fur- ther illustrated by Dr. Davidson's description of a scene in one
#Smiths His. C. P. ch. p. 571,572.
+Smiths History, C.P Ch., 574,575
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of the Gasper river meetings, held in 1799, just at the beginning of the revival. While Mr. Hodge was preaching, a woman gave. vent to her feelings in loud cries. The people were so wrought upon, that, when they were dismissed, they kept their seats, and wept silently all over the house.
"Such was the state of things when John McGee, the Methodist, rose in his turn to speak. . Too much agitated to speak, he expressed his belief that there was a greater than he preaching ; and exhorted the people to let the Lord God om- nipotent reign in their hearts. Upon this, many broke silence, and the renewed vociferations of the female before mentioned, were tremendous. The Methodist preacher, whose feelings were now wrought up to the highest pitch, after a brief debate in his own mind, came to the conclusion that it was his duty to disre- gard the usually orderly habits of the [Presbyterian] denomina- tion, and passed along the aisle, shouting and exhorting vehem- ently. The clamor and confusion were increased ten fold. The flame was blown to its height, screams for mercy were mingled with shout of ecstasy, and an universal agitation pervaded the whole multitude, who were bowed before it as a field of grain waves before the wind. Now followed prayer and exhortation ; and the ministers found their strength soon taxed to the utmost to keep pace with the demands of this intense excitement."*
"During the year 1800, ten sacraments were held in the Green River and Cumberland River settlements, all more or less partaking of the nature of those already described, the result of which was that three hundred and forty were added to the churches."t.
The camp meetings, which originated with the Presby terians, soon became immensely popular, and took the name of General Camp Meetings, on account of the Methodists' joining in them with the originators. The Baptists were also invited to join with them, but, as stated above, declined.
In the spring of 1801, Barton W. Stone, pastor of Concord and Cane Ridge Presbyterian churches, in Northern Kentucky, having heard of the great revival among his brethren in the Green River country, visited that region, and attended one of the great camp meetings. On his return, he introduced the new
#History of the Pres. Ch., p.p. 134. 1Ib. p. 135.
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methods among his own people. Here the camp meetings speedily became more popular, and the exercises more wildly extravagant, if possible, than in the region where they origin- ated. No less than six of these meetings were held, between. May and August, varying in continuance from four days to a week, viz. : at Cabin Creek, Concord, Pleasant Point, Indian Creek, and Cane Ridge, in Kentucky, and Eagle Creek, Adams county, Ohio. The scenes witnessed in these meetings, in which children, ten and twelve years of age, were often prominent ac- tors, were similar to those already described. The subjoined de- scription of one of these meetings, given by Dr. Davidson, will suffice to give an idea of how they were conducted. This General Camp-Meeting was held at Cane Ridge, beginning Au- gust 6, 1801, and lasted a week. " Canė Ridge was a beauti- ful spot, in the vicinity of a country church of the same name then under the pastoral care of Mr. Stone, in the county of Bourbon, about seven miles from Paris. It was finely shaded and watered, and admirably adapted to the purpose of an en- campment. A great central area was cleared and leveled, 200 or 300 yards in length, with the preachers' stand at one end, and a spacious tent, capable of containing a large assembly, and designed as a shelter from heat or rain. The adjoining ground was laid off in regular streets, along which the tents were pitched, while the church building was appropriated for the preachers' lodge. The concourse in attendance was prodigious, being computed by a revolutionary officer, who was accustomed to estimate encampments, to amount to not less than 20,000 souls. Mr. Lyle says that, according to the calculation of one of the elders, there were 1,000 communicants present. Others said 800.
"Here were collected all the elements calculated to affect! the imagination. The spectacle presented at night was one of the wildest grandeur. The glare of the blazing camp fires fal- ling on a dense assemblage of heads simultaneously bowed in adoration, and reflected back from long ranges of tents upon every side; hundreds of candles and lamps suspended among the trees, together with numerous torches flashing to and fro, throwing an uncertain light upon the tremulous foliage, and giv- ing an appearance of dim and indefinite extent to the depth of the forest; the solemn chanting of hymns swelling and falling or
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The Jerks and Banking.
the night wind; the impassioned exhortations; the earnest prayers, the sobs, shrieks or shouts, bursting from persons under intense agitation of mind; the sudden spasms which seized upon scores, and unexpectedly dashed them to the ground-all conspired to invest the scene with terrific interest, and to work up the feelings to the highest pitch of excitement."
