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 18
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But it was in the year 1831, that the most extraordinary displays of the power and grace of God, in reviving his work and convert- ing souls in Western New York, were exhibited. This year was emphatically a " year of the right hand of the Most High." The author has the names of nearly sixty congregations which shared in this blessed work, and he entertains no idea that the list is by any means complete. This work of grace was extensive and powerful, not only in Western New York, but generally throughout the bounds of the Presbyterian church in the United States, and in the congregational churches of New England. In the Narrative of the state of Religion within the bounds of the Presbyterian church, for May, 1832, the Assembly say, " It is our delightful privilege to re- port that sixty-eight Presbyteries have been blessed with the special influences of the Holy Spirit, reviving the churches, and bringing perishing sinners to the saving knowledge of the truth. In these highly favored Presbyteries, about seven hundred congregations are reported as having been thus visited in rich mercy. Several Pres- byteries have had their whole territory pervaded by a heavenly influence, and every congregation has become a harvest field for the in-gathering of souls to the fold of the Good Shepherd." Among the Presbyteries which were distinguished the preceding year, " by a mighty prevalence of the work of God," are included Chenango, Cortland, Cayuga, Geneva, Ontario, Niagara, and Buffalo. Of these, it is said " that all or nearly all of their churches have enjoyed a pre- cious season of revival." The Presbyteries of Onondaga, Tioga, and Bath, are included in the list of those which reported "a very inte- resting work of grace within their respective bounds, extending, however, only to a part of their congregations." The Presbytery of Niagara reported, that every church within their bounds had shared in "the ascension gift, the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit."
The Synod of Geneva, in their Narrative of the state of religion within their bounds, for October, 1831, say, " At this time we are
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permitted to greet each other with joyful tidings respecting the grace with which our labors have been crowned, and our people blessed. God hath wrought such wonders among us the world has seldom or never witnessed before ; and it is doubtful whether an ecclesiastical body was ever laid under obligations more sacred to magnify the mercy of Jehovah. From the Narratives of the Presbyteries which reported, it appears, that almost every church belonging to this body, which enjoys the stated ministrations of the gospel, has been favored with a revival. In many of them the work has been powerful, and extensive beyond the revivals of former years, resulting in the addition of from one hundred to two hundred persons to the communion, and in one instance the number so added is above two hundred. In others the work is less exten- sive, but still glorious. How many in all have been added to the churches, on account of the failure on the part of some Presbyte- ries to report, we are not able to state. In Geneva Presbytery there have been rising 1800. It would probably be safe to estimate the whole number of hopeful conversions at between four and five thousand. The angels of God rejoice over the repentance of one sinner, because this is the greatest and most joyful event that trans- pires in the world. How great then is their joy, and how large should be our gratitude in view of these thousands! When we are thus permitted to meet together from the different parts of the field, and to sum up such results as these, with which our labors have been crowned, a larger and holier offering of praise to our God is required, than we ever before have rendered. It is also a subject of gratitude, that other ecclesiastical bodies through most of the country, have opportunity to recount the same wonders per- formed within their bounds. God is going through the land sub- duing his enemies before the cross of Christ, and adding to his churches in a manner which should fill his people with hope, as it does his foes with consternation."
The Synod of Genesee, in their Narrative for September, 1831, say, " Last year only a few churches were reported as refreshed by the dews of divine grace ; but this year, but few within our bounds are left without sharing more or less in the blessing of God. The Presbytery of Buffalo report nine hundred communicants added to their churches during the year. Twenty churches have enjoyed a season of divine grace. Among the more favored in this respect, are, Buffalo, Sheridan, Evans, and Aurora. At Aurora, a protracted meeting was held the summer past, and continued during ten days. The assembly at last became so large, that they retired to a neighboring grove, where, it is thought, nearly three thousand people were present the last Sabbath of the meeting. During that meeting no less than from two hundred to three hun- dred hopeful conversions took place. In Genesee Presbytery, fifteen churches have been visited by the Holy Spirit ; and about
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nine hundred members have been added to the churches. In the Presbytery of Rochester, the work of God has been no less con- spicuous. The three churches of Rochester have increased during the year by the number of six hundred and thirty-five members. Twelve or thirteen other churches have likewise been revived, and very considerable additions made to the most of them. Pitts- ford and North Bergen have experienced a more powerful work of the Spirit, perhaps, than any other in that Presbytery. The whole number reported as added to the churches last year, is twelve hundred and twenty-five. The Presbytery of Niagara state that six hundred members have been added to the churches under their care, and twelve towns are reported as having received a revival from the Great Head of the Church. Among the churches most highly favored, we might name Lockport, Albion, Niagara Falls, and others. In Lockport, a very general effusion of the Spirit was had. Of one protracted meeting, the fruits in cases of professed conversion, were one hundred and fifty. To the church there, one hundred and ninety were added last year. In Ontario Presbytery, nearly all the churches have less or more shared in the blessing of God. Eleven churches have seen the Holy Spirit given in answer to prayer. To this branch of Zion, viz. the churches under the care of Ontario Presbytery, four hundred and ten have been added last year. In North Bristol, Lima, and Rich- mond, the work appears to have been most extensive and powerful. The aggregate number of communicants received by us last year, is about four thousand and thirty-five, and the number of churches revived and blessed, is seventy-three or seventy-four. Some nine or ten new churches have also been organized in the waste places of our moral field."
