USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 34
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phists talk of reforming the world by banishing Christianity and introducing their licentious systems. The blessed gospel of our God and Saviour is showing what it can do.
Some circumstances have concurred to 'distinguish the Kentucky revival from most others of which we have had any account. ,I mean the largeness of the assemblies on sacramental occasions, the length of time they continued on the ground in devotional exercises, and the great numbers who have fallen down under religious im- pressions. On each of these particulars I shall make some remarks. 1st. With respect to the largeness of the assemblies. It is generally supposed that at many places there were not fewer than eight, ten, or twelve thousand people. At a place called Cane Ridge Meeting- House, many are of opinion there were at least twenty thousand. There were 140 wagons which came loaded with people, besides other wheel carriages. Some persons had come 200 miles. The largeness of these assemblies was an inconvenience - they were too numerous to be addressed by one speaker; it therefore became necessary for several ministers to officiate at the same time at differ- ent stands. This afforded an opportunity to those who were but slightly impressed with religion to wander to and fro between the different places of worship, which created an appearance of confusion, and gave ground to such as were unfriendly to the work to charge it with disorder.
Another cause also conduced to the same effect; about this time, the people began to fall down in great numbers, under serious impressions. This was a new thing among Presbyterians ; it excited universal astonishment, and created a curiosity which could not be restrained, when people fell even during the most solemn parts of divine service. Those who stood near, were so extremely anxious to see how they were affected, that they often crowded about them, so as to disturb the worship. But these causes of disorder were soon removed; different sacraments were appointed on the same Sabbath, which divided the people, and the falling down became so familiar as to excite no disturbance. In October, I attended three sacraments ; at each, there were supposed to be four or five thou- sand people, and everything was conducted with strict propriety. When persons fell, those who were. near took care of them, and everything continued quiet until the worship was concluded.
2d. The length of time that people continue at the places of wor- ship, is another important circumstance of the Kentucky revival. At Cane Ridge they met on Friday, and continued till Wednesday even- ing, night and day, without intermission, either in public or private exercises of devotion, and with such earnestness, that heavy showers of rain were not sufficient to disperse them. On other sacramental occasions, they generally continued on the ground until Monday or Tuesday evening ; and had not the preachers been. exhausted and obliged to retire, or had they chosen to prolong the worship, they might have kept the people any length of time they pleased; and all this was or might have been done in a country where, less than twelve
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months before, the clergy found it difficult to detain the people during the usual exercises of the Sabbath.
The practice of camping on the ground was introduced partly by necessity, and partly by inclination ; the assemblies were generally too large to be received by any common neighborhood; everything indeed was done which hospitality and brotherly kindness could do, to accommodate the people ; public and private houses were opened, and free invitations given to all persons who wished to retire. Farmers gave up their meadows, before they were mown, to supply the horses ; yet, notwithstanding all this liberality, it would have been impossible, in many cases, to have accommodated the whole assemblies with private lodgings ; but, besides, the people were un- willing to suffer any interruption in their devotions, and they formed an attachment to the place where they were continually seeing so many careless sinners receiving their first impressions, and so many deists constrained to call on the formerly despised name of Jesus ; they conceived a sentiment like what Jacob felt in Bethel, "Surely the Lord is in this place." "This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."
3d. The number of persons who have fallen down under serious impressions in this revival, is another matter worthy of attention ; and on this I shall be more particular, as it seems to be the prin- cipal cause why this work should be more suspected of enthusiasm than some other revivals. At Cane Ridge sacrament, it is generally supposed not less than one thousand persons fell prostrate to the ground, among whom were many infidels. At one sacrament which I attended, the number that fell was thought to be more than three hundred. ' Persons who fall, are generally such as had manifested symptoms of the deepest impressions for some time previous to that event .. It is, common to see them shed tears plentifully for about an hour. Immediately before they become totally powerless, they are seized with a tremor, and sometimes, though not often, they utter one or two. piercing shrieks, in the moment of falling; persons in this situation are affected in different degrees ; sometimes, when unable to stand or sit, they have the use of their hands, and can converse with perfect composure. In other cases they are unable to speak, the pulse becomes weak, and they draw a difficult breath, about once in a minute : in some instances, their extremities become cold, and pulsation, breathing, and all the signs of life forsake them for nearly an hour. Persons who have been in this situation have uniformly avowed that they felt no bodily pain, that they had the entire use of their reason and reflection, and when recovered, they could relate everything that had been said or done near them, or which could possibly fall within their observation.
