USA > New York > A history of the purchase and settlement of western New York : and of the rise, progress and present state of the Presbyterian Church in that section > Part 16
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From the period of the close of the revival of 1799, no very ex- tended revival occurred again for a number of years. Some cir- cumscribed instances took place ; but as a general thing the churches were increased by additions of members emigrating from eastern churches, and by converts from the world brought in singly. In these ways many were added to the existing churches, and many new churches were organized. Occasionally a revival occurred in one of the churches, generally, however, of a circum- scribed character. Such a revival occurred in West Bloomfield, in 1802. The author of this work, then a licensed preacher of the gospel, was statedly preaching to that congregation one half of the time. The church at that time consisted of twenty members, only seven of whom were males. The congregation was small, and met for worship in a moderate sized school-house. The first . symptoms of a revival were manifested in a more than usual attendance on public worship, and earnest attention to the word preached. In a short time it was known that a number of indi- viduals were deeply convicted of their guilty, wretched condition. With some their convictions came on gradually ; others, from a state of entire stupidity, were suddenly brought into a state of deep conviction ; but all were brought to consider themselves as hei- nous sinners against God. In this state of feeling, and with an in- creasing conviction of the desperate depravity of their own hearts, and their utter helplessness in themselves, they generally continued for some days, perhaps weeks, and finally with penitent hearts were led to cast themselves on the mercy of God through a Medi- ator, and thus found rest to their souls ! The revival was not very extensive ; perhaps as many as fourteen or fifteen were born again, making a goodly addition to the little church in that place, and laying a foundation for the settlement of a pastor.
In 1803, the town of Ulysses was visited by a refreshing shower of the Holy Spirit. The little church (now the church of Tru- mansburgh) was without a pastor or stated supply. They were visited by Rev. Jedidiah Chapman of Geneva, the stated missionary
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of the General Assembly, in September, 1803. Previous to his coming a seriousness had commenced, and several individuals had embraced a hope of pardon through a Mediator, and were desirous of uniting with the church. In preaching his first sermon, Mr. Chapman remarks : "The word had great power on the hearers, to the joy and comfort of some, and terror and awakening of others." After the sermon he attended with the session to the ex- amination of candidates for admission to the church, in which he remarks : "There appeared the greatest freedon and honesty in the persons examined, though the house was full of all sorts. Six- teen persons were approved, and several were put off for further trials. Among those approved there was one who had been a pro- fessed, and open, and notorious deist, who gave a very clear and affecting account of his awakening, conviction, and conversion be- fore the whole assembly, with the appearance of great modesty and humility. He appeared to be humble indeed at the foot of the cross, which he so lately ridiculed and despised. This was indeed a most solemn meeting, and the whole assembly seemed much af- fected, though there was no noise or disturbance, but a very solemn and silent weeping and rejoicing mixed together." The next Lord's day, Mr. Chapman preached, admitted sixteen persons to the com- munion of the church, and administered the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. He says: "The assembly seemed to be deeply impressed, and numbers appeared deeply distressed. This was truly a very solemn and joyful season. The Lord appeared to carry on his work here with glory and power." At a subsequent period, Jan., 1804, Mr. Chapman visited this church again, and eighteen persons were received into the church. " This," he says, " was truly a most solemn transaction, and had a wonder- ful effect on a very large assembly. The cold was extreme, ac- commodations but poor, yet such was the attention of the people, that every place was crowded by day and by night. They seemed never to be weary, and there was the greatest, most agreeable, and rational appearance of divine power attending the word and ordi- nances that I have ever seen in this country. I organized this church about a year before, consisting of only eight members, and now there are near fifty."
In the winter of 1805-6, there was something of a revival in East Groton under the ministry of Rev. Azariah Clark, but to what extent the writer is not informed. In 1806-7, a refreshing season was enjoyed in the congregation of Homer, under the pastoral su- pervision of Rev. Nathan B. Darrow, during whose ministry of about six years, ninety-five members were added to the church. In Sherburne, during the ministry of Rev. Roger Adams, continued from August, 1806, about three years, a precious season of revival was enjoyed, and a number added to the church as its fruits. A revival in Pompey and its vicinity, is noticed in a letter from Rev.