"When we add to this the lateness of the hour to which the exercises were protracted, sometimes till 2 in the inorning, or longer; the eagerness of curiosity, stimulated for so long a time previous-the reverent enthusiasm which ascribed the strange contortions witnessed to the mysterious agency of God-the fervent and sanguine temper of some of the preachers; and lastly, the boiling zeal of the Methodists, who could not refrain from shouting aloud during sermon, and shaking hands all round afterward, in what Mr. Lyle calls 'a singing ecstasy,' and who did every thing in their power to heap fuel on the fire-take all this into consideration, and it will abate our suprise very much when informed that the number of persons who fell was com- puted by the Rev. James Crawford, who endeavored to keep an accurate account, at the astonishing number of about 3, 000."*
From this period, the exercises in general camp meetings, which continued to be held jointly by the Presbyterians and Methodists, gradually degenerated to the close of the revival in 1803. The Falling exercise was supplemented in turn by the Jerks, Rolling, Running, Dancing and Barking exercises, and, finally, by visions and dreams. Dr. Davidson labors to prove that the measures which led to all these strange, and some of them disgusting exercises in public worship, originated from the Methodists. This will hardly be considered just when we remember that the revival commenced under the ministry of James McGready, who lived and died in the Presbyterian church ; that he instituted camp meetings, and that he had the sympa- thy and active co-operation of more than half the Presbyterians of Kentucky. That the Methodists readily adopted the new measures, and fanned the flame, already lighted by Mr. McGready, is certain, but to give them the credit of origina- ting the measures would be unjust, both to them and to Mr. McGready and his faithful co-laborers.
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$His Pres. ch. pp. 137-138.
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While the strange and unaccountable exercises connected with the revival of 1800, have little direct connection with Bap- tist history, the general reader cannot but be interested in all the features of so wonderful an upheaval of the whole social fabric of that period. That the revival itself was of divine ori- gin can be no more doubted by spiritual christians, than they can doubt the genuiness of the revival which occurred in Jeru. salem on the day of Pentacost. The power with which it sud- denly moved the multitudes to repentance for sin, and reforma- tion from immorality, the self-sacrificing zeal with which it stimulated all classes of christians, the suddenness with which it converted multitudes of bold, blaspheming and licentious infidels, to humble, pious, and patient christians, and the speedy, wide- spread, thorough reformation it wrought in public morals, all attest it to be the work of God. But, as in the olden time when the sons of God came together, Satan also came among them ; and during the revival which began on the day of Pente- cost, Ananias and Sapphira played the role of artful hypocrites, and Simon, the magician, sought to purchase the gift of God with money ; so we may expect the power of the devil to be manifested beside the work of God, and human devices to mimic the pious devotions of saints. So weak and ignorant are men, at their best estate, that it is often difficult, if not impossible, for them to distinguish the genuine from the counterfeit. There was much in this revival that benefitted, men and honored God, and, doubtless, there were some things connected with it that were spurious and degrading. We have but one standard by. which to decide between the good and the evil. The WORD of GOD is given to direct us in all things.
The suddenness with which the revival commenced at vari- ous isolated points, almost simultaneously, over a wide and thinly populated territory, and the power with which it sud- denly moved individuals and then the masses, was one of its marked features. Within a brief period of a few months, this work began unexpectedly at four different points; near Nash- ville, Tennessee; and in Logan county, Woodford county, and Carroll county, Kentucky, and at all of them with the same apparently irresistible power. The part that children took in this revival was a new feature, as well as a very remarkable one.
A lad named David McCorde, some eight or ten years old,
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Children Speak.
professed conversion in the vicinity of Nashville. On meeting a playmate near his own age, he said to him: "Hitherto you and I have been companions, but unless you alter your course, we must be separated hereafter, for I am determined to serve the Lord." The boy was so powerfully affected that he ran home and threw himself on a bed in great distress. He expressed a desire to see David McCorde, who was soon brought to his side. The parents of these boys were much amazed to hear them talk, in rapturous language, of the pardon of sin and sal- vation through Christ, while each wept profusely. The neigh-
bors were notified to collect for a prayer meeting. The people coming together expressed a desire to hear the boys talk. Each, in turn, related, with tears of joy, what God had done; and, in truly evangelical language, expressed his dependence on the righteousness of Christ for salvation. The people were affected deeply, and many in the settlement were converted .*
At a sacramental meeting held near Flemingsburg, Ky., in April, 1800, two little girls cried out in great distress during the preaching. "They both continued for some time praying and crying for mercy, till one of them received a comfortable hope, and then turning to the other, cried out: : 'Oh ! you lit tle sinner, come to Christ! take hold of his promise! trust in him ! he is able to save to the uttermost ! Oh ! I have found peace to my soul ! Oh ! the precious Savior ! come just as you are, he will take away the stony heart and give you a heart of flesh. You can't make yourself any better-just give up your heart to Christ now. You are not a greater sinner than I. You need not wait another moment.' Thus she continued exhorting, until her little companion received a ray from Heaven that produced a sudden and sensible change. Then rising with her in her arms, she cried out in a most affecting manner : 'Oh ! here is another star of light.' These children were perhaps nine or ten years old."+
At a general meeting held at Indian Creek, Harrison county, Ky., July 24, 1800, "a boy, from appearance about twelve years old, retired from the stand in time of preaching, under a very extraordinary impression; and having mounted a log, at some distance, and raising his voice, in a very affect-
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