From this it appears that their falling is neither common fainting, nor a nervous action. Indeed this strange phenomenon appears to have taken every possible turn to baffle the conjectures of those who are not willing to consider it a supernatural work. Persons have sometimes fallen on their way from public worship; and sometimes
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after they had arrived at home; and in some cases when they were pursuing their common business on their farms, or when retired for secret devotion. It was above observed that persons generally are seriously affected for some time previous to their falling; in many cases, however, it is otherwise. Numbers of thoughtless sinners have fallen as suddenly as if struck with lightning. Many pro- fessed infidels, and other vicious characters have been arrested in this way, and sometimes at the very time they were uttering blas- phemies against the work.
At the beginning of the revival in Shelby County, the appear- ances, as related to me by eye-witnesses, were very surprising indeed. The revival had before this spread with irresistible power through the adjacent counties ; and many of the pious had attended distant sacraments with great benefit. These were much engaged, r. and felt unusual freedom in their addresses at the throne of grace, for the out-pouring of the divine Spirit at the approaching sacra- ment in Shelby. The sacrament came on in September. The people as usual met on Friday : but all were languid, and the exer- cises went on heavily. On Saturday and Sunday morning it was no better. At length the communion service commenced, everything was still lifeless : whilst the minister of the place was speaking at one of the tables, without any unusual animation, suddenly there were several shrieks from different parts of the assembly ; instantly persons fell in every direction ; the feelings of the pious were sud- denly revived, and the work progressed. with extraording power, till the conclusion of the solemnity. This phenomenon of falling is common to all ages, sexes, and characters ; and when they fall they. are differently exercised. Some pious people have fallen under a sense of ingratitude and hardness of heart, and others under affect- ing manifestations of the love and good of God. Many thoughtless persons under legal convictions, have obtained comfort before they arose.
But perhaps the most numerous class consists of those who fall under distressing views, of their guilt, who arise with the same fear- ful apprehensions, and continue in that state for some days, perhaps weeks, before they receive comfort. I have conversed with many who fell'under the influence of comfortable feelings, and the account they gave of their exercises while they lay entranced was very sur- prising. I know not how to give you a better idea of them than by . sayiug, that in many cases they appeared to surpass the dying exer- cises of Dr. Finley ; their minds appeared wholly swallowed up in contemplating the perfections of Deity, as illustrated in the plan of salvation, and whilst they lay apparently senseless, and almost lifeless, their minds were more vigorous, and their memories more retentive and accurate than they had ever been before.
I have heard men of respectability assert that their manifesta- tions of gospel truth were so clear, as to require some caution when they began to speak, lest they should use language which might in- duce their hearers to suppose, that they had seen those things with
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their bodily eyes ; but at the same time they had seen no image, nor sensible representation, nor indeed any thing besides the old truths contained in the Bible. Among those whose minds were filled with the most delightful communications of divine love, I but seldom observed anything extatic. Their expressions were just and rational, they conversed with calmness and composure, and on their first recovering the use of speech, they appeared like persons re- covering from a violent disease which had left them on the borders of the grave. I have sometimes been present when persons who fell under the influence of convictions, obtained relief before they arose ; in these cases it was impossible not to observe how strongly the change in their minds was depicted in their countenances. In- stead of a face of horror and despair, they assumed one open, lu- minous, screne and expressive of all the comfortable feelings of re- ligion. As to those who fall down under legal convictions and continue in that state, they are not different from those who receive convictions in other revivals, excepting that their distress is more severe. Indeed extraordinary power is the leading characteristic of this revival; both saints and sinners have more striking discove- ries of the realities of another world, than I have ever known on any other occasion.