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Hugh Wallis of Pompey, dated March 28th, 1806, and published in the Massachusetts Missionary Magazine. Mr. Wallis says :
" A little east of us in this town, it hath pleased God to pour out his Holy Spirit, and there are between forty and fifty hopefully the subjects of the regenerating grace of God. There have been but two or three instances of hopeful conversion in this society. The awakening took place in the east part of the town under the preach- ing of Mr. Rawson, a candidate for the gospel ministry. There has also been some attention in a society about fourteen miles west of this on Marcellus Ell. and about twenty are hopefully the sub- jects of renewing grace. The reformation began while they had no stated preaching. In the time of the awakening a Mr. Colton, of West Hartford (Conn.), came there and preached a few weeks. I preached there six sermons at two visits which I made them. These reformations have been attended with no unusual noise nor tumult, but with solemnity and decency. Those who have hopeful- ly been regenerated, have been made sensible of their opposition of heart to God and divine things, and have generally been brought to have clear views of God's character, and of their own vileness in sinning against a holy God. They express a disposition to justify him, should he cast them off for ever. Thus it appears that God has not forsaken us in these goings down of the sun."
The place here denominated Marcellus Ell. the writer supposes is now the town of Otisco. The town of Marcellus at that period embraced the present towns of Marcellus and Skeneatoles, with a considerable share of Spafford and Otisco. Mr. Rawson is spoken of as a candidate for the Gospel ministry, which, in the language of the emigrants from New England, means a licensed preacher. In 1807, under the ministry of Rev. Dirck C. Lansing, something of a revival was experienced in the congregation of Onondaga. As the fruits of this revival about twenty members were added to the church, on profession of their faith. In 1808, in the newly orga- nized church of Coventry, a revival was enjoyed which added twenty-four members to the church. In 1810 or 1811, the congrega- tion of Sherburne were again visited with a gracious outpouring of the Spirit under the ministry of Rev. Abner Benedict, and some thirty or forty were added to the church as its fruit. The pastor of the church of Windsor, in a letter to the author, says-" Up to 1810, additions to the church were comparatively few, and many of them by letter. But in 1810 and 1811, under the faithful and ear- nest ministrations of Rev. Messrs. Joel T. Benedict and David Harrowar, a precious season of refreshing was enjoyed. The Spirit of the Lord attended their labors, and manifested his con- verting presence in the hearts of many, and never has there been a greater revival of religion at any one period in this place. Meet- ings for preaching, exhortation, and prayer, were frequent for se-
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veral months, and it was supposed that fifty or sixty individuals were brought into the kingdom of Christ." On the minutes of the Gene- ral Assembly for May, 1810, we find the following notice : " In the western parts of the State of New York, particularly in the newly settled regions, the progress of religion has been great : that desert buds and blossoms as the rose, and promises under the auspices of grace to become as the garden of the Lord." This is the first al- lusion to any revivals of religion in Western New York, that is to be found on the minutes of the General Assembly. Indeed there is an almost entire want of documents relating to this subject. The most that can now be gleaned on this subject is from the per- sonal recollections of aged Christians, who have been long in the region.
In June, 1808, the Presbytery of Geneva, then the only Presby- tery in Western New York, record-" The Great Redeemer has not forsaken his cause among us. His churches, attended with his blessed influences, increase in numbers, and abundant encourage- ment is afforded to his friends and followers to continue and increase their exertions in the great cause, which, we are assured, shall finally triumph in all the earth." In November, 1808. they say, " In some of our churches there is considerable attention to religion, and numbers are under serious impressions. The Great Redeemer is displaying his power and grace in conquering sinners, and build- ing up his children in faith, holiness, and comfort, which affords great encouragement for increasing exertions on the part of the ministers of Christ." In November, 1809, it is recorded, " In some of our congregations the Great Head of the church has been pleased to revive his work and build up his kingdom." On the minutes of the General Assembly for 1812, it is stated that several congregations within the bounds of the Presbyteries of Geneva and Cayuga had been visited with effusions of the influences of the Spirit. On the minutes of the Presbytery of Geneva, it is noted that the cause of religion was, upon the whole, in a flourishing state. The minutes of the Synod speak of revivals in Danby and Candor. During the same year a revival was enjoyed in Homer. This revival in Homer, a missionary states, under date of March, 1813, had added 160 members to the Presbyterian church, and between 70 and 80 to the Baptists. About 20 or 30 more were expected to unite with the Presbyterian church. In 1813, a measure of revival was vouchsafed to Coventry. The mi- nutes of the Synod of Geneva for Oct., 1812, mention revivals in Homer, Preble, Pompey, German, Otisco, Virgil, Skeneatoles, and Attica. The minutes of the General Assembly for May, 1814, speak of the congregations of Pompey and Homer as " eminently favored with these effusions of mercy." The minutes of the Pres- bytery of Geneva, under date of Feb. 21, 1815, state, that " though there has been no extensive revival of religion among us during the
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year past, yet some of our churches have received considerable additions to their communion ; and in two or three congregations there has been a serious and special attention to the concerns of the soul, and numbers have been hopefully converted." The minutes of the Synod for October of that year, speak of powerful revivals in Lyons and East Bloomfield. Romulus also is noted on the mi- nutes of the Presbytery.