To return to the Synod of Geneva :- The Presbytery of Che- nango, in their Narrative for 1831, say : "Most of our churches have shared more or less in the reviving influences of God's Spirit, and, with several of them, it has been truly a day of the right-hand of the Most High. An unusual number of all ages, from the child to the man of grey hairs, and from the self-righteous moralist to the most profligate and abandoned, has been hopefully brought into the kingdom of Christ ; and in several places large accessions have been made to the visible church. In connexion with this, we deem it worthy of notice that God seemed to have owned, and signally blessed protracted meetings." The Presbytery of Cortland re- marks : "Most of the churches have been favored with a season of revival. The number of recent converts is estimated at about five hundred, most of whom have already been admitted to the fel- lowship of the churches. The congregations most favored, are Cazenovia, Smithfield, Preble, Homer, Pitcher, Freetown, and De Ruyter. From twenty to one hundred have been added to each of these churches." The Presbytery of Tioga state: "With
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many of our churches the past year has been a year of the right- hand of the Most Iligh. Those showers of heavenly influence, of which it has been our privilege to hear in so many places, and which seem to mark a new era in the church, have passed over our hills and our valleys, causing the parched desert to bloom like the garden of God. The churches which have been most distinguished by the divine mercy in these visitations, are those of Berkshire, Richford, Owego, Binghampton, Union, Nanticoke, Spencer, and Lislewest. The churches of Danby, Caroline, and Virgil, have not been passed by, but some drops of mercy have descended upon them, and some precious souls, as we hope, have been born into the kingdom of God's dear Son. The number that has been added to the church, as the fruits of these revivals, is abont four hundred, and the state of religion in the several places which have been named, is still interesting. The different agencies which have been employed in the production and promotion of this work, have been the ordinary means of grace ; intelligence of revivals in other places ; monthly tract distribution ; temperance societies ; morning prayer meetings ; and days of special fasting and prayer. But in addition to all these, the special influences of the Holy Spirit, with- out which the combined influence of all other causes would be to- tally and for ever in vain. The people of God have been excited to pray with uncommon fervency, 'Thy kingdom come,' and the promise has been, in many cases, most signally verified, 'Before they call, I will answer ; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.'" In April, 1831, the Presbytery of Cayuga record, "The Spirit of the Lord has been poured upon some of our churches in a manner which has gladdened saints on earth, and sent joy to the bosoms of kindred spirits above. The churches which have been more especially blessed with refreshing showers of grace, are those of Elbridge, Skeneatoles, Auburn, Cayuga, Ludlowville, and Ithaca." To the church in Ithaca two hundred and twenty were added as the fruits of the revival. Feb. 14th, 1832, they say, " It has pleased our glorious Redeemer, who sits as King in his holy hill of Zion, to grant to most of the churches within our bounds, the precious effu- sions of the Holy Spirit, by which the hearts of Zion's friends have been encouraged and made glad. The number of churches under the care of the Presbytery is thirty-one. Of these, twenty-two have been represented at our present meeting, and from their re- ports it appears that some addition has been made to each during the year, and that only two have been passed by in the general visitation of divine influences with which the church has been blessed. In some of the churches, the work has been more power- ful and extensive than any they had before enjoyed ; in others it was more gradual in its progress, and the Spirit's influence distilled like the dew. But in all, it has been of such a character, as clearly displayed the sovereignty of divine grace, and proved it to be the
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work of God. The whole number added to these churches the last year, exceeds twelve hundred. In the several congregations their number has varied from fifteen to two hundred. The churches which have received the largest accessions are the first and second churches of Auburn, while in other congregations less numerous, the work has been equally, or even more extensive and powerful, in proportion to their numbers."