I trust I have said enough on this subject to enable you to judge, how far the charge of enthusiasm is applicable to it. Lord Lyttle- ton in his letter on the conversion of St. Paul observes, (I think justly), that enthusiasm is a vain self-righteous spirit, swelled with self-sufficiency and disposed to glory in its religious attainments. ." If this be a good definition there has been perhaps as little enthu- siasm in the Kentucky revival as in any other. Never have I seen more genuine marks of that humility which disclaims the merit of its own duties, and looks to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way of acceptance with God. . I was indeed highly pleased to find that Christ was all in all in their religion, as well as in the religion of the gospel. Christians in their highest attainments seemed most sensible of their entire dependence on divine grace, and it was truly affecting to hear with what agonizing anxiety awakened sinners en- quired for Christ, as the only physician who could give them any help. Those who call these things enthusiasm ought to tell us what they understand by the spirit of Christianity. In fact, sir, this revival operates as our Saviour promised the Holy Spirit should when sent into the world: it convinces of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; a strong confirmation to my mind, both that the promise is divine, and that this is a remarkable fulfilment of it.
It would be of little avail to object to all this, that probably the professions of many were counterfeited. Such an objection would rather establish what it meant to destroy, for where there is no reality there can be no counterfeit, and besides when the general tenor of a work is such as to dispose the more insincere, professors to counterfeit what is right, the work itself must be genuine. But as an eye-witness in the case, I may be permitted to declare that
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the professions of those under religious convictions were generally marked with such a degree of engagedness and feeling, as wilful hypocrisy could hardly assume. The language of the heart when deeply impressed, is very distinguishable from the language of affec- tation. Upon the whole, sir, I think the revival in Kentucky among the most extraordinary that have ever visited the Church of Christ, and, all things considered, peculiarly adapted to the circumstances of that country. Infidelity was triumphant, and religion at the point of expiring. Something of an extraordinary nature seemed necessary to arrest the attention of a giddy people, who were ready to conclude that Christianity was a fable, and futurity a dream. This revival has done it, it has confounded infidelity, awed vice into silence, and brought numbers beyond calculation, under serious im- pressions. Whilst the blessed Saviour was calling home his people, and building up his Church in this remarkable way, opposition could not be silent. At this I hinted above; but it is proper to observe, that the clamorous opposition which assailed the work at its com- mencement has been in a great measure borne down before it.
A large proportion of those who have fallen, were at first op- posers, and their example has taught others to be cautious, if it has not taught them to be wise. I have written on this subject, to a greater length than I first intended, but if this account should give you, any sstisfaction, and be of any benefit to the common cause, I shall be fully gratified.
Yours with the highest esteem, G. A. BAXTER .-
In this letter he displays one of his characteristics through life, an ability to gather facts with coolness and precision in preparation for illustration, demonstration, or experiment in the broad field of natural and moral philosophy, in the science of physics or of mind, religion natural or revealed. From these data he formed his opinion. Of the bodily exercises he wrote more favorably than he probably would have done some years later in life. He never thought them subversive of religion, in their early stages, and more moderate forms, or irreconcilable with its purity. They might be a weakness, but not a sin. In their later stages, when they became violent and varied, he carefully separated them from religion, both in its early and more matured exercises. The work, as he saw it,?) he believed to be of God, and rejoiced in it, and desired to behold its power in Virginia. The old men, leaders in the revival of '88, were gone or sinking in years. The young men, and converts, were the standard bearers now, and watched the approach of the pillar of cloud and of fire, that, hovering over Kentucky, moved slowly eastward. With an almost universal dread of the bodily exercises, they longed for the presence of the Almighty, with which these were mysteriously connected.
The excitement, with some of its peculiarities, was felt in Vir- ginia, first, in the Presbyterian settlements along the head waters
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of- the Kenawha, in Greenbrier County. Here were no stated min- isters. Missionaries occasionally visited them. The work began at a prayer-meeting of private Christians. Ministers from Ken- tucky recognized here the power of spiritual truths over the minds of men, as they had seen it in the West. Some of the Virginia preachers visited the settlements, and beheld, with astonishment, the influence of grace combined with an unknown power. Desires, hopes, and fears were high. Would the shower descend upon the Virginia church ?
