\w^ o- -^^^^ PRINCETON, N. J. ^ Presented by^T^VcS^ \ C>\ f co-operation, Mr. Hammond worked on, introduced our Ameri- can melodies, the unwonted sounds to those who have never listened to a more rapidly moving air than Wells, or Dundee, introduced our inquiry meetings, and our bright, sharp and prompt methods of conducting the religious services. The effect was immediate. Inquiry meetings were instituted and were thronged. In a month from the time when a special in terest was awakened, a hundred felt that they had found their Saviour. He was continuing his studies at Edinburgh, preach- ing every night amid the excitement of a revival. For a month, the length of my stay there , I was intimate with the young evangelist. I preached for him fifteen times, and was with him under all circumstances. We often occupied the same room at night ; we were together recipients of the same generous hos- pitalities, we communicated to each other our inmost thoughts. I was utterly unable to make his place good in a revival meet- ing, and the most that I could do was to stand in his stead and give him time to rest. But I had ample opportunity to study his character, and it is my deliberate conviction, that I have never met a man who was more devoted, heart, mind, soul and strength, to the cause of Christ. He was recklessly prodigal of his health. He labored without salary, and with no grounded expectation that a purse would be made up for him. He was remembered, it is true, and during my visit at Edinburgh I was charged with the delightful duty of presenting him pub- licly with a valuable set of theological writings, and a liberal sum was subscribed in his behalf. Mr. Hammond is by no means deficient in scholarship, nor in the lighter graces of cul- ture. He is now a graduate of Williams College. He is a young man of reading, and even of literary aspirations. But OF THE HOI^Y SPIRIT. 63 first and foremost in him is his devotion to the work of an evan- gelist. I write all this entirely out of his knowledge, and only from the wish that he may not meet in Boston the cold hand and unsympathizing face of misjudged prejudice, but that he may be helped by all those who wish well, I will not say to the revival system, but to a man of integrity, power, fervor, and of the most humble mind, and purest aspirations." Rev. Wm. Arnot, of St. Peter's Church, Glas- gow, remarked at the great "Presentation Meet- ing " in the same place a year later : " If I understand aright the position which I have been in- vited to occupy this evening, the two points which I ought to touch are the work and the wages of an evangelist. I am pre- pared to assume fuUy the responsibility of dealing with these two things in their application to our present circumstances. These I count the main pillars of the cause, and on these I am ready to take my stand without faltering. . . . While I hold myself neutral on some points, I see clearly that a large portion of the people who oppose them have no ground to stand upon. When a soldier or diplomatist who has gained a name comes in their way, they are in haste to feast and honor him. Soldiers who have fought and won they feast ; and, failing these, so keen is their relish for the work, that they will catch and feast a stray soldier who has neither fought nor won. Now to the two points which I count my own. And first, the work of an evangelist. Where do evangelists come from ? They just cast up, and that is all that can be said about the human side of the question. On the upper side, the answer is short and easy — if they are true evangelists, they are the gifts of Christ to his weary heritage. When God intends to trouble the waters I must not, under color of order, limit him in the in- struments which He shall employ. He may employ a minister 64 THE HARVEST WORK ing angel, or a ministering man, or a ministeritg child ; or He may do the work by political revolutions or material earth- quakes. It is not my part to determine beforehand how he ought to do it, but to wait reverently and gladly on what he has done. And after the work is done, it is not difficult even to see some of the reasons why the Head of the Church em- ploys a sti anger chiefly in such an awakening. It is dangerous to be set upon such a height of public observation as this awakening necessarily sets him on ; if it is dangerous for him, a stranger, what would it have been for some of us who have for a generation been in a position of honor in the community, and who are rooted in the almost hereditary affections of large congregations? Every man must judge for himself on this point ; but for my part, I gladly acquiesce in the providence of God herein, believing that I see Divine wisdom even in the in- cidental circumstances of the work. Consider further how much practical power and success have depended upon certain authoritative private thrusts at the conscience — probing direct- ly the present spiritual state of the individual. He is in a bet- ter position for doing that work than I would be, or than most resident ministers. The very fact that he is a stranger in- creases his power in that direction. That sort of thrust is like stretching a beam over a chasm, and expecting it to bear a weight. The length of the beam lessens its strength. The shorter beam is the stronger, simply because it is short. Every stumble that a resident minister makes during a thirty years' ministry among the same people is like a knot in the wood — a place at which it will give way if he venture to lean much upon it. No doubt, an evangelist might settle down to a thirty years' ministry on the same spot, and be so kept, by God's almighty and miraculous grace, that he would not only make no weakening stumble, but that the people would not at any time take up a causeless prejudice against him. This and all things are possible with the Lord ; but they are not common in OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 66 the world — perhaps I may say more, they never happen. M'Cheyne had that strength, and exerted it. He spoke with authority, and spoke home. He spoke with amazing eflFect to the conscience in his quiet words. Would this pe- culiar power have been weakened if his life had been lengthened ? I cannot tell ; all I know is, that it was not tried. It may be, indeed, that we are on the verge of brighter days and higher attainments for the Church, I can think, with hope, of the time being near when the weakest of Israel shall be as the house of David, and the house of David as the I Angel of the Lord. I am hopeful for the future ; but I speak of the history of the past. We shall gladly forget the things behind, if we are carried onward and upward. Let no one fear for a moment that the recognition of this extraordinary evan- gelistic work supersedes the ministry. It supports the ministry in two points of view ; first, it gives us more work in the way of directing the awakening and watching the converts ; but, further, it will make our sermons more appreciated, and more in request. A man who has been awakened by an extem- poraneous, unstudied address, does not want to sit and hear such addresses always. He has an appetite now for careful, systematic teaching ; your well-prepared sermon, that went over him like water off a goose's back, now goes into him like rain into thirsty ground. I speak not only by reason- ing on the nature of the case, but also by experience of the fact. Where many are awakened by miscellaneous fervent appeals, there the ordinary ministry is more needed and more valued. Although a hundred such men as Mr. Hammond were let loose on Glasgow, my occupation would not be gone. By-and-by, if they were successful, their occupation would be gone — their occupation as awakening evangelists ; and if they should remain, they would require to fall into the regular methods of the ministry. I thank God for this work ; and I honor the worker And when a faithful man comes up to t Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin. And there were not a few, who had been unmoved under tiie KiiAriug appeals, who were subdued through the power c,f syitp*/^^ ; for, seeing 120 THE HARVEST WORK others so earnest in seeking salvation, they felt it was high time for them to be earnest likewise. Many Christians gave help m the work of conversation. So far as we could learn their views, but one feeling pervaded all their minds — that the prayers which had been offered up for months past were now answered in the cloud of blessing descending on Dumfries, and that God had put his seal upon the work by the conversion of einners. " At six o'clock on the evening of Monday, Dr. Wood's Church was filled with the children of the Sabbath schools as it had been in the afternoon of Sabbath, and some of them gave clear proofs of conversion, and that they have found in the Saviour the salvation of their never-dying souls. At half-past seven. Dr. Wood's Church was crowded, and many who were eager to be present could not reach the door, so great was the crowd outside. Mr. Hammond preached on the leprosy of Naaman, and a very deep impression was made on the listening crowd. About the same number remained for conversation on the evening of Monday as on the Sabbath, but many who suf- fered greatly from the heavy load which pressed them down on the first evening, had found peace and were rejoicing in Christ the second evening. It was touching to see sitting in the same pew, the aged father, mother and daughter, agonized with the conviction of sin against the God of love, on the Sabbath ; and on the Monday the daughter was mingling with the band of young converts, with a happy face and rejoicing heart, praising God. In one pew was sitting a dear boy of twelve years of age, with the tears streaming from his eyes for joy that he had found the Saviour, and on either side of him were aged men and women, groaning from the load of sin on their hearts, and in less than a quarter of an hour that load was removed, and the seat of mourning was exchanged for joy and gladness. " The Independent Church was literally crowded on Monday night from ten till twelve — how long after, we know not ; and OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 121 after the inquirers, mostly males, had been individually spoken to by the Rev. Mr. Machray and others, Mr. Hammond looked in, gave a brief address, prayed, and then invited some of the converts to tell their experience to the meeting. The invitation was in the first instance responded to by a young man belong- ing to Dumfries, who declared that a few days ago he was a scofier, and cared not for spiritual things. He was induced to attend one of the meetings, and was a little affected by what he heard ; but he went away soon, and thought no more on the subject till on a subsequent night he went by invitation to an inquiry meeting, where he was affectionately spoken to by a young man, during whose address he had his eyes opened to see his sins. He saw that he was a poor, guilty sinner, and that unless he was washed in the blood of Christ, he would go to hell. He went home in great trouble of mind, and tossed about sleepless in bed till three or four o'clock in the morning. Next night he got into conversation with some of the ministers, and one of them, Mr. Torrance, explained to him that he must put his trust in Jesus ; and just as he was told to do that, a some- thing came over him which he could not describe, but he did feel that he could put his trust in Christ, and this made him happy. He advised all who heard him, who were yet uncon- verted, to turn to Jesus as he had been enabled to do, and then they would be happy as he was ; and oh, he said, let those who have found Christ tell the good news to others in the stsreets, that they too may obtain salvation and get rid of all their tears. " Another man, approaching middle age, belonging to the neighborhood, we believe, next stept forward and told how about fourteen months ago he had been first aroused to a sense of his true condition as a sinner in the sight of God, but that the impression wore off. That night week, when at the Re- vival meeting, the impression was renewed and decDened. never, he boped, to be efifeced. In returning home he offered up a 122 THE HARVEST WORK heart-felt prayer, and, the next moment, experienced a joj Buch as he was unable to express. *' With the view of affording more accommodation lor the increasing crowds which flock nightly to the Free Church, several seats were on Monday removed from the area, thus leaving standing room for nearly two hundred persons, instead of merely sitting room for fifty-eight. But if the church could, by any possibility, have been enlarged to twice its form- er size, it in that case would still be filled to overflowing, so at- tractive are the Kevival sermons, and so unprecedently intense and wide-spread is the interest felt in them, not only in Dum- fries, but in all the country around. Not fewer than one thousand seven hundred and fifty persons were within the walls of the church on Monday night, many of them closely wedged together ; and last night the attendance was if anything great- er ; while on each occasion there were hundreds at the doors, unable to obtain an entrance. " The services on Tuesday night by the singing of hymns — * grave sweet melody ' — ensued till the arrival of Dr. Wood, who presided .over the meeting. He was followed by the Rev Mr. Greig, parish minister of Kirkpatrick-Durham, who ad- dressed the audience at considerable length. His closing re- marks told powerfully, the audience listening with rapt at- tention to the important statement made by the preacher when recounting his experience as such for a period of thirty years. During a large portion of that time, he now knew, he had never experienced a saving change of heart. While preaching sound doctrine to his people, he was as great a stranger to the power of the gospel as a Hindoo or a Moham- medan ; and it was not till within a comparatively recent period that he realized his true condition in the sight of God, and found the Saviour for himself. He could not state the precise period when his eyes were opened ; ' but this,' said Mr. Greig, * I know, that whereas once I was blind, now I see.' OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 123 *' Mr. Hammond referred to the cases of Dr. Chalmers and other ministers as parallel to that of Mr. Greig ; and expressed his gratification at the address made by him. God, who had made their dear brother bold to speak the truth, would bless his statement, and continue to uphold him to the end. He then noticed the case of another minister, who had recently experi- enced a similar change at a Revival meeting, and whose public acknowledgment of it had been greatly blessed by God to the awakening of other souls that were in danger of sleeping the sleep of death. " An infidel young man, a draper in Dumfries, was then in- troduced by Mr. Hammond, and proceeded to speak with much readiness, and at times rose to a pitch of what may truly be called spontaneous and unpremeditated eloquence, as he de- scribed the way in which he had been led from the darkness and desolateness of scepticism to the light and happiness of saving faith. He told how a companion of his, laboring under deep conviction, last week had conversed with him on the danger which those incur who put off the day of their merciful visitation. He was thus led to think seriously and solemnly on the subject. He felt as if the arrow of conviction had found its way to his heart, and on going home, told his mother he was very unhappy. He went up-stairs still tormented by doubts and fears ; and prayed earnestly that God would give him peace. He turned to his Bible, and there read, in the First Epistle of John, fourth chapter, first verse, that ' many false prophets are gone out into the world.' He felt that this was true — that he had been led away by false prophets, and had been on the road to everlasting ruin. Still laboring under a sense of unpardoned sin, he found his way on Saturday night to an inquiry meeting, and there received some comfort from a conversation which he had with one of the ministers. That minister asked if he would come to Jesus ; and they prayed to- gether ; and he felt comparatively happy. On Sabbath he 124 THE HARVEST WORK went to a prayer meeting, and afterwards heard Mr. Symington preach from a passage in Isaiah, in Mr, Scott's Church ; and from the remarks then made he obtained much relief. His faith was confirmed, and his peace with God through Christ was sealed, as during the same evening at an inquiry meeting he mixed with those who were anxious for their souls, and en- deavored to lead them to the Saviour, whom he had himself, after many wanderings, found. Now his faith in the all-pre- vailing atonement was unwavering ; and he experienced a hap- piness which till that night he had never known. " Mr. Hammond, kneeling down on the platform, offered up prayer — the tones of his voice, and his eyes streaming with tears, betraying his overpowering emotion as he returned thanks for the marvellous doings of the Lord as manifested to them in the cases just related, and many other marks of the Divine favor which had been experienced during that day and night. The young man then knelt down, and offered up a short prayer the scene deeply affecting the audience. Mr. Hammond then, addressing the audience, put the question. How shall ye escape, if ye neglect so great salvation ? That question he could not answer — the devils could not answer it, the angels could not answer it, God himself could not answer it. Escape ? there was no possible way of escape if they despised and neglected the great salvation. " Dr. Wood added a few closing words, in which he solemnly and affectionately urged each individual of the vast multitude pres- ent who still halted for serving two masters, to decide for Christ. The meeting closed by singing the following verse and chorus J " 'Tis done — the great transaction 's done ; I am my Lord's, and he is mine ; He drew me, and I followed on. Charmed to confess the voice divine. Happy day ! happy day ! When JesuB washed my sins away ; OF THE HOLY STIRIT. 126 He taught me how to watch and pray. And live rejoicing every day. Happy day ! happy day ! When Jesus washed my sins away. " At the protracted meeting for inquiry on Tuesday night, from a hundred to a hundred and fifty wert present in the Re- formed Presbyterian Church ; upwards of two hundred in the Independent Church ; and the females in the Free Church were fully as numerous as on any former occasion. One case is re- ported to us as having occurred in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, of peculiar interest — that of a man from the country who had been in a state of great distress, a prey to doubts and misconception, but who was at length, after a torturing ordeal of a fortnight's duration, enabled to place his trust in the Re- deemer and find in Him peace and rest. In the course of the proceedings in the Independent Church, Mr. Machray made the gratifying announcement, that, at the small village of Lochar- briggs in the neighborhood, a crowded Revival meeting had been held that evening, and about seventy anxious inquirers had remained to be conversed with — results which, he said, were in answer to prayers ofiered up for the people of the village, at the meeting which had been held in that church during the day. Several ministers, in addition to those al- ready mentioned by us, have given assistance at the pro- tracted meetings, and, as formerly, ladies and laymen in con- siderable numbers are taking part in the work. *' Among the cases which occurred on the same night in the Free Church, the following one excited an extraordinary amount of attention : — Robert Milligan, aged forty-nine, a native of Kirkcudbright, and for twenty-seven years a soldier in the 1st Regiment of Life Guards, was present at the general meeting, and he was observed to he much afiected by the various addresses that were delivered. He was, it appears, especially •truck with the statements made by the Rey. Mr. Greig, and 126 THE HARVESr WOEK thought within his own mind it was high time he was beginning to examine himself, when a minister like Mr. Greig had confess- ed that he had been long personally ignorant of the gospel. Towards the close of the meeting Mr. W. Milligan, junior, eon versed with him, and they went together for a little to the aouse of the former, and after conversing and praying there \hey returned to the church, he expressing a strong wish to see Blr. Hammond, who was busily engaged at the time with other anxious inquirers. " The scene which ensued was highly affecting. Mr. Milli- gan is a tall, well-made man, barely past the meridian of life, and his buirdly figure was very prominent as he hurried up the area, and seizing Mr. Hammond by the hand, said loud enough to be heard over a great part of the church, 'Sir, I am a soldier : I have been in many a battle, and received many a wound, but never such a one as I received to-night. The arrow sent by that Rev. gentleman (pointing to Mr. Greig,) went through and through my very heart.' Mr. Hammond asked, * Are you now then resolved to be a soldier of the Cross — enrolled in the blood-redeemed army of Jesus?' 'Yes,' was the answer, ' 1 have too long earned the wages of sin, and will henceforth devote myself to the service of the Saviour.' Mr. Hammond offered up a few appropriate words of prayer ; and the soldier, then holding up both hands beseechingly, pray- ed with great fluency and unction. After which he instinc- tively flourished his bonnet, as he said with modest confidence, • I am not ashamed to own my Lord.' This truly impressive and touching episode had a most thrilling effect upon the on- lookers, many of whom sobbed aloud, while others gave ex- pression to a feeling of exulting joy. Soon after, it appears, Mr. Milligan told what had happened to his wife, and appear- ed in company with her at the meeting, where she formed one among the many inquirers after salvation, and is now like him- self, it is said, happy in believing. OP THE HOLY SPIRIT. 127 ** A respected leader of the Free Church, Dumfries, remarked the other night that the scenes he had ■witnessed during the ten days and nights preceding were so extraordinary, that he felt himself at times overcome with amazement, and almost tempted to question their reality. And yet, he added, they are not dreams, delusions, but substantial re- alities, as veritable as they are wonderful and solemn. The same ideas, we doubt not, have passed through the minds of many who have been present at the Revival meet- ings, and especially at those held for inquiry, when, in the dead of night, numbers have to all appearance been made spiritually alive. The protracted meetings are marvellous, on account of the hundreds who take part in them for the purpose of receiving religious instruction and comfort, and still more so because of the considerable proportion of those who declare to their advisers, that they have found what they were in search of — whose language, once that of doubt or despair, is now, * I do believe, I now believe that Jesus died for me.' " The inquiry meetings are also remarkable for the cordiality with which people of all denominations and ranks mix with each other, forming, so to speak, one large family, equal in the sight of the same heavenly Father, and knowing, or at least showing none of the distinctions which are so pertinaciously clung to and so reluctantly parted with in the ordinary world of life. Too often the poor are made to feel bitterly their inferiority of station, but here Dives comes not — at least does not venture to appear in the purple and fine linen of his pride — and those who are literally in the condition of Lazarus, are recognized to be brothers and sisters by men of high position, and by those who are gentlewomen in every sense of the word. Mill-girls and fine ladies talk lovingly together on topics of transcendent interest to both. Women who have fallen — poor Magdalenes — panting for heart's ease, if not sighing pett- 128 THE HARVEST WORK tentially, form units in the throng ; and bo far from bem^ shunned as something vile, are welcomed with the feeling which made the father in the parable kill the fatted calf for his son. The unprecedented religious awakening now experi- enced in Dumfries may subside, and no one expects that the excitement can continue long unabated — in the nature of things it must decrease ; but the memory of these inquiry meetings will have a continued fragrance — they will be re- membered as ajQTording in some respects a foretaste of millennial times ; and viewing them even in the subsidiary temporal sense, without reference to the spiritual benefits there origi- nated, they will, we think, tend to strengthen the bonds of social existence amongst us. Those who experience the luxury of doing good to the poor, know that the latter are grateful for kind words as well as for charitable benefactions, that they sigh for sympathy, and gratefully appreciate any evidence shown to them that they are cared for, body and soul, by the rich. The coldness and superciliousness shown towards those in humble life, and that often too by professing Christians, are at the bottom of much of the heart-burnings and neglect of religious ordinances which prevail in the lower strata of so- ciety. Treatment of a contrary k^'nd not only promotes social peace, but is a step towards the reduction of practical heathen- ism. Hence, if for nothing else, we attach great value to these inquiry meetings ; and we trust that the spirit which prevades them will be manifested out of doors. It must not be allowed to languish, far less to die out, after these delightful reunions have drawn to a close, but be brought to bear upon the outcast and destitute of our population. '* The Wednesday evening meeting in the Free Church was for males alone. The place was crowded by men and boys, many of them from the neighborhood ; and as a proof of the anxiety felt to gain admission we may state that two or three hundred of the country people having had to go away early, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 129 their places were no sooner emptied than occupied by persona from the town. As the meeting proceeded, it was gratifying to see laboring men in various parts of the church with serious faces and Testament — evidently new — in hand, carefully tuiii ing up passages of Scripture as referred to by the different speakers. Altogether the assemblage was an extraordinary one, comprising, as it did, much of the bone and sinew which constitute the main strength of the country and the chief de- fence of the State. The Rev. Mr. Torrance made a few re- marks ; the Rev. Mr. Millar, of Carlisle, followed, and then the Rev. Mr. Symington. Mr. Fraser, of Colvend, was the next speaker. He stated that when he first heard of these Revivals, he had some misgivings respecting them ; but he resolved, for the sake of his parishioners and himself, to inquire into the subject personally. For that purpose he had come to Dum- fries ; and what he had seen and now saw satisfied him that the Awakening here was the work of God. He would return home with the resolution, to be more zealous than ever in urging his people to seek the way of salvation. Mr. Fraser further expressed himself as highly pleased with all the pro- ceedings ; every minister, he thought, should make inquiry for himself into the matter, and not decide upon it from mere hearsay. Those who did not see their way as yet to give the movement their active support, should be cautious how the}' derided it or in other respects opposed it ; and he was clearly of opinion that those who carefully examined the subject for themselves, would come to a satisfactory conclusion regard- ing it. *' Mr. Hammond introduced a working-man of middle age, who proceeded to address the audience. We give his statement as near as may be verbatim : ' This is the first time,' he said, * in my life that I ever rose to address a meeting on any sul> ject one or other. I see many faces here that ken me weel, as T belong to the place. They ken who I am, but they duma 130 THE HARVEST WOEK ken what X was inwardly. Before these meetings took place 1 was a stranger to God. I professed Him outwardly ; but in- wardly I was a subject of the devil. I was an infidel in prin- ciple, though still professing to be a Christian. My chief oc- cupation on the Sabbath day was to gang amang the fields and woods, for the purpose of studying nature as we termed it ; and there are men here I ken, and who I love weel, who used to go there for that object. But oh, if it had been God's pleasure to take me away a fortnight since, I must have been hurled into eternal misery. I noo ken and feel that at that time I was without God and going fast to destruction. I aye heard folk talking about sudden conversions and such like, but I thought it was nonsense ; and before this night week I kent naething about it, and did not feel Christ in my soul. There are men in this meeting who hae seen me struggling and striving for Christ, and at last I have found Him. Some said to me that as long as there was life there was hope ; but my answer was, If I'm saved at a', it will be by fire. In Mr. Symington's church this night week I was urged to come to Christ and be saved ; but I resisted the invitation. I was in great trouble, and a man I met with there tried to comfort me ; but my soul was overwhelmed. He said, * Will I pray for ye? ' and with that he leaned down and poured out his soul to God for me, a guilty and miserable sinner. He saw that, though some little relieved, I was still in great anxiety and distress, and he said, * Just gang away hame, and dinna weary yoursel sitting here, but gang to yer ain house, and pray to God for grace.' I rose, and gaed away hame, and there, by mysel, sat down on my knees for the first time in my life. I had no words to express my feelings, but I sat down on my knees till I found Jesus come to my very soul. [This statement produced a marked sensation in the meeting.] I was telling some men in this house last nicht (continued the speaker) how I found Christ in prayer, and I now toll them, and a' here that are unconverted, to gang hame OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 131 to their closets as I did, and importune God to pour peace into tlieir hearts ; and if they ask Him, faithfully believing on His name, the blessing will be theirs. 0 heavenly Father, look down on these poor deluded sinners ; may they be led to look to Christ for salvation. 0 God, hear this imperfect prayer. Guide them in the narrow way that leads unto life eternal, for Christ's sake. Amen.' This prayer, with which the speaker closed his striking narrative, was broken by emotion, his feel- ings seemingly being too strong for utterance. " Mr. Hammond proceeded to say, that he had been showing how God was able to turn sinners to himself, and here was a witness that the statement was true. God called on all uncon- verted men to turn from their evil ways. There were some of God's servants who did not hold the whole truth in regard to this matter, and preached sinners down to hell. In Scripture, three agencies were represented as being at work in turning or converting sinners, as described in the following different pas- sages : * He which converteth the sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death.' ' They that turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.' These passages pointed out the agency of man ; while others, such as John vi. 44, represented God as the agent. ' No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.' Then in the text from which he was speaking, the sinner himself was urged to turn. These passages appeared to clash with each other, but it was only in appearance. In corroboration of this remark, Mr. Hammond supposed the case of a man walking in a reverie on the brink of Niagara Falls, and about to dn p into destruction. In this perilous position he is seen by another in- dividual, who cries out, ' Stop, turn, or you will perish ! ' and the man turns and is saved. That man acknowledges with gratitude the service rendered to him by the person who called upon him to turn ; he speaks, too, of himself as being turned irum the yawning gulf ; and he also returns thanks to God fox 132 THE HARVEST WORK His providential interposition, by which he was led to turn and escape. Did the man contradict himself when he thus spoke of three agencies operating to save him ? not a bit ; and in the same way there was no contradiction in Scripture when three agencies were shown to be at work in converting the sinner — three agents (not three instruments) — God, the sinner, and God's servants — truth being the instrument. *' We have adduced a number of cases of alleged conversion ; but the awakening of those who were, in the eyes of their neighbors, consistent professors of Christianity has been another great result of the Revival in Dumfries. One case is described to us as a specimen among many : A young lady who was a communicant attended the first meeting addressed by Mr. Ham- mond here in the Free Church, and though impressed to a slight degree, thought but little of the service generally. She went a second time, on the following Tuesday night, and felt her heart thrilled when the following words were sung : * Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, 0 Lamb of God, I come ! ' * Why not me ? ' was the lady's mental ejaculation ; and while in the upper vestry among other inquirers, her attention was attracted to a female of humble rank prostrate on the floor, as if overwhelmed by a sense of sin. Mr. Hammond was en- deavoring to comfort her by pleading that Jesus was a kind and gracious Saviour ; and he closed his kindly exhortation by re- questing the other females present to pray to Christ on behalf of their suffering sister. The lady did so in company with others, and while pleading for the poor woman, she felt as if the burden of her own guilt was that moment rolled away, and she rose from her knees with a full realization of pardon and peace, and a happiness such as she never before experienced. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 133 " Colonel Davidson, from Edinburgh, who has visited Dumfries for the sole purpose of witnessing and taking part in the Revival movement, proceeded at considerable length, and with great effect, to address the meeting. He stated that he had gone out to India at sixteen years of age. Whilst in this country, he attended worship regularly, sometimes three times a day ; but for the first seven years after going to India he did not hear as many sermons, so destitute was the station of the ordinances of grace. One day, when riding a spirited horse alone, the animal became restive, and the thought struck him, ' Were I to die just now, would not my soul be lost? ' and of this feeling he could not divest himself. On the same even- ing he dined with the commanding officer, and in the course of conversation the illness of a brother-officer was mentioned, with the remark that ' it would go hard with him ' — which remark deepened the feeling of concern in his own mind. He spent several weeks afterwards in great mental distress ; but know- ing that one of the officers was a decided Christian, he ven- tured, though in much diffidence, to break the matter to him. The words, ' Justified by God's free grace,' were, he told his brother-officer, what he could not comprehend. On parting, the officer gave him Booth's Reign of Grace, with an Introductory Essay by Dr. Chalmers, and told him to read the Essay. He took the book home with him, and while reading the Essay as desired, the light broke in upon him — the gospel scheme flash- ed vividly upon his mind. That was on the 15th of April, 1835 — a day ever memorable to him — it was the day of his second birth ; and he kept its anniversary regularly as it came round. Dr. Chalmers he considered as his spiritual father. Colonel Davidson proceeded to relate some of his experiences in India after his conversion, and in this country after return- ing home to it. His address was exceedingly interesting, and obviously made a deep impression upon the audience. After a few observations from Dr. Wood, devotional exercises were en- gaged in, and the meeting terminated. 134 THE HARVEST WORK " Colonel Davidson was present at the inquiry meeting which ensued, and took an active part in the duty of ministering to the spiritual wants of the anxious. " Much interest was felt in a remarkable statement made at this meeting by a young gentleman from a distance — a com- mercial traveller we believe — who had been induced to appear on the platform and say a few words regarding his own case. He had, it appears, by what is sometimes called accident, but which he attributed to the design of Providence, come to Dum- fries at this season of awakening, and attended some of the meetings without being much impressed. Still he could not stay away from them, and on Thursday, while standing near the door of the Free Church, the words of Mr. Hammond, as he cried, * You sinner at the door there, what do you think of Christ? ' rung in his ears, and pierced his very soul. He said to himself ' I am a sinner, and that appeal is made to me.' Then Dr. Wood solemnly asked the audience to choose on which side they would range themselves ; and the reflection passed through his mind, ' I am, I fear, not on the Lord's side.' He went home, and prayed that he might find the Saviour, but found Him not, because he was always thinking what he could do for himself. This state of mind continued, but on Friday night he still wrestled and prayed. He spent that night in deep and bitter anguish ; but, said the speaker, in continua- tion, raising his voice to a high pitch, while tears streamed down his face,' I rejoice in that night, for my mourning is now turned into joy. Mr. Hammond, on Saturday evening, invited inquirers to meet with him in Dr. Wood's parlor at the close of the service. Well, I thought, he is a young man, and knows the trials to which youth is exposed ; I will go in and take his advice. I did so, and he prayed with and for me ; I prayed, and wrestled with the Evil One, who clung to me as if he would not let me go. These prayers on Saturday morning gave me pome relief, by 1 1 could not say ' Peace, peace, when there k OF THE HOLT SPIEIT. 135 no peace.' Mr. Himmond, at our interview, told me to pray. Pray ! and that before a stranger ! I believe my poor mother taught me how to pray ; and I did fall down on my knees and pray there in Dr. Wood's parlor. I experienced a si'dien change ; I felt wonderfully relieved ; my legs trembled ; c feol- ing came over me that is inexpressible. I felt a glow of joy that is unspeakable. Three young persons came in, and Mr. Hammond said, ' Pray for these poor souls ; ' and I, after being just delivered myself, prayed that they too might be freed from the bondage of sin and Satan. 