Up to this period, the revivals in Western New York were com- paratively few, though the author of this work entertains no idea that he has been able to enumerate all that occurred in the Presby- terian and Congregational churches. The sources of information are very meagre ; and even as it respects the revivals which have been noted, the author has not, in most instances, been able to state any particulars. They were of an isolated character, and nothing like a period of general revival had occurred since that of 1799, though the churches in Western New York had greatly increased in numbers, not only by immigration, but also by conversions from the world of the ungodly. But the time had arrived in which God was disposed to display his power and grace in a more signal man- ner, in building up Zion in those ends of the earth. The years 1816 and 1817, in Western New York, were peculiarly years of the right hand of the Most High. The revivals in these years were more numerous, and of greater extent, than in former years. The congregations in which revivals, in a greater or less extent, were experienced, in the course of these two years, were those of Caze- novia, Smithfield, Genoa, Manlius, Onondaga, Pompey Hill, Sher- burne, Homer, Norwich, Fabius, Otisco, Owasco, Elbridge, Auburn, Scipio, Cayuga village, Genoa first church, Locke, East Groton, Sempronius, Ludlowville, Ithaca, Danby, Lisle, Western (now Berkshire), Newfield, Binghampton, Coventry, Romulus, Lyons, Wolcott (now Huron), Palmyra, Geneva, Middlesex and Gorham (now Rushville), East Bloomfield, Victor, Richmond, Livonia, Parma (now Ogden), Riga, Murray (now Bergen), Mount Morris, Buffalo, Hamburgh, Gainsville, Eden, Willink, and Pomfret. The writer believes that revivals of greater or less power were experi- enced in a number of other congregations, but he has not the data to determine the point with certainty ; and with respect to the con- gregations named, in several instances, the sum of his information is, that a revival was enjoyed. But, in other instances, his informa- tion is of a more definite character.
In Cazenovia, the pastor of the church, Rev. John Brown, in a letter dated June, 1816, says: " About the middle of December last, God was pleased to pour out his spirit in no inconsiderable de- gree. The first appearance of an awakening was a few minutes after the close of a prayer meeting and conference. A certain female mentioned to some of her companions the alarming condi- tion in which she viewed herself ; a divine influence appeared to
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seize nearly all who were present. The next evening, I preached in that neighborhood ; it was as solemn a season as ever I wit- nessed. Numbers were soon awakened in different parts of the so- ciety. About fifty have been added to the church since the atten- tion commenced ; some now stand propounded to the church, and some more are to be propounded next Sabbath. Children have been sharers in the work ; seven or eight have been added to our church under the age of fourteen. There are a number of others, and one about seven years of age, entertaining hopes of a saving change, and apparently on good ground. Some are now under awakening influence."
In an article in the Panoplist, under date of Dec. 25th, 1815, it is stated that "at Manlius, sixteen have, within a few weeks, been added to the church ; and, what is remarkable, the work com- menced among the most profligate class of people, some of whom now exhibit hopeful evidence of a work of grace on their hearts." In the town of Manlius, at this period, there were two, and perhaps three, Presbyterian churches. The author does not know to which of them the above information refers. A writer in the Religious Intelligencer states that in May, 1817, a revival was in progress in Manlius village, and that subsequently the good work was more visible among the people, and a number of conversions followed, in which the sovereignty and freeness of divine grace were strikingly manifested. As the result of this revival, the church, by the mid- dle of July following, had increased from thirty-one members to fifty-eight.