In the latter part of the year 1801, the churches under the care of Messrs. Mitchel and Turner, were greatly revived. A meeting held at the close of the year was noted for the number of people impressed with a deep sense of the value as well as truth of the gospel. Many made profession of their faith. The bodily agitations of numbers were uncontrolled; they fell upon the ground as smitten by a resistless power. In the succeeding spring the influence of divine truth was felt with increased force. The Presbytery of Han- over met at Bethel. Crowds attended upon the ministrations of the gospel. About one hundred had now professed conversion. There were some bodily exercises; but no noise or outbreaking of disor- derly emotions. The congregations in Albemarle, in Prince Edward and Charlotte, were greatly awakened; and the happy influence was felt over a large region of country, east of the Blue Ridge.
Mr. Baxter visited Bedford, and some of his young people mingled with the congregation of Bethel in their religious services. The pastor and his young people returned like Graham from Prince Edward, imbued with the spirit of the revival. The congregations of Lexington and New Monmouth became deeply interested. There were many hopeful conversions. The work of grace spread through the congregations in the. Valley. Bodily exercises accompanied, and, in some of the congregations, were violent. Mr. Baxter for a time hesitated. Were they a necessary connection ? If so, let them be as violent as could be imagined, only let the work of grace go on. Were they an accidental thing, or the work of the enemy sowing tares ? If so, they were to be opposed at all hazards lest they defile the work of God. Samuel Brown, of New Providence, said boldly they were a profane mixture, a device of Satan to mar the work of God. In a little time Mr. Baxter, and the ministers generally, came to the conclusion that they were not a necessary part of the work of grace, and were to be discountenanced. Only one minister felt unwilling to speak and act against them. By private conversation, and calmly pausing in public services whenever the exercises commenced, till quietness was restored, the minister in a little time entirely put down the unhappy " profane mixture,". - except in some peculiar cases and solitary instances.
The awakening continued in different parts of the Synod for some years. There were many hopeful converts where there was no stated ministry, or regular church organization. Many of these looking in vain to the Presbyterian Church for the living ministry,
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turned their attention to other denominations prepared to supply their wants, and are now lost to the Presbyterian Church. The demand for educated ministers came pressing on the Synod. She looked to her Colleges, and to the sons of the Church, and to her God, for the supply.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
GEORGE A. BAXTER, D. D., RECTOR AND PRESIDENT.
LIKE William Graham, the first Rector, Mr. Baxter appropriated the income, from the tuition and the available funds principally, to the support of the professors and tutors associated with him, reserv- ing for himself the remainder after their salaries were paid. The expenses of his own family were met by the salary of £100, Virginia currency, from the congregations of New Monmouth and Lexington, and the income of the property received with his wife from the estate of her father. It does not appear that any specific salary was ever offered him while connected with the institution.
To his duties as instructor in the Mathematical department, he added the recitations in Rhetoric, Moral Philosophy, Natural Law, and the Law of Nations. With the able assistance of Messrs. Joseph Graham and Daniel Blain, Mr. Baxter soon found himself at the head of an academy containing about seventy scholars. The pros- pects were encouraging for an increased number. The list of gradu- ates had not hitherto been, and was not during the Rectorship and Presidency of Mr. Baxter, proportionably equal to the list of those receiving their education at the academy. A specified amount of acquirements in the Classics, Mathematics, Mental and Moral Philoso- phy was necessary to obtain the degree of Bachelor of Arts. But it had always been left optional to the students with their parents and guardians, whether they should pursue the whole College course, or confine themselves to some particular departments, as the exact sciences, or languages and philosophy, or the sciences with philoso- phy. A large number of the students left the academy without the degree of A. B. given as a certificate of their general progress, though they might have a certificate for their chosen study in which they excelled.
Virginia is now solving, on a large scale, the problem often dis- cussed, how far the interests of literature and science, and of the body politic at large, require a prescribed course of study embracing the principles of all the departments in science and literature; and how far, and in what way, all these interests are affected by per- mitting students to pursue chosen branches, a degree being given for excellence, in any one branch, expressing the progress made, and
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naming the branch of study; and a degree being also given for excellence in the whole circle of studies, that fact being particularly stated.