0 sinners — those in this as- sembly who have not yet come to the Saviour — do not think that this happiness of mine is mere excitement. I call upon you to repent, and experience with me the solid joy which the believer feels who brings the burden of his guilt to Christ, and gets it taken all away. I felt a diffidence at first in addressing you, but I thank God who has enabled me to bear this testi- mony to what has been done for my soul. Were any of my friends to enter this meeting and see me here speaking to you, they would be astonished ; and if any of them really are here, if they would just come forward, I would try to comfort them if they are in distress. ' The gentleman closed his address by earnestly exhorting all to come and adopt the language of the hymn : • Just as I am — without one plea. But that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, 0 Lamb of God, I come ! ' " A correspondent has kindly favored us with the following statement : * The work of conversion is advancing in Dumfries with unabated intensity. Last Sabbath, all the churches in which the Revival is advancing were crowded beyond anything ever before witnessed by their respective ministers. The num- ber of the awakened was greater than on any previous day. 136 THE HARVEST WORK. Large numbers were drawn to the town from all the surround- ing country to the extent of twenty miles — some already en- joying peace with God, that they might have a time of refresh- ing ; and others convinced of their sin, that they might have, under the shower of the divine blessing descending here, the cleansing away their guilt and the privilege of enjoying God as their Father. '• Many will have to bless God for ever that Sabbath, the 10th inst., was the day of their spiritual birth, that the eyes of their understanding were opened, and that they were trans- lated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. There have been among the converts many cases of intense anguish, protracted for several days, and arising from their eagerness to see the grand moral change passing over their heart ; thus withdrawing their thoughts from the great propitia- tion to their own hearts full of all sin. Thus their anguish has been increased, and expressed in their piteous sobs and cryings, till some one skilled in the art of leading their thoughts to their Redeemer, has pointed out their mistake, explained the actual work of the Saviour finished on the cross, and exhorted them to trust in his all-sufl&cient and boundless sacrifice ; and then in numerous instances have they almost instantaneously exchanged the agony of conscious guilt for the joys of pardon and the hopes of everlasting life. There is a great diversity in the degree in which the converts have been convinced of sin. A large class have experienced little distress of mind, and have seen the greatness of their guilt only after they have discover- ed that the blood of Jesus Christ has washed it away. When they have realized the truth of God's infinite love to them, in blotting out their transgressions through the death of his own Son, it is then that they see the depth of the ruin from which they have been rescued. Hence their sorrow for past sin mingles with their joy for present pardon. " We are now at the stage of this religious movement when OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 137 we are qualified to estimate the causes by which it has been produced, and to see the means by which it may be continued and enlarged till the whole county of Dumfries may be brought under its saving power. " And first of all, in point of importance, is prayer for the influence of the Spirit to open the heart to the gospel. Ihe prayer of faith brings the blessing just as certainly as the apostles wrought miracles on the bodies of men in the first age of Christianity. During the last three weeks the minds of scoflfers, and infidels, and profane swearers have undergone a radical change, just when a few earnest and believing men were praying especially for them. The tidings of God's in- finite love to them have been embraced, and in a few mo- ments their hearts of stone have become like the hearts of little children. Mr. Hammond is pre-eminently a man of strong faith, assured that, when he asks the Holy Spirit, God is willing to bestow Him. At our forenoon meeting, he exposed the unbelief of Christians in their prayers, when they ask if God be willing to give His blessing, He would grant it. That if shows the unbelief which remains in their heart, which renders the prayer an abomination to our Father, who has sworn that He has no pleasure in the death of a sinner. " Some have expressed surprise that Mr. Hammond's preach- ing should have been followed with such amazing results in the awakening and conversion of sinners. This surprise is in a great measure the fruit of ignorance. Never was there so much prayer for the Divine blessing in Dumfries as now, and never were there so many faithful and pointed appeals to the consciences as now ; and the rich harvest is the fruit of the abundant seed. Mr. Hammond faithfully urges on the sinner his duty of turning to God, and of trusting in Christ. He shows the condition with which the sinner must comply to enter into the enjoyment of salvation. While praying to Gcd for hia help, he appeals to the sinner to do his part, to comply with 138 THE HARVEST WORK the invitation, ' Come to Me, I will give you rest.' The truth which saves the soul is plainly set forth, difficulties are re- moved, objections answered, prejudices exposed, and the sinner is at length compelled to come in. *' Mr. Hammond is equally explicit in teaching that the believer is an agent in the work of converting sinners — not a mere instrument in the hand of the Spirit. The gospel is the instrument or hammer which breaks the heart of stone, and the believer is an agent when he uses it. So is the mason. The first stroke does not break a hard stone — it may require a second, and a third, but each stroke is separating, although in- visibly, the particles of the stone, and it may be that the tenth stroke rends them assunder. Thus the mason is an agent, and eo is the Christian. In prayer, God is recognized as the great agent. But it has paralyzed the Christian when he has thought of himself only as an instrument. He has lived years without once aiming to convert a sinner from the error of his ways, but when he sees himself an agent, he is constrained to work as well as to pray, and then the blessing descends on his labors. It is seen in the early church when the disciples were scattered abroad, and went everywhere preaching the Word ; and in the young converts going to the towns and villages around, and making known the tidings of the Redeemer's love. " The more that sinners feel their responsibility, and the more that believers regard themselves as agents accountable to God for working to convert sinners, the more the work of Re- vival will spread. Prayer and working on the part of believers are necessary to the continuance of the Revival, and in the measure in which these are given will the Revival flourish and spread." At the close of the special services, the seven pastors of Dumfries, united in the following volun- tary testimony published at the tirne^ OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 139 *' We believe the religious Awakening in Dumfries and neighborhood, to which they refer, to be a real work of the grace and Spirit of God. Mere natural feeling and human imperfec- tion are, no doubt, mingled with it. But having been in the midst of it, and incessantly occupied with it for the last three weeks, and having seen it in all its aspects, we unhesitatingly express our conviction that it is a very wonderful and most blessed work, by which many souls have been brought to Christ, and many of God's people have received a fresh baptism of the Spirit." The statements of the venerable Dr. Wood, are very forcible and convincing. Referring to the labors of the Evangelist, he goes on to remark : " I happened to be detained in Edinburgh from indisposition during the first week of his visit, and on coming home found him in my church, surrounded by a most eager, convinced mul- titude of perishing sinners. It was a thing such as I had never seen before, and I saw my way at once to take part in it. I joined with the managers of the church in working along with Mr. Hammond, strengthening his hands and encouraging him in his work ; and we found that the Lord was blessing his work — using Mr. Hammond as an eminent instrument in awaken- ing sinners, and bringing them to the Lord Jesus Christ. When I was here before, my object in the address delivered by me in Hope Street Gaelic Church was to show, if possible, that this was no wild excitement produced by Mr. Hammond, but the real work of the Spirit of God. I think I succeeded in show- ing it was no mere work of man, but of God ; and I repeat the statement. I find that it is not unneeded, and that persons Btill refuse to believe that it is the work of the Spirit of God, maintaining that it is a movement guided by Mr. Hammond and the ministers. I find numbers of those personis in and arouji * 140 THE HARVEST WORK Dumfries, and there may be not a few such in Glasgow ; but the more conversant I am with this work, the more thoroughly I am persuaded that it is a genuine work of the grace and Spirit of God. The great stir which it at first produced is now abated, and I am coming in contact with my own people more frequently, while our meeting?, are better attended. I have had occasion to come in contact with them preparatory to the com- munion, and I feel now as I never felt before in my ministry. [ have found people greatly changed, of whose sincerity I can- not entertain a doubt, and am ready to hold up my hands with surprise when I meet with men who persist in calling it all a delusion, and denounce Mr. Hammond and others for getting up an * excitement.' It is quite true that these men have looked on at a distance, and have never come in contact with the work itself ; for I am persuaded that hardly any honest man can come in contact with this work, and deal with it in a faith- ful, honest way, without being convinced that there is some- thing in it far above man. Mr. Hammond continued with us two weeks, laboring, I may say, day and night, and we all re- joiced in his labors. We had people coming from all places round about Dumfries at that time. One invitation after an- other came to Mr. Hammond from country places, three or four of which he visited for a day, or part of one. The same re- sults attended the meetings there, which followed his labor in Dumfries. He gathered the people about him and the ministers who labored with him ; and the cry was, ' What must I do to be saved ? ' " This awakening was by no means confined to the town of Dumfries and Annan — it is extending through all the countr> round about for twenty miles, at least ; and I do not believe there is a single village or hamlet within that area which has not in some measure partaken of the awakening. At his first meeting the church was filled — a very unusual occurrence — ftrd the awakening began that night Then there were meet- OJ* THE HOLY SPIRIT. 141 ings at Penpont, about fifteen mil(« from Dumfries, and the Free Church was crowded. An awakening took place, and now, I believe, meetings are frequently held alternately in the U. P. Church at Thornhill, the Free Church at Penpont, and the U. P. Church at Bumhead. Large meetings are held there night after night, and I believe a most blessed work is going on in the district. Mr. Hammond paid a visit for one night to Penpont, and had a forenoon meeting in Glencaim. Just as if to show how little it depends upon any human agency, before he had opened his mouth a number of persons were removed from the church in deep distress about the con- cerns of their souls." We have read with pleasure a further report of Dr. Wood before the General Assembly, a year and a half since the revival scenes, comprising all that he had previously stated ; and in vsrhich he compared the subsidence of the excitement, to the disappearance of the waters of the Nile from the banks, leaving the richness and fertility of the fields in the wake of their withdrawal. Such was the apostolic refresh- ing in this favored city, which, whatever of human weakness appeared, was Pentecost in these latter days. CHAPTER V. Glasgow. The awakening. Mr. Hammond's method of conducting the religious services and style of preaching. The progress of the work. Children's meeting. Letters of converts. Meeting for women. Summary. Glasgow, on the banks of the Clyde, is one of the oldest and largest cities of Scotland ; nearly opposite to Edinburgh. Mr. Hammond commenced his labors in Dr. Buchanan's beautiful church, whose congregation represent much of the wealth and culture of the city. He afterward preached for a number of even- ings in Hope St. Church. The awakening spread through the town with great power. We have in a small volume published by the friends of revivals in Glasgow, a full report of Mr. Hammond's method of conducting services, con*- taining an outline of a sermon, which we give in connection with the awakening in that city, to gratify the natural curiosity which may be felt on this point, and on account of interesting thoughts and facts in the passage. The editor of the Examiner, Dr. Smith, says : " On Sabbath, 24th February, according to anBOuncement, this well-knovrn evangelist preached in the Free College Church. At the announced hour, eleven o'clock, he ascended the pulpit. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 143 He gave out the first four verses of the 46th Psalm, vrhich vv^as Bungby the congregation. He then rose and said — ' We are going to pray. Some here may have never prayed, and many never pray till too late.' He told a story of a Christian and in- fidel who were in a boat on the Niagara river, who, as they reasoned, approached the falls of that river. When the infidel became aware of his peril his courage failed, and he began to cry to God for mercy. His Christian friend, who was prepared for death, took the oars and wrought the boat ashore, when the infidel was paralyzed with terror. So many pray only when in view of danger and death. Of Paul it was said, ' Behold he prayeth. ' He had often been seen standing at the corner of tha streets thanking God that he was not like other men ; but that was not prayer. But now he prays as a sinner, and seeks mercy. After a few more remarks he commenced to pray. His prayer was rather brief and peculiar. He prayed for the city — for the West-end especially — for the Magistrates of the city, that they might not, like the rich man, lift up their eyes in hell. He prayed for the congregation and for its pastor, that the seed he scattered might bear fruit. He then gave out to be read the 6th chapter of Matthew's gospel, but only read the first six verses, which refer to the hypocritical and ostentatious prayer of the Pharisee, &c. He then gave out to be sung the first four verses of the 116th Psalm. Before it was sung he said that this Psalm had been properly called the new convert's Psalm, because it so well expressed his agony and relief when he found peace. After the words were sung he gave out for the text, Job. 22d chap, and 21st and 22d verses — * Acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace, thereby good will come to thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from His mouth and lay up His words m thine heart.' He said we are here exhorted to acquaint ourselves with God. Last sum- mer, when travelling to France by way of Calais, there was a young man on board the steamer, who landed with others at 144 THE HARVEST WORK Calais. He left the steamer as light of heart as any, to pto- secute his journey, till an officer touched him on the shoulder and demanded his passport. He said he had no passport. He was conducted back to the vessel, and had to return to England for his passport. Had I seen that young man in the streets of London before he left, I might have told him to secure a pass- port, and he might not have heeded me. I might liave told him that Napoleon was not beloved by his subjects as our Queen was, and assumed that every one who visited France might be an assassin. I might have advised him to acquaint himself with Napoleon and his Government before he went there, and I might have secured his gratitude for inducing him to make the necessary preparations. I am here to-day to do a similar duty — to bid you acquaint yourselves with God — to urge on you the lesson of the text. The text includes a what, a who, a why, and a when. First, we are told what to do; a what — The text bids us acquaint ourselves with God. The advice was first given to Job, who already knew much of God. He was like many in Scotland, which is the land of Bibles and specula- tive knowledge, and sound theology, for all of which God should be thanked. Many know much about God who don't know God — who don't know Jesus Christ. In America we, at meetings, go round among the people and say, * Do you know God') not about God ; but do you know Him. ' I have seen in Switzerland the mountain glaciers glistening in the sunlight. But these glaciers in winter are bleak and cold — send down no refreshing streams to the bare pastures. It is only when the Bun shines on them that they send down fertilizing streams to refresh the pastures and make the flocks rejoice. So is it with systematic theology — magnificent it is, but cold and cheerless till the sun shines on it. The head may be all right and the heart all wrong. The Pharisees were in this way. They had head knowledge, but it left the heart untouched. The text pays we are to know God — not to know about him. Job says, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 145 ' I have heard of Thee, but now mine eyes see Thee.' That is knowing God, and the effect was that Job abhorred himself, and repented in dust and ashes. Have you thus seen God as a holy God ? — one that will not clear the finally impenitent — as a God that will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing.' Job was highly esteemed, and had he lived in our time he would have been an elder. Nicodemue was of the same respectable class. How many looked up to him as he passed along the streets making broad his phylacteries on that memorable evening that he met with the Saviour. As he went along they saw the texts of Scripture on his garments, and they thought him a very holy man ; but Jesus told him very plainly that he must be born again. Better to be convinced of sin now than when too late — better know now whether you have on the weddmg garment. Many will go forward to the judgment under a mistake, and say have we not eaten and drunken in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets? They have been only hoarders in the family of Christ. How many such professors there are? To whom Christ will s&y, * I never knew you — you have no passport — you are not clothed in the righteousness of Christ.' Better far to be convinced of sin to-day than at the judgment-seat. Better to be bowed down under a sense of sin now than to be bound hand and foot at last and cast out. All here know about the Queen, but all do'nt know her — all do not correspond with her or dine with her. There is a great difference between knowing about one, and knowing one : Christians know God. This morning not a few of you have been saying — Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens and come down to-day — that the mountains — moun- tains of sin and infidelity — might flow at thy presence. Where g'j the Christians every morning — returning with their coun- tenances beaming like that of Moses ? They go to a friend, to hold converse with God ; they have a friend that poor sinners have not. I have seen a godly mother stealing away to her 146 THE HARVEST WORK apartment, and I have crept after that holy mother to ascertain with whom she was speaking, but I could see no one. She was speaking with one with whom I was not acquainted, and often singing these sweet verses : — * Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, Which before the cross I spend. Life, and health, and peace possessing. From the sinner's dying friend. Here I '11 sit for ever viewing Mercy streaming in his blood ; Precious drops ! my soul bedewing. Plead and claim my peace with God.' The Christian has a friend that will never leave, and never for sake — not in the Valley of Death, for there his rod and staff will support him. But we come, secondly, to the how of the text. How are we to know God ? By ' receiving the law from His mouth, and laying up His words in our heart.' Many com- plain of the terrors of the law. They say, tell us of the love of (jod, but not of hell-fire. The Unitarians in America, and Socinians in this country,do not like the law, but till we know God's justice we will not appreciate His mercy. No doubt some are drawn gently to Christ, but others are driven with terror. A man in the upper floor of a house in London is busy reading a book. A man with a fire escape salutes him, and tells him to come down ; but he never hears the man. He will not stir till a door is thrown open, and he sees the build- ing is on fire, and then he leaves his book and is thankful to go with the man with the fire-escape. So it is with sinners. We may tell them all about Jesus, but men listen as if they listened to a schoolboy's oration. When urged to come to Jesus they heed not ; but when the law comes — that law which is a schoolmaster, or a servant, to lead us to Christ — comes with its curse, Jesus is prized as redeeming from that curse Man;* of you are living in carnal security and will OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 147 not ciyme. That man in London would not stir till he saw the house on fire ; and so you will not come till you see your danger — till the enmity of the natural heart is slain. God will not take you into his house while you are an enemy. At Dumfries, an elder got the law into his heart, and he could not eat, and could not sleep. He confessed before the great congregation that he had not till then known God. And there, too, a minister said, that for thirty years he had been a preacher, while he was as ignorant of Christ as if he had been a Hindoo or a Mahomedan. Dr. Chalmers, like Dr. Thomas Scott, for twelve long years preached a dead morality before he was savingly acquainted with God in Christ recon- ciled. What a contrast between the audiences before and after his conversion. Look in upon that crowd of listeners in the church of Kilmany. The full rounded periods and musical cadences of the speaker fall with pleasure on their ears. His matchless strains of eloquence transport their minds to the blissful regions of his rich imagination, but alas, while his words delight and gain ascent they are impotent to change the will and influence the life. But a change comes over the speaker. See him again in the Tron Church of Glasgow. He no longer possesses that eloquence whose o^ject is to please, nor that higher kind which pleases and instructs, but he now pos- sesses that which is far above these, and is the object of all real eloquence — the power of persuasion. He now speaks with winning eloquence from the depths of his own experience. The appearance of the audience, too, is no less changed. The tearful eye, and the compressed lip betoken the sorrowing heart and firm resolve. While on the countenance of some, despair is depicted, showing the deep work of the Spirit in con- vincing of sin, the faces of others are radiant with new found hopes. The speaker has received the ' law into his heart, and C^ris^, as the end of the law for righteousness.' When the law comes, men then listen as for their lives — not to the soft 148 THE HARVEST WORK. cadences or rounded periods of the preacher, but to know how they can be saved. A deacon that had heard of revivals in other towns thought he would like a revival in his own town. So he arranged with others for a meeting, and attended it, and was delighted as the speaker went on, and said to himself — ' That's a hit for so and so.' He was a deacon, and was re- quested to stay to the inquirer's meeting. He knew not what to say to weeping souls. Nat knowing him I said to him, * Are you a friend of Jesus ? ' He went away without saying a word and was in great agony, and like Saul he was three days without sleeping or eating, and then found peace ; and I have a letter from him in which he tells me all about it, which I would read to you if I had time. How unlike this to an elder in a town in the north of Scotland, who objected to our late meet- ing. He said, We don't want those things here, and our minister would not like it if he were at home. Some go away angry, and I would rather that men would go away dis" pleased, than merely saying it was all very well. He referred to a lady at Huntly, who was a scoffer, for there are scoffers in all classes. She laughed at the idea of filling a large tent with listeners to a revivalist, and yet the preacher met the lady changed and converted by these meetings. Nor will you ever seek Jesus till you are convinced of your lost state. He told a story of an American gay painter who was so disgusted with reports of revivals in Bennet's New York Herald, that he sent notice to stop his paper. He tried the Tribune, and it was also full of revivals. He tried the Times, and it was worse. He began to think there must be something in these revivals, and he went to a meeting. Night after night he attended, became interested, and at last rose up in the meeting and said — "I am a lost sinner; pray for me'' — and he found peace in believing. It is when we see Jesus providing a righteousness for us, wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, that we find peace. But, thirdly, why are we to ao OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 149 quaint ourselves with God ? That we may have peace. Peace. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy. Religion is not the gloomy thing many think it. Yes, it brings peace. I have seen magistrates standing up in the crowded meeting and say- ing that till now they never knew real peace. Happy now, fr.r their sin was washed away. Know you this peace ? It is a delusion to assume that you cannot know whether you have this peace. A whole epistle has been written that you may know that ' you have eternal life.' Not that you m^j hope or trust you have it ; but that you may know you have it. Have you a love for Christ, for the Bible, for Christians, for holiness ? Don't take it for granted. Don't leave this house till you find peace. But, fourthly, when are you to acquaint yourselves with God ? The text says now — now is the ap- pointed time. Christ says — ' Look and be saved.' The devil is here to-day, and he says not now. Did Peter at Pentecost say to the thousands, go and pray for six weeks? No ; he said repent now. '*The discourse, of which the preceding is a pretty full out- line, occupied an hour and a half in delivery. After a few words of prayer, and singing two verses of the 26th Para- phrase, he pronounced the benediction, and the crowded con- gregation was dismissed at a quarter-past one o'clock — Satur- day, March 2. " Appended to this report is the following remark : ' We hope the visit of this young American to our city will do good. There are in Glasgow, one hundred thousand persons who go to no church."' The subjoined account of a " children's meet* ing," will aflford interest. 150 THE HARVEST WORK " A meeting of the most interesting kind tc ok place on Saturday morning last, in the Hall of the College. There have been of late so many services exclusively for children, and the benefits have been so very conspicuous, that it became desirable to secure the same advantages for the children of the better classes resident in the West-end. Through the exertions of two or three ladies resident in that quarter this was secured, and Saturday morning was the initiative of these gatherings. So cordial was the response to the invitations given, that the hall was entirely full, mothers bringing their dear little chil- dren, some of them not much more than five years of age, and all of them seeming glad to be present. It was a fine sight. Parents and children all there, and all to worship God, with gentlemen in the ministry. It was the complete representation as the Spirit describes it, of the Church — the ' whole family of God on earth.' Dr. Hetherington presided, the Rev. Mr. Arnot and Mr. Hammond on either side. On the platform there were also Rev. Messrs. Muir and Alexander ; Robert M'Cowan, Esq. ; Mr. Gall, from Edinburgh, and others. ** After singing Psalm 23d, which is regarded by many as the child's psalm, and a short prayer by Dr. Hetherington, Mr. Arnot made some interesting remarks, clustering them round the lovely idea of * Ministering children.' Religion had first pointed her finger to them that she might draw attention to their importance, their influence, and their value. But the eye had grown dull, and had failed to look and discern what religion would have us to see. Of late, literature had been pointing in the same direction, but he hoped that religion was again to obtain the supremacy. He thought there were many indications of that. One such had come under his own notice the other day. An elderly man had called on him in great dis- tress of mind. He had been at the revival meeting in St. Peter's, on Thursday last, and had left it unmoved, but sauntering along the street, a group of very young children were singing, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 151 * I love Jesus, Hallelujah, I love Jesus, yes I do ; I love Jesus, He's my Saviour ; Jesus smiles and loves me too.' " The man of fifty eummers found that he had no Bong wherewith he could glorify his Lord and Saviour. He had made a discovery of hiR poverty, and that the lisping child was richer than him. The melody of these young voices had done what the stirring sermon of the preacher had failed to do — melted the frozen heart. " On the conclusion of these remarks, there was sung the appropriate hymn of ' Come to Jesus, come to Jesus ; Come to Jesus just now.' *' Mr. G. Ross gave an account of the conversion of a little boy at a child's prayer meeting, and the difficulties thrown in his way by his mother and uncle to keep him back. On re- turning from the second prayer meeting he caught a contagious disease, and Mr. Ross spoke touchingly of how this child wit- nessed for Jesus while dying. * Ere sin could blight or sorrow fade. Death came, with friendly care; The opening bud to Heaven conveyed, And bade it blossom there. ' " Many a little heart seemed touched at this mournful recital, and we all rose and sang — * We're travelling home to Heaven above, To sing the Saviour's dying love; Will you go ? Will you go ? ' *' The Rev. Mr. Muir directed the attention of another part of the audience to the testimony of the Scriptures concerning such meetings as tlie present — that while there was no t-x- 152 THE HARVEST WORK plicit injunction to grown-up people to come to Jesus, there was for children , and couched in language that almost warned against hindrances being thrown in their way — ' Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.' * Come to Jesus, come to Jesus, Come to Jesus just now; He will save you just now; He is willing just now.' ** The exercises closed with singing, which filled the hall and thrilled every heart. At the close of such service, the inquiry meeting is usually a season of subduing tenderness. Familiar conversation and prayer with them often continuing for another hour, while smile and tears are seen on many faces. Though much of feeling may be mere sympathy, this cannot injure the weepers, and numbers are converted." The classification of individuals, and the direct appeal thus received was no insignificant element of power in all these special efforts — or rather apostolic, means of reaching the multitude. The men, women and children, were each addressed. To get at people, was the great aim. As an illustration, we take from a report, the sketch of an immense (rathering of females alone — with an allusion to another for men. *' We give the following summary of the address which Mr. Hammond delivered on Friday evening, at the crowded meeting of females, held in Free St. Mark's Church, his remarks being founded on the words in Luke x. 42 — "Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her : " — "How small and trivial, as measured by the world's opinions^ are many of the materials that are found in Scripture. Such OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 153 things -dti we pass by every day as common-place — scarce worth a thought — find their counterpart in holy wi'it, and there re- ceive a stamp and character which reveals their significance. All that is what could not fail to be, since the Testaments are a disclosure of human life as it is in itself, not as we think it to be ; and of the deep import it derives from its relation to the uncreated God, and all the high and lioly spiritualities of heaven on one side, and all the malignant powers of darkness on the other. And here, in these words, what have we ? The register of a woman's choice — not a very important thing, we would say ; yet the Holy Ghost judges diflferently, and has in- serted the transaction as an integral part of the Scriptures, to continue through ail time. Here is a woman, a young woman, we may believe, who has made a choice, given a deliberate pre- ference— a preference which with her was all-absorbing — to a certain thing, and the object of her choice is called ' that good part.' Now, what is that good part which Mary chose? One came to Jesus while he was on earth, and called him ' Good Mas- ter.' ' Why call ye me good? none is good but God,' was the re- ply. All, then, that is truly good, enduringly good, must come from God ; and, as he is a Spirit, all that proceeds from him, all that he bestows, must be of his nature — spiritual. The true good is a spiritual thing, and is God's own gift. Mary's choice fell upon a spiritual good, and because she chose it, she got it — got it to keep for ever ; ' it was never to be taken away from her.' And was this a chimerical choice of Mary's — a dim, intangible thing — a sort of vagaery? We are not left in any doubt about it ; we learn precisely what it was. It was no mere notion, no fine poetical idea, no phantasm of the imagination ; but that good part was a high and holy love for the highest and holiest Person — even the Saviour. And this is the true character of love, that it always goes out upon a living person, and is, be- sides, essentially elective. We cannot love a mere idea ; and we cannot love every one. Love always chooses ; and Mary had 154 THE HARVEST WORK chosen. Herein lay the hidden reality, and it had the powei to move her whole being. See her, after a time, mourning for her brother. While Martha, in her business kind of way, * went and met ' the Lord in the neighborhood, and held a long conversation with Him, Mary * sat still,' heedless of the proffered words of comfort which were addressed to her ; but * as soon as she heard that ' * the Master ' called her, * she arose quickly and came unto Him.' Her love for her dead brother was engulphed in her deeper love for her * Master.' Such spiritual love is the strongest motive power that can oc- cupy angels or men. This was Mary's ' good part ' — her portion — God, her * portion for ever.' " Now, it is this spiritual love, this * good part,' which Mary chose, that we want you, dear friends about me, to choose also. There are a great many Marthas here to-night, and if they go on as they are doing, engrossed with the ' cares of this life,* they '11 be reproved one day by the Master. You are cumbered with many things ; you find your burden heavy ; fling it from you ; it will weigh you down to earth ; it will make you earthy, and at last sink you to hell. Yes ; Just the ' cares of this life ' will do that. " Temporally, you will find it best to serve the Lord. Rising up early, and sitting up late, and eating the bread of careful- ness, makes life one unbroken drudgery ; it is not the work, but the anxiety, the carefulness that does it. But the Lord says, ' Hegiveth His beloved sleep.' And in place of all that cankering care which eats out the life of the Marthas, the Marys, who never forget that they must do with all their might wliatsoever their hand findeth to do, have yet this repose point- ed at in these words, ' I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep ; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.' And you, fashionable young ladies, what are you doing? Do you ever think, when you are decking your person in order to ob- tain notice, and assuming those manners and modes of conver. OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 155 Bation to suit time and place, how much you are injuiing your very best nature? Do you ever think how shallow, how super- ficial and artificial, all that makes you? — how it keeps you back from ever knowing what integrity of sentiment really is? And when you are talking with gay and flippant young men, and accommodating yourselves to their perverted tastes and crude talk, do you ever think how far you are departing from that fine womanly independence — not haughty independence, but womanly independence — which gives such unspeakable worth to womankind ? You wish to be admired , and all right that you should ; but have — have the qualities which are capable of awakening admiration in a high-toned mind, and there will be no need to pander ; and whoever are not capable of discerning those qualities, but relish something inferior, their admiration is not worth having. Going to promiscuous parties has perverted more young hearts, and wasted more talented young minds, than any other thing. Such visiting is a great evil. It is there that many a fine young girl loses that fresh- ness which has such a charm — which is to her what the aroma is to the grape, and the down upon the peach; but which, once lost, can never be restored. And what follows upon this? Mannerisms and pruderies ; and these are shallow things, and easily seen through, and, like all counterfeits, they are always awkward at some point or other — but • True modesty is a discerning gi-ace. And only blushes at the right time and place.* " "Wherever genuine womanly modesty exists — let whatsoever arise to her, let whatsoever approach her, clean or unclean, it matters not — this quality is never fouxid wanting ; it is never absent without leave ; it is never slumbering or sleeping, but is always at its post — the most vigilant and untiring of all the warders of the citadel of her being, that walk patrol by day, or call aloud the watches of the night. But parents areas 156 THE HARVEST WORK much to blame, as their daughters and many times more so. They rear their children — in the nurture and fear of the Lord ? No ; but, worldly, time-serving themselves, they bring up their children to be as much like themselves as possible. Their edu- cation is on a false principle. Instead of bringing up their daughters to fit them for the lovely and lofty duties of life, to have those principles which fit them for meeting the dangers, and sorrows, and vicissitudes which life brings to most, with patience, self-denial, and hope, the influence of many a home is to dispose the young female mind to think only of getting married — making an eligible settlement. True, the ordinary destiny of women is to be married ; but there are higher destinies than that, to which they may attain ; and it is a pitia- ble thing to have always one thought and project befere one's mind. But , besides , worldly men do n ' t care for worldly women. There is many a man who cares nothing for Christianity for himself, but he believes it to be a good thing, and he seeks to find it in the woman to whom he would ally himself. Oh ! dear friends, there is no such hard, selfish thing as the heart of an unregenerated man. Though he is quite incapable of honor- ing the life that dwells in a Christian woman, yet he knows that his honor is safe with her and he likes it to be safe. " Now, as an instance of how much parents are to blame in educating their daughters for the world and not for God, I may tell you of one young lady in New York. The Spirit of God had been strivng with her, and she became greatly concerned about her soul. Now, if she had gone on at this time, she would have really entered the kingdom, and been a child of God. But her father thought — a fine young girl like that, moping and talking about religion ! It made him uneasy ; and, as his daughter was very pretty, he thought to get her married to some rich man. That man was trading upon his child's good looks just as many another father does. He said to his daughter,Bhe must go into society, must be gay and fascinating. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 157 just as she had been before what he called a serious fit came on. There was a fine fashionable assembly in the city, which the father wished his daughter to attend ; he promised her a rich dress and valuable jewels, if she would do so ; she, with re- luctance, consented. Grieved the Holy Spirit and lost all con- viction, and from that moment was ' past feeling .^ She caught cold, and in two weeks was close upon death. She tried to think of her soul, but she could not. She had her rich drees spread out upon a table, and the costly jewels placed beside it, and, sending for her father, pointed with her fevered hand, and said these dreadful words, * There is the price of my soul. I see plainly that what I 've often heard is true. I have grieved the Holy Spirit, and he hast left me.' And in darkness that young creature sunk into eternity, the victim of her father's worldliness. Ah ! ' godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and o{ that which is to come.' '* And you, young Christian women here, are you going to ally yourselves with worldly men, unregenerate men? Will you come down from the lofty place your heavenly Father has given you, and be yoked with the children of the Evil One? How can you ? Will you in this momentous thing disobey the word of your Father in heaven ? Has He not said, ' Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers ; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness?' Fear not, fear not, commit all things to Him who * careth for you.' Believe, there is not a feeling lovely and pure in itself that he has implanted in the human heart that He disregards. He will undertake to satisfy all — all. But let Him. Emotions, desires that may pervade the whole being, but for which words are too clumsy. He will discern. Come before Him ; come near to Him, as a child to a father. He knows you far better than you do yourselves. He hears the prayer of the heart, though never spoken. " Yet all these are poor and paltry motives which I ha?© 158 THE HARVEST WORK been urging upon you, to turn and give yourselves to Ch X ; but they may show you that 'godliness is profitable'for thia ifo. * They vainly struggle to preserve a part Who have not courage to contend for all.' " The Christian, who is casting side glances to the world, has yet hankerings after the world. Ah ! we must and should all live to God first-hand. All of us have hindrances and difficulties, arising out of early habits, education, or position, which we have to contend with ; but we will resort to expedients to sur- mount these disadvantages, if we have Christian wisdom. And the surest way of complete conquest is entire, unreserved dedication of all our powers and self to God and the Lord our Saviour. Constantly straining upwards, never looking back, never looking down, but ever forwards and upwards — * Not backward are our glances bent. But onwards to our Father's home ' — inhaling the Spirit, and reflecting the loveliness and holiness, that communicable attribute of the great Jehovah. Ah ! dear Christians, seek to adorn your life — to saturate the world with heaven, and life with God, for that is the genius of true Chris- tianity. Can you forsake all for Christ ? Can you enter upon the high destiny which God has ensured for you ! Can you say — * Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee ! Naked, poor, despised, forsaken. Thou, from hence, my all shalt be. •Perish every fond ambition — All I've sought, or hoped, or known; Yet how rich is my condition ! God and heaven are still my otnu OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 159 • Soul, then know thy full salvation ; Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care; Joy to find,in every station. Something still to do or bear. * Think what Spirit dwells within thee ; Think what Father's smUes are thine; Think that Jesus died to win thee: Child of heaven, can'st thou repine? * "These lines are the utterances of a young lady, who, though persecuted by rich Christian parents, yet, like Mary, had made her choice — chosen the good part — not taken up a pro- fesssion, but become united to her living Saviour ; and her choice is registered in heaven, as Mary's was — written in the Lamb's Book of Life, the heart of the Saviour. And, as she sped on from grace to glory, when the pearly gates were open- ing upon her, she could softly murmur — * One sweetly solemn thought Comes to me o'er and o'er — I'm nearer home to-day Than I've ever been before. Nearer my Father's house. Where the many mansions be; Nearer the great white throne. Nearer the jasper sea; Nearer the bounds of life. Where I lay my armor down; Nearer leaving the Cross, Nearer wearing the Crown.* Oh, yes ! for her to live was Christ, and to die was gain. Shall this be your pcrtion, all here — Christ your all in all? Shall it be — * ' Tis done — the great transction 's done — I am my Lord"s,and He is mine ! ' Then have you that hope which maketh not ashamed ? The hope of standing at the great white throne before the ' sea of 160 THE HARVEST WOKK glass,' striking jour harp, and casting your golden crown, einging, ' Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive all power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessing ? ' " We have tried to give the scope of the address which Mr. Hammond made on Friday evening last. The audience wae composed exclusively of females, and they were of all classes and of all ages. This kind of gathering had been considered by some as novel ; and novel it was, certainly. But why not special provision for special ends ? It was feared it would be a failure, and we heard that it had even been proposed that Mr. Hammond should alter its character. Such meetings had been blessed in other places; and, as the undeniable aim of Mr. Hammond is to win souls, he believed God would bless the same means in Glasgow as elswhere. *The just shall live by faith.' The church was crowded, and scores had to go away. The presence of God's Spirit was conspicuous ; and that evening we think scarcely a tithe left after the close of the services, but re- mained for private conversation with the clergymen and Chris- tian gentlemen who came at the close for the inquiry meeting. " On the Saturday following, Mr. Hammond gave a service ex- clusively to men. From one of the leading journals we take the following short notice : — ' The spacious church, holding about two thousand, was crowded to excess, and we are happy to add that good evidence appeared that his address on that occasion produced very satisfactory results — some young men abandon- ing their evil habits, and confessing their obligation to the speaker even before leaving the church.' " During these few weeks past, an interest in this work of revival has been growing among those classes who are engaged in business, both as principles and subordinates, and the column of ' Revival Intelligence ' is now looked for and read by many of those in the counting-house, the bank, and the warehouse. To meet this growing interest, we would give a rapid sketch of OF THE HOLY SPIEIT. 161 the proceedingo of that evening, which may be taken as a sam- ple of revival meetings. "The Rev. Mr. Arnot opened the Bervices with praise and prajer, and Mr, Hammond was then introduced. He remarked that he was aware there had been revivals of religion ever shice the time of Christ, though the Spirit had been poured out more abundantly at some times than others; and it was especially apparent in the present times, that men were realizing the necessity of knowing whether they were in the sheepfold or out of it — in the city of refuge, or on the way to it ; or were care- lessly sleeping, while the Avenger was hard by, ready to de- stroy them. The Lord, in His sovereign mercy, was using largely the experiences of those who had been savingly convert- ed, for the good of others not yet able to say, ' The Lord is my Shepherd.' Their pastor had kindly consented to allow two of those converts to relate the manner in which, in their caeeB, < the great change had been eflected. " The gentlemen gladly availed themselves of the occasion to tell of their conversion. " A stout elderly man, we should suppose of sixty years of age, stood forward, but at the request of Mr. Arnot went into the pulpit, that all might see and hear him. In a very un- sophisticated way, he stated what is so usual — the long, care- less, self-satisfied life — at last induced to go to one of the meetings in St. Mark's — felt there was something wrong — began to be troubled — went a second time — was wishful that some godly persons would speak with him, but they all seemed to pass him by. He had a strong desire to find Christ in his own bedroom ; it would have been more agreeable to his own feelings'. For a fortnight he walked the streets, groaning with- in himself ; felt now what he had so often heard, that sin was a burden ; at last determined to go to another meeting, and there either die or be saved. And he believed that God made his salvation hinge upon his obedience, in giving up his own 162 THE HARVEST WORK likings ot being saved in his own closet, and taking salvation where the Spirit was dealing it out. He stayed to the inquiry meeting, and that night found the living Saviour. He further stated that, though he knew it not, his conversion was in answer to prayer. His son had been converted sixteen months ago, also a daughter living at Dunbarton, both of whom had been sending in petitions at the various meetings." On Sabbath forenoon, in Blackfriars Baptist Cha- pel, Mr. Hammond addressed the congregation from Acts xii. 7, " Arise up quickly." A large number remained to the inquiry meeting which followed. In the course of his address, Mr. Hammond read the following letter, from an office-bearer in the •church: " My dear Friend, — When I attended your first sermon I felt in noways different than I had ofttimes, in listening to sermons. I was not void of religious feelings, and was most strict in ob- serving all religious ordinances, and had a pleasure in waiting upon the exercises of the house of God. I heard you on the following evening, and, though I cannot say I was unmoved, yet no deep impression was made. I however thought all was not right with me ; with all my regularity and attention to divine things, I had not the Witness that all was well with my soul, and I that night resolved upon seeing you in regard to my state. I was prevented from doing this, or from hearing you again for a week, from a dangerous illness intervening, and any impression I may have had during that period had subsided, or altogether gone. I was able to hear you again on the second Monday evening, and I was then brought under strong convic- tions that I was yet without Christ, at enmity with God, with- out a saving interest in Jesus Christ, and without love for the O^ THE HOLY STIRIT. 163 Saviour, who had done so much for me; that I had been dishon- oring God in going on in this way so long, and not yielding him a reasonable service of soul and body. In the inquiry meeting, my feelings were intensified by the question from a friend, * Have you found Christ?' and for the first time I had honestly met that question, and resolved to face it ; and I had to confess, I could not answer, ' yes.' This was a momentous question, and I then realized its full meaning for the first time, and I was then brought into an agony of mind not easily described. I was unable to lay hold upon any consolation that night, and went home sorrowful of heart ; all my church-going regularity, my exemplary moral character and behavior, what were they to rest upon at such a juncture ? I found nothing less than a believing apprehension and application of the blood of Jesus to my guilty soul could satisfy me, and the difficulty arose, how am I to attain to this. I poured out my heart to God in prayer in earnestness, that He would give me His holy Spirit to direct and enlighten my darkened understanding, that he would reveal the way of salvation to me. I remained in deep concern all that night and next day. During your address, the truth did flash into my soul, and I was enabled to rely upon Jesus solely for a full and free salvation, and to give myself, body and soul, to Jesus, and rest upon Him to be a hiding place from the storm, and a covert from the tempest. What an inexpressible feeling of delight, when I was able from the heart to say, ' I know that my Redeemer liveth,' and that what I have commit- ted to His charge, He will keep against that great day. On this occasion, long to be remembered by me individually, as well as in connection with the great work of the Spirit, a night sig- nally blessed of God to many souls, when the very presence of Him, who ruleth over all, was, as it were, felt and seen among us, you came to me, and I was then enabled to say that I had decided fcr Jesus ; and I was that night able to speak of Jesus and his love to anxious souls, whose position I had so lately, by the grace and mercy of God, been enabled to exchange. 164 THE HARVEST WORK '* A few thoughts have occurred to me in reviewing the Lord's dealings with me, which I hope you will pardon me for stating here: — What would have been my fate this day, had the Lord, in his infinite justice, cut me off from the land of the living and place of hope, during my severe illness, to which I was subject- ed, after hearing you twice ? Oh, the thought is appalling ! but thanks be to God for having spared me, and given me the victory over death ! I would also say what a fallacy it is to defer con- sideration of the interests of the soul, and the preparation for death and eternity, to a season of affliction, which, much to be feared, is too common. Oh, there never was a more dangerous expedient! — one of the devil's allurements — to deceive and ruin the soul. ' Now is the accepted time ; now is the day of salvation ! ' not when the poor body is racked with pain, and when all the thoughts are necessary for the poor body in such circumstances. I can testify to this, and most certainly such is the case with the ungodly ; in such a case, I can fancy the tumult within , when the summons come to an unprepared one, ' Prepare to meet thy God,' and the feeling must then be as it really is, that to be saved must be as by fire. " I rejoice, dear brother, in being able to write you such a letter, and I thank the Lord for it. Dumfries, M April, 1861. The letter which follows, was written by an educated and refined young lady, and read in on^ of the meetings at Hope St. Free Church : " My Dear Mr. Hammond, — I was present when you ad dressed the meeting on Monday evening, and, althougl solemnized by the earnestness and truthfulness of your appea" to sinners, I did not feel the applicability of it to my own case I was a professing Christian, had been a communicant for thref years, and had occasionally been in great grief and anxietj about my soul's welfare. While you were speaking, I felt oon • OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 165 Bcious that I did aot love Jesus as 1 ought, and I resolved to be- gin again a reformation, bj praying oftener, and reading the Bible more. While waiting for the crowd to pass out, you came to me and said, ' Have you found Jesus? ' It thrilled me to the heart ; it seemed as if God himself had put that ques- tion to me. Its importance, and the singularity of its being put to me so personally, made me almost incapable of replying. At last I said, ' I am afraid not.' You said something about the * Love of Jesus,' and ' inquiry meeting ; ' but I could think only of that question. I went home, and it was ever with me. I was at the next three meetings, and was intensely miserable, for I then knew and felt myself to be a great sinner. I spent half the nights in prayers and tears, and yet I shrunk from remaining to the inquiry meeting, for, being naturally ex- tremely sensitive, I dreaded the taunts and jeers of my com- panions. I had been asking myself what I must give up, in order to be Christ's ; and I felt I wished to make a reservation with regard to dancing and parties. Being passionately fond of music as well as dancing, I concluded that if I went only to small parties of ten or twelve and played for them, but abstain- ed from dancing myself, that that would be enough. This will appear trivial to you, but I know many of my friends stumble at the same thing. On Thursday evening you said something about false communicants which pierced my heart. All my pride gave way ; all dislike to the inquiry meeting ; and the idea that I was the only one in my own circle who would be present at it aflPected me nothing then. I stayed, but could find no opportunity of speaking to you, and left more wretched than ever. I wrote to you the next morning entreating your prayers, and requesting to see you in the evening. You read my letter from the platform to the meeting, and some of your remarks absolutely terrified me. Your strongest denunciations against sinners seemed tame compared with those used in re- gard to me. I saw and realized my guilt and danger then as I 166 THE HAKVEST WORK had never done before. After you had bo kindly spoken to me and prayed for me, you startled me very much by asking me to tell you what was the sin which kept me from Jesus. I was sincere when 1 said, I knew of none, and that I was willing to give up all for Jesus. I felt I could trust Him for salvation. That feeling remained for half an hour, and then all my de- spair and wretchedness returned. I never can describe the agony I suffered during that night, and the two terrible weeks which followed. I did not doubt God's willingness to save me, — my anguish arose from the thoughts, that I did not really understand what * coming to Jesus ' meant, that there w^s some mysterious feeling connected with faith of which I was ignorant, and some sin still hidden, which kept me from God. I besought Him to show it to me, and tear it away. I was al- most heart-broken when the thought came to me, that my love for my mother, which approaches to idolatry, was the ' right hand ' or ' eye ' which stood betwixt me and the Saviour. God alone knows the struggle I had before I could bring my- self to say to Him in truth to take her from me by death, rather than lose Jesus. I wrote a solemn covenant, dedicating myself unreservedly to God and his service, trusting quietly but with perfect faith in his goodness, and in Jesus' atone- ment. Two passages in the Bible were especially blessed to me — Isaiah 1. 10, 'Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.' Lam. iii. 25, 26, * The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.' Since then I have never doubted my safety, but I have been well nigh crushed to the earth with a sense of sin and unworthiness ; indeed, I have realized myself to be infinitely more weak, erring, and guilty than I did before. My struggle with sin OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 167 has been such, that I feel and look as if I had been prostrated by some terril>le illness. Now that I have found the * pearl of great price,' how small and contemptible do all former joys and pleasures appear to me, when compared with the peace which, indeed, passeth understanding. I have no words, my dear Sir, with which to express the intense delight I have felt ever since. You spoke about God's love to us in Jesus Christ. I never felt so near to God as I did then. That one idea, ' The love of God,' has filled me with the most exquisite joy. I feel I could write pages, and yet be unable to describe my delight. The thought that I am no long- er alone in the world, and that I have a brother and friend in Jesus the King of kings, is inexpressibly sweet to me. *' I tremble to think what would have become of me if I had not been present that evening when ji-ou first spoke to me. I must teU you about that night. Miss is my dearest friend, and on my asking her to go with me, her brother objected, and said he would go to take care of me, as I was doing wrong to go. He tired, and left before your ad- dress was finished. How I bless God that I did not go with him. Miss went one evening, and was present when you read and commented on my first letter. She called for me next morning, and on asking what was vn*ong, I told her how wretched I was, and urged her to think about her soul. She alluded to the letter you read, and said, that had made her think. I- can never forget her astonishment, when I told her I wrote it. She burst into tears, and said, ' Oh, if you are so wicked, what am T?' She promised to wait for the inquiry meeting. I asked your prayers for her, and she is now, along with her 6ro^Aer, rejoicing in Jesus." In the progress of the work a " special service for cabmen" was held, which a writer thus de scribes : 168 THE HARVEST WORK ' ' Ou Sunday last a special service was given in the City Hall, at mid-day, for cabmen and drivers. It had been in con- templation for a week or two previous, but the many hindran- ces that encircle that large community of men , made it somewhat difficult to arrange. It had been known among the men that a service was to be given, so that, during the delay, expectation had grown ripe, and at last, when it was finally settled for the 24th, the needed arrangements were so speedily completed, that in one day one thousand tickets were circulated, and bills posted throughout the city and suburbs. How the cabmen responded to this invitation the appearance of the hall made known. " We have often seen the City Hall full, crowded, crammed, but never before did we see it so densely packed — every inch of the platform and stair occupied ; for after ensuring ad- mission to the cabmen, all others were free to enter. There could scarcely be fewer than five thousand people within the walls — women in mutches, scores of factory girls with bare heads, men in fustian, besides the trimly dressed cabmen, and hundreds of the well-to-do. " This was a great day. This meeting for cabmen had been desired with a great desire. But all the anxieties, the prayers, and preparations, how infinitestimal were they compared to the royal munificence with which they were crowned, heaped up and running over. To Him who ruleth the small things as well as the great, be all the praise and the thanksgiving, ' for He hath done excellent things.'" Upon a Sabbath evening, at Cowcaddens, a dis- trict of Glasgow, the people so thronged to the places of appointed worship, that when the time arrived, five churches were filled by the overflowing masses. The meeting is well described by an eye- witness : OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 169 " Dr. Eadie had invited Mr. Hammond to conduct the evening services in his church. The place was so densely filled before the hour of service, that it vras with much diflBculty he could reach the pulpit. The hall below was immediately filled, but the crowd outside seemed in no way diminished. Milton Free Church, a few yards ofij was opened, and very soon filled, till the people were swarming round the doors. Large parties that had come from the Crescents and the Terraces on the Western Road, no doubt drawn there from curiosity, but also moved by higher motives, sought out another church where they might worship God. Mr. Perrot very courteously put his pulpit at the disposal of Captain Gillmore, who had been sent for from the other gatherings, himself giving out the 47th Paraphrase, and ofiering up prayer. Mr. Craig came in, and, just before the sermon, told forth the unvarnished story of his conversion from infidelity. Once freed from the trammels of such barren notions, he looked back with surprise at the self- satisfaction with which he had held them. But ever the old story ; not human reasoning, not afiectionate entreaty, had pre- vailed ; but a glimpse of the person of the Saviour of souls had convinced him that he was endowed with a soul, and was some- thing more than a mere organism. It is well for men that God ever takes the conversion of- a soul into His own hands. * Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spii'il, saith the Lord.' " Captain Gillmore then read the 3d chapter of John. He said nothing of the mysteries of regeneration which that chapter might suggest to the metaphysical mind, but made very plain the indispensable need of a change of heart — the true regeneration ; and in words calm, afiectionate, copious, prayed his fellow-men and women to bethink themselves of Christ's salvation, and their own great need of that. He spoke as an educated, thoughtful, Christian gentleman so well can do, who has drawn his religion direct from the Scriptures, instead of theological tractates. The very marrow of the Gospel fell 170 THE HARVEST WORK from him, After the service was concluded, we returned, hop- ing to gain an entrance to Dr. Eadie's church. " The street in front of the church was crowded ; and there, under the bright moonlight, hundreds were listening to a Chris- tian layman who had been speaking to them for some time. Within that limited space, bounded on either side by the Free and Established Normal Schools, there were five different as- semblies, all willing to hear the truth, and seeking to worship the living God simultaneously. We do not look upon this as the first beginning of revival in the Cowcaddens, but rather as the first fruits of much that has gone before. There has been work and prayer in the Cowcaddens for this, how heartily or inadequately God knows. But in addition to the agency already on the ground, a band of visitors from the College Church began there in winter was a year ; and foremost among them was Professor Douglas, who, besides his professional duties and other claims on his attention, found time for mis- sionary work there. And for three months this winter special prayer has been made for a revival in that quarter of the Cow- caddens. A little company of householders — a cabman, an ironfounder, a stonemason and his wife, and another young married woman, who have lately begun to follow Jesus — have all been laying this petition before the Heavenly Throne. Long- ing eyes were gazing upwards for some signs of the coming shower. Mr. Hammond had been little more than a week in Glasgow when he gave two services in Milton Free Church, and then other two ; and now on Sabbath he is called back again to the very same quarter. Would it be presumptuous to claim, or would it be stupidity to ignore this as Heaven's acknowledg- ment of prayers uttered and prayers embodied in action ? The Lord deals with His people as one man with another. He throws down the challenge, ' Prove me now herewith, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a bless- ing, that there shall be room enough to receive it. ' Such challenge OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 171 was never given that it should not be taken up, Mr. Ham- mond has fired the mine. Christians must no-w be up and quit themselves like men, and in this thing do the will of the Lord. Prove Him." The letter of a converted man, a wealthy mer- chant, " often seen on change," will repay perusal. " I scarcely know how to word this letter, 1 feel bo excited and gratified since our meeting this morning. Oh grant, heavenly Father, that the prayers then addressed to a throne of grace for me, a poor perishing sinner, may be registered in heaven. As I already told you, 1 belonged to a class of Chris- tians who have a name to live and yet are dead. Revival meet- ings I scouted, called them quackery — excited people, and that all would end in smoke. I went upon Friday night last (and my motives were more curiosity than anything else) to hear you in Hope Street Church — the first revival meeting, but I hope not the last I shall attend. I closely observed all, and went home determined to hear more of Mr. Hammond. I, as you know, was at Mr. Arnot's yesterday ; and when I heard all the voices sing, ' Come to Jesus, come to Jesus." I felt that that was easier said than done, and so it is. Yet how easy to those who will only accept Him ! Oh, that wonderful passage, ' Be- hold, I stand at the door, and knock ; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him.' You know what God showed me after we had con- versed and prayed. I had expected Jesus to open the door, but I have now found out that I must do it ; yea more, I must bid Him welcome — a full and free welcome — no mere show of friendship ; it must be genuine. Oh, pray that 1 may be kept from falling back to my old self-righteous ways, and that I may experience more of that peace which, I feel, has now begun. And Oh, I pray that God will touch my heart with love to Him, that I may speak in love, and commend in love that blessed Jesus who loved me with an everlasting love. Oh, 172 THE HARVEST WORK pray for me that I may be able, having named Christ, to depart from all iniquity, that I may walk with Christ and be an en- sample, so that men may take knowledare of me that 1 have been with Jesus. " Pray also for me t^t, when I speak of Christ to others, He will bless my eflTorts, that all the glory may be his. Accept, dearest friend, my warmest thanks for a debt of gratitude I can never repay, whilst I remain, always yours." TheWynd Journal, whose editor is pastor of the Wynd Church, has the following : " One thing of vast importance he has achieved for the pres- ent and the future, in opening new centres of power in the city, and securing the co-operation of men in the ministry and out of it, who come to the work with fresh resources. With such an enlarged basis of operations, and such an increasing band of enthusiastic volunteers, it should noi oe difficult, by God's blessing, if not to take the city, at least to take its strong places, from which an effective evangelism may seize on the population in detail. " The inquiry meeting is the real line of battle in this cam- paign. Many, no doubt, go away from the first meeting with their consciences awakened or their heaz'ts renewed, who either shrink from the publicity of the inquirv meeting, or prefer on other grounds to enter their closet and shut the door and pray to the Father who seeth in secret and will reward them openly. But there are large numbers who have n^ place for retirement, who have no counsellors at home, who are too deeply distressed to leave the place where they have been wounded, or who fear to move away lest they should lose or miss the blessing. It is a scriptural method to ask on the spot ' Men and brethren what shall I do to be saved ? ' But if this is our real line of battle, it is here we must concentrate our forces and bring up OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 173 our reserves. It is here we need wisdom and tact and readiness and power. Here we are not so much serving batteries of ter- rific fire, but in hand to hand encounter, ready to give quarter and to heal the wounds that have been made. Yet in meetings of two thousand or even four thousand people, (as in the City Hall,) when more than the half may wait to an inquiry meet- ing, it is absolutely needful to preserve order and to keep com- mand. There should be no difficulty in providing beforehand a sufficient number of judicious Christian friends for the largest inquiry meeting that can be held, so that the dangers arising from indiscriminate conversation, and possibly from very erroneous teaching, at the most critical and most impressible period in spiritual life, may be as far as possible prevented. " So long as inquiry meetings are held in Churches, there should be no difficulty in providing a sufficient superintendence and an adequate supply of assistants, both male and female, for private conversation and prayer. Every Church has its office- bearers who ought to be ready to undertake this work, and who have, in Sabbath School teachers, and in the Membership, surely a number sufficient for this purpose. Elders, or other office-bearers and capable persons should be appointed in a large meeting to keep order at difierent points, and to see that the anxious get into conference with believers who are ready and able to help. If there are not enough in a Church ready, especially in the beginning of such work, to engage in this de- partment, it should not be difficult to get assistance elsewhere. But even if on an emergency there are not enough of known and trustworthy persons present for the number of the anxious, let these be gathered together and addressed together — a method that has its own peculiar advantages. " At the meeting on Friday, in Hope Street, Mr. Hammond read the following letter from a lady : My Bear Mr. Hammond, — I cannot allow another day to pass without sending you a few lines, to thank you for yc*ir 174 THE HARVEST WORK earnestness and anxiety in trying to bring me to Christ. I can now say with David, ' I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.' It is more than three weeks since I first heard you in College Church. I have ever since that felt deeply convicted, and at times despaired of ever find- ing peace, but the Lord in his mercy pointed out to me very simply the way of salvation. I well remember the day when you first besought me at the door of Finnieston Church to come back, and you would speak a few encouraging words to me, but I refused you three times. I was anxious to hear without being seen, and thought to slip quietly out when you were speaking to another. I have been at most of your even- ing meetings since, and often longed to be able to say with many of those around me, I had found Christ. Tuesday morn- ing last I felt more distressed than I had ever done, so much so that I began quite to despair of ever finding peace. I thought there is no hope for me, and had almost resolved to go back to the world; but at night I felt quite determined to give myself to Him, and prayed as I never had prayed before. I went to my bed at night, resting myself on my Saviour, feeling I had given myself to Him, never doubting. I awoke in the morning singing these sweet lines — • Here 's my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it from thy courts above.' I said to my husband, * I am so happy, I feel the Lord has pardoned all my sins.' The burden of sin I had so long felt was quite removed. We wept together for joy, and I can now say, ' Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away.' May the Lord bless your unwearied labors, in trying to bring souls to Christ. I shall ever remember you with gratitude as having been the means, through the grace of God, of saving my soul from death. Pray, dear Mr. Hammond, that my faith may be strengthened, and that my dear children may be all lambs of Christ's flock.— 22c^ March. 1861. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 175 ** On Saturday last, the meeting in Hope Street was crowded as usual. Among the audience were many of that class, for whom much solicitude has been expre8sed,in well-meant efforts to amuse them on Saturday evenings, in concerts and other dille- tanti entertainments. We beg to submit whether the agency of the prayer meeting, with its stirring addresses, and devotion- al exercises, is more calculated to elevate the masses, or the low buffoonery exhibited by the very men whose daily and nightly work, in saloons and elsewhere, is to degrade the people, and especially the youth of our city : which of these may reasonably be expected to prepare the better for the hallowed day of rest ? We may easily prepare a people who will resemble the godless nations of the Continent, if we employ similar means as are used by their parental governments, who provide them shows, to keep them from thinking of truth and right ; but we shall not, by these means, furnish the future with the scenes or sub- jects of another < Cottar's Saturday Night.' " A leading paper of the city contains a very point- ed and clear summary of the classes represented in the religious interest, and the phenomena of its progress. After speaking of the persons, scenes, and Christian fidelity rewarded, these sharp distinc- tions are made : " There have been mockers in our meetings. A few of these, it is to be hoped, have been awakened, and with agonized souls led to Jesus, and obtained the sprinkling of His blood ; while others, it is to be feared, have had ' their bands made strong.' ' Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of Hosts a consump- tion, even determined upon the whole earth.' — Isaiah xsMiii. 22. " Others, again, under the shaking of the heavens and the earth, {Hebrews xii. 26,) have, as it were, turned in their graves j and become again as still as a stone ; the Lord, to all appear- 176 THE HARVEST WORK ance, having poured out upon them the spirit of deep sleep aad closed their eyes. — Isaiah xxix. 10 The day of redemption is also the day of vengeance. — Isaiah Ixiii. 