Within the bounds of the Presbytery of Geneva, during the year 1831, the work of God was great and glorious. The Presbytery published a Narrative of the Revivals of Religion within their bounds, but it is altogether too lengthy to be inserted entire in this work. We shall, however, endeavor to give it in a condensed form. In no year since the settlement of the country, had so many and such signal triumphs of the Redeemer's cause been witnessed. All the congregations which enjoyed the stated means of grace, were blessed with a revival. In Geneva the first indications of a work of grace were manifested in the Female Seminary, in the month of June, 1830. Others, not connected with the Seminary, soon became interested in the work, and though it was not power- ful, nor general, it continued with various degrees of interest through the summer and autumn, every week furnishing some new cases of hopeful conversion to God. Some time in January, 1831, the work appeared to receive a new impulse, and until about the last of March, the number of hopeful conversions was from twelve to twenty each week. From this time it gradually declined until, in about a year from the time of its commencement, it might be said to have closed. When at its greatest height, no irregularities were witnessed, no crying out in public worship, no boisterous ex- pressions of joy, no audible sighing or groaning, and, indeed, little else than the natural expression of a soul deeply impressed with a sense of guilt, or calmly reposing by faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole number who professed a hope of renewing grace, was about two hundred and seventy; of these, forty or fifty were members of the Female Seminary, most of whom being from abroad, did not unite with the church of Geneva. The number of those who united with the Presbyterian church of Geneva, was more than two hundred. Some time in November, 1830, an un- usual seriousness was observed in Canandaigua. An increased attention to the ordinary means of grace was manifest, and some of the church were encouraged to increase their efforts for a gene- ral revival of God's work. Special seasons for fasting, humiliation, and prayer, and religious conference, were observed with obvious benefit. About the middle of January, the work might be said to have become general. It continued with various degrees of in- terest until the approach of summer, and resulted in the hopeful conversion of about one hundred souls. The church of Castleton, in 1830, had been organized about three years previous, and con-
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sisted of thirty-four members. It was sustained, in part, by the aid of the American Home Missionary Society. The first favorable indications of a revival, it is said, appeared in an increased spirit of prayer among a few female members of the church, at their weekly prayer-meeting. An increasing seriousness was visible in the congregation, but nothing of a very marked character till about the middle of December. At this time a few persons were known to be inquiring, and a meeting for such as desired personal conversation on the subject of religion, was appointed. From this time the work became general. In the spring it declined, and through the summer no special interest was manifested. In Octo- ber a protracted meeting was held, and, in connexion with it, a number more professed to embrace the Saviour. The whole num- ber who united with the church during the year, as the result of this revival, was one hundred and six. The subjects of the work were of all ages, from the child of ten to the man of seventy. Early in February a favorable state of religious feeling began to be visible in Penyan. In consequence of this state of feeling, several days of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, were observed by the church. Soon, it was found, that some sinners were anxious on the subject of their souls' concern, and some were expressing a hope in Christ. Meetings for prayer and religious instruction were attended with greater frequency, and the Holy Spirit made the word quick and powerful. Seriousness increased, and the work of conversion was clearly exhibited. The work continued with un- diminished interest till the opening of the spring, when it began sensibly to decline. As the result of the revival, one hundred and twenty-three persons united with the Presbyterian church. Early in December, 1830, a work of grace commenced in the church of Ulysses (now denominated Trumansburgh), and continued until May following. It was more powerful in January than in any other month of its continuance. It was at no time general through- out the town, but was almost wholly suspended in one neighbor- hood when it became general in another. The number added to the Presbyterian church, by profession, was one hundred and twenty-five. At Seneca Falls (formerly denominated Junius first church), the state of religion began to assume a more interesting aspect early in the autumn of 1830. Some favorable appearances had been previously witnessed, and some hopeful conversions had occurred ; but it was not until near the close of the year, that the community at large seemed to be moved. The work extended to other parts of the town, where frequent meetings were held, and the usual means employed to awaken attention, and excite serious consideration. The work continued through the winter, and re- sulted in the addition of one hundred and twenty-seven to the Presbyterian church.