At this period in Sherburne two churches of the Presbyterian or Congregational order existed. A revival commenced about the first of April, 1816, and in a very few weeks it spread with amazing rapidity into almost every part of the town. As the result of this outpouring of the Spirit, more than two hundred members were added to the Presbyterian churches of Sherburne, and that of Smyrna, an adjacent town. The good work extended into Colum- bus, a neighboring town ; and at the same time the influences of the Spirit were shed down upon Preston, Truxton, and De Ruyter.
In Norwich, previous to 1814, it is stated that no church existed. The ordinances of the gospel were neglected. Vice and immorali- ty, especially profaneness, greatly abounded ; and, if the Sabbath could be distinguished from other days, it was by being more de- voted to the pursuits of vanity, and the practice of iniquity. In June, 1814, a Congregational church was organized with twenty- one members. About the middle of December, 1816, it was mani- fest that the Spirit of God was moving on the hearts of the mem- bers of the church. By the close of the year, the work had become general ; and was deep, rapid, and irresistible. There was scarcely a thoughtless mind in the whole village. In a short time more than a hundred professed a hope in Christ. All classes were sub-
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jects of the work ; the old, and the young ; the rich, and the poor ; the learned, and the ignorant ; the lawyer, the farmer, and mecha- nic ; all alike were made to bow to the sceptre of Immanuel. In the . month of June, it is stated, that more than sixty had united with the Congregational church. The revival in Homer of 1816 is mentioned as "a powerful revival." In the Religious Intelligencer, it is denominated, "a wonderful outpouring of the Spirit." The next February, it is noted that seventy-five had united with the Presbyterian church. On the minutes of the Synod for Feb. 1817, the number of hopeful converts is said to have been about one hun- dred and fifty-five.
In Owasco it is stated, that as the fruits of a most glorious work of divine grace, about three hundred persons were added to the church, of whom one hundred and three joined it in one day. The church with which these persons united, is supposed to have been the Reformed Dutch Church in that place, then under the pastoral care of Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck, an eminent man of God, since deceased.
In Auburn the revival commenced in April or May, 1817. At this time the church contained but 14 male members. Rev. D. C. Lansing had just commenced his labors as pastor with the church. At a communion season on the 4th of May, fourteen individuals united with the church. God was manifestly present. The mem- bers of the church were aroused from slumber, and with penitent hearts engaged in duty. Sinners were alarmed and led with soli- citude to inquire, "what must we do?" From this period the work progressed with great efficacy, and in a rapid manner. At the communion season-the first Sabbath in August, one hun- dred and forty persons stood up, in presence of an immense con- gregation, and entered into solemn covenant with God, and with his people. Others were added at subsequent periods. The late Mr. John Oliphant, who was at that time a ruling elder in the church, and a most active assistant in using the means for carrying on this good work, says, " I believe there were more than two hun- dred souls added to the church, as fruits of that revival." In El- bridge the late pastor states, "In 1817 the church enjoyed a revi- val under the pastoral care of the Rev. Jabez Chadwick." As to the extent of this revival the author has no information. In Cayuga village it is stated, that there was an extensive awakening; but of its results the author is not informed. In Genoa first church, the pastor informs that "there was a revival in the year 1817, com- mencing in the summer and extending through the fall and a part of the winter. This work was confined to one portion of the con- gregation, and thirty or more were added to the church as the re- sult." In the town of Locke (now Groton East), a seriousness com- menced early in autumn, 1816. In October the work had become powerful, and was progressing. In February following, the pastor
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wrote, " The state of things in regard to religion is very interesting with us. The Lord has been very gracious to this people. About one hundred and seventy, we hope, have been the subjects of divine grace, and the work continues with a good degree of power. Thirty were added to the church last Sabbath."