14 ; Hosea iv. 17. " Some mistaking a sound theological formula for the livinff Christ J and complacently wrapping themselves therein, have not been afraid to call the movement the work of the Devil. I fear these words of the Lord are applicable to such : — ' For judgment I am come into this world, ' that they which see might be made blind ' — John ix. 39 ; and of the prophet Jeremiah — * For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh.' — Jeremiah xvii. 6. " There are others, again, so deeply wedded to order, Church organization, the routine of officialism, they cannot easily be- lieve the waters of life astir beyond the margin of their bound- aries. Surely it would be well for such to remember these words of the prophet : * For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.' — Isaiah Iv. 9. " There are others, again, who, apparently from an almost incurable tendency to make idols of those whom God has honor- ed, are doing what they can to provoke the Lord to jealousy — to bring ' leanness ' both upon themselves and others. " Now, is it wrong to say these things grieve the Holy Spirit ? Does not something of the ' fearful delicacy ' I have referred to lie here ? " But there is a bright side, for the evidence flows in from many sources that a true and deep work of grace is going on over the length and breadth of the city. " Now there are two facts that are patent to observing Chris- tians. The one is the simultaneous outpouring of the Spirit on many lands ; the other, the remarkable variety in the agencies He is employing. In the first fact we are presented with a phenomenon of a truly Divine sublimity ; and it at the same time enlarges our apprehensions of the glory of Jesus Christ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 177 who had on His hands at this moment for intercession, millions of sinners awakened by the Spirit and brought to Him, — anoth- er fact this, overwhelming to our finite conceptions, though keeping out of view the inconceivable grandeur of His universal reign. " What inroads appear to be made on officialism and routine ! What new forces called into play beyond the domain of an ec- clesiastical organization ! ^lay it not be there has been a too deeply-seated idea among many that all blessings would and must come through the consecrated channels of Church order and authority ? Why, it would appear that there are phases of the ministration of the Spirit not ' dreamt of in your philo- sophy.' "As to the evangelists themselves, one of the striking fea- tures among the more prominent of them is the absence of the official in their bearing, and the saliency of the human — a cer- tain unmistakeable something, which inspires confidence and wins the heart, which says, ' We are one with you, our whole heart is yours,' — the marked and beautiful combination of faith, love, and humility — a spirit stooping to everything,that, if by such means, souls may be won to Christ. There is little won- der these men are blessed, and secure a large place in the hearts of the humble children of God. '* To be an ordained minister of the Gospel is the highest honor that can be put on man ; and who shall estimate the value of a faithful and loving ministry ? It is incalculable. But wherever the felt dignity of the office encroaches upon or sup- plants the sense of its responsibility, or blights the tender love or humility that ought to characterize the ministers of the gos- pel, there a great evil has been done, and an element is in operation inimical to a season of revival. " I am very reluctant to say anything that might give of- fence, but I have a fear that the pride of office, of position, of a thorough clerical training, may be one reason why God, in so 178 THE HARVEST WORK many places, is choosing the ' weak things, the despised things,' &c., &c., to effect the mightiest results. If it be so, then to lay aside everything unfriendly to the sweet brotherliness of spirit, that so widespread an outpouring of the Spirit is designed as it is fitted to foster and maintain, seems a very imperative duty on all who take an active part in the work of revival ; and I know not a better place for the cultivation of such a spirit, than in those union prayer meetings, where ministers and others can come and go with such perfect freedom. These meetings, to my mind, are a practical exemplification of the cxxxiii. Psalm, and tend to keep among us the Spirit of God." CHAPTER VI. A Tour on the Continent — Letters from Geneva and Milan — Letter from an Officer of the man-of-war Exmouth, concerning religious interest on board — Presentation Meeting in Glasgow — Meetings at Miffat — London — Liverpool— Voyage in the Great Eastern — Con- versions among the soldiers. Mr. Hammond, worn down with his labors, left them the fore part of April, 1861, for a tour on the Continent. We introduce a pleasing interlude to the directly revival narrative letters, from him, pub- lished in Glasgow papers, from an officer on board a man-of-war, and others : " St. Jean de Maurienne, Savoy, France, April 16, 1861. " Mr DEAR ■■, I am now to start for the top of Mount Cenie, and thence drive to Turin, 6,700 feet above the sea, be- fore night. I send you a copy of leaf from my Journal, but I I have not time to read it over : " Geneva, Sabbath, close of afternoon. " Here for hours I have lingered upon the top of the Hotel de la Metropole. I trust it has not been a Sabbath spent in vain. The good people in Scotland will perhaps say, why not away to church ? I shall be at church this evening, but there was no English service this afternoon. I have been reading the 148th Psalm. From this elevation, and with such scenes spread out before me, it is now inspired with a new richness of mean- 180 THE HARVEST WORK ing. lean but comply with the command,* Praise ye the Lord from the heavens ; praise him in the heights ' — Ps. cxlviii. 1. Surely David must have gazed with delight upon Mount Leba- non. Would that he had seen Mount Blanc upon such a day as this, and watched it as I have done through its ever-changing hues, now towering above the clouds, and now casting aside the misty veil, discovering to our wondering eyes its lofty grandeur In front of me, covered with hundreds of boats, lies the charm- ing lake of Geneva, its clear pellucid waters without a ruffle, asleep in the arms of the grand old mountains. What an em- blem of the Christian at ' peace,' with the everlasting arms of his God about him ! Clothed in white, like a guardian angel, upon the left stands Mount Jura. Nothing is wanting to com- plete the beauty and glory of the landscape. Such a quiet, de- lightful Sabbath it has not been my lot to spend on earth. " All thy works shall praise thee, 0 Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power." — Ps. cxlv. 10, 11. But the hum of voices below recalls my enraptured thoughts, and I look down upon the hundreds of people in groups walking to and fro. No Mount Blanc with its variegated hues of crim- son and purple for them ; no expansive pes^f^eful lake gladdens their grovelling souls ; no holy, sacred day of rest for them. Some are on their way to the theatre, while others are killing time as they best can. How few of them have had their thoughts led from nature up to nature's God! And though, doubtless, some of them are possessed of minds capable of enjoying the beautiful and sublime, yet how few of them have a title to the * mansions in the skies,' and can exclaim as I have done many times to-day — ^ * I love by faith to take a view Of brighter scenes in heaven; The prospect doth my strength renew, While here by tempests driven.* OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 181 I sec on many of the houses balconies for promenading, and I have wondered there are not more people upon them, to admire the matchless grandeur and beauty of the work of the Great Archi- tect of the Universe ; but is it not a great wonder that we bo seldom look away with the eye of faith to the heights of Beulah and the Delectal)Ie Mountains ? " To spend one day with thee on earth, Exceeds a thousand days of mirth." Truly this has been a day spent with God. < How marvellous are thy works ! ' • Thou art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders.' " " The following letter from Mr. E. P. Hammond," says the Glasgow Scottish Guardian, "addressed to a friend, was received the other day, and as it is known that a lively interest in his movements is felt by many in Glasgow and elsewhere, it has been thought that the publication of it would afford grati- fication to his friends : ' Milan, Lombardy, April 18, and Genoa, April 22, 1861. * My Dear , You see I am now in northern Italy, al- most underneath the Alps. We left St. Jean de MaurienLc last Tuesday, by the diligence, for Turin, via Mont Cenis. The day was all that could be desired for Alpine scenery. Such a sky looked down upon us as is seldom seen in Scotland. My seat was behind the driver over the coupe, therefore the highest and best of all on the diligence ; my companions English and American ; our party composed of all nations nearly — French, German, Norwegian, &c., &c. Our ascent, till we reached Lans le Bourg, was gradual, the scenery constantly changing ; the mountains threatening to impede our further progress ; but 182 THE HARVEST WORK as our fresh relay of horses plunged boldly on, they seemed to retire and allow us to pass. Thus winding among them, on we went. One village after another was passed. All the Savoyards came rushing out of their cottages as crack, crack, went the whip, not needed, however, to indicate our approach. One sou, thrown upon the ground to the children holding out their hands for money, was sufficient to make a large file of them, four thick. After a good dinner at Lans le Bourg, we began the ascent of Mont Cenis. Eight pairs of strong mules were attached in front of the horses. And now, up, up we go over one snowy peak ; and yet another and another rises in view of Alps in front, Alps to the left, Alps to the right, Alps closing in behind. The sun is now bidding us adieu for the night, tinging with his parting light the peaks with gold and crimson. How mysterious and varied thy power, 0 King of Day, in this Italian sky ! Be it cold snow, or hard rock, all beams with splendor at thy magic touch ! Who can help thinking, at a time like this, of the Sun of Righteousness, and of the joy that pervades human hearts when illuminated by His genial life-giving beams ? No sooner had the sun taken his departure, than the pale moon appeared to cheer us on our way. We then had an American sleigh ride, with jingling bells at the horses' necks. The passengers and baggage were divided; the horses and mules, no longer in pairs, but tandem, wearily draw us up, and we seem going up, among the stars, for some of these appear as if resting upon the gigantic shoulders of the mountains. Miles below, in the dim moonlight, are the fading lamps of the villagers. At first the snow was soft, and 80 loose that it had to be dug through to prevent the horses plunging ; and so, after this pioneer work, we found ourselves as if passing through a street with marble walls, and had it not been so cold, we might have believed ourselves in Geneva. But soon we emerge from our high-walled streets, and are slipping along on the tops of our so-called marble houses. Is it possi- or THE HOLY SPIRIT. 183 ble that all this change has taken place in one day ? At St Jean de Maurienne, a few hours ago, the sun was intolerable — the apple and peach trees in full blossom ; but now all our Scotch plaids are not sufficient to keep oflf the bitter frost. But have I not in Scotland felt a change as perceptible as this, in passing from one congregation, where hearts were glowing with love, basking in the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, eagerly drink- ing in the simplest gospel truth — to another, where the at- mosphere was chilling, freezing like hoar frost, the very breath indicating that few warm sympathizing hearts were present to pour ardent prayers to God for a blessing upon themselves or upon God's servants? Ah ! how different the effect upon the preacher in such a case ! While thus musing, we were gliding swiftly along over the smooth snow. In the distance we see lights and hear bells. What is to be done ? Another party is coming from Turin, and how are we to pass them? Far off from that beaten track the snow is soft, and the horses know it, and are loath to leave the path ; when compelled to do so one of the horses goes floundering deep down, and it takes all the rest to drag him out. No wonder, for he was wallowing in the soft snow bank forty feet deep, and all his own efforts would only have plunged him the deeper. I thought of the poor sinner who has wandered from the ' narrow way,' plung- ed in hopeless despair; and without the strong arm of Jesus to rescue him, he must perish. * It was one of those days and nights in which one seems to live a lifetime. All the way upon the sledges I sat alone with the driver ; the rest of the party were keeping warm inside. The distance seemed about eight miles. The cold was piercing ; the poor beasts shrank, and at times seemed inclimd to turn back. A noble mastiffof the St. Bernard breed kept close along- side, ready to lend us timely assistance. But no avalanche came thundering down upon us, as one had done a few days be* fore, suddenly destroying six travellers 184 THE HARVEST WORK ' The sight of the telegraphic wires led us to realize that we were still breathing the air of earth ; for even over those everlasting hills, England, Scotland, and Italy were interchang ing thoughts. These wires are now speaking of wars and rumors of wars, yet, also, is their work one of peace. They have made many hearts in Britain and America to rejoice,with the news of the success of the down-trodden Italians struggling for freedom and liberty of conscience. They have told of God's Word, no longer chained in the cell of the monk, but freely cir- culated among the people ; and the day is not far distant, when they will herald the glad tidings of the unshackled preaching of the gospel to the millions who are now ignorant of its precious truths. ' After passing over a considerable extent of table land, the moon all the while smiling upon us, and the stars glowing above the unbroken snow, began the descent. At first it was fearful indeed. The mules and the horses, all but two, were discharged. Down such a declivity, I suppose, we should go carefully, to say the least ; but the method seems to be to take it at a bound ; besides, we were late, and the driver seemed to have more of the ' go-ahead ' in him than even we Americans ever think of possessing. He placed no restraint upon the furious horses. We had left the moon on the other side of the mountains ; and, to add to our gloom, the bright lamps attach- ed to our sledge were suddenly extinguished by the fiercely raging winds. More than once I seized the reins, but it was to little purpose ; it only occasioned a fresh crack of the whip from the driver ; and I almost wished I was oblivious to passing events, like some of the loud sleepers inside. At every turn we seemed to plunge into the yawning chasm below. Huge clouds were now hurrying across the mountain sides, as if in mourn- ing for us. No joyful songs now enlivened our party. Sunny Italy lay spread out before us, but no sun to reveal it to us. At last we stopped at a dwelling house, and I resolved, if possi- OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 185 ble, to spend :he rest of the night there, and walk down in the morning. Bat it was a part of but one room, and in it there were at least thirty mountaineers, who, overtaken by night, had thus far toiled up the mountain, and were sitting about in that miserable room, some playing at cards, some smoking, and the rest snoring. We soon reached the diligence, and were glad of a warm seat, and a warm climate, too. But the sun had been hot the day before, and the wheels sank down, and there, to my joy, we were forced to wait till mules were brought to our assistance. Meanwhile the earth rolled on its axis, and the sun began to streak the east with its light ; the hills behind were changing their hues ; the dark drapery of the mountains was flung aside, and these lofty Alps now seemed rejoicing to meet the sun, and with the heavens were declaring the glory of God, and showing forth His handy work. An Alpine village, far down below us, was sending up its morning smoke, telling of labor begun. Clouds, like sheets of snow, hung below us. ' We were entering Turin an hour or two after sunrise. But those grand old mountains had far more attraction for me than that city, though within its walls were Victor Emmanuel and Garibaldi. I could not keep my eyes away from them ; I was constantly looking back to have one more last gaze. For a mo- ment I wondered if there would be any sights in heaven more grand and beautiful. But, oh ! I remember that it is written, ' Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him:' ' I fear I have wearied you with this long letter. I must therefore reserve my impressions of Turin, Milan, and Genoa till another time. I have some balls and some relics to show you, taken from the battle-field of Magenta, near Milan. A yrung student from Como was with me, and took great delight in pointing; out the position of the French, Austrian, and 186 THE HARVEST WORK. Italian troops — the traces of the battle — the houses marked with musket and cannon shot ; and with much feeling he point- ed to the cross raised to commemorate the burying place of the thousands who fell in battle. On reaching Genoa, I found my- self much exhausted, and unable to proceed on my journey. I began to fear that my last work was done in Glasgow. But the Lord has been good to me. The Rev. D. Kay, a missionary of the Church of Scotland, who has been like a brother to me, took me to his own house, so that I am now quite myself again, and am to leave Genoa for Leghorn to-night (Monday, April 22,) by boat, and to-morrow shall be on my way to Rome. ' With much love to , and my many dear friends in Glasgow, I am, your affectionate brother in Jesus, E. P. Hammond.' " At the Daily Union Prayer Meeting in Elgin Place Chapel, the following letter, addressed to the meeting by Mr. Hammond, was read : « Rev. Dr. Stewart's, Leghorn, Italy, 23d April, 1861. ** My dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus, — My promise to write you is not forgotten ; not a day has passed without my thinking often, often, of that dearly loved daily prayer meeting. The happy hours passed there I can never forget. It was there that I often found my strength revived for the evening. (Isaiah xl. 31.) " For many years in America I was in the habit of attending a daily noon prayer meeting, and it seems like losing my dinner, to be deprived of the privilege now. " "What a contrast was presented to my mind, when last Thursday I entered the great and wonderful Cathedral of OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 187 Milan, with its three thousand marble statues, between the scene before me and that daily witnessed in your union prayer meeting. There were dozens of priests in long robes, chanting and speaking in an unknown tongue ; were they not in a place bearing some resemblance to a Christian Church, we might have thought them acting some solemn part in a theatrical perform- ance. And who were the auditors of this grand performance? About twenty unhappy looking creatures, most of them beg- gars ; more priests and monks and friars than all the rest. Disgusted with all this delusive mummery, I fled away to the top of this marble cathedral. From that dizzy height I looked away across the snow-covered Alps, and shining Mount Rosa, and thought of you, a band of real worshippers of the meek and lowly Jesus, with here and there, mingling among your number, heavy laden souls, not listening to some avaricious priest, as he says, ' Come to the Confessional,'' but to the gen- tle voice of Jesus, the Great High Priest, who hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, saying, ' Come un- to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and 1 will give you rest.' '* Artistically, the cathedral is, perhaps, the finest in the world. No one,possessed with a love of the grand and beauti- ful, could help admiring this wonderful structure, with its forests of spires, adorned with six thousand six hundred and sixteen marble statues, and basso relievos, each of them sup- porting a colossal statue of some of the apostles or saints. " Images of Jesus everywhere ! but in whose heart was there the form of Jesus enthroned as the hope of glory ? Semi-heathen temples on every hand ! but among all their wor- shippers, who of them possessed souls ' fit temples ' for the in- dwelling of the Holy Spirit ? Ah ! how I longed to rush into the thronged streets and tell them of Jesus, of salvation through Him alone, and of temples not made with hands ! But had I done this I should have been dragged away to prison, or to some 188 THE HARVEST WORK pestilential region, where an infectious malaria wouid hare put an end to my existence. " ButjSince the union of the Italian States, the Bible has been freely circulated, and the pure Gospel is preached under certain restrictions. " At Genoa I found rest needful ; the heat was intense, and my head seemed much affected. The Rev. D. Kay, a missionary from Scotland, was like a brother to me, and in three days I was so well as to be able to speak for him twice on the follow- ing Sabbath. At the close of the evening service we had an in- quiry meeting, and there is reason to believe some that day were awakened, and by the Spirit of God led to Christ. We went down into the harbor the night before, and induced some to come, who were intending to spend the Sabbath in visit- ing the celebrated Pallavicini Gardens. " At Leghorn I have just spent one day and night with Dr. Stewart. Most of you are already familiar with his successful and untiring labors." " Port of Civita Vecchia, 45 Miles from Rome, April 24th. " While writing the above, Mrs. Stewart came and took me away to the weekly female prayer meeting. The ' little flock ' in Leghorn are longing for a revival, and wished to know all about the work of the Lord in Glasgow and Scotland. About ten meet weekly to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They request your prayers on their behalf. We had an inquiry meeting. Two remained for conversation, while the rest in an adjoining room were engaged in prayer . I told them all that they must meet daily, and not only pray, but work and speak iu« dividually to the perishing thousands around them ; and some of them with tears promised to do so. It was a most precious little meeting. I found myself quite moved by it, and, I trust, received a fresh baptism of the Spirit, consecrating myself anew to the glorious work of winning souls to Christ, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 189 " After visiting Pisa, with its leaning tower of the twelfth century, its marble Cathedral supported by innumerable fan- tastic marljle pillars, the Baptistry, and Campo Santo, we re- turned to Leghorn, and visited an American man-of-war, the Susequehanna. Dr. Stewart had preached on board, the Sabbath before, and found the Lieutenant a most devoted man. It was delightful and touching, as we spoke of the sympathizing love of Jesus, to sec his whole emotional nature, as the tears filled his eyes and his hand instinctively pressed my own. He took us down to the place of their prayer meeting. ' I could not live without this prayer meeting,' said he. 'It is here that Jesus stands in our midst, and says, as to his disciples of old, ' Peace be unto you.' " At the Ewing Place Daily Prayer Meeting, on Tuesday, letters were read from Mr. Hammond. At St, James's Hall, London, Mr. Hammond had addressed from 1500 to 2000 people ; a good num- ber of inquirers remained. He was to speak in Crown Chapel the following evening. He adds, — " Nearly 3000 soldiers go in the ' Great Eastern,' on Monday, from Liverpool. What an opportunity for speaking for Jesus. Pray for us." "H. M. S. 'ExMOUTH,' Naples, 28th May, 1861. " My dear Mr. Hammond, — This very day last month I bade you farewell on board the French Steamer ; and though we have not the pleasure of your bodily presence among us, yet we trust that the same Spirit, which rested so abundantly upon you, has been communicated to, and is now abiding in, many a grateful sailor's heart on board. Ever since you left, we have kept up the n'ghtly prayer meetings and addresses, and propose to con- tinue to do so, in God's strength, as long as we can. I could 190 THE HARVEST WORK fill sheets of details in telling you the simple story of those who have found peace with Jesus. Some of these were the worst characters on board the ship, and now their lives are living witnesses of the great change which the Spirit of God has pro- duced on their lives and conversation. *' One man, a Sepoy sailor, was so bad and wicked, that he had been turned out of one sailor's mess after another, and none would at last receive him, so that he lived in the black-list mess constantly. He swore dreadfully, and was too bad for sailors to associate with. That man now has come down every night; his life changed ; given up swearing ; amended his ways ; and the wonder of everybody who knew him. He attendiS the even- ing school regularly, that he may learn to read his Bible ; then comes in to us ; and if you only saw how he looks at the Bible, and turns over the leaves as if he would devour the contents, (though he can't read) , yet it would melt the hardest heart. Another young fellow, one of our servants, was turned away for being a drunkard. He now tells me, that he made a collection of the very worst oaths he could hear, and entered them in a book, so that he might never forget them, but make use of them as he might see fit. That young man has now become changed ; leads a new life ; and engages in prayer with others on Sunday afternoons. An African sailor, born in Antigua, though he has a black skin, has now a white heart, cleansed by the blood of Je- sus; and the simple and beautiful, nay, eloquent prayer I and others heard him ofier up to God, the Father of the black as well as the white Christian, refreshed my soul as well as the souls of others. One man, a Cornish man, is very sincere in his pleadings, but his ignorance of our langagae is a great draw- back to his expressing the desires of his heart. " On Sunday afternoons we meet with those who are desirous of engaging in prayer. Some come down who desire to pray, but when the time comes they can 't express the longings of their hearts before others; but, I have no doubt, they will derive encouragement from bearing their follow sailors praying, and OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 191 will receive the Spirit of prayer from on high. They all pray in private, but are nervous before others. " Lieut. , and I, felt that we had need of their prayers, and it was our duty to encourage them, and give them an opportu- nity of praying with those who felt the necessity of cultivating the spirit of prayer. We addressed them once or twice od prayer, and then intimated that we would set apart means of re-establishing their bodily health,* and fitting you for going among my countrymen and others to proclaim ' the glad tidings of great joy,^ and win souls unto Christ. Our hearts are lifted up in thankfulness to our heavenly Father, who, in his providence,sent you for a few days amongst us, to arouse sinners from the torpor of death, to sing the songs of Zion and rejoice in God their Saviour. I feel that my own soul has been much re- freshed by your presence among us, and fresh, vigor has been in- fused. The great wall of formalism has been broken down, and I have been enabled to go and talk to sailors in a way which 1 have never done before. The same has taken place with Lieut. , who is one with me in everything which we do for the salvation of souls. " At one time I proposed writing you sooner ; but afterwards thought it better to defer it,until we saw whether the impres- sions made on the hearts were of a transitory character or not. I have to apologize for not writing the letter you proposed, to the scholars attending some of the Sunday schools in Glasgow ; but when I thought over the matter, I felt that I could not make it so interesting as you could, and have given up the suggestion, leaving it for you to tell them about the sacrifices offered up in the temble of Serapis, as well as the sacrifices which are now offered up on board the Exmouth, by those who, at times gone by, sacrificed to other gods. You can tell them how God directed you to Naples, and the means by which He Bent you on board the Exmouth to rouse sinful sailors from the Bleep of death, who, until your arrival, had been sacrificing unto 192 THE HARVEST WORK other gods, and living sinful lives, and doing very v^icked works. How you now hear, that some of those wicked sailors are blessing the God who sent you here, that His Holy Spirit might be pour- ed out upon them, changing their hearts, and leading them unto the Lamb of God. You can tell them that we have a sailor among us who comes from Paisley. This man, in his young days, had been taught to sing praises unto God, just as they are taught ; and now he comes down every evening with his tune book, and pitches the tunes, and has become our precentor. After a hard day's work he delights to tune his heart to God — that God to whom we all sing praises, and who gives us singing hearts as well as praying hearts. His mess-mates may laugh at him but he does not care,for God has brought him among us to assist us in praising God, in singing psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs — making melody in our hearts unto God.. You may tell them how those on board, who have given their hearts unto Jesus (but can 't read) , are now learning to read, and attending an evening school after their day's work, that they may be able to read God's word for themselves — those epistles and gospels which were written for them,as well as for everybody who would receive them. You can tell them, how hard work it is for a grown-up person to learn to read, and how much easier it is for a boy and a girl ; and how their hearts are more disposed to receive the things of Jesus, because they are not so wicked as a grown-up person, and have not committed so many or so great sins. That Jesus loves little children, and invites all, but especially them while they are young, to come unto Him, that they might be happy on earth, and be happy when they come to die; for after death they will see Jesus and dwell for ever with Him in heaven. Your ever affectionate brother in Jesus." The following letter was handed in by a friend of the writer, and shows one blessed result of obeying the command to " sow beside all waters : " — OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 193 '* My Dear Sister, — I wish to tell jou of a man who came on board this ^ip a few days ago. He preached to us, and I never heard a man so earnest in prayer. He has touched the hearts of many on board. My flesh trembled, and every nerve shrank, so that the people took notice of me. It was nothing but the Spirit of God that was pouring into my soul. I cannot tell you how I felt, but ever since I felt happy. The good man who had spoken to us was going away that evening, but some of us prayed him to stay a day or two with us, and he remained for two days. He is a true Christian. He came from America to Glasgow, during the time of the Revival there, and preached in many churches in that city. He came to this place to preach the Gospel to every one. He has again left for Glasgow, from which place he proceeds once more to America. His name is Mr. Hammond. Dear Sister, there are two of our officers who have had a prayer meeting on board every night, for many long months, but there have been few who have encouraged them by attending. They prayed to God that he would turn the hearts of those on board, and the Lord, you see, has now answered their prayer ; for it was the Lord who sent that good man amongst us, who has given many of us to see the dangerous way in which we are going. Ever since he came here the meeting- room is filled. And Oh, dear sister there is a great change in me. For many long years I have been travelling on that * broad road ' which leadeth to everlasting misery. But now I see that I have been going very far wrong. I have got my eyes opened. I have found out Him who is a way from the broad to the nar- row road, and in Him I have found peace — a peace I would not want for all the world. Let the world say what it may, I will nerve the Lord. Your loving brother." Naples, 12th May, 1861. A writer, who has been often mentioned in these |>ages, alludes to the effect of the absence of the principal agent: 194 THE HAKVEST WORK " It was thought in some quarters, that with the departure of Mr. Hammond there would be a lull in the revival; but, so far from that being the case, it has assumed a more determined as- pect. As might be supposed, the eftervesence which agitated tlie surface of society with the first appearance of an interesting stranger, has at last subsided, and now we see to what high- tide mark the religious life in the community has risen. " Since his return from Italy, he has been with us rather more tlian a fortnight ; part of that time has been given to making excursions to Ayrshire, Stranraer, and Helensburgh, for evangelistic purposes. Throughout the last week of his stay in Glasgow, he daily conducted the Union mid-day prayer meeting, and in the several evenings gave a special service successively in Wellpark, St. Mark's, Anderston, and Hope Street Free Churches. To the praise of Him who is the Faithful Witness and the Amen, the labors of this servant have been acknowledg- ed to the very last ; the Lord making His glory to appear in the conversion of souls by the Word preached." Before leaving for America, a soiree presentation meeting, presided over by Robert M'Cowan, Esq, was held in the City Hall, containing 4000 people, which was packed ; and it was believed three times that number would have been present, had there been room. We give, as a very fair and suggestive specimen of the tone of the speeches, an extract from the editorial review of the meeting by Dr. J. Smith, LL.D., Editor of the Glasgow Examiner. '* The demonstration was significant as well as triumphant. We see in it a stranger from America, two years ago unknown to fame, winning the highest honors that even Glasgow can con- fer. Mr. Hammond came among us a stranger. Some of our most eminent clergymen welcomed him to their pulpits. His OF TItE HOLY SPIRIT. 195 addresses excited a very wide interest. Hundreds professed to have been led to attend to their spiritual interests by his dis- courses, and crowded audiences were always present to listen to him. As he labored incessantly for weeks without fee or re- ward, and in the face of not a few rebuflfe from a portion of the public and the press, many thought that something was due to his disinterested labors in a public way, and hence the proceed- ing of Thursday evening. We have never been among Mr. Hammond's unqualified admirers, and have not hesitated to state what we reckoned objectionable in his manner and matter ; but we are not less prepared on that account to magnify the grace of God in him, and to acknowledge the extraordinary in- terest he has awakened, and the great amount of good he has achieved. After the eulogies he received on Thursday, from several of our best known clergymen and laymen, any testimony we might be inclined to give in his favor might well be reckon- ed superfluous. But we cannot but notice the generosity of the speakers, and the profound enthusiasm of the audience at Thursday's meeting. One who has not yet attained the rank of a licensed preacher, who is only attending to his preliminary studies, has awoke such echoes in his praise in the City Hall as were never awoke before." Referring to his curiculum, Dr. Smith adds : ♦* We mention this because not a few revivalists have been popular though they had none of the advantages of previous education, or any training for public work. We mean no dis- respect to them when we say, that the man who has all their qualifications for usefulness and a proper training besides, oc- cupies a much more advantageous position, and is likely to sus- tain his popularity better among certain classes of society. Edu- cated persons among his audience do not require to be told, that the speaker is one whose mind has been thoroughly trained, and who is versant with ancient and modem literature. None but 0 person of classic taste and training could have given the same 196 tHE HARVEST VtOUK interest to the narrative of his recent travels in the classic land of Italy. We surely do not need to argue that, other requisites being equal, the man trained to think and speak must have a vast superiority over others, however earnest and zealous such may be. The rapid sketch given by the Chairman as to the career of Mr. Hammond, as a revivalist, was very satisfactory, and the Chairman had the advantage of speaking, not only from undoubted authority, but from a personal and intimate knowl- edge of him. As a people, the Scotch are proverbially cautious in receiving strangers ; but in this case they have such testi- mony, both public and personal, that they can have no hesita- tion, and have shown none, in welcoming him as a true man, and devoted servant of the one Master in heaven. Anything more satisfactory and decided than the speech of Mr. M' Cowan in favor of Mr. Hammond, it is impossible to conceive. The speech of the Rev. Jacob Alexander was very cordial and suggestive. He welcomed Mr. Hammond because he had developed the lay agency to a larger extent than ever — he had especially en- listed students in the work of evangelism — he had originated children prayer meetings, — and especially he had taught many to sing hymns who never sung them before. In defence of the revival movement, he brought in a very happy illustration from spring. An ill-natured person might crush the crocuses and snow-drops, and dam up the streams, and declare that there was no spring. But the mighty movement was being felt through- out the vegetable world, and would by and by burst into beau- ty, despite the allegations of ill-conditioned persons. And so in this movement. Men may deny it, but they cannot keep back the resistless influence at work in the natural or spiritual world." From Glasgow Mr. Hammond went to Moffat, and thence to London. At the former place a meet- ing was appointed, especially with reference to his OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 197 passing the Sabbath there, on his way to the Me- tropolis. Such was the crowd at this watering place, that the throngs went from the church door to the open air ; and the divine influence, which had rested so largely upon Scotland, was manifestly present among the people. Among the meetings in London, a large one was held in St. James's Hall, respecting which, Dr. Campbell, of the British Standard, writes : " Mr. Hammond has just been in London, where we have en- joyed the pleasure of several interviews with him, He went off yesterday, to Liverpool, whence he proceeds in the Great Eastern, which is chartered by Government to carry out 2,200 troops, besides a body of Cavalry, to Canada. Amid such a crowd, a voyage of the old stamp, extending to seven or eight weeks, would have afforded some scope for hopeful labor ; but nothing can be done in the brief period of nine or ten days. " We may observe that he preached in St. James's Hall, last Sunday evening. Although his design was not announced till Friday, so well had the thing been managed that there was a large congregation. Having opened the service in the ordinary manner, the Rev. J. Alexander, of Glasgow, made an admirable address, replete with the purest evangelism. Mr. Hammond then discoursed for nearly an hour, in a strain peculiar, re- markable, and exceedingly fitted to be useful. Nothing could have been more void of glare, claptrap, and meretricious display. Nothing could be more unpretending and unambitious. It waa throughout stamped by * godly simplicity.' The grand object was clearly the salvation of men and the glory of God." In Liverpool, also, meetings were held, a notice of which we take from the Liverpool Mercury ; 198 THE HARVEST WORK " The Rev. E. P. Hammondj whose labors have been so signally successful in different parts of Scotland, has been hold- ing a series of special services in Liverpool, previous to his de- parture for America in the Great Eastern. The first service was held on the 23d instant, in Canning Street Presbyterian Church, of which the Rev. J. R. Welsh is the pastor. The next meet- ing was held on Sunday evening, in the Rev. Dr. White's Church, Islington. Both services were numerously attended, and in the evening an earnest and affectionate address was de- livered by Mr. A. F. Thistlethwayte, of London, who has been laboring in connection with Mr. Hammond. After the address- es, about 300 persons remained for conversation concerning religious subjects. The next service was held in Dr. Raffles's Church, Great George Street. The Rev. J. R. Welsh, who in- troduced Mr. Hammond, having alluded to the objections often urged against revival services, observed that he did not believe that error would be owned of God ; and showed that the labors of such men as Messrs. Brownlow, North and Hammond, had resulted in the conversion of numerous souls. The Rev. Dr. W^hite gave an interesting account of the glorious results of the revival under Mr. Hammond's labors in Annan, Dumfries, and other places. Mr. Hammond then delivered an earnest address, calculated to arouse careless souls to a sense of their spiritual condition, at the close of which a number of anxious ones re- mained, with the object of seeking spiritual advice. On Tues- day evening, at seven o'clock, an out-door service was held in front of the chapel, and addresses were delivered by Mr. J. W. Bonham, of America, and Mr. Thistlethwayte, of London. During the meeting,a man came near the speakers and begged one of the hymns, stating that he had resolved to destroy him- eelf, but was just then arrested by the sound of the preaching. At the service in the chapel, a very brief address was delivered by Mr. Bonham, who was followed by a young man from Scot- land, who gave an interesting account of his conversion. Mr- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 199 Hammond then delivered a very earnest and affectionate ad- drees, which w^as listened to w^ith very great attention, and pro- duced a practical effect on the minds of those present, a number of whom remained at the inquiry meeting. Some were deeply anxious. Last night a further meeting was held in Great George Street Chapel, when Mr. Hammond delivered an address, and two young converts related their experience. Previous to the inquiry meeting which followed, the Rev. Dr. White urged up- on those present the necessity of immediate decision for Christ. A large number remained for inquiry, many of whom went away rejoicing in the Saviour." The homeward voyage, in its secular and religious interest, can be given in no better form than by a letter from his pen, addressed to the Daily Prayer Meeting in Glasgow, and printed in a Glasgow paper : " Great Eastern, July 2d, 1861. " My dear , Here I am,away off the banks of Newfound- land, amid fogs and icebergs, and yet my thoughts revert to you and the dear people on Scotia's shores. I have had a letter thought out for you ever since we left Liverpool, but it is not BO easy on board ship to get these thoughts put down on paper. (Sea-sickness has not been the excuse, for I have not seen one on Doard thus afflicted. But I have been hard at work day and night distributing thousands of tracts and about twelve hun- dred Bibles, and holding meetings. " I cannot but think that the many prayers offered for a blessing to attend us on our voyage have been answered. "We have had large and deeply solemn meetings every day since Sabbath (30th.) We could not see our way to commence these meetings till then. We had first to secure the consent and co- operation of the chaplain on board, and also of the captain of 200 THE HARVEST WORK the ship, and of the two Colonels of the 30th and 60th Regi» ments. All this was accomplished by one of the officers of tho 30th, a decided Christian, to whom Captain Blackwood, whose letter was read in your daily prayer meeting, introduced me. This dear officer has been most active. He and a few others have met every day in my room for prayer. Some days we have had two and three meetings. There is no place where the voice can reach all at once. Sometimes the wind is so strong that I find it impossible to speak long ; my voice soon gives way. " Last night we had the first regular inquiry meeting. I gave it no name, but, after addressing them, just went down among them at once ; nearly all remained, and many were the anxious questions asked. Would that I could have had a hun- dred working Christians to have gone among the soldiers, to take them by the hand, and kindly point them to Jesus. I thought of those who used to be so active in the union prayer meeting, often remaining till five and six o'clock to bind up the broken-hearted. A number of Romanists were among the awakened. About half of the 30th, I am told, are of that persuasion. I suppose I have given away at least five thousand tracts and books, which are perused for hours at a time by the soldiers. Only one man refused to take a tract or book. Some of the officers are in an anxious state of mind, and have been in my room on their knees, seeking for peace in Jesus. " It has strengthened me to remember, that the dear friends in the daily union prayer meeting have been remembering us at a throne of grace. We have often been in danger, but not in despair. Yesterday morning we were near a collision with the steamship Arabia. There was a dense fog, and we were near ruxming into several icebergs. We saw four or five immense ones at the same time. One of them was much like Edinburgh Castle. Many were in great alarm the night before last, by the sudden stoppage of the engines, and the sight of the huge ice- OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 20 J. berg right ahead. Several did not retire to rest all night. Most of these • monsters of the northern deep ' were prowling about, in near the same place where we encountered one two years ago (June 6th), 180 miles oft' St. John's, Newfoundland. That terrible scene has often come up before my mind during the past few days. In thinking over the wonderful dealings of God, and His goodness to me, I am often led to exclaim, ' What hath God wrought ! ' How little did I know what was before me, when on 1st June, 1859, 1 set sail from New York, to be absent for only a few months. I trust I have been led to renew my vows of consecration to the service of Jesus. " While writing the above, a Roman Catholic came to ask me for a Bible. His very looks indicated that he was anxious about his soul. His lip quivered as he said, ' I have had no peace since I heard your address on Sabbath last. I am a great sinner. What shall I do ? 