About the last of December, 1830, a revival commenced in the
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north-west part of the congregation of Phelps, and by the 1st of March following about fifty individuals were rejoicing in a hope of pardon through a Mediator. About this time the church, which had heretofore extended over a large territory, and worshipped alternately in two distinct locations, was divided, and ninety of its members were organized into a new church, denominated the church of Vienna. The agitation of this question, and the conse- quent dismission of the pastor, for a season had an unfavorable effect upon the revival. But soon after the organization of the new church, God was pleased to visit it in much mercy, and revive his work anew. As the result of this revival, eighty members were added to the church. In the east congregation, now denominated the congregation of Phelps, the work continued through the sum- mer, and forty-seven new members were added to that church. In the congregation of Lyons favorable indications were observed about the beginning of the year 1831. A few members of the church became more engaged, and manifested a deeper interest in the cause. The impenitent soon began to be alarmed ; the anxious room became thronged, and sinners were daily born into the king- dom. The first hopeful convert was a member of the Bible Class, and a Sabbath school teacher. Most of the converts were in early life. More than one hundred, as the fruits of this revival, were added to the Presbyterian Church. Near the last of March, 1831, in connexion with a protracted meeting of four days' continuance, in the congregation of Hector, a deep solemnity was manifested, and several hopeful conversions took place. For a season after the protracted meeting seriousness continued, and some instances of the renewing grace of God were manifested. As the result twenty- four individuals made a profession of religion, and united with the Presbyterian Church. Of this number ten were heads of families. Almost all the youth who were the subjects of this revival, were members of the Bible Class, or of the Sabbath School. In the con- gregation of Junius a revival commenced in March, 1831, and continued about three months. Its first indications were an in- creased spirit of prayer among the members of the church. It was at no time very powerful. About thirty, it is believed, experienced the renovating influence of the Holy Ghost. In Gorham a revival commenced in March, 1831, and continued about three months. In the latter part of the year there was a renewal of the work, and in the course of the year forty-one members were added to the Pres- byterian Church as the fruits of the revival. The congregation of Hopewell is not mentioned in the Narrative of the Presbytery, but it is known that a revival was experienced in that congregation, and as the result sixty-four members were added to the church. In the congregation of Rushville, as in several others in the near vicinity, the first clear indications of revival were manifested in the month of March, 1831. The meetings for prayer and religious
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conference, as well as public services on the Sabbath, became crowded and solemn, and, for about three months, the work con- tinued without any apparent diminution of interest. The number who were supposed to have embraced the Saviour was about fifty. The church in West Dresden shared, in a comparatively small de- gree, in this work of God's grace, and was increased from eight members to twenty-seven. The church in Ovid shared in this re- vival, though not to the extent of some others. Thirty-eight mem- bers, by profession, were added to its communion in the course of the year. In the congregation of Williamson a revival commenced in March, and for about two months, the interest which was felt on the things which concern salvation was very considerable. In September a protracted meeting was held in one part of the con- gregation, which was well attended, and successful in its issue. In the course of the year sixty-nine members were added to the church on profession of their faith. The congregation of Sodus experienced the blessedness of a share in this work of the spirit of God, and forty-three persons were added to its communion, as the result. In Newark a deep attention to the things of religion pre- vailed during the spring of 1831, the only information concerning which that has come to the knowledge of the writer, is, that one hundred and seventy members were added to the church by pro- fession. In Palmyra the revival commenced near the last of Sep- tember, 1830. A few individuals began to feel and deplore the state of spiritual declension which at that time existed ; the spirit of prayer began to revive in the church, and the members, one by one, came up to the help of the Lord. No uncommon measures were used to produce excitement ; the principal means used, were the preaching of the word and prayer. The meetings were cha- racterized by great stillness and solemnity. A deep solemnity per- vaded the whole community, and few remained wholly unconcerned. Eighty-two united with the Presbyterian Church. In the congre- gation of Rose, a revival was enjoyed during the spring and sum- mer, as the result of which seventeen members were added to the church, which previously consisted of twenty-two members. The little church of Wolcott enjoyed a season of refreshing, and sixteen members were added to its communion, by profession. The feeble band at Port Bay (now Huron) shared, in a measure, in the effu- sion of the divine spirit, and was increased by the addition of twenty- five members, as the fruits of this season of reviving. Of these twenty had been, or then were, members of the Sabbath School. In Waterloo, early in February, 1831, an effort was made to ad- vance the cause of temperance, and almost immediately a revival of religion ensued. A state of religious feeling was soon indicated of a highly interesting character. The work was general, and for a short time powerful. About one hundred made a profession of religion.
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The state of religion in Galen (now Clyde) began to assume a more favorable aspect early in the spring of 1831. A pro- tracted meeting was held in April, which resulted favorably. Another was held in December, and some additional interest ex- cited. The number added to the church was about one hundred. In Benton (the church which is now called Bellona), an 'increased attention to religion began to be manifested, about the first of March, 1831. An unusual spirit of prayer was enjoyed by the members of the church, and meetings were attended by greater numbers, and with unusual interest. The work, however, did not assume the features of a revival until May. From this time cases of hopeful conversion were frequent for several weeks, and be- tween forty and fifty were added to the church by profession. In the congregation of Romulus, in January and February, 1831, an unusual fervency and importunity in prayer was manifested on the part of Christians. In March, an awakened anxiety was percepti- ble among the impenitent. Meetings were thronged ; the word of God was quick and powerful, and many were brought to submit themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. The work continued about three months, and eighty-nine, as the result, united with the Pres- byterian church.
In East Bloomfield, the church is congregational and indepen- dent. The revival commenced in one section of the town, in Oc- tober, 1830, and by the middle of December, it became general through the congregation. The services of the Sabbath, the week- ly lectures, and the meetings for social prayer were crowded and solemn. Christians appeared to feel for sinners, and sinners to feel for themselves. The number added to the Congregational church as the result of this season of visitation, was one hundred and eleven.
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