In February, 1816, Rev. William Wisner commenced preaching in the village of Ithaca, on an engagement for one year. The church was at that time in the lowest state of depression, consisting of but twenty members. Of these, three of the eight male mem- bers were in a short time excommunicated for heresy, or gross immorality, and two of the females were suspended from the com- munion. No convenient place of worship was at command. But, notwithstanding the discouraging circumstances, soon after Mr. Wisner's ministrations commenced, some special seriousness was apparent in the congregation, and a number of hopeful conversions occurred. At the first season of communion in the Lord's Supper, after the arrival of Mr. Wisner, which occurred in the spring of 1816, seventeen members were, on their profession of faith in Christ, added to the church ; and, in August ensuing, eleven more were received. In the autumn of 1817, two leading gamblers and horse- racers were hopefully converted, and, with about forty more indi- viduals, united with the church on a profession of faith. These were indeed times of rejoicing to the little flock in Ithaca, although yet much open wickedness prevailed around them.
The minutes of the General Assembly for 1817 say, "Cayuga Presbytery is among those favored portions of our church, which the Lord hath blessed indeed." Ithaca, Lisle, Sempronius, Scipio, and Danby, have richly partaken in divine influence ; but espe- cially have we to mention the congregation of Locke, as particu- larly distinguished for those trophies of grace, which the Lord hath gathered to the honor of his glorious name." Respecting the re- vivals in Lisle, Sempronius, Scipio, and Danby, the author has no information beyond what is contained in the above extract. In 1817 a measure of divine influence was felt in Newfield, in con- nexion with the labors of Rev. John Bascom, as the result of which a Presbyterian church was organized, consisting of eleven members, to whom about thirty more were added in a short time. In 1816, Rev. Benjamin Niles was employed by the people of Binghamton to
preach to them. No Presbyterian or congregational church existed there at that time. A Reformed Dutch church had been organized there, as has been already narrated, but it had become nearly extinct, and was without a minister. Error and wickedness were exceedingly prevalent. A revival, in a small measure, im- mediately followed the coming of Mr. Niles. As the result of this a congregational church was organized, consisting of twenty mem- bers. The revival in Coventry in 1816 and 1817 added twenty- eight members to the church. Several other congregations east of
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the Cayuga Lake have been mentioned as participating in these revivals, but the author has no definite information concerning them.
Leaving this eastern portion of our territory, we would cross the Cayuga Bridge, and survey the territory which lies westward of that meridian. At Romulus, the minutes of the Presbytery for February, 1816, speak of a revival as in progress. On the minutes of the General Assembly, it is characterized as " copious and exten- sive." The same characteristics are given of a revival in the Con- gregation of Lyons, coincident with the other in point of time. Under date of September, 1816, it is remarked, that,-" In the towns of Romulus and Lyons, during the past year, the work of grace has been very extensive, but now appears to be on the decline." Wolcott is mentioned on the minutes of the General Assembly, as having experienced a share in this work of grace. The writer believes that it was comparatively small. Wolcott, at that time, included Huron and Rose, with only one Presbyterian church for the whole territory, and that composed of a small number of members. In September, 1816, it was stated that, in Palmyra, a glorious work had commenced,-that many were rejoicing in hope, while multi- tudes were inquiring the way of salvation. About 120 hopeful converts are stated on the minutes of the Synod, as the result of this effusion of the Holy Spirit. Geneva is also mentioned as a place where there was an increased attention to the things of reli- gion, and some hopeful subjects of divine grace. In Middlesex (now Rushville) there was a revival of great power and extent, as the result of which, 100 or more united with the church, and, according to the testimony of the present pastor, nearly all remained steadfast in the faith. At the same time, Gorham (now Hopewell) was visited with the showers of the Spirit, and a goodly number were hopefully converted to God. In East Bloomfield, the pastor of the church states, that in 1816, an extensive revival was expe- rienced. This revival must have commenced at a somewhat earlier period. On the minutes of the Synod of Geneva for October, 1815, a powerful revival in East Bloomfield is noticed. Victor and Phelps are noticed in the Religious Intelligencer for September, 1816, as places in which there was an unusual attention to the im- portant concerns of religion. In Richmond, the addition of fifty members to the church in the year 1817, manifests that the revival embraced that congregation. In Livonia, a correspondent of the Religious Intelligencer, under date of April, 1817, says: "The work made its appearance about the 20th of December last, in a district school ; and although it required much labor to detect and discourage self-righteous hopes, yet we have reason to hope in charity for at least forty ; thirty of which belonged to the school. On the 1st of January, a society was here formed among the young people, called The Juvenile Literary, Moral, and Tract Society.
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