1 have been worshipping images too long — all the time neglecting Jesus. Pray for me.' We knelt and prayed. It would have melted a hard heart to hear him asking for mercy. I am confident he has found Jesus, and will at the last be found in Him." " Friday, July 5th. " It is a glorious morning. We have just entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence. We shall soon be at the mouth of the river. It would have done your heart good to have seen our meeting last night. It was something like one of our old meet- ings in Hope Street Free Gaelic Church. It seems that nearly all the three thousand were listening. The power of God's Spirit was felt, and the inquiry meeting that followed showed that many were awakened. It was truly touching to see some of these strong soldiers wounded by the ' sword of the Spirit.* I thoi^ght of the words, ' Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies, whereby the people fall under thee.' Though half of the 30th regiment are Roman Catholics, all came to the meetings and read the tracts. If one could get a 202 THE HARVEST WORK congregation composed entirely of Romanists I am inclined to think that, with earnest — burning — heartfelt words, relying on the Spirit of God, he might confidently expect as great a harvest as from an ordinary Protestant audience. But should he begin to discuss some of their peculiar doctrines he would lose power over them at once. But let him come to them as an ambassador from heaven — telling them in plain words of their enmity and of their danger in fighting against God, and proclaiming reconciliation through Christ Jesus, and his words will not fall to the ground. Christ and Him crucified is the preaching that must find its way to the heart. ** I fear I have wearied you with this long letter. I shall write you again when I reach home. Not a day passes but I think of the daily union prayer meeting in Ewing Place Cha- pel. Please remember me to them. Tell them the Lord has answered their prayers, — that souls on board the Great Eastern have been saved. This very moment a strong man has left my state-room, seemingly having just given himself to Jesus. He had been anxious for some one to speak to him for a month. One young man has been awakened since he heard dear Mr. Radclifie, in Ireland. So tell them to pray on. Pray without ceasing. Your affectionate brother in Jesus." The New York Observer reports of Fulton Street prayer meeting : "A gentleman said he had in his hand a letter from a passenger on the Great Eastern. It was from one whose voice he had often heard in this prayer meeting. On the passage over they had prayer meetings every night, and many had been converted. Some of the converts were British soldiers on their way, under Government orders, to Canada. This gentleman, whose labors had been so much blessed, had been very useful to many souls in England, Scotland and Ireland. Wherever he had been multitudes had been brought to Christ. OF THE HOLY STIRIT. 203 "Another gentleman arose and said that he had been a witness of the success of the labors of this man who had been mentioned for four months in Scotland. Whenever it was known that he was to be present and speak at a meeting, hundreds would come to hear. He had heard him in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and other cities and towns. It was wonderful how the Lord owned and Olessed his humble, unpretending labors. Go where he may and labor as he will, souls are converted. So it has been on the Great Eastern. The leader reminded the meeting that often it dad been a subject of prayer, that revivals might go with the royages of this great ship." To complete the glimpse of the great awakenings during the last few years in Britain, we append a general view of the Irish revivals, by James Massie, D. D., LL.D., Secretary of the Irish Evangelical Society; and,also, by the Rev. J. Dunham Smith, of Kingstown, Dublin : OKIGIN OF THE AWAKENING. " The religious movement, which in the northern part of Ire- land has awakened such general attention, has now become a fact in the history of the times as well as of the country. Its origin, at first obscure and for a time doubtful to many, can now be traced in perfect harmony with the principles and character of the Christian dispensation. The gradual develop- ment and extension of the mental and spiritual phenomena, by which the work has been distinguished, have secured the thoughtful attention of many devout Christians, and demand yet more prayerful consideration. Whatever may have been the proportion and relation of human agency in its progress, the most honored instruments in its administration will grate* fully acknowledge a power unseen and a presence all-pervac? 204 THE HARVEST WORK ing, which are doabtlees infinite and divine. * Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world ? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ? ' 'But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to con- found the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty ; ' * that no flesh should glory in his presence.' Most suitable is the acknowledg- ment of one, to whom great favor has been shown as a euccesB- ful laborer in the Revival. ' I believe that, like the mighty stream, it has arisen from a number of springs concealed, it may be, in the bosom of the mountains of Antrim, where for a season they continued to gush forth, seen only by a few, until now they have met in the valleys, and are pouring their floods on the churches, sweeping sin and cold-hearted formalism before them.' How many have laved on the banks, or sailed on the bosom, of a flowing river, admiring its swelling tide and pic- turesque effect, and deriving all the advantages conveyed by its ceaseless current, who have never inquired in what locality it took its rise, or in whose demesne its chief spring first gushed forth! 'There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. ' Yet it was not inconsistent with the state of a devout mind, or a sanctified vision, to trace ' the waters 'which' issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward, 'to follow the way, when brought to' the gate northward, 'to behold the waters which ran out on' the right side' ' at the south side of the , altar.' It was, doubtless, with wonder and gratified thanks- giving the prophet accompanied the man, whose line ' measured a thousand cubits,' once and again, till he was brought' through the waters,' * to the ancles,' ' to the knees,' ' to the loins;' and till it proved' a river 'he 'could not pass over' — the blessing was abundant, * for the waters were risen — waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.' The enlightened, the believing, and praying Christian will w^tch and long for the OP TfiE HOLT SPIRIT. 205 plentiful effusion of the Divine Spirit, until ' it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, vehithereoever the rivers shall come, shall live.' " Every student of the Sacred Scriptures knows well that many great and exceeding precious promises have, been given, that God, in the Gospel of His Son, would work, 'not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit ; ' and that His Spirit shall be so abundantly poured out from on high, that the wilderness and the solitary place should be made glad for his influences. * And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea ; in summer and in winter shall it be.' The conviction has been deepening in the mind of the church, not only that this rich blessing has not yet been enjoyed, in the fulness of its promise, but,also,that the promise has only failed, because it has not been duly pleaded, or ex- pected in faith — that for all these things, prayer should be made to him continually ; since, * Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.' Special seasons for prayer have, therefore, been ob- served, and concert in prayer has been maintained by com- panies of the devout. It has been confessed and lamented»that the Holy Ghost has not been duly honored, and that his gracious operations have not been so fervently and constantly implored, in connection with the ministrations of the Gospel aa should have been. Hence, therefore, times of humiliation and earnest supplication have been consecrated by many who are the Lord's remembrancers. Nor have they passed,without the happy experience of the richest personal enjoyment as seasons of refreshing from the Divine presence. The extended awaken- ing which occurred last year in the commercial cities of the United States, and the myriads who were brought to decision, and to join themselves to the Lord in transatlantic churches, were, doubtless, preceded and accompanied by much believing 206 THE HARVEST WORK. and importunate prayer. Tidings of these things came to the ears of the church in Britain, and were difiused into remote and obscure places . Contemporaneous with the work in America, has been a sileit but gracious manifestation of renewing and saving power in the mountainous regions of Wales, and some isolated parts of Scotland. These fruits have been consequent not less upon the labors and prayers of lay Christians than of faithful pastors. The Rev. W. Arthur has well described the result ; * when the true spiritual element of man is shed upon and around him, and the Divine breath flows into his soul in- sensibly and with spiritual power ; then, when the Spirit is poured out, as Joel prophesied, and as the pentecoBtal Christians experienced, the servants of God seem to breathe their native air ; men,who before languidly supported a certain kind of re- ligious existence, are borne along over their daily temptations as upon eagles' wings ; the besetments of their temperament abate like ailments in returning health. They answer to the call of duties, whether in the family, in business, or the church, with a joyful sense of help ; and it is * easy ' then * for the Boul to be true." *< This state of life in the members, and power in the services of the church, is never unaccompanied with fruitfulness in her labors. Then mothers tell with streaming eyes how their wil- ful boys have begun to lead a new life ; tried and broken-spirit- ed wives begin to see their husbands strangely seeking God ; men of cold and selfish temper are found with full eyes in the sanctuary, and with new benevolence doing good to their neigh- bors. It is then we hear of the proud becoming lowly ; the churl, liberal ; the wild, sedate and wise ; and many a fair and happy transformation from sinful to Christian living, which, as it circulates in the neighborhood, stirs some other heart to say, ' Is it not time for me also to seek the Lord ? ' and thus Chris- tian conversions go on spreading from day to day, until the number of the newly awakened is such as to make a percepti- ble impression upon the community.' OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 207 ** The earliest personal trace of the origin of the present spiritual movement, in the county of Antrim, is given on the tes- timony of a gentleman who had friendly intercourse with the in- dividuals concerned. Mrs. C.,an English lady, visited Ireland in the spring of 1856, and spent the following summer and autumn in the town of Bjillymena. She thought the people cold and indifferent about religion, and wns often much cast down, because of their spiritual deadness. She visited the poor in their cottages, and read the Scriptures to them, and prayed witli them, but in most cases they considered the time thus occupied as lost. Occasionally she called on the rich, with the intention of speaking to them on personal religion ; but they inclined to say little on that point, and often contrived to change the sub- ject of conversation. On the whole, she considered, the rich gave her a much colder reception than the poor. Her patience was greatly tried ; but she persevered, and expected a blessing to follow her weak efforts. During the summer her friend, Lieut. A., who gives his whole time and substance to the work of God, came, and preached with great earnestness. He was favorably received by Presbyterian clergymen, but especial- ly by Mr. M., of Ballymena, who invited him to his pulpit, and assisted him in getting up meetings elsewhere. Mrs. C. feared that God had not as yet acknowledged her anxious labors ; but she knew not of one little seed she had dropped, a (few days before she left Ballymena. She had some time pre- viously visited two ladies, who liked to talk about religious mat- ters, but especially delighted in controversial squabbles, and found them engaged discussing pre-ordination, free-will, &c., with a young man named J. McQ. Having listened to them for some time, she sought to impress upon them the absurdity of such a fruitless discussion. Neither party seemed to her to have a higher object in view than to see who could best argue. The young man was an entire stranger to her ; so that she ad- dressed herself chiefly to the ladies, and spoke to them on the importance of seeking a ^rsonal interest in the Saviour. Her 208 TflE Harvest wouk words took deep root in the heart of J. McQ., who left, rumi- nating on the truths brought before him. He determined to lead a new life, and prayed to God for assistance. He was a poor young man, with a wife and two children, and was em- ployed in one of the mills near Connor. He advanced in spiritual matters, reading the Bible, and ' George Muller's Life and Labors in Bristol,' till the spring of 1857, when two of his Sabbath-school class were converted to God. He thus spent much time in prayer, seeking a companion to assist him in the work of the Lord. One came to him in the person of J. McW. These two met often in Kells for special prayer, and asked God directly for what they wanted. He was graciously pleased to hear them. One belonging to the Sabbath-school class came and joined their little prayer-meeting, which then num- bered three. In a short time after, two more found the Saviour, and joined themselves with them. Thus their numbers gradual- ly increased. In January, 1858, a child in one of the classes in their little Sabbath-school was so overpowered, that its body was prostrated, and it suffered greatly in consequence. This astonished them, as it was the first they had ever seen or heard of ; but still they went on with their prayer-meetings and Sab- bath-school, and God blessed their efforts in a remarkable man- ner. In May, 1858, they could number sixteen or seventeen who had experienced the blessed change. This gave them great courage ; and in spite of some petty opposition in the shape of sneers, &c., they continued to ask and to receive. Faith grew. Hope brightened. ' The power of prayer ' began to be known. and felt, and seen. The spring communion came on. Through- out the extensive parish, consisting of some thousand families, it was generally known that, lately, persons had been turned to the Lord among them — some moral, and some wildly im- moral. A few had heard of a similiar triumph of divine grace beyond the Atlantic. The services were peculiarly solemn. The Master's presence seemed to be recognized, and His call hear i. A great -rapulse was given to consideration and seri- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 209 oueneBS, intensifying and extending these general precursorB of conviction and revival. The old prajer-meetings began to be thronged, and many new ones established. No diflficulty was now to find persons to take part in them. The winter was past ; the time of the singing of birds had come. Humble, grateful, loving, joyous converts multiplied. They, with the children of God. who in that district have been revived — greatly refreshed by the Divine Spirit — are now very numer- ous. There were, on an average, sixteen prayer -meetings every night in the week, throughout the bounds of that one congre- gation— i. e., about one hundred weekly. The awakening to a sight of sin, the conviction of its sinfulness, the illumination of the soul in the knowledge of a glorious Saviour, and conversion to Him — all this operation, carried on by the life-giving Spirit, was in the Connor district for more than eighteen months ; a calm, quiet, gradual, in some cases a lengthened process, not commencing in, or accompanied by, a ' smiting down ' of the body, or any extraordinary physical prostration, more than what might be expected to result from great anxiety and deep sorrow. Thus, it is worthy of being noticed and remembered, that the present American Revival began in 1857 ; bo did the Revival in Connor : — the one began in the month of Septem- ber, BO did the other : prayer — fervent, confiding, and un- ceasing, was the prominent characteristic of the one and of the other : laymen — six in the one case, and four in the other — were the prominent agents in commencing the work in the one country as well aa in the other." TIMES OF REFRESHING. " A great change in religion has come over many parts of our Irish land during the past twenty years. The light of Divine truth, mingled with the Spirit's power, has extended over numerous spots, now radiant with conversion, where the Lord Jesus Christ is no longer as * a stranger in the land,' or ' a way- faring man that turneth aside to tarry ' only * for a night.' 210 THE HARVEST WORK ** So signal and surprising is the present awakening, that wu are like men that dream a pleasant dream. Now is our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. As streams in the south, after mighty rains of refreshing, return to their deserted channels ; so in the hundreds of sanctuaries in our land, once almost desolate of power and life, there is a river of salvation, the waters of which make glad the city of our God. " I feel humbled and astonished that so much slight has been cast upon this glorious work, and that, too, by some good men. Whilst the Lord lias been making hundreds of churches, once deader in a Laodicean state, each one a Bochim — a place of tears — and whilst over five counties, prayer — the Spirit's own breath — has been made without ceasing, numbers of professed Christians and ministers are still standing at a distance, or coldly speculating concerning it. Some who believe in the work as a revival of religion, and rejoice in it, yet compromise and apologise respecting the physical phenomena, as if these, without reserve, should be condemned. I am not ashamed to confess to a different mind. I have seen too much, not to say, in regard to many bodily cases, ' This is the finger of God.' " With Dr. Carson, I have no doubt that the physical agent, whatever it may be, has been sent by God ; and for a specific purpose. Such was its effect one night in Coleraine, he re- marks, that it was like the day of judgment, when sinners will call on the mountains and the rocks to hide them. ' It struck terror to the heart of the most hardened and obdurate sinner. The whole town was in a state of alarm, business was forgotten, and the revival was the only subject of conversation. A French invasion could not have produced so great a panic. I have seen much of the accumulated misery of bodily disease and mental distress; but I never saw anything to be compared to the harrowing scene in the Coleraine Town Hall. It would be quite impossible to imagine any agency more powerful for drawing the attention of men to the state of their souls. I heard many people mocking and scoffing, befor* that night, about the revi- OP THE HOLY SPIRIT. 211 val ; but when I Baw the same parties examining the caees in the Town Hall, their mocking was at an end, and they looked like criminals whose hour was at hand. No other sort of a re- vival could have had the same effects. If one half of the inhabi- tants had been converted in a minute, in the ordinary way, the other half would not have believed it — they would have laugh- ed at it as a vision. It would have had no effect upon them. " Exception has been taken to excesses and extravagances. Excesses and extravagances may be expected, where so vast a surface lies open before the enemy of souls. ' Tares ' are usual- ly found wherever there is ' wheat ;' ' mire and dirt ' will be flung up by the deep * sea' of spiritual conflict with Satan. " But I have seen the most hallowed results in the minds and lives of per8ons,who were stricken under circumstances where no natural cause could be traced. " I said to a young man in the North, who had been lying in a stricken state for three days, — ' Did you ever wish to be strick- en ? ' * Never.' ' Did you ever dread it ? ' ' Never.' ' When it occurred were you in a heated atmosphere? ' 'No.' ' In a crowd ? ' * No.' * Under an exciting sermon ? ' ' No. ' ' How did you feel when lying in a stricken state ? ' 'Of the external world I knew nothing. Internally I felt a dreadful load of sin. ' * Had you never suspected it before ? ' ' Never. I had always thought that I was a Christian, and others thought me to be a Christian.' ' How was your mind occupied during the long period in which you were stricken ? ' ' I had a dreadful conflict. The idea of being a Christian was like a voice within contending that I was such; but the dark load of sin on my soul, like another self, declared that it was not. I felt utterly lost, and, laying aside the notion that I was a Christian, as a sinner I cried to God to have mercy upon me.' *How did your relief come ?' ' On the third day I heard the archdeacon pray, ' Lord lay not this sin to to his own charge, but lay it to the charge of Him whose blood cleanseth from all sin.' That substitutionary 212 THE HARVEST WORK truth concerning ein and its removal bj Christ, I at once em- braced, and the dreadful eense of its curse was gone ; and then, though my bodily strength was completely prostrate, I felt a peace of mind which passeth all understanding — a joy un- speakable and full of glory.' ' Should you ever lose that sense of peace and joy, how would you feel ? ' ' Oh ! I could not lose it ; if I were to, I should feel humbled, yet still I should have Christ.'' " One thing in this case struck me most forcibly, and, I may add, solemnly. I said, ' As a supposed Christian, you were in the habit of the daily perusal of the Bible ? ' ' Yes, daily ; but I read it because I wished to know it, and because it was only consistent for me to study it, and, also, that I might understand its truths in relation to surrounding controversies ; but,^ he added, ' I know that I never loved it — that I never, until now, had any sense or intelligence of its true value and blessedness.' Alas ! I thought, how many are like this ! they think they are Christians, they appear such to others, but they are not so in reality. " And now, turning from this case I have the most precious remembrance of two little girls, both of whom had, along with some others, been stricken in a school. They were very poor, and very young — one nine and the other seven years of age. I said to her, * Mary, you do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, do you ? ' Thinking that I had denied the fact of her love to the Saviour, the tears broke down her face, and her hands were clasped in the greatest earnestness, whilst she replied, * 0 sir, I do love the Lord Jesus Christ ! I do, I do love Him ! ' ' How long is it since you commenced to love him? ' * 0 sir, ever since we first began to seek Him.' ' Nay, nay, dear,' said her little companion, a thin, pallid-faced child of dark intelligent eyes — * Nay, nay, dear ; we did not first seek the Lord Jesus. He it was who first sought us. ' ' Wonderful ! I thought. What * praise ' is this that 1 OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 218 hear thus from the mouths of babes and sucklings, aud what truth ! How sound its theology ! How suggestive and compre bensive ! I said, •• Mary, would you like me to pray with you ?* adding, ' Remember you must pray for each other.' Ere 1 had risen from my knees, this little disciple taking me at my word, began in a low, soft tone to warble such a prayer as I had never heard. She prayed for her companions, then for her poor neigh- bors. She said, ' Lord Jesus, thou hast come into our hearts with thy love ; wilt thou not go into all their hearts with thy luve?' She then extended her requests for our country, that all its people may know the Lord Jesus ; and to the whole world, that the poor heathen especially may soon hear of Him and love Him. Having prayed most fervently for the whole human race, she concluded by saying, ' And now, Lord Jesus, (or, dear Lord Jesus,) I have nothing more to say. Amen.' "Do you ask, whence this great change in religion? 1 answer, from the outpouring of the Spirit of God. And especially of late,on the truth faithfully preached. God has not set aside but revived the preaching of His word. He has taught, that the preaching which He honors is not that of mere philoso- phy, but of Christ. The one may be attractive and costly, as the offering of Cain ; but the other, like the acceptable service of Abel, is valuable for the simple manifestation of the * blood.' But whilst such as Paul must preach, and Apollos water, it is the work of the Elijahs of the Church to pray down the increase. *' My earnest prayer, then, is, that God, in mercy to our con- dition, may deepen this work, and extend, it. Especially bless- ed would it be, if it were to come to our own beloved city — so come, that all the little streams and pools of our separate and divided life in religion may be lost in one vast flood of Divine awakening, of spiritual union, of life abounding in all true Christians, and sincere love towards all saints. May the Lord the Spirit give it ! and may He lead His people to desire it, and to seek it ! " 214 THE HARVEST WORK The Standing Committee of the General Assem- bly of the Presbyterian church in Ireland give a comprehensive and suggestive summary of this mighty work of God, in their official report. After mentioning that 357 open-air services had been held during the year, and that 50,000 persons had thus heard the message of the Gospel, it states : " 1. Persons of both sexes, of all ages, of different grades of society, of various denominations of professing Christians, in- cluding Unitarians and Roman Catholics, have been at once con- vinced of sin, and apparently converted to God. " 2. These spiritual emotions have been accompanied, in a very large number of cases, by physical impressions, producing bodily infirmity, and continuing, in some cases, for hours, and in others for days, and usually terminating in peace of conscience, and sometimes in *joy unspeakable and full of glory.* '* The two great truths on which the converts prominently, and almost exclusively, dwell, are — the sinfulness and utter helplessness of men, and the all-sufficiency of Christ as a living, personal Redeemer. "4. No heresy has been started in this new and unusual state of religious excitement. The whole movement, in its various aspects, tends to give striking and vivid illustration of the great doctrines of the Gospel, as they are set forth in our Catechisms and Confession of Faith. "5. The effect produced by this awakening on the life and character of those who have experienced it, is decidedly evan- gelical— a deep sense of sin, especially of the sin of having neglected the great salvation, fervent love of Christ, intense brotherly kindness, earnest desire for the conversion of sinners, habitual communion with (xod, and delight in His Word, wor- ship, and service. These attributes of character are assuredly the fruit of the Spirit, and these are the characteristics of mul- OF THE HOLY SPIKIT. 215 titudes who have lately declared themselves the servants of Christ. The drunkard has been made sober ; thelibertine,cha8te ; the blasphemer and Sabbath-breaker, devout ; the worldling, con- strained to think deeply and penitently of his sins, and to flee from the wrath to come. These are surely trophies of Divine grace, and many such trophies as those have been raised to the honor of God since the commencement of the present revival" • The number of hopeful conversions cannot be es- timated, till Christ " makes up his jewels." And the wonderful ingathering declares, that the Spirit works by no rule of our wisdom, but must be grate- fully and humbly accepted, come when, and in what way he shall please ; and points the dull eye of our faith to the hastening time, when " kings and queens ehall lay their honors at the feet of Immanuel." CHAPTER VII. The Commencement of Labors in Boston— Services in the Salem Street Church — Statements Respecting the Work — Letters from Young Converts — Revival in Portland— Letters- -Interesting Cases of Conversion. Upon Mr. Hammond's arrival in America, he be- gan to labor in Pownal, Yt., and other places, find- ing it difficult to realize the first intention to rest and recruit exhausted energies. He received invitations to labor in different fields, when, incidentally visiting Boston, early in September, he preached in the Sa- lem Street Church. Interest was apparent, and prominent pastors of the city urged the continuance of the meetings, and took part in them. Rev. Geo. Dunham, who had supplied the pulpit in the pas- tor's absence, wrote the following sketch for the Congregationalist : " Some cases of thoughtfulnesB had existed in the congrega- tion and the Sabbath school, for months previous. And there was considerable tenderness and disposition to prayer, also, in some members of the church at the time. Such were prepared to hail his coming as a harbinger of mercy, and to welcome him as one sent from God laden with blessings. Such were ready to co-operate with him in his contemplated labor. " After a few of the first evenings, the people gathered in such numbers, that it was found necessary to open the large au- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 217 dience room; and, from that time to the present, the lower floor has been filled almost uninterruptedly, and in several instances it has been packed full — galleries, organ loft, and aisles. The congregations have been uniformly still, solemn, and deeply in- terested in the preaching of the word. The character of the preaching and addresses has been the simplest, most plain, and direct possible. The topics, only such as are often thought old and threadbare ; the City of Refuge, the Prodigal Son, the love of Christ for lost sinners, their danger of endless punishment, and Puch as these. The manner of the preacher is generally subdued and tender, sometimes full of melting pathos, and sometimes yising to a good degree of eloquent majesty. ** It seems very evident that God is in the assemblies, doing His great work, convicting sinners, and delivering them from lx)ndage and death. A meeting for prayer is held at 7 o'clock in the lecture room, for half an hour, which is often full, and always solemn. Latterly, a meeting of young converts is held at the same hour, in another room, when as many as fifty or sixty assemble to exhort, pray and sing, with some old Christian counsellors to assist them. At half-past seven the preaching services commence, and nearly an hour and a half is occupied in this by Mr. Hammond, occasionally assisted by other clergy- men. The audiences have been profoundly still, and often deep- ly afiected. " The great and peculiar feature of the movement is found in the inquiry meetings that follow the preaching. At the close )f this service, all Christians that are willing to converse and pray with anxious sinners, or to unite in praying for them, are invited to repair to the lecture room, and take with them as Tiany, who are willing to be conversed with personally, as they can persuade to go. ** The meeting is opened with singing, and some short address- es and prayers. At this point it is always instinct with inter- est and solemnity. It afterwards becomes informal and social, the brethren and sisters speaking a few words of inquiry, 218 THE HARVEST WORK (Jounsel, or encouragement to each other, and eearching out Buch as are yet strangers to the peace of God, conversing with them, striving to deepen their feeling, and point them to the Saviour ; they kneel together in little groups about the room, and in adjoining rooms, and pray individually with such as are willing to be prayed with. These personal and close dealings often culminate at once in hopeful conversion. Many souls have been led at once directly to Christ, and have obtained a sweet relief. Sometimes eight or ten groups will be conversing and praying together at the same time, in low and earnest tones ; and, instead of the confusion that might be apprehended, the effect is not unlike the order of a Sabbath school recitation. I believe no night has passed now for a considerable time, when some have not been reported as having consecrated themselves to Christ, and obtained evidence of forgiveness. The number hope- fully converted are probably as many as one hundred, and there are still many thoughtful. " Christians from many miles around have come in, to min- gle with the rising tide of religious influence and feeling, and have found it good to be there. The work seems still to be increasing in depth and power, and there is strong hope of still greater displays of divine goodness and saving grace. " It was hoped and believed, at one time, that the work, so similar to that in Glasgow in its commence- ment, would, as there, sweep over the city, bring- ing thousands within its embrace. Might not the fact, of the hopeful conversion oi more than one hundred souls, have been used to move the hearts of the Christians of Boston, to more wrestling prayer for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and earnest pleading for the salvation of the perishing ? OP THE HOLY SPIKIT. 