About the close of the 18th century, a taste for classical study was extensively discouraged in America, and the Mathematics with the Natural Sciences engrossed the public attention. The study of language began to be confined to candidates for the ministry, and lovers of literature for its own excellence. Public opinion has undergone a change; and the classics have regained their standing in our Colleges and Universities. And the enquiry now is, whether students shall be required to pursue a complete course of scientific and literary studies in our public institutions, or be permitted to select particular branches, or parts of a general course. Public experience will in due time decide the question.
Dr. Baxter held the offices of Rectorship and President about thirty years. Under his direction about four hundred and fifty youths completed their academic studies. In after life they were found in various positions in society -gentlemen of leisure, farmers of science and taste, ministers of the gospel, lawyers, governors, pro- fessors and Presidents of Colleges, and Judges of the different Courts, and members of the medical profession.
The endowment made by Washington, began, in a little time, to yield a fair per cent .; and is now by an arrangement made some years since by the State, the most productive of the College funds. The Virginia Society of the Cincinnati, in preparation for its own dissolution, followed the example of Washington, and gave their pro- perty, amounting to $16,000, to the Washington Academy, to sus- tain a professor, part of whose duties should be the teaching of those branches of education particularly required for the profession of arms. The fund retains the name of the Society. Mr. John Rob- inson, a citizen of Rockbridge, made the institution his heir. An emigrant from Ireland, living on the waters of the James River, without descendants, he had amassed property in lands, slaves, and money; and was induced to give, by will, all his possessions, to be united with the donations of Washington and the Society of the Cincinnati, for the support of a Literary Institution.
In the year 1813, by Act of Legislature, the name of the insti- tution was changed from Academy to College, and is now styled Washington College ; the name of Liberty Hall having, in the year 1798, given place to that of Washington, in memory of his donation of one hundred shares of James River stock. The charter remained unchanged, its powers being considered sufficiently ample. The propriety of altering the appearance of College hill, and of enlarging the accommodations for students and professors, and of increasing the number of the faculty of instruction, was admitted by the trus- tees, and the accomplishment was resolved upon many years before the funds became sufficiently productive. They have, however, all been realized ; and Washington College is, in all these respects, the fulfilment of Dr. Baxter's earnest desires.
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By the successive classes of students Dr. Baxter was held in peculiar estimation as a kind, fatherly, resolute President, who might be deceived by a designing boy, the deception sure to be dis- covered, bringing at last more trouble in the heart than pleasure in the mischief. They gave him the significant title "old rex." The cry of "old rex is coming !"- and they could always know when he was coming, without much watching, for he always gave the alarm by his half suppressed cough - "old rex is coming !" the mischief was all done, the boys in their places, and at work. But somehow, "old rex," when stirred up to investigate some little offences, always seemed to get at the matter so easily, and to dispose of the pecca- dilloes so justly, and kindly, and according to law, that his authority never lost its power, and offenders could not long escape some dis- cipline. His pupils never lost their admiration of "old rex." If he was indignant, he did not get angry; if he did punish he was not cruel; and if there seemed to be the beginning of wrath, all were sure there had been a great provocation. And then sometimes "old rex," when he had caught the offenders, and they knew that he had caught them, beyond the possibility of excuse, would seem not to believe them guilty ; it was not possible they could be guilty ; and he would take any explanation and let them all go, when all knew they ought to suffer, and would send them away with some kind words about "father," and "mother," and "sisters," and " home," that went to their hearts. Sometimes he would keep them in suspense, waiting day after day to know their doom, till the tor- ture of suspense would well nigh break their spirits, and then dis- miss them with a caution. ' The students loved him; they loved him through life; they loved to talk about him, and his absolute dominion and his inherent greatness, and the winding up of their various little pranks, always getting off easier than they deserved. When Dr. Baxter expressed entire confidence in his own authority, and his ability to preserve it, he mistook neither the hearts of the students or the people of Lexington. On a certain occasion, a scur- rilous pamphlet was put in circulation, intended for his injury. For a time it produced great excitement. One of his elders invited him to his counting-room, and expostulated with him for not answering it, and exposing its utter falsity. "Capt. Leyburn," replied the Doctor, "I have lived in this community for thirty years to little purpose, if it is necessary for me to answer that pamphlet." In a little time the whole matter was forgotten. His great self-reliance was without haughtiness or pride, and he cherished in others this excellence in himself.
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