219 Whatever may have been unusual in any of the methods employed to reach the people ; and even if, as some may affirm, mistakes were made through human infirmity, lessons we are ever learning ; — ^that it was the work of the Spirit, and infinitely better than the uniformity of spiritual dearth and death, no observant, living Christian will doubt. God greatly blessed the souls of men, and vindicated the power of his simple gospel, and faithful endeavors to save. Of an open air meeting on the Common, the Bos- ton Journal contained this notice : " Rev. Dr. Kirk conducted the services, and, after a few re- marks, stating the meeting to be one in which all denominations could unite in seeking religion, he opened with prayer, and in- troduced Rev. E. P. Hammond, who followed with an impress- ive discourse for nearly an hour ; and, with simple statements of the fast amount of evil daily practised by us, impressed his hearers with the truth of their sinful state, and invited them all to seek the forgiveness and grace of God." For a farther history of the revival, we have a sketch, from the pen of a reporter of the Traveller, of a meeting held Oct. 5th : *' Re7. Dr. Kirk, who was present, then rose and addressed the large company before him. Every eye was fixed upon the speaker, and the deepest solemnity pervaded the entire audience. Uc commenced by saying, ' What a sight ! What are you all here for ? What do you want? ' After a few words upon the immense importance of the occasion, he asked those present who hoped they had recently found the Saviour to rise. A large 220 THE HARVEST WORK number etood, inchiding whole Beats of young men and some young children. He then prayed for them, and afterwards ad- dressed those present who were seeking the Saviour in his usual impressive and earnest manner. ♦• Rev. Mr. Hammond then requested Christians either to as- sist him in conversing with inquirers or to repair to an adjoin- ing room for prayer. An interesting scene then followed. The whole company were at once engaged in praying, talking, and praising God. In one comer were four or five ladies kneeling and praying around an anxious soul. In another was a group of little children, who were addressed by an elderly man and exhorted to give their hearts to Christ. <' In another place, was a young man rejoicing, who a few days ago was a Catholic. He was busily engaged in conversing with a Catholic woman. Rev. Mr. Hammond soon came along and conversed with her. She said she would like to give her heart to the Saviour, if she could do so without renouncing her faith. Said he, < Don't you worry about that. Isn't it your duty to submit to Jesus ? * Yes,' said she. ' Then do it. ' The three then kneeled down. Mr. Hammond prayed and she pray- ed that Jesus might forgive her sins. We left them in that situation. " A few feet distant from the last group, was a young lady of remarkable intelligence stating to those around her how, a few nights since, she had given her heart to the Saviour. She said she dared Mr. Hammond to affect her. She did n't believe in the Holy Spirit. Something which was said, however, touched her, and she felt deeply. She prayed to God if there was any Holy Spirit to show it to her ; and that night, with her sense of sinfulness weighing her down, she gave her heart to Christ. We have never seen a happier person. *< Close by, was a woman of fifty years of age, who, with tears of joy running down her cheeks, was relating to others an account of the great change which had taken place in her feel- ings. In another place was a group singing, and adjoining this OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 221 were a half dozen praying for a weeping sinner. All through the three rooms were little companies similarly situated, and the whole scene was one which can never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Mr. Hammond was all over the rooms con- versing a few minutes with all. His custom was to make the anxious soul kneel and pray with a number of others, and in this way consecrate himself to God. ** The work seems to be going on with unusual power. Rev. Mr. Field, the pastor, who has just returned from his vacation, enters into the work heartily, and unites, with all his soul, in the efforts making to lead the impenitent to the Cross." In lookmg over correspondence, we read a letter to the mother of the Evangelist, from which we take a passage of experience, which will touch the Christian heart : "lam seeking to get low before a holy sin-hating God, so that He may use me for his glory — in leading sinners to Him. I must lie in the dust, or nothing will be done by me. He will set me aside. I have not much power given me yet. It must be,l)ecause I am not in a right state to receive it. 0 Lord ! prepare me to be filled with the Holy Spirit ! This is my con- stant prayer." We give extracts from letters written by young converts, to afford a further glimpse of the awaken- ing, and illustrate the usefulness of the inquiry meetings in producing conviction, while the already anxious are led to Christ ; and also to record the fact, that all classes are included in the number of those savingly brought under the influence of the means of grace, from Romanists and seamen, to Protentant children of the church : 222 THE HARVEST WORK " Hundreds of happy hearts here, in Boston, and in all its schools, will ever have occasion to bless the kind Providence which directed your steps to America and your words to our hearts. I am not going to weary you with my own experience, happy though it has been, but simply glance over a few in- teresting cases which you may wish to remember. One which occurs to my mind is very near and dear to me. 'T is that of a young French lady. Doubtless you will remember her as be- ing, with us, a constant attendant on the meetings, where she took an active part in leading sinners to the Saviour. Her father is a Roman Catholic, but she was brought up in tlie Universalist belief. Ever ready for novelty, and, perhaps, an- ticipating some amusement, we went, together with sister Tiettie, to one of your Sabbath evening prayer meetings. Your solemn words of warning, coupled with the relation of an anecdote ' The Sinking Ship,' induced us to stay to the in- quiry meeting. You came and asked each of us, ' Do you love Jesus ? ' The abruptness of your manner arrested our atten- tion. The solemnity of the question, and its direct application to ourselves, served to awaken sleeping conscience, and deep conviction was the result. The lady before mentioned was very deeply anxious, and felt that she was a lost sinner, unless she believed in Jesus. Prayer was new to her; and, when ask- ed to pray, it was aflFecting to hear her simple heartfelt words, in broken English, asking for a new heart. She found her Saviour that very evening, and immediately set forth in the ser- vice of her Master, in which she has been engaged ever since. The evenings previously devoted to the ball-room, the theatre, or some other alluring pleasure of the world, are now spent in some gathering of God's people, or some way equally acceptable to them. Perhaps you will call to remembrance, too, a young gentleman, whom you conversed with one evening, after the exercises. He had been in earlier days a Protestant, but dur- ing his stay at a college in New York, where he graduated with the highest honors, he formed the acquaintance of a company OP THE nOLY SPIRIT. 223 of young men, who persuaded him to become a Catholic. He did 80, and for many years adhered to his new belief. He was the means of turning his brother, also a Protestant, into his error. He went so far as to study for the priesthood. He came to Boston, and, by some providence, attended your meetings. Very soon, as you know, his voice was heard in the large congregation, telling how God, through your instrumentality, ' kad brought him out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay.^ How he had ' put a new song in his month, even praise unto our God.' A short time he was allowed to serve his loving Master ere he was called to receive his reward. " Returning from one of the evening meetings, he was over- taken by a heavy rain storm, and on the day following was taken sick. Typhoid fever soon set in, and in a short time his happy spirit had fled — fled to join that of his mother, who had died broken-hearted, to think that her eldest boy had forsaken the religion of his childhood. Before he was called away, he was the means, under God, of lifting the veil from the spiritual eyes of a young lady friend of mine, once a firm, bigoted Catholic, but whose eyes, now opened, can never be closed. He was buried under Protestant rites, the minister, who attended his mother's funeral, performing the same office for her repentant child. His name was James Henry Bridge. " One more case, which I think will interest you, and I will trespass no longer on time so precious as yours. One Wednesday evening, you may have noticed a party of sailors, who came into the meeting, partly intoxicated. One of them, a young man, was conversed with by you, and al- though no impression seemed to be made on him, you prayed earnestly for him. The evening following, he came again, im- pelled by an invisible power. At the close of the meeting, his hardened, sinful heart seemed to be touched, and as a first step towards reformation ho signed a pledge, in company with Deacon Chipman, a duplicate of which he carried to sea with 224 THE HARVEST WORK him the next day. Some time after wards, he returned, and imme- diately found his way to Salem Church. He could hardly find words to express his thanks to the members and you, in parti- cular, for your kind interest in his welfare, and for your words of counsel. He brought six of his shipmates with him, all Catholics. A prayer meeting is now established among that Catholic crew, and one of those ten dollar libraries is in circulation. "I would I had space to tell you of some of the other blessed results of your labors here, but I have not. Num- bers are joining the church ; eighteen had at one time joined ours, and sixteen at another. Next Sabbath, it will be my privilege to do so, together with E , and two or three other young ladies, all recent converts. "We often sing those hymns 'We're travelling home to heaven,' and ' Just as I am,' and never without a thrill of grateful emotion, and sweet thoughts of those happy Autumn days— the beginning of anew life to many souls. Youi's in Jesus. A lamb of the great Shepherd's flock, in the Sabbath School, thus expresses her reason for the hope she found in Him: " I am a little girl, only eleven years old, and I have felt for a long time that I have a very wiicked heart. Sometimes I would try to be good, and love Jesus ; but my heart is so wick- ed, I thought I would wait a little longer till I was a few years older, and then I would give my heart to Jesus. But, when I went into the inquiry met^ting, and you came to me and talked 80 kindly — talked to me about Jesus, and prayed with me — I felt very unhappy, and that I was a great sinner. I wept and prayed for some days ; then Jesus came and wiped my tears ftway, and I am very happy now. I can truBt Jesus at all OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 225 times, for lie is my friend. Blessed Jesus ! that washed my sins away ! I used to say my prayers, but now I can pray from my heart, and it makes me so happy to put my trust in Jesus. I love Christians ; love to hear them talk about Jesus ; and I love sinners too. I want them all to come and give their hearts to Jesus. Pray for a little girl, that she may always trust in Jesus. " Boston, October 16, 1861." The Kecorder published this additional letter from a boy of thirteen years, read, with the above, in the Old South Prayer Meeting : " I rejoice that I have found peace in Jesus. I have been born again. I am three days old when I write this letter. I will tell you how I came to the Lord. The first time I came to hear you was the second Sunday you were here, and I then felt that I was a sinner. I came the next Sunday, and as I was passing out a man took me by the hand, and asked me to come to the inquiring meeting. I told him,I could not, and went away. But,a8 I went to bed, I could not have any peace, and I resolved the next night to go into the inquiring meeting. I went and sat side of a man who conversed with me about my soul. After awhile two of my playmates came where I was, and told me that they wanted to speak to me in private. They took me into a side room by the desk. They prayed for me and talked with me, and then told me to pray, and down on my knees I gave my heart to Christ. I said Lord be merciful to me a sinner. Take me 'just as I am.' Since that evening I have felt peace in believing. I can read my Bible so that I can un- derstand it, what I could never do before. I have talked with my playmates, but they laugh at me and call me all manner of hard names, but I shall never give up praying for them. I will pray for them till I see them giving their hearts to Christ." 226 THE HARVEST WORK From Boston Mr. Hammond went to Portland, Maine. Kev. Mr. Moore, of the Union Church, where meetings were held for a week, summing up results in the Christian Mirror, gives the following state- ment at the close of that period : *' First, Increased attendance every night upon the preaching of the word, until the house was entirely filled, — with seats furnished in the aisles for the accommodation of the listeners. " Second, The opening of an afternoon prayer meeting, which, on the last afternoon of the week, filled the large vestry with worshippers. " Third, The holding of an inquiry meeting in the vestry, at the close of the preaching meeting, which nightly increased in the number of inquirers, until the closing service of the week, when the vestry was filled with Christians and anxious per- sons. " Fourth, The conversion of a number of precious souls, who are now rejoicing in the love of the Saviour, some of whom have publicly testified to the saving power of the Cross — rising in the inquiry meeting to speak of the love of Christ. Chris- tians who have conversed nightly with the penitent believe that " score at least have found the peace of pardoning love. '■^ An unusual solemnity has pervaded the meetings, and es- ^rsclally has this been the case in the inquiry meetings. There Christians Were to be seen in different parts of the vestry, con- versing with sinners and anxious persons, or on their knees praying with them, and with tears pointing them to the Saviour. A verae of a hymn was occasionally sung ; now and then a word of warning and of encouragement, and occasionally a short prayer was offered for some special case of inquiry, or for the presence of the Divine Spirit. " Christian men were there with their unconverted wives; Christian wives sat, with tears and prayers, beside their uncon- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 227 verted husbands; parents were praying with their children, and children were pleading with Christians to speak and pray with their parents. The utmost solemnity prevailed. Chris- tians were in earnest ; the penitent were laying hold of the Saviour by faith ; and the ungodly were awed into solemnity, and melted sometimes to tears, and though they came to the meeting unconcerned, were led, before the meeting closed, to ask what they should do to be saved. " Some dear children of the Sabbath school were weeping for their sins, and asking about the Saviour. God's spirit had troubled their hearts, and they were awakened to feel their need of Christ. " We feel that no true, sound Christian could have gone into and labored in the inquiry meetings, without feeling that the Spirit of God was present with great power. " For myself, I feel greatly strengthened by the manifesta- tions of the Spirit's presence during the week past ; and with aU my heart, I thank God for the providence which has brought the Evangelist to our city. May his labors be still more abun- dantly blest in the other part of the city, until throughout our city the work of God may revive, and sinners, by hundreds, be brought to see their need of the Saviour. Especially may his labors be blest in the oldPayson church, where of old, God used so marvellously, to pour out his Spirit. " I am permitted to make the following extract from a pri- vate letter written by the Rev. Henry Hopkins, son of Presi- dent Hopkins, of Williams College, from the hospital at Alex- andria. *" I believe that the slow work of expectation and instruc- tion is the pastor's great work ; but sometimes after the hus- bandman has toiled and sowed, and the long summer days, full of God's sunshine and gentle rains, have done their work, the gleaming fields of ripening grain would perish if left to be gathered by him alone ; and he must call some one with a sharp sickle and a tireless arm, to help him bring them in and shout the harvest home And happy is he if he find such a reaper.' " 228 THE HARVEST WORK We take further extracts from a letter addressed to a well-known pastor, in accordance with his re- quest, which appeared in the Congregationalist : " Portland, Dec. 11, 1861. " Rev. Dr. Kirk — My Dear Brother : — You have asked me to recall and state the circumstances, that preceded and intro- duced the remarkable work of grace now advancing in our city. However sudden this work may appear to outsiders and super- ficial observers, it certainly has not come suddenly nor alto- gether unexpectedly on the pastor, or on the prayerful and practically devoted members of the church with which he is identified. The desirableness of a genuine revival of religion has long been the subject of social conversation — the brief ad- dresses of the conference room have often turned on the mo- mentous theme — and prayer, earnest, fervent and importunate, for a plenteous efi'usion of the Holy Spirit has been a prominent feature of our social devotions. " We shared with all our sister churches — during the spring and summer months — the distracting and depressing influence of the war ; and, at times, the idea was by some very freely ex- pressed, that it was utterly vain to hope for a religious revival whilst the war continued. Many of our young men, besides, were either in the camp or in the field ; and few families were free from the natural anxieties of parental and fraternal love. Newspapers of all kinds were eagerly read and ransacked — political lectures were attended by vast numbers — and the in- fluence of Gospel truth was greatly counteracted by the in- cessant eagerness for news, and the secular current of conversa- tion even on the holy Sabbath. " In September last, he exchanged, by request, with Mr. Haskell, of East Boston, and had his attention called to the work of revival then in progress in Salem Street Church. He attended several of the meetings, ppoke at two of them, and, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 229 on his return, reported to his people the facts tliat had come under his own oljservation. An intelligent member of Salem Street Church kept him informed of events connected with the work as they occurred, and tlie6e,dulj reported by him, fanned the desire of a similar work amongst ourselves. '' Soon after the pastor's return from Boston, he learned that Mr. E. P. Ilammond had been invited by a young clergyman of this city to spend a week with his congregation. The invita- tion was accepted. Mr. Hammond spoke each evening through- out the week, and, by the blessing of God upon his labors, much good, it is confidently believed, was done. The pastor of the Second Church attended some of the meetings, encouraged his people also to attend, and eventually suggested an invitation to Mr. Hammond to labor in the Second Parish. " There has, since, been Divine service in our church for thirty-one successive evenings — the interest still continuing unabated — and great numbers having expressed the hope that they have passed from death unto life. In all but six of these meetings the pastor has taken an active part. He was greatly assisted and encouraged by a visit of several days, including a Sabbath, from yourself, whose ministrations were so much blessed as to induce a unanimous request from the brethren of the church for a 'second benefit.' Several other ministerial brethren have kindly aided occasionally in the public services. With the exception of ten days' absence, Mr. E. P. Hammond has been indefatigable in his labors. To his honor be it spoken, he has, in no instance, attempted to invade the prerogatives of the pastor — has readily adopted every practical suggestion as to methods of procedure — and has proved himself, in all respects, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. The seal of Divine approval has been most unequivocally aflSxed to his unwearied labors. Many of our Sabbath School pupils, es- pecially of the adult classes — already well instructed in Di- vine truth, have sprung at once into vigorous vitality. Young 230 THE HARVEST WORK Leads of families, having given themselves to the Lord — haye reared their domestic altars, and resolved, in the strength of Divine grace, never to suffer the fire to go out. A pastor's Bible-class — designed especially for young converts, — is now organized and in healthful operation. The members of the church are generally quickened and revived, and very many of them taken an active part in the inquiry meeting, which is held at the close of every evening service. A daily prayer- meeting has been held at 3 P. M. since the commencement of this work. " I must, as yet, say nothing as to numbers, though, after the most careful and cautious scrutiny, there will, doubtless, be a large accession to the church. Meanwhile, the work of con- version is going on, and the influence of the movement is be- ginning to be felt by other congregations in the city and vicinity. " Pray for us, dear Brother, that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified. *' Many sheets might be filled with accounts of specific cases, but these, for the present, I reserve. Yours most fraternally, J. J. Carruthbrs." John Neal, Esq., whose name is familiar to the literary world, wrote thus for the Portland Tran- script : THE RELIGIOUS AWAKENING HEBE. " Qui S' excuse S^ accuse. " " No large moral movement ever happens without the clearly seen co-operation of man. What we call agency or instrumen- tality is God's way of working through man upon man. Let lis not be astonished, therefore, when God, who is no respecter OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 231 of persons, appeal's to be working with instruments which we, in our wisdom, should never have thought of, perhaps, nor ever have supposed fitted for the work — little children, or unedu- cated men and women, for example. " Of one thing we may be certain ; that what God has to do with man, he will do in his own way ; and we may be equally sure that what man has to do with God, must be done, always^ in God's way, whatever man may think, or believe, or hope; and that God will never change his declared plan for our ac- commodation, whether reasonable or unreasonable in our judg- ment. " There are many about us, who are always willing enough and ready enough to go to heaven — but they insist on going in their own way. They would like to be safe, here and here- after ; but they have a plan of their own, which however rea- sonable and proper, they will never find to be God's plan. "If they pray, their prayers are conditional. They insist upon understanding the why and the wherefore of His pur- poses. They require to be satisfied upon every point, before they will consent to be saved. "What should we think of a man swimming for his life, who should insist upon a clear explana- tion of the Westminister catechism, or the mysteries of free agency, before he would consent to grasp the outstretched hand of a fellow man, safe ashore, standing perhaps on the rock of ages? " There is a story told of an English sailor, who having tumbled overboard, in the Bay of Biscay, got astride of a hen- coop, which had been thrown him, and floated off into tho darkness. At midnight a large ship came by and a voice hailed him in French. Not understanding such lingo, he refused to go aboard, and stuck to his hen-coop. What became of him nobody knows. Yet this poor sailor did only just what thou- sands about us are now doing. They will not consent to go into the Ark, but upon their own terms ; forgetting that God 232 THE HARVEST WORK himself being unchangeable, and having once publiBhed hifl conditions to the Universe, cannot save us, but with our own consent and co-operation. " Mr. Hammond, of whose labors and wonderful success in Scotland, we have been hearing so much — for the last year, is Qow in our very midst. And, if we may judge by what we have heard and seen for ourselves, here, God is with him. Let those who doubt, while refusing to see for themselves, and let all who insist upon the Holy Spirit working in a pattern, al" ways in one way, which is always their own way, bear in mind that God never deals with any two of his creatures in precisely the same way, for any purpose. He seems to reverence their individuality, and leaves them to act here as they are to be tried hereafter, separately. Let all such gainsayers, whether in the church or out, therefore, go and see for themselves, and pre- pare to answer for themselves, if they stand in the way, or try to discourage others, or even refuse to co-operate with all their strength, humbly, though heartily." Mr. Neal narrates a touching case of conversion in another communication, which, on account of its suggestive interest, we give entire: " After seeing and hearing for myself, I have become satis- fied that the late awakening here is worthy of devout attention. I have been present at some of the inquiry meetings, and have talked face to face with weeping adults and joyful children, and, for one, am satisfied,aB I have said before. Take one of many cases that have come to my knowledge, and say what our duty is. Are we to stand aloof or aloft, because God hath a way of His own? or because man may seem to be unreasonably earnest? j. n. " At the close of the service last evening, I noticed a young lady just before me, who seemed undecided about remfiining to OP THE HOLY SPIRIT. 233 the inquiry meeting. Once or twice she rose to go, but finally eat down. When you asked those who felt that they loved Jesus to rise and sing a hymn, she kept her seat. After the hymn I leaned forward and asked her, if she could not say she iOved Jesus. She burst into tears. I then asked her, if she did not wish to become a Christian. ' Yes,' she said, ' but /shall never be a Christian. I begged her not to say so, and tried to lead her to the Saviour, by telling her how ready he was to re- ceive her, that he was more than willing, that he was waiting with outstretched arms to take her. But she said, ' No, Christ would never take Aer, she had rejected him for three years. She had once had serious impressions, but had stifled them. During the last revival she had been somewhat concerned for her soul's salvation, but had danced all night afterwards, and since then had never felt any further anxiety about it. For three years she had been treading Christ under foot, and in all that time had never offered a single prayer, even of words, to say nothing of the heart. You came and talked and prayed with her, but still her answer was, ' I can never be a Christian. Jesus will never take me.' You asked her if she thought she was a greater sinner than Paul. She said * Yes, for Paul thought he was doing God service, but she knew she was not.' She had ridiculed religion and these meetings, and came only to make sport of them. You prayed with her again and left her with those who tried to persuade her to give her heart to Jesus then ; but she could not believe, and went home sorrow- ing still. ' " The next day she was invited to go to the afternoon prayer meeting. She went, and her countenance still indicated her deep distress. She said she had passed a sleepless night, but could obtain no relief. When you spoke with her after meet- ing, she begged you, if you ever knew any one anxious for the first time, to entreat them, from her, not to delay, but to come to Jesus then. She thought Jesus would have taken her at 234 THE HARVEST WORK first, but now, it was too late. She had said, that only weak- minded, nervous people were affected by this revival; now God was showing her her condition, but would not save her. She still insists that she can never be saved : that she is willing to give up everything, but can never be a Christian. *' God grant that she may find that it is her own heart that is keeping her from her Saviour, and that she may yet find peace in believing." "Sequel. — The sequel to the case of the young lady who felt that Christ would never receive her is most interesting. She remained in that state of mind for two or three days and nights, unable to sleep or feel any peace till one night she remembered this verse, — ' If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' Light broke in upon her. Yes, she said, I will trust Him. 1 will believe. I have confessed my sins, and — ' He is faithftil and just to forgive us our sins.' Oh! I will believe Him. I will take Him at His word. She had begun to trust Him, and she was very happy in doing so ; and, although she feels that she does not love Him as she ought, and sometimes doubts whether Christ has really received her, yet she feels that Jesus is her only refuge, and she is determined to try and serve Him, hoping that she may eventually find that peace and joy which makes the Christian's life a heaven begun below." He adds another touching case. ** A father and mother had long been praying for the conver- sion of their son, a young man of some nineteen years. When the revival began in the old Payson Church, an unusual spirit of prayer was given them. Their wrestling seemed now to have reference to the glory of God. They saw their boy was re- belling against the government of a just God. Though willing to attend any of the meetings, he fled from those who would speak to him of Jesus. But prayer was not lost. The Holy Spirit was at work. The spoken word reached his heart. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 235 " Sabbath evening, Nov. 24, 1861, hundreds wore unable to find standing room. At the close of the first meeting, as some retired, a fevr of those about the door were able to pass in to the inquiry meeting. Among the number was the son of these praying parents. He met Mr. H. at the door, and, instead of shunning him as before, he seized his hand, and exclaimed, * I have found Jesus.' ' How do you know? ' Oh, I know I have. I know I love him. I have just given myself to him." In two minutes more he was standing up in the centre of the house and telling of the wondrous change. " When he had finished, his father, an office bearer in the church, attempted to thank God, but his tears came faster than his words. He seemed to forget that every eye of that great au- dience was resting upon him,£i8 he pressed his way to the embrace of his son, and throwing his arms around his neck, he kissed him. It was a thrilling scene which brought tears to the eyes of many." An editor, who referred his decided religious im- pressions to the scene, wrote a sketch illustrating Mr. H*s influence over children, which, as a pleasing link in events of the awakening, we subjoin : " About seven o'clock, on a clear still evening, we heard the voices of children in sweet and silvery tones, apparently led by a strong masculine voice. We listened for a moment in surprise and wonder, and then made our way in the direction from whence the sound proceeded, and in front of the Custom House, found the fervid preacher engaged in solemn exhortation to sin- ners, the singing having ceased. The scene was an unusual one for the staid and quiet city of Portland, and we were in doubt for a few moments as to how so unusual an occurrence would be received. In a short time, a large number had gathered to hear the powerful and eloquent appeal of the man of God, We were 236 THE HARVEST WORK apprehensive of scoffing and jeers from the * roughs,' who wUl always be found on such an occasion ; but not a word or a lisp did we hear to break the solemnities of the hour. Every one was deeply, seriously interested ; and we doubt not, that some who were present were made fully and sensibly aware of their sinful condition, during the few minutes exhortation of the earnest and sincere man who addressed them. Mr. Hammond was to preach that evening in the Second Parish Church, and his design was to induce all who could to go. After his entreaty was ended, he broke forth into the well known hymn — * Worthy the Lamb, &o,' in which he was joined by the children with which he was sur- rounded, and moved forward to the church, the whole singing joyfully, and making melody that we have rarely heard sur- passed. The scene was novel and startling, and the earnest ap- peal was responded to with great unanimity ; hardly a man who had witnessed the occurrence failed to accept the invitation of the preacher, and follow him to the church to listen further." Would the proposed limits of this volume permit, we should extend the pages of experience as record- ed by converted persons, in which the work of the Spirit is clearly seen, convincing of sin, and re- vealing its glorious remedy, — the blood of atone- ment. A recent visit and conversation with the ^ able and excellent Pastor of the Second Parish con- firms the estimate, formed at the time of the " gra- cious rain ; " — watering the garden of the Lord, and spreading bloom and fruitfulness over it, to the abid- ing joy of His people, and the glory of the reigning ImmanueL CHAPTEK Vm. A week in Bethel — An unusual scene — Qorham, among the White Mountains— A neiy Church— Bath— Statement of Rev. J. 0. Fiske — South Paris — Farmington. At Bethel, a romantic town twenty miles from the base of the White Mountains, and a place of consid- erable resort in the summer ; — in the autumn of 1861, an increased spirit of prayer for a refreshing had been felt by a few Christians, and souls were con- verted. Having visited the scene of a revival, the pastor returned more deeply moved in behalf of his own people, and called a company of Christians together to meet Mr. Hammond. The resolve was unanimous to enter the harvest field, securing the help of the Evangelist. A meeting was held of great power ; the people were on their faces before God. The pastor wrote, early in January, after the daily meetings had been in progress nearly a week, to the Christian Mirror : " God is pouring out His Spirit upon us in Bethel. Many hope that they have been ' born again.' Many are asking what they shall do to be saved. Our meetings are solemn, well attended, well sustained by the prayers and efforts of God's 238 THE HARVEST WORK. people, We find Mr. H. a<^evoted Bervant of the Lord Jesus Christ, a man of prayer that prevails with God, &c. He will remain with us but a few days longer, but the prayers of many will follow him when he goes from us, that he may be still more successful in leading souls to our ever blessed Redeemer. Happy is the pastor who can eecure the labors of this humble servant of the Lord Jesus." In the same paper, we have these additional and interesting communications : '< Bethel, Jan. 10, 1862. . ..." Our meetings have been, and still are, deeply interesting. People come from miles around to hear Mr. Ham- mond, and many are now rejoicing in Christ, who before were indifferent, or entirely thoughtless, or who made sport of relig- ion, and first attended the meetings for the purpose of making sport. " But they found themselves sporting on the brink of eternal woe, and have fled to Christ for refuge. " I will mention a few cases of conversion, hoping they will interest you, as it has pleased God thus to work through Mr. Hammond, whom we all love. " Mr. C. long ago thought he was born again, but he was either deceived, or a great wanderer. He had long been feeding on husks, and would not return to his Father's house. He thus related the manner in which he was brought * home ' : "'lattended the meeting first out of curiosity. For two or three evenings I was not deeply impressed. I thought Mr. H. a fanatic or insane. But one evening there came a change. He requested that the hymn commencing — * The hill of Zion yields A thousand sacred sweets,* ehould be sung. He said : ' Those who are Christians may rise OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 239 and sing. Those who are not Christians may remain on their seats. Now, if any of you who are not Christians rise, you will tell a lie. If any of you who are Christians remain on your seats, you will tell a lie.' "'I was very angry. I thought he had no right to say who should sing, and who should not. I took my hat and was going out. I had no idea of being controlled by him. Then the thought, ' God drew the Hne before he did,' entered my heart quickly, as though a dagger had pierced me. I sat down, still feeling very stubborn. " ' That night the Holy Spirit strove with me. I felt that I was a great sinner. At the inquiry meeting Mr. Hammond talked and prayed with me. The burden was very heavy, and did not leave me till I resolved to ffive up all for Christ. Then I was happy. '**Iwent home one night, feeling it to be a duty to pray in my family. I had never done so, and I shrank from it. But, when I went in, the way was made easy. My little Clara ften years old,) brought me the Bible, and asked me to read. She had been requested so to do by her mother, who was a Chris- tian, and I could not refuse. I read and prayed, my wife prayed, eldest daughter (fifteen years old,) and my young son prayed, and little Clara repeated the Lord's prayer ! It was the most solemn prayer meeting, and at the same time the happiest, that ever I attended. I with my three children had found Jesus within one week ! ' " In this beautiful manner was the family altar set up in a home where prayer was not wont to be made except by the mother in secret. " Mr. R. says : * I did not at first attend the meetings. I thought I had been about the world a little too much, to be humbugged by such a man as Mr. Hammond. But at last I went to hear what he had to say. I sat directly in front of him, that I might look up kito hie face. I was very bold. I looked 240 THE HARVEST WORK him steadily in the eye. I defied him to move me. He mad» one of his thrilling appeals to sinners. I was not moved, but I knew I was a sinner, and thought perhaps that I ought to feel it. So I prayed that I might feel it just a little. I did not want to feel very bad. But I got more than I bargained for. I not only felt that I was a sinner, but that I was a lost sinner. I felt black through and through. I was perfectly wretched for two or three days. At last I found I could do nothing for myself ; that I could not save myself. I felt that Christ must do all for me ; that he was standing near to take me. So I reached out my hand and said, * Here Jesus, I am, vile and full of sin. Take me, just as I am, do with me what thou wilt. I am lost without thee. Take me and never leave nor forsake me.' " * Jesus took hold of my hand, and has not let go. He has led me ever since. *' * I have left off doing anything of myself. He does all for me. At first I was tempted, and for a moment let go his hand ; and then the thought came again, ' I am nothing — I can do nothing — He must do all ; and the hand of my spirit reached out and took his hand, and T have been perfectly happy ever since. " 'Why, I never knew what those hymns meant before, never knew what young converts meant when they told about the love of God in their hearts. Now I know. I thought I was a Christian before. But I never before knew what it was to be born again, what it was to love God. I must have been de- ceived.' " Speaking of the young mens' prayer meeting, which was or- ganized last Sabbath afternoon he says : " 'We have had a beautiful meeting. At first we did not know what to say or what to do. It was the first meeting of the kind many of us had ever attended, and we felt that we could not do anything. I suppose God made us feel so, and afterwards OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 241 he showed us what to do, and put words into our mouths, and we had a glorious meeting. I suppose this will be the way all along. God will first show us that we can do just nothing at all, and then he will show us how to do in Christ's strength, what he has for us to do.' "Mr.R. 's faith is beautiful, so childlike. I think before, he was very proud, perhaps self-righteous. He is completely changed. He has become ' as a little child.' He is now labor- ing earnestly, for the salvation of souls. " Mr. B. says : * I was requested to meet Mr. Hammond at the depot, and conduct him to his boarding-place. I was angry. I did not want him to come here. I did not want a revival. But I could not avoid going for him. Sunday evening, when he made one of his earnest appeals to sinners, I was ready to thrust him out of the house. But when Mr. Wheelwright, our pastor, rose and confirmed all he said, I thought 1 should sink. Con- victions came upon me thick and fast. I was miserable, and not till I gave my heart to Jesus did I find peace. To-night I stand here free ! This has been the happiest day of my life. And I will say to my young friends, come to Jesus ! Come now — just now ! You will never regret it. Come, come, comb ! ! * Mrs. thus found the Saviour : " *I attended meetings at first without receiving any particular impressions ; but on Sunday evening I was a little more interest- ed. My husband noticed my serious countenance, and determin- ed in his heart to laugh me out of all serious impressions. But I had experienced no particular change, and I told him so. But in the night I awoke with a great burden upon me. I felt that 1 was a sinner, and I longed for holiness. I wanted Christ. I longed for the Sabbath morning to dawn as calmly as it did in days of childhood. I longed for the holy Sabbath stillness which seemed so sacred to me years ago. And I prayed that my sins might be forgiven, and felt happier, and then fell asleep. " When I awoke, morning had dawned ; and the stillness wot 242 THE TTAKVP:Sr WOKK lioly. The sacredness did return. T roused my husband, and asked liim if it did not seem different to him. But he could perceive no cliangc. I went to the window. The sun was just rising. A halo of glory seemed to surround all things. '** The beauty of the scene thrilled my soul through and through. Everything seemed changed — so much more beauti- ful than ever before. I was happy. My soul was at rest, and in harmony with all God's works. My husband looked at me. I suppose he saw the change in my countenance, and said : ** ' Do you really believe? ' and by the grace of God I wa« enabled to say — ' I do — I do ! ' Since then my husband and liis daughter have both found Jesus, and it seems as thougli we had just began to live.' " As she told this her face was radiant with liappiness, and I could not doubt that she had found the * pearl of great price.' " A number of young men who went to inake sport were ar- rested ))y the power of God's Spirit, and have come to Jesus, and are completely changed. I wish I could have room to tell you more ; but this is enough to show you how wonderfully God has been working here. " If we could only retain the influence of tlie Holy Spirit, in the great measure in which it has been poured out upon us dur- ing the last two weeks, this would be a ' Bethel ' indeed. Pray for us that the work may go on." The Independent, of New York, published the following, from a physician, formerly of that city : " Hundreds remain for the inquiry meetings. Weeping is often heard in different parts of the Church, and large numbers, who but a few nights ago were deeply convinced of sin, are now rejoicing in the love of their first espousals. *' Yesterday afternoon our people, of all denominations, were Been flocking to the Universalist Church to listen to a ' discussion OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 243 on the subject of regeneration,' but as the Univerealist minister aflSrmed his belief in the necessity of the new birth, there was no dispute, but a most solemn and impressive meeting. Mr. Hammond often repeated the words, ' ye must be born again,' and during his address the tears in the eyes of not a few indicat- ed, that the Holy Spirit was leading some to feel the desperate wickedness of the heart. Much prayer had been offered for a blessing upon the meeting, and the children of God felt it had not been in vain." Rev. Mr. Wheelright, who had a very deep ex- perience of the law and Gospel of Christ, at one of the meetings overpowered with a view of the sin- ner's final doom, gave remarkable force to other exhibitions of this awful reality, by the weeping testimony with which he sustained the most startling presentations of a scriptural message, from which there is a liability to recoil, by both preacher and hearer. With him anxious sinners found no refuge, no quarter, as they sometimes do under Christian influence. The church also, stood by the pastor. From Bethel Mr. Hammond went to Gorham, a village among the White Hills, — " peace reposing in the bosom of strength " — where the Rev. Geo. F. Tewksbury, was laboring without a sanctuary and without a church. Soon after Mr. T. wrote to the Mirror these hope- ful words : « Gorham, N. H., Jan. 11, 1862. "The work of the Lord is evidently revived in Gorh&m, N. H. A series of religious meetings have been held during the 244 THE HARVEST WCKK past week, every afternoon and evening, with increasing interest and encouragement. Bro. Hammond has been laboring with us most faithfully and earnestly, and his labors have not been in vain. As the result, many are awakened and some are re- joicing in hope as new-born souls. The firsu cases of hope were in the Sabbath school, where the interest commenced. Profess- ing Christians also are quickened,and much encouraged to re- newed prayer and effort, working together in a spirit of union and harmony. The meetings are crowded every evening, and the public mind is generally stirred. And such is the spirit of inquiry awakened, that many remain at the close of the meeting to be conversed with on the interests of their souls. " The prayers of your Christian readers are earnestly desired in behalf of this place, where so many of the people have been, and still are, under the poisonous influence of infidelity and false teaching. '< Yours truly, " G. F. Tewksbubt." As the result of the merciful visitation of the Spirit, a church has been formed, and a neat, pleas- ant temple dedicated to the worship of Him, " who touches the hills and they melt, who taketh up the isles as a very little thing." We select the narrative of a conversion very clear and striking : — »' When you came to Gorham, last winter, I was unable to attend the first meetings. This I regretted very much, for I was very desirous to hear what the Scotch preacher had to say. Not that I thought I might become interested about my own Boul. Oh, Ao. I thought I was as good as my companions, and those around me. I never thought what a wicked heart I had. One evening I went to meeting with some of my friends. OP THE HOLY SPIRIT. 245 When we entered they were singing, ' I'm glad salvation is free.' I had heard it sung a great many times before, but never thought it meant anything in particular ; but then I felt that it meant a great deal. Salvation is free for you and me, for everybody. So strange that I had never thought of it be- fore. " In your discourse you repeated Scripture ; one verse was, * He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that be- lieveth not is condemned already.' 'He that is not with me is against me.' I never meant to be against Jesus, but surely I was not with Him. " I stayed to the inquiry meeting ; you and several other Christians talked with me that night. I went home, and to rest ; but there was no rest for me. I arose in the morning, de- termined that there should no one know my feelings. I did not want them to think I had any interest in the meetings. I re- solved not to go again. But the next night I went agam, in hopes that I should hear something that would drive away these feelings. At the inquiry meeting,you prayed that thorns might be planted in my pillow. I thought there was no need of that, for they were there already. 1 continued in this state four days. Oh, what a proud, rebellious heart I had, when Jesus was so kind, and willing to wash all my sins away. At last I went to my room, resolved not to leave it until Jesus had for- given my sins. I took my Bible and began to read. I soon be- came calm ; I prayed as I never had before ; my sins were aU swept away. It was so sudden, I could not realize my senses, but I was so happy. Oh, I do not wonder that you love to speak of that dear Jesus who died to save us. I hope you will remember me in your prayers." The city of Bath, whose population had never the reputation of being excitable, but staid in character, and devoted to the business of a sea-port town, was 246 THE HARVEST WOEK stirred with scenes of unearthly interest, during the months of January and February, 1862. The be- ginning and phases of the remarkable religious in- terest is recorded by the pen of the able and judicious pastor of the Winter Street Church, Eev. J. O. Fiske, in a communication to the Christian Mirror : " You ask for Bome brief account of the recent work of God's grace in this city ; and we ought to be ready to declare with gladness what God has done for our souls. I may say then, that, last autumn, an increased seriousness was manifest in some of the congregation, and a more earnest prayerfulness actuated many in the church. In November, a day of fasting and prayer was observed by our church, with reference to the state of re- ligion among us. The public meeting that day, which con- tinued for four hours, was largely attended, and will long re- main as a memorable occasion of the special presence and power of the Holy Ghost. The first week in the year, we as- sembled with the Central Church daily, in a prayer-meeting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The third week in January, there was commenced in our church a series of evening meet- ings, at which solemn, earnest, pointed addresses were made by Edward Payson Hammond. These meetings were held unin- terruptedly every evening for four weeks. In the afternoon a prayer-meeting was also held at two o'clock every day, which was continued, either in our church or in some of the other churches or vestries of the city, for nearly four months. These meetings were very largely attended, the house being usually, during the latter part of the time, completely full. Almost all the evangelical ministers of the city attended these meetings, and were exceedingly active and devoted in them. There was no denominational jealousy, no friction, nor difficulty of any OF TUE HOLY STIRIT. 247 kind,growing out of this union of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. At all the evening meetings, and after those in the afternoon to some small extent, there were meet- ings for religious conversation and inquiry. In the evening often five or six hundred persons, or more, would remain for these conversations. A portion of these would often be pro- fessors of religion, conversing, and in quiet tones often praying, with those who were anxiously asking what they should do to be saved. Some of these inquiry meetings presented scenes of very solemn interest. Many were weeping, many rejoicing, many anxious, many finding their Saviour ready to forgive them even as they were in the act of prayer. Prof. Chadbourne, of Bowdoin College, Rev. Mr. Carpenter, of Houlton, Rev. Mr. Howard, of Farmington, Rev. Dr. Tappan, and other clergymen rendered us very valuable assistance in the midst of these solemn scenes, by their addresses, sermons, prayers and conver- sations. Twenty-six heads of families, in my own congregation are among those who have begun lately to entertain a hope in Christ. " From the very first, special attention was given,in meetings Saturday and Wednesday afternoons, and in the other meetings, to the children. They were all very deeply interested, and one of the best features of Mr. Hammond's labors among us, was liis unintermitted skillful and believing zeal for the conversion of children. Quite a number of these lambs of, the flock wc hope have passed from deatli unto lile, and a few of them be- tween the ages of twelve and seventeen years, have been re- ceived into our church. No meetings that I have ever attended liave been more delightful and solemn, than some of these chil- drcns' meetings. "As the fruits of the revival, thirty-two were added to our church at the communion in May, and twenty-four more last Sabbath. AVe are expecting quite a number of others on sub- etjqueut occasions ; sume have gone to otlier places, aud will, 248 THE HARVEST WORK I trust, become connected with churches there. The Central church, the two Methodist churches, the Baptist, and the Free- will Baptist have all shared in this work ; and some of them have had large accessions to their numbers ; but I cannot now speak with definiteness concerning them. They all feel, how- ever, that they have enjoyed a season of delightful refreshing from the presence of the Lord. '* Christians, I think, have learned to feel their personal responsibilities more. Let me assure you, it has been no feature of this religious awakening, that Christians, male or fe- male, were made to feel, that they had only to stand still, and see somebody else do the work of the Lord. The deepened sense of responsibility, the earnest prayerfulness, the greater faith- fulness, diligence and fertility in the use of means of grace on the part of Christians generally, have been among the blessed characteristics of this revival. " It has also been a revival of the straightforward, unflinch- ing, abundant preaching of the old-fashioned truths of God's word. We think God's word has been honored ; and when I looked upon the crowds packing every pew and standing place in our church, as the fifth week of our evening meetings open- ed, and all to hear nothing but what all faithful ministers of the gospel have always preached, I could but think that the notions of &ome,that these ancient doctrines of orthodoxy are losing their hold on the public mind, have had their day, and are about run out, were as well refuted, as we could reasonably desire. I know of no better proof of the divine origin and authority of the great truths of evangelical religion, which some imagine are almost too stern and awful to be presented, except in softened terms, with bated breath, and an apology, than their power of thus rousing and holding the undivided at- tention of a large community like this, where they are entirely familiar, and the amazing and blessed transformations of char- acter which they effect. The sword of the Spirit is mightier OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 249 than any human inventions : * The foolishness of God is wiser than men ; ' and after such scenes as we have witnessed here, we all have a re-assured confidence that the gospel, as we un- derstand and teach it, will yet he * the power of God and the wisdom of God ' unto the salvation of a believing world. " Yours sincerely, Bath, July 10, 1862. j. o. p." We select one or two cases of experience, which have already been printed, and made useful in awakening sinners and leading them to Jesus : " One week ago last Saturday I stopped to the inquiry meet- ing, but did not feel that I was such a great sinner, and thought I would not be converted at the time of a revival. You spoke a few kind words to me, as did others, but I went home very angry. I went again Sunday evening, and remained to the in- quiry meeting ; I was in great distress of mind, but would not believe the blessed promises. As I left the church, I requested you to pray for me, also dear Mr. Page, and tried to pray my- self, but found no relief. I slept very little that night, and was in great agony all the next day. I wept until I was entirely exhausted. I felt that I must do something. I went to Jesus and prayed Him to take me jnst as 1 was, for I could do noth- ing more, and felt during the evening meeting that I was for- given ; after meeting I went to Mr. Fiske and expressed my faint hope, and besought him to pray for me that I might have more light. I felt at peace with God, but did not feel that per- fect happiness. Wednesday night I was perfectly happy and fell asleep, seemingly clasping Jesus' hand. I feel that I can- not praise the Lord enough for Hi& great mercy to me. I tremble when I think of the danger I have escaped, and of the many who are yet travelling the broad road which leadeth tq destruction. Very truly yours." 250 THE HARVEST WORK Among the towns adjacent to the centers of efforts and blessing, visited by evangelical labors and the accompanying power of the Holy Ghost, was Phipsburg, a few miles from Bath. A precious season was enjoyed in connection with comparative- ly little labor ; the outer wave of the divine in- fluence from the Pentecostal scene. A number of sea captains are among those rejoicing in the love of Christ. The following letter from one was read in a re- ligious meeting, and from it we are permitted to make some extracts : " Bath, March 15th, 1862. ** My dear Friend, — Having as I hope found the Saviour precious to my soul, I will attempt to give you some account of my experience. I am now about forty-three years old, have followed the sea all of my life, and like most others of my pro- fession, have led a very wicked life. I have been deprived of many of the means of grace ; and others, that were within my reach, I have neglected ; until I grew to be a very hardened sin- ner; so much so, that I felt quite indifferent to all that concern- ed my immortal soul, and continued to live on year after year without a thought of what was to become of it, when it should be summoned to leave this world. " In this state of mind you found me, at the commencement of the meetings held in this place the past month. I attended the meetings at first, not from any desire to ].)e T)cnefited by them, but for novelty of hearing a strange preacher, of whom I had heard so much, and made up my mind, that you had como among us to get up an excitement, and I for one would have nothing t3 do with it. Went home scolding about you, but OP THE HOLY SPIRIT. 251 Btill could not make up my mind to keep away from the meet- ings. Went again ; — you came and talked with me as did some of the other ministers ; but all your words at that time had no eflfect upon me. The next evening in the inquiry meet- ing, you came again to me after some conversation, and asked if you should pray with me. I gave consent but declined to kneel ; so you prayed as we stood in the pew — you prayed, that the Lord would plant thorns in my pillow^ so that 1 might not sleep until I had given my heart to Christ. I slept some that night, but awoke many times and felt of my pillow to satisfy myself, that there were not thorns in it. The next evening I could not resist going to hear you again ; and, as you was addressing us, you presented the truth, that we, in re- jecting Christ, were guilty of the greatest sin. I had never thought of this before, and it fell with crushing weight upon my guilty soul. I saw myself a sinner of the deepest dye, and went home that night resolved to seek for mercy. I tried to pray, but could not. My mouth was so completely sealed up that 1 could not utter a word, and it was not until the next day that I could open my mouth in prayer to God for mercy, and even then I could not give myself up entirely to Christ. I could not divest myself of the idea, that I had not something to do to make me more acceptable to Christ. This, of course, kept me in darkness and in sorrow. About this time our good minister, Mr. Fiske, called at my house, and,after praying with me and my family, proposed that I should pray also ; this I at first declined doing ; but when he told me that he feared that 1 was not humble enough, after much entreaty, I made an at- tempt to pray, but still no relief came to me. I remained in this state a number of days, and was fast settling down in de- Hpair, when one evening, after spending the whole afternoon upon my knees in prayer, I went to church. Prof. Chadbournc, of Bowdoin College, addressed us that evening, and, in the closing remarks, when urging sinners to come to Christ, he said 252 THE HARVEST WORK that we should leave our own strength behind and go forward in the strength of our Saviour. ITelt this was what bad kept me from the Saviour, dependence on my own strength. I there and then as I sat in my seat, yielded that, and all other points, asked the Saviour to take me just as 1 was with all my load of sin and guilt. I saw that God would be just, if he re- fused to accept me and sent me down to everlasting woe ; but in a moment I felt that Christ was able, and would save me ; and that moment peace and joy took possession of my soul, light broke upon my darkened mind, and I felt that I was in- deed 'a new creature.' " It is now about six weeks since I felt that I had a hope in Christ, and I can truly say, that they have been the happi- est weeks of my life. I have no wish to turn back to the world, for I feel that 1 have left nothing there worth going back for, but I hope by God's grace to press onward in the path of Christian duty, and finally gain the reward promised to those who remain faithful to the end. Yours in Jesus, Chas. N. Delano.'^ A little boy gives the story of his conversion as foUovrs : '< Dear Mr. Hammond: — Two weeks ago last night as I was playing in the street, three ladles came along, and invited me to go to meeting. I thought I would go to have some fun, and be out evenings. That evening I laughed and made sport of those that you were praying for, and those that were anxious. I at- tended the childrens' meeting the next afternoon, when you gave an invitation to those who were anxious about their souls, to stop. Mr. Fiske came along and talked with me, and you came and prayed with me, and I felt that I was a lost sinner. I went home feeling very badly about my soul. I resolved to T)ray that night, and I did. Sabbath morning I felt a great OF THE HOLY SPIKIT. 253 change in my feelings, and I have felt happy ever since. I love Jesus. I love to read my Bible. I love to go to meeting. I love Christians. But the enemy of my soul tempted me, and tries to lead me astray, but in the strength of the Lord, I shall try and conquer and lead a Christian life." South Paris, a village on the Grand Trunk Rail- road, between Portland and Bethel, received a great and abiding dispensation of the Spirit, which, the pastor. Rev. Mr. Southworth, described, several months after the rain of God's mercy passed the crisis of its fulness : " Everlasting praise belongeth unto God for this gracious vis- itation, in which a large number of souls have been hopefully brought to the saving possession of the truth as it is in Jesus. " God for months had been preparing His people for His coming. The year 1862 was commenced with prayer. The spirit of supplication seemed to be given in unusual measures. Meetings for conference and prayer were held more frequently. The impenitent came to them and were more tender and thoughtful. God, by His Spirit, was evidently present to quick- en believers, and the unconverted ; and still the clouds delayed to break, and pour its refreshing waters abundantly. At this time God seemed to impress His people with a desire to do all they could ; and,a8 it came to their knowledge that Mr. Ham- mond, the Evangelist, was greatly blessed in his labors in other places, there W£is a desire that he might be invited to come among us. He was invited and came. This was the 21st of February ; he staid but two days, but they were days of great power. The cloud of mercy which had been hanging over us shed dpwn its mercy drops ;Christians were deeply impressed with 254 THE HARVEST WORK a sense of their active dependence upon God. The words of the Evangelist were attended by the demonstration of the Spirit; and, of the large congregations, few, if anj,remained unmoved. Some, indeed, were not impressed favorably, but others allowed them- selves to be convinced of the truth. The truth was preached with great earnestness, boldness and true tenderness. He sought to bring the children to Christ, and they were savingly impress- ed. One of the excellencies of his efforts among us was, that he preached no pleasing, delusive doctrine, by which men might be led to take up with a false hope. He preached the Lord and Christ; and sought to convince men of their sins ])y showing them their sins. " Another most interesting feature of the work with us was, the inquiry meeting after the pu])lic exercises, at whicli many remained, and were addressed on the subject of religion. This meeting was continued for months, and proved a blessed means of grace, in which many were led to consider their lost condi- tion. There have been not a few cases of deep interest — cases of conversion which have most signally displayed the Spirit's power to subdue the heart. All classes of community have shared in the work !— children, little children ; business men; our most esteemed and respected women. Many families have rejoiced, and do rejoice. Forty-four have united with the 3lmrch by profession. Others are designing to do so. It is not iesigned to be understood, that this was the result of the efforts of any man however blessed of God ; but the result, when the church of God gave itself to prayer and faithful labor — ^were as it appeared, in an agony for the salvation of souls. With the church, in this condition, the Evangelist faithfully, prayerfully, earnestly co-operated, and, under God, was the means of much good among us. God grant that the time may soon come, when all our communities may receive a like, or still more gracious, visitation from on high. To God be all the glory." OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 255 Farmlnfrton is a dello-litful villao-e in Franklin County, Maine, amid varied and sublime scenery, the seat of the widely known and excellent " Abbott School ; " the birth-place and resort of the Abbotts. Rev. Mr. Howard, the brother of the beloved and noble General Howard, of the army, who lost an arm in the battle of Fair Oaks, is the pastor of the Congregational church. He published in the local paper, an account of the glorious refreshing which came to that place in February, during which, a hundred and fifty were, it is believed, brought to Christ, besides an interest awakened in other towns : " Will you allow me a little Bpace,m which to speak of the present marked attention to the subject of religion in this com- munity? The unusual meetings were commenced by a union prayer meeting at the Academy,on Monday of last week. This was attended and participated in by all the clergymen and many of the people. It was then expected,that Edward Payson Ham- mond, the Evangelist, would address a united meeting on Thurs- day evening, but the detention of the cars preventing his ar- rival, the meetings each day and evening during the week were conducted by the resident pastors. In spite of the unfavorable weather, the meetings increased in numbers ; professors of religion were aroused and much earnest prayer was offered, that Mr. Hammond's labors should receive the blessing of God. But the blessing was not delayed till his arrival. A number of per- Bons began seriously to ask the question — ' Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? ' Mr. U. held his first meeting Sabbath even- 256 THE HARVEST WOUK ing, and the Congregational Church was crowded. His method of procedure is to conduct the exercises of singing, reading the Scriptures, prayer and preaching, without much regularity but with singular earnestness. After these services an inquiry meeting is held, to which all persons wishing to converse on the subject of salvation are invited to stop, and also such ministers and Christians as are disposed to instruct them. This inquiry meeting has been a blessed meeting. A large number of per- sons, of all ages and conditions in life, may be seen nightly in all parts of the house, conversing, praying and weeping, with occasional general admonition from Mr. H. and others. The unanimity among Christians, ministers and laymen, seems to be perfect. All recognize it as a work of God's Spirit, and all seem to love the evangelist, and to co-operate with him with all the heart. " The scenes here are but a repetition of what has been wit- nessed in Portland, Bethel, Bath, and South Paris. " Will not the prayers of all God's people go up for this dear brother who has been the means of bringing so many sinners to their Saviour ? As he is about to leave us,I am expressing only the general voice, in saying, that our hearts are filled with grati- tude and love to him, and we have no doubt that wherever God shall call him to especially labor and pray, an abundant blessing will follow." "We shall not forget an evening we spent in a meeting three weeks afterward, when, among others, a popular physician related the steps by which he was led from mere curiosity to anxiety, — from anxiety to distress, — and from anguish of soul to peace in believing. And at the same moment a scoffer lay dead in hie OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 257 \ home, one of a business firm that opposed the meet- ing ; followed soon after by the most thrilling scenes of the death-bed of the wife, kneeling on her bed and begging for prayer and for mercy. Thus judg- ment followed blessing, the usual order of God*i providence among men. CHAPTEK IX. The Old Colony. The Church of the Pilgrimage. The Winter ana Spring of 1862. Facts and incidents. Lewiston, Maine. The cloud like a man's hand. The mighty outpouring. Letters of ex- perience. Farewell meeting. Brunswick. The College. Scenes and cases of striking conversion. In the providence of God, the writer seeking health, went to Plymouth, Mass., in the Autumn of 1861, With all descendants of the Pilgrims in natural or spiritual lineage, he felt a deep interest in the Old Colony, with its beautiful bay, where the Mayflower rocked, — Burying Hiil where their ashes lie, — and the church they planted, with sacri- fice and suffering without a parallel since the days of the apostles. The Congregational Society there, during the first 180 years, had only seven pastors, including Brewster, who would never consent to be ordained, although in labors of love, the shepherd of the flock in the wUdemess. Since the exodus from Arminianism in 1800, with the loss of all material possessions as a pansh, a period of sixty years, there have been, also, seven pastors ; showing that a sad change has gone over Puritan New England since the days of the fathers. Precious revivals of re- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 259 ligion have been the repeated benediction of the Lord upon his heritage. But the * enemy of all righteousness* seems to have had a peculiar hostility toward this Jerusalem of the new world, and every possible form of attack has been made upon the faith and peace of the church. Errors were rife in the community, and too often the Zion, which should beat them back, had slept, while her adversary sowed the tares. For three months before the date at the beginning of this chapter, the sanctuary of God had been closed, from reasons material, and conditions of feeling ; and " the ways of Zion mourned." When invited to supply the pulpit, and afterwards to remain, the conviction, which laid aside all other plans, was, that the time to favor her had come with God. The parish was visited, church fasts appointed, and the necessity of a revival kept before the people on all occasions. The aspect of the congregation gradually changed to a marked seriousness, and indications of unusual interest apparent among the impenitent. But health not yet confirmed, forbidding extra meetings, and the exciting war news, between the Sabbaths, kept back the outbreak of feeling, — the outgushing of the waters of the sanctuary. At this crisis, atten- tion was turned for help to Mr. Hammond. The church invited him to come ; and he held the first services on Sabbath-day the last of March. The work in a brief time, assumed a decided 260 THE HARVEST WORK form and power. Although he remained less than three weeks, the house of God was opened nightl}' for almost nine weeks ; — during which were wit- nessed scenes of stirring interest. In the town be- tween two and three hundred expressed hope in Christ, many of whom, at least, have continued to walk according to the gospel. The assistance of Rev. A. B. Earle, Eev. Dr. Kirk, and the former pastor. Rev. Mr. Porter, was of great value in the progress of the work ; especially the earnest and abundant labors of Rev. Mr. Earle. At the close of a sermon, during the course of the evening meetings, from the mass that filled the sanctuary, rose a stalwart man of about 60 years, and with trembling frame, cried out ; " My friends, it is twenty-six years since I have been in the house of God, till last evening. I have been the vilest of the vile ; and now I feel that Jesus Christ is work- ing on me? — and he is working fast. If any of you can pray for me, I want you to do it." He soon bowed in the dust, and begged for pardon, while a daughter on each side, who had found the Saviour, wept aloud. Upon another occasion, a member of the Church, who had found fault with the severity of the gospel message, with a flood of tears and broken utter- ance, declared that he had been a boarder in God's family, and sought an interest in believing prayer. Scenes like these were common for many weeks. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 261 The following incident appeared in the columns of the Congregationalist : " It was on the lovely morning of May 25th, that we were Bitting in the chapel of the * Church of the Pilgrimage,' at the very base of * Burying Hill,' the Holy Spirit filling the place, when suddenly a call at the door summoned a young man to the vestibule, who had recently found Jesus. In a moment he re- turned, and in a flood of tears broke the hallowed stillness by saying : ' My friends, the * Standish Guards,' to which I belong, are ordered to leave at 2 o'clock to-day. And now I want you to pray for me, that I may be a faithful soldier of the cross ; and, if I fall, may die happy in Christ. Tray for my com- rades.^ " He sat dovm amid the audible sobs of many ; for this was the first intimation of the additional contribution to the ranks of the army from the young men of the Old Colony. Then one and another begged the prayers of God's people for the brothers and friends also called away ; and hearts and lips did pray. " The meeting closed, and there was hurrying to and fro to obey the summons. A little later the armory was thronged, and the -streets lined with all classes. As I spoke to the young men who had recently been converted, with a smile they said, * We are ready to go.' Those who had been inquiring the way of life for days past, wept. Soon to the stirring music of the drum, whose roll was thunder to sad hearts, telling of the withering stroke to the affections, the Guards, attende-d with an immense concourse, reached the d^pot. Stepping forth from the ranks, a young man leaned upon his gun, and weeping said, * Had I not been converted, I should not want to go, but now am glad to be here.' Next came to my side a fine youth with whom we had often conversed about his soul, but who had no hope, and weeping, desired to be remembered at the throne of grace. I said, go to the Bible for light, while you pray for it. 262 THE HARVEST WOEK Laying his hand upon his breast he replied, ' Yes, I have it in my pocket,' and also wept. Another moment, and the bell sounded, and away the company moved amid cheers and tears, from the atmosphere of a precious revival, to aid in beating back the waves of the darkest rebellion perdition ever poured over the plains of time. Let unceasing prayer ascend for th«» soldier and for the government, that there may be wisdom U- discern and courage to meet the issue God is forcing upon us.' All classes were reached. Men who had not en- tered the sanctuary for a score of years were smitten down, and gave evidence of the saving change. Whole famihes were taken by the Spirit from the bosom of popular error^ and the town was per- vaded by the Spirit of the Lord ; and whatever discount man's weakness or sin may make, Je- hovah vindicated the faith of the Puritans, and his glory, in the eyes of all the people. Although the pastor elect felt it his duty to leave, the tidings came of many accessions to the churches, and blessed seasons around the altars of prayer. While in Plymouth, a call from the city of Lewis- ton, Maine, the united voice of the pastors of the various churches, came to Mr. Hammond, to la- bor in the whitening harvest field. We give a statement of the general aspect of the greatest out- pouring of the Spirit, perhaps, witnessed in any one place in this country for years, until, it is believed, five hundred persons were hopefully converted, — as we find it in the Lewiston Herald, from the pen of OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 263 one of the ministers. The origin of the interest, is mentioned in the last chapter of this work in another connection: "Mr. Hammond has now preached nine Buccessive evenings in the Free Baptist Church, the largest in the place, with in- creasing interest, power and blessing. He spoke first to the children in Pine Street Chapel, Rev. Mr. Balkam's church, on Sunday afternoon of the 27th ult., and not only were children and young people wrought upon, many of whom have since ex. pressed hope, (and it is delightful to see their happy faces,) but yesterday, at the morning prayer meeting, a gentleman of mature years and mental powers rose in hope, and said his heart was touched at that meeting. He spoke with great calm- ness, though we presume no one ever heard his voice in any public meeting before. He said he had always been afraid of the world, but now he wished every body to know where he stood, and with divine aid meant to stand, the rest of his days. Some of our readers will call to mind a stout, fat, jovial young man, whom they have often seen upon the railway, between this place and Danville Junction. He has declared himself publicly and inflexibly upon the Lord's side. There have been many cases of conversions, embracing a pretty wide range of character, and the work is apparently extending to the outmost circle of society, and including all classes. " Saturday evening, the Free Baptist Church was packed in every part of it, above and below, by people sitting or standing, while the large vestry was also filled. " Sunday evening the above church was filled exclusively with men ; the vestry with men, women and children. The Baptist Church was filled exclusively with women. The M. E. vestry, which is very large, was filled as usual. The morning prayer meeting, Sunday, was one of deep and tender zeal. Meetings of great interest have also been held in High St. Cong. Church, 264 THE HARVEST WORK during the week, of which we have not time and spac4 eo Bpeak more particularly. " If this work were not based upon the most thorou^dly considered scriptural and theological teaching of years, it might be dismissed as the blown up heat of an hour. As the matter is, nothing of the kind can be pretended for a moment. We suppose ^there is as much calmness of instruction at West Point, as at any other school of learning. But every lesson given there in utmost quiet, contemplates the excitement and shock of battle. Yet not more certainly, than does the whole system of Evangelical truth contemplate a certain excitement, when it is received into the heart. It is the inevitable excite- ment of truth in conflict with error — of sin in conflict with holiness — of human will in resistance to the Divine will — of human depravity lifting itself in opposition to infinite purity. " If Mr. Hammond produces excitement, it is only by the greatness of his zeal to persuade men to be reconciled to God that he does it. Besides, the farthest aim in the world from his, is an effort to create excitement. His simple aim is to preach with his whole soul what he believes to be the truth. The secret of his power is the entireness with which he gives himself up to the impulses of the Spirit. He always appears with his Bible in his hand ; wherever he goes, the Bible seems to be the talisman of his power. If any suppose he wishes to exalt himself, they could not be more mistaken. He loses him- self in the greatness of his work. And most emphatically may it be said of him, < the zeal of thine house hath eaten him up.' If he is deluded, then the whole system of Orthodoxy is a delu- sion. " We were surprised this morning, upon entering the store of one of our most able and excellent citizens of this class, to find that, last night, in the retirement of his home, he had settled the great question. He went home, and went to his Bible ; he read it — read it without skipping — believed it — believed it OP THE HOLT SPIRIT. 265 all — felt it as the very Word of God speaking to him. We know there are others, many of them of this class, who are al- ready convinced of their duty, and who are only awaiting a lit- tle more pressure of will, now, to become, in the most delight- ful sense, children of God. " At the open-air meeting Sunday evening, when full three thousand were present, more than half were men. The minis- ters of the place were generally present, and for the first time at any of these meetings we noticed the Episcopal and Catholic clergymen. Mr. H. was distinctly heard by the outmost cir- cle, as well he might be, for he has spoken so as to be heard, to five times the number in Aberdeen, and other places in Scot- land. " It was a heart-stirring sight. The evident impression of the truth showed,that it was falling on minds, curiously mould- ed by the Creator to be wrought upon by just such appeals." The following interesting letter was read in one of the churches. These letters indicate the wondrous change that is daily taking place in the hearts of many of the people. Some of the leading men of business stood up in the great congregation, and testified of the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the whole moral nature : " Lewiston, May 12, 1862. " Dear Mr. Hammond: — In very early life I was the sub- ject of strong religious impressions, and, through the deceitful- ness of my own heart, for awhile believed I had given myself to Christ. But soon I found myself deceived. Then did I re- fuse all confidence in experimental religion, and gladly sought to believe in the universal salvation of all. That would give me a wide scope for dancing and like amusements. I watched 266 THE HARVEST WORK professing Christians, glad to detect their faults. Thus Lad I become careless, when Death entered our family circle, and Oh 1 how deep did I sink in despair. Then I promised to become a Christian, yet had no faith in Christianity. I felt that I must be wrong, and often asked myself if Universalism is true, why, in this the hour of deepest need, does it forsake me ? why these dark and dreadful doubts ? But I silenced conviction, looked at professed Christians, and thought myself as good as they. " When I came to Lewiston, as I found it inconvenient to at- tend a Universalist meeting, I visited different churches, that I might glean a harvest of their imperfections. How faithless, how wicked was my heart. " The first time I heard you speak, I returned home more faithless than ever, assured that * Godly sorrow ' none could have. The following Monday, you spoke of the different ways God takes to draw us to himself ; one was, taking from us our dear friends. I never can tell how it pierced my heart. It seemed,you was to give me a last and final warning — that I must repent now, or be for ever lost. After meeting, before I could leave the house, you spoke to me — asked if I loved Jesus? I was ashamed to be seen conversing with you — ashamed of my own feelings, which I could no longer conceal. You prayed with me but I could not kneel. You left me, say- ing you would return soon, but I waited for no second inter- view. That night I sought my pillow, but found little rest. Satan seemed to say ' folly, all folly," for — * as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.' But I could not keep away from the meetings. The next evening I sat back by the door to see if I should feel the same. But there was no peace for me. I did not stop to the inquiry meeting, but went home and tried to read my Bible ; it was a sealed book. I no longer tried to drive away my feeling8,but hoped they would deepen. •* The next day I was wretched. I felt that God would never forgive me ; that I had committed the unpardonable sin, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 267 in once having profesBed to love my Saviour, while my he:.rt was in rebellion against Him. I resolved I would test my feelings. I would not go to meeting,and see if my feelings would be the same. But on all around seemed written, * Till to Jesus' work you cling By a simple faith. Doing is a dangerous thing. Doing ends in death.' " I read my Bible, and tried to pray that if there was such a thing as a change of heart, God would not suffer me to rest till I had found it. Then came a d^ar friend, and with her arms around my neck, said she had found Jesus, and it was so easy. I was discouraged. I had spent miserable days and sleepless nights, and now to be told it was ' so easy.' That night I went to meeting, stopped to the inquiry meeting, conversed with several, but found no relief. I met with a friend, who had dur- ing the week written me a letter, begging me to give my heart to Christ. I would not tell him what kept me back, and we left the house in company with other ladies who had just pass- ed from ' death unto life.' Their company only made me more wretched. I felt I was lost — there was no hope for me, and I would no longer seek what I could not obtain. I finally resolved to tell my friends the sin of my youth, which I feared God would not forgive, and what I had ever after thought of Christians. They were talking, but I know not what they said, for I was lifting my heart to God as I had never before, repeat- ing the words, * Just as I am, though tossed about, With many a conflict, many a doubt. With fears within, and foes without, O Lamb of God, I come.' " Then peace, such as I had never known, came to my soul. 268 THE HARVEST WORK It seemed like going from darkness to the light of the nocn-day Bun. I no longer doubt Christians, but with them hope to gpend an eternity of bliss." The additional instance of sovereign rescue from the edge of ruin is that of a young lawyer, whose family name is familiar in the national Senate, and throughout the State, T. A. T>. Fessenden, Esq. A daily paper reports the touching occasion of his solemn narration of his conversion, as follows : " Mr. Fessenden detailed at some length the story of his con- version, which enchained the attention of the large audience, and came home to many a heart. Mr. F. spoke nearly as fol- lows : — '*'I cannot refrain from saying, that it is repugnant to my natural feelings, to speak of myself; but in the hope that it may possibly, with God's blessing, be the means of some little good, I will speak. I feel impelled to speak for the cause of Je- sus, and of my late experience, though my words be feeble. My story is a simple one. But a short time since I had sup- posed that I was possessed of a strong will, of good nerves, and of a clear judgment. I did not think I was emotional, and I re- marked to a friend with whom I was conversing, and who mentioned that Mr. Hammond was creating an excitement, that ' if he could raise any emotion in me, I should like to have him, for it was dull, and had been so long since I had felt emotion, that I should like to feel it. One Sunday evening it entered my mind th^-t I would go and hear. I went and listened intently, but it was with no expectation that it would aflFord me any pleasure, except that of hearing one who, from report, appeared to be an earnest and impassioned speaker. I listened to him and went away. I descanted to my friends upon his power of OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 2G9 illuBtr.itmg, and told them that he drew upon his travels for his figures of speech. I was utterly indifferent so far as my per- sonal state was concerned. Some time after, I attended again, and listened attentively. I fastened my eye upon the speaker, and for some moments his gaze was riveted on mine, as he ad- dressed me in tones of impassioned earnestness to come to Christ. It was thus I began to think, is this real ? Is it necessary ? Is it a duty we have resting upon us? But when the sermon closed, I walked down the aisle, and out of church alone. I thought then, there is no necessity of my stopping here to talk with these people ; it will do well enough for persons not in the habit of thinking for themselves, but not for me. I con- cluded that I would not go again; but, on reflection, I said, I will go, I am not afraid to hear the man. I went. I was inter- ested in the sermon ; I was interested in the experience of Mr. Wight ; I was interested and moved by the affecting prayer for physicians and lawyers, more particularly,perhaps, because I had been introduced to Mr. Hammond durmg the day, and thought he might have me in his mind, and my heart was somewhat softened ; but I did not heed the invitation to stop, but steeling my heart I walked to the door. '<*I was overtaken by him. He urged me and a friend who was with me to remain. He said my old father was praying for me, and kindly pressed me to stay. He asked me to promise him that I would pray that night, but I refused the, promise, and said I would see him the next day. As I walked down the still street my feelmgs overcame me, and I wept ; but when 1 neared my home I endeavored to crush out all my feelings of remorse, so that I might enter the presence of my wife calm and unmoved, for 1 would not let her see, that a man in the prime of life could be so wrought upon, and appear so unmanly. I sat down, but my grief came over me, and I covered my face with my handkerchief. She sought to comfort me. I choked down my sensations for the moment, and said, ' This is excite- 270 THE HARVEST WORD ment — it will pass away ' ; but she replied, ' It is the Spirit of God struggling with you,' and begged me to yield to its in- fluences. I was softened. I asked her to pray. She did so, and asked me to pray, and for the first time since I was a young boy, I knelt and prayed. The next morning, Mr. Adams met me. He talked a moment with me in the street, and I invited him to my office. He then talked and prayed with me, and I tried to pray. He left, and during that day I was overwhelmed with mental anguish. My sins were before me. The memory of my past life came vividly to my mind, and temptations and suggestions of all sorts pressed upon me to shake off these de- lusions ; but I prayed constantly and fervently in my mind that the Spirit of God would not leave me, but would continue to strive. That evening I attended meeting, and heard the story of the Son of God ; that He came to save the lost ; that for our sakes he was treated as though a guilty rebel ; of his agony up- on the cross ; and when I listened to the words of the dying Je- sus, in the extremity of agony, ' My God ! my God ! why hast Thou forsaken me ? ' my heart melted. I stopped at the in- quiry meeting, and on my knees I promised God, that, if he would forgive my sins, I would take sides with Jesus — that I would stand up for Jesus — give my heart to Him, and would trust to Him and be His. I was at peace. Hence I am willing to stand up and speak to you to-night. This may seem to some a simple story, but appears a solemn reality to me.' " Another wrote : '< Dear Mr. Hammond : — When you came to Lewiston, I went to hear you simply because you were famous ; for, though calling myself a Christian, I was proud and self-reliant, and had had no sympathy with what I scornfully called * revival excite- ment.' " The first evening I heard you speak, you showed me that, at best, I was only a * boarder ' in the Lord's family. I was OP THE HOLT SPIRIT. 271 startled and angry. I went to hear you talk to einnere, and not to test, by personal experience^ your power of awakening cold hearted professors. I tried to get out of the house, but it was so crowded I could not ; stopping at the inquiry meeting, Satan advised me as my only refuge, to feel disgusted ; and I went home trying to think I was ; all the next day and the next, I quarreled with my conscience, and, by convincing others, tried to make myself believe that the revival was fanatical and absurd; not a thought, in those days, of the struggle that was going on in the hearts around me; not a prayer for the precious souls that were embracing or rejecting Jesus; only a wilful de- sire to forget my own duty. ''But as I listened, a week ago to-day, in the High St. Church, to a letter you read from a lady in Portland, and to your remarks concerning it, I could no longer shut my eyes to the fearful wrong I was doing my own soul, and, through you, the cause of Christ ; I knew then, just how Peter of old felt after he denied his Lord. ** Jesus forgave me, as I trust, and took me back to his arms once more ; but I knew I ought to go and tell you, and ask you to forgive me too ; it was so hard, I thought I could not ; so I tried to help you at the inquiry meetings, and every way I could think of, but it was no use ; if I attempted to speak to an anxious one, I thought how I had stood right there, and actual- ly laughed at you, a little while before. I couldn't pray for you, even, for I kept thinking, ' If thou bring thy gift to the altar,' &c., and last Sabbath evening I couldn't bear it any longer, so I went and told you ; then I could sing and pray, brother ; I couldn't help it. Rev. Mr. Adams, of Auburn, across the river from, and practically a part of Lewiston, gives his own clear account of what God has wrought : " The special religious interest, in the two towns of Auburn 272 THE HARVEST WORK and Lewieton, came upon the mass of our coimnunity as sud- denly, no doubt, as the freshet that sweeps along our river in the early spring. And yet it was not sudden, for just as the snows that whiten the mountain tops in November, and cover the plains, and fill the valleys, give token of the coming flood, BO have there been for months past, from as far back as Novem- ber, certainly, awakening providences, burdened Christian hearts, pleadings and tears in secret places, now and then a case of conversion, and, as we have since found, a deepening thoughtfulness with many of the unconverted. '< Whether, however, all this would have issued in a general awkening, apart from the special means employed, and which God has so evidently blessed, may well be doubted. Some time in March,a union morning prayer-meeting was commenced with us,in which the interest and the prayerfalness of Christian peo- ple found utterance, and the new awakened ones, found en- couragement and help. "Just at the close of April, Rev. Mr. Hammond came to labor among us, at the invitation, and with the full and hearty concurrence, of the pastors in the two towns. For a period of nearly four weeks, he maintained, in concert with the pastors, a series of evening meetings, and devoted himself with a singular and unremitting zeal to the work of saving souls. Rarely, I am sure, is the truth of God preached more forcibly and pungently. Rarely do men find themselves pressed by a more determined urgency, or plead with more fervently and more tenderly, to give up their sins, and accept the Gospel salvation. The meetings, held mainly in the Free Will Baptist Church in Lewiston, and (less frequently) in the High Street Congregation- al church in Auburn, were invariably crowded, hundreds stand- ing through the evening, and hundreds going away to prayer- meetings elsewhere. All yros subdued and still. The Spirit of God was manifestly present. The inquiry meetings that fol- lowed the more public service — though it is hardly proper to OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 273 dietinguieh between the more public and less public, where the numbers in both cases were so large — were scenes of marvelous interest. Christians, young and old, were seen conversing with their unconverted friends, pleading with them sometimes with many tears, kneeling down with them, in their pews where they were, and pleading with God on their behalf, and from time to time new witnesses bearing testimony to the pardoning mercy of God. " Besides these evening services, meetings have been held for the children, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, attended by large numbers of children as well as by many other persons. There Christ has been preached first and foremost, and they have been appealed to as if it was really believed that they might be converted, and converted now ; and when we have seen hundreds of them troubled under a sense of sin, when we have seen them bowing before God, and pleading with many tears, when we have seen many subsequently peaceful and radiant with Chris- tian hope and joy, when we have heard their testimony for Christ, and have seen them pleading with their friends, and pleading for them, when we have seen in them, from day to day, tlie transformed lives, and the fruits meet for repentance, we have said, this is just what we might have expected. This is in precise accordance with our own previous theory of things, and is just what the Gospel and the promises of a gracious God warranted us in looking for. " As the results of this work thus far, some hundreds — ^I do not know how many — profess conversion. Among these there are people of all ages and conditions. Some have been very hard cases, young men of profligate lives, and yet for the most part, and so far as I know, young men who have been followed in all their wanderings by the prayers of Christian fathers and mothers. Some are men of position and influence. Many are heads of families. Many are children, from sixteen years old downward. In our own Sabbath school Concert, last evening, a large uum- 274 THE HARVEST WORK ber, I should hardly dare to say how many, rose to testify their choice of their Saviour, and their consecration to his service. " There are tvro or three things suggested by this recent ex- perience of vrhich I should like to speak, but I can only allude to them. One — the indispensableness of a more direct, pungent, close home style of searching than generally obtains among us. There is, says Dr. Chalmers, a time to reason and there is a time to affirm. The reasoning time is always with us, but the time of bold, undoubting, urgent affirmation we too rarely reach. A very large share of Mr. Hammond's power lies in this ; that what other ministers prove he assumes, on the marked testi- mony of the Bible, and treats as incontestible and urgent fact. And if any man takes exception to the style of that brother, as making small account of established principles in logic and rhe- toric, I answer, so much the more in favor of my point, for with all this drawback he effects a lodgment of truth, and sways men by it a hundred fold more than you do, with all the closeness of your logic, and all the felicity of your illustration and ap- peal. '< A second point — which I can only suggest — has reference to that most neglected class, the children. Most neglected class, I say, notwithstanding the Sabbath- school and all its appliances. What minister gives them their fair proportion in the instruc- tions of the pulpit ! What minister, even in times of revival, arranges meetings for them, and preaches to them, and pleads with them, as he does with those who are older ! * Were half the breath thus vainly spent 'on adults given to those whose hearts are yet tender, we should see blessed results. " A third point — and one on which your correspondent pre* sumed to say a few words at the recent meeting of the Suffolk South Conference, in Park Street Church — is a determined ur- gency in dealing with individuals. We have seen the value of this in the present revival. People who could get through the sermon and the prayer meeting little moved, were brought up OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 275 by the conversation meeting that followed, and by the importu- nitiee of Christian friends. Men of judgment and culture, who had been awakened, and who might be left, if any might, to consider and decide for themselves, had been followed up to their homes or their offices, and pressed with the truth there, and, when they admitted it, met with the call, ' Come, then, let us kneel down before God right here, now, and confess our sin and plead for mercy," and all the urgency of Cin-istien zeal, and all the tenderness of Christian love and sympathy was brought to bear upon them to help them. But I have no time to go far- iher, nor have you room for me. I only say in closing, » the Lord hath done great things for us.' May our future lives yield some harvest of gratitude and faithfulness." We have in the Daily Journal a review of the revival, in addresses made at a closing service on the evening of the 12th of June : " The Free Baptist Church was crowded to overflowing, Wed- nesday evening, on the occasion of the last union meeting in which Mr. Hammond, the Evangelist, is to participate in this place, for the present, at least. Every part of that large church was filled — the galleries, sittings, pulpit, aisles, door- ways and entries ; and hundreds went away without being able to obtain even a standing place, — the interest in the gathering being heightened by the fact,that it was a farewell meeting to Mr. Hammond, on the occasion of which his numerous friends had determined to present him with a suitable pecuniary ac- knowledgement for his invaluable labors. " Rev. Mr. Lowell conducted the meeting, and made the opening remarks, for an abstract of which, together with a synopsis of the remarks of others, we are indebted to Rev. Mr. Tufts. Mr. LoweU said, that he had been most fevorably im- pressed by Mr. Hammond, and that it was a matter of gratitude he had come among us, and aided the ministers here in the 276 THE HARVEST WORK good work of bringing hundreds of souls to say, * I love Jesus, yes I do, I know I do.* He thanked him in their behalf, in behalf of anxious souls still inquiring, and in behalf of others not yet determined in their minds to seek the Lord — hoping that the good word, spoken to them from time to time, would be as good seed, so that in the future they may turn back to these meetings as the beginning of serious thoughts, and as blest of God through Mr. Hammond, whom the Lord was pleased to employ as the means of their conversion. " Rev. Mr. Butler said,he would bear testimany to the won- drous things he had seen of this servant of God, who a few weeks ago came among us unheralded and unknown. At first he was distrustful of Mr. Hammond's measures ; but that feel- ing soon passed away, and it need not be said what had been done. It took hold on eternity, and that alone could tell what God had wrought in this revival. Like Napoleon, he held him- self to no rule of action; but like that leader, he hurled his legions with great effect against the enemy. So had Mr. H. plead God's word, and many sinners had been plucked as brands from the burning. He hoped this work would go on. He re- joiced that family altars had been increased, and that many fathers and mothers could now throw their arms around whole households. He hoped, that, when generations had passed, this audience would rise up in praise of this revival. He thought it would be matter of rejoicing among the angels and saints in glory, in the ages to come. He was glad to be present and bless God with others for this revival ; not only for what it had done here, but for its influence in other places. He spoke of a good work begun near by, and hoped hundreds would be gathered in. He deprecated the objections of some against the conver- sion of children, as though they would not hold out. He spoke of his own experience and observation of twenty years to the OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 277 contrary. He rejoiced in the jubilee, and hoped it would be the beginning of endless joy — a foretaste of that great gather- ing in heaven where all would be happy and joyous. " Rev. Mr. Wood said, of aU the assemblies of life we might look to this as the most precious. In the eternal world, where we take higher degrees of glory, we shall see this was a pure work, wrought by God's Spirit. What but love could do such a work ? He blessed God, that Mr. H. had come among us, that a work of grace had been accelerated, the church blessed, and souls saved. We had been taught to love each other as never before. He spoke of the inJEluence of this work at Bangor, that Mr. Small carried the Spirit home with him, and that a revival had commenced there with flattering prospects. He hoped all would labor on in the work, and not think it finished. " A. D. Lockwood, Esq., said, he did not expect to speak, but would say with other Christians, that he enjoyed this gathering. We had come together for no ordinary purpose. He could speak of the love of Jesus. At eighteen he had experienced religion, and during all the trials and perplexities of business it had been his support. Nothing like a trust in Jesus could sustain the sinking heart. He urged the business men of Lew- iston to come to Jesus, embrace religion, and be prepared in time for eternity. " D. M. Ayer, Esq., said, he could not resist saying a word for Jesus. Though not entirely free from doubts, he could say Jesus was precious to him, and that a load had been taken from his heart. He was determined to conquer the obstacles before him. He was happy in duty and in the love of God ; that so far he had had supports in business he could not othei- wise have had. He urged all to come to Jesus. '' Rev. Mr. Balkam said, he would bear testimony to what had already been said of the eflSciency of Mr. H.'s labors. He said that two sisters in his church assured him, if he would in vite Mr. Hammond to come to Lewiston, that all pecuniary o]> 278 THE HARVEST AVORK ligations should be met. His people at first were not in favor of the invitation, but soon thought better of it. Pie approved of the measures adopted by Mr. H. Since the smoke of the bat- tle had cleared away, and results had been seen, his apprecia- tion of him and his work had risen, and he rejoiced with others that a new era had dawned. " Rev. Mr. McMilan spoke of the evidences that God was here, and that the love of Jesus ruled in many hearts. He re- joiced at all this. In eternity hundreds of converts in this re- vival would shine as stars in the crown of Mr. H* He hoped the work would not stop when our brother left us. " Rev. Mr. Adams spoke of the difficulties of the ordinary pastor in winning souls to Christ. He did not share in the ap- prehensions of some, that Mr. H. would impair the friendly re- lations between pastor and people. He believed that his ob- ject was to bring souls to Jesus and not to himself. He sug- gested that other Christians strive to become better Christians, and adopt modes of action more aggressive, come into closer contact, and not be satisfied with planting their weapons at a distance and firing them occasionally, but to draw near the enemy and grapple with him. He thought Christians had learned much within a few weeks, and he thanked God for it. He closed by addressing himself to that class who had not yield- ed to God, some of whom had attended the meetings, but ap- parently to little or no effect, asking them if they were willing to go on as they are, to call the question settled, to have it said that Mr. H. had come here, labored, prayed, plead and be- sought them to come to Jesus, and they rejected Him, grieved *^he Spirit, hardened their hearts against God, and would not yield ? " Mr. Fessenden said the scene before us was inspiriting. He had stood before larger assemblies, but never before one of this character. He had seen large assemblies do honor to men from abroad, to victors, heroes and civilians, who had done well for OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 279 their country, but never had he seen anything of this kind be- fore. He felt a pleasure tinged with sadness as he stood before that great audience ; and he would take occasion to express his attachment to Mr. H., who was soon to depart from us. Be- fore passing to that, he wished to allude to what had been said by a clergyman present, that he had no fear that Mr. H. would lead any from their attachment to their pastors. He believed that no bad effect would arise from it ; that he could speak only for one, but in his opinion great good would come from it. He felt it so himself. He believed the bonds would be strength- ened by such measures. He believed that he had experienced a great change in that respect. It has been said that Mr. Ham- mond was aggressive, and had taught Christians they should be aggressive. That is true ; the church should be aggressive — it is the church militant. " No one had ever followed him to the portals of the church, to urge him to go back and listen to what might be said, and to remain in the inquiry meeting, till Mr. H., on a certain even- ing a few weeks ago. God in sovereign mercy had blest his soul as he trusted, and he thanked him to-night that he made Mr. H. in any way to contribute to the result of which he had spoken. " Mr. F. alluded to the peculiarity of the occasion, that Mr. H. came here a short time ago, not as a distinguished warrior, or great statesman, claiming the praise of meritorious service, but as a simple soldier of the banner of the Cross. He would not recount his labors, they were familiar to all. He spoke of his success in winning the hearts of children to Christ, of his earnestness in seeking the unity and co-operation of all Chris- tians. The argument, the illustration and the appeals he had made to the same. The laborer is worthy of his hire, but we do not asssemble to-night to pay a debt of wages to xMr. H. , but to thank (^rod, and assure Mr. H. of our attachment and affec- tion, and to present him a slight token of our regard. The 280 THE HARVEST WORK reward of his services in the cause of Christ, he will, we trus2, find in another and better world. " In addressing Mr. H. he said, ' that in behalf of all who had spoken to-night, and in behalf of a large circle of appreciat- ing friends, who had contributed a purse of money as a token of their respect, and who now welcome you again to our midst, for a day, I present you this, which you will please receive as an indication of our esteem, and with our prayers for your prosperity and success in the years to come.' " Mr. H. replied in a most affecting manner, thanking Mr. F. for the token, and repeating the expressions of gratitude to the many friends who had given him evidence of their esteem. He did not take to himself any praise for what had been accomplish- ed, but attributed it to God, and under him, a large share to the ministers, who had all co-operated with him in the kindest manner in the work. He referred to several things of a most happy character. He spoke feelingly of the children and gave them some timely counsel. He read from Paul's farewell ad- dress to the Ephesians, with great effect. For want of room, we are obliged to omit his remarks. But they were character- istic. The audience were in tears, and all hearts moved. " The silence of Rev. Mr. Tufts on the above occasion was at- tributable to his reporting the above. " The remarks were interspersed with the singing of familiar and inspiring hymns by the large audience." We providentially visited this pleasant city, and beheld and heard much of the results of the great revival. We savr hundreds, a large portion of whom had sweetly expressed hope, rise together and sing, " I love Jesus " — a spectacle never to be for- gotten— following as it did, the graphic experiences of several who felt that they were " brands plucked OF THE HOLY SIMRIT. 281 from the burning." This work of grace opened a new era in the history of the town — and God alone can trace its streams of influence in their own sweep to eternity. In early summer, in obedience to the repeated call of Christians in Brunswick, the beautiful seat of Bowdoin College, and twenty miles from Lewiston, the Evangelist entered upon a course of systematic effort there, to concentrate and use for the salvation of souls, the faith and working power of the churches. There had been a burden on the hearts of some connected with the College, both for it — consecrated to Christ by prayer — and the people of the town, perhaps never known without a blessing near. Dr. Adams' large and beautiful church was soon thronged ; and with him, on the platform, were gathered the Faculty of the College. One of the Professors of the College writes to a religious paper : *' Mr. Hammond has now been with us two weeks, and the Holy Spirit has been present to set his seal to the words of truth uttered by him. Many among us are rejoicing in Christ, and we may add, the work is increasing in power, reaching the hearts of the strong men. At almost every meeting, some of the students in College stand up for the first time, to speak from the fulness of their hearts of what God has done for them. A number of these students, in company with others, assisted in conducting several meetings the last week, in the outskirts of the town. Last Friday, P. M., Mr. H., accompanied by Kev. E. 282 THE HARVEST WOKK P. Whittlesley, and a number of college students, recently inter- ested, and others, went over to Bowdoinham, eight miles from Brunswick, to hold several meetings. One was held in the open air. And the interesting account which these young men gave of their recent conversion, caused many men to wipe away the falling tears. Yes, the good Spirit was there, and we hope to hear of blessed results connected with this one visit to Bow- doinham. A childrens' meeting was held in the afternoon, and also a meeting in the church in the evening. "Saturday last. Rev. A. C. Adams and Rev. Mr. Balkam, accompanied with about 300 youth and children from Lewiston (the greater part of them young converts) made us a visit of a few hours. An open air meeting was conducted on the com- mon by Mr. H., immediately on their arrival. It ie supposed 1500 persons were present. A very solemn impression was made at the meeting by one of the students, who stated in his address, that he came to the first open air meeting held by Mr. H., six days ago, an infidel and now he stood up, in the same place, a witness for Jesus. From the common, the children went to the church. It was the afternoon for the childrens' meeting ; and it was deeply interesting to listen, while several of the boys from Lewiston, in a calm and clear voice, told the story of their conversion. Surely, we are now witnessing scenes not unlike those when the multitude shouted Hosanna, and the children were permitted by Jesus to lisp his praises, — when He Himself welcomed them by his own tender voic«, and loving hands placed upon their heads, close to his side. " Having come on a flying visit to the beautiful seat of Bow- doin College, we found the work of God progressing with quiet but deepening interest. On Saturday afternoon, June 14th, at 2 )' clock, a meeting was held on the common. A large multi- tude gathered around the stand, on which were seated, with Mr. Hammond, Professor Chadbourne, Dr. Adams, of Br vof wick, Dr. Carruthers, of Portland, and others. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 283 " Dr. AdamB opened the meeting ■with singing. Mr. Ham- mond then spoke for half an hour, and Rev. P. C. Headley made a few remarks in connection with the revival in Plymouth, Mass. ; a converted student of the Junior class in college, fol- lowed with an earnest appeal ; and Dr. Adams, Dr Carruthers, and others, impressively addressed the concourse. Tears were shed, and great solemnity prevailed. In every part, the meet- ing was a complete success, making all to feel, as Dr. Carruthers fiaid, that these apostolic methods of reaching and saving men, may be now wisely employed." Writes an intelligent lady of high position : " The case of a blind girl, whose spiritual eyes have been open- ed to see Jesus, has excited much interest. We cannot describe the scene, when, with tears streaming down her large, dark eyes, she spoke of having found Jesus, and of her desire to go to the Asylum of the Blind, that she might be taught to read the Bible. Oh ! ye who have eyes, and see not, remember the case of this poor blind girl, and ask, why am I blind, when I have eyes to see — eyes to read the word of God ? A dear little boy of eight years died, while the meetings were in progress, and re- peated often during his illness the texts he heard from the lips of Mr. Hammond. He left a little letter to Mr. H. unfinished. He and his little sister of four years, died the same night, of scarlet fever, and were placed in the same casket. And the mother is smiling through her tears, knowing her lambs are gathered home to the bosom of Jesus. " It is impossible to calculate the length and breadth of this revival, — the number of souls hopefully converted, and the stUl greater numbers probably awakened, as never before, to believe in the reality of personal religion. These persons are of all classes and ages, both of men and women, youth and children. The Medical class had nearly closed its session, when Mr. H. commenced his labors, and yet some students tarried a few days and were blessed. Other strangers, visiting B., have carried 284 THE HARVEST WORK. away a blessing. The college is blessed. There is a deepening of the work of grace among the Christians in College, as well as in town. And a goodly number of students are rejoicing in newfound hopes, and aims, and purposes to live, not unto them- selves, but unto Him who has loved them and died for them. Oh! how gentle, yet soul subduing have been the influences of the Holy Spirit resting on the minds and hearts of these dear youth." The following is an interesting story of a conver- sion, published in the Eeligious Herald : " The spring of 1862, found me a gay and thoughtless girl. Nineteen years of my life had passed amidst Christian influences. During all these years the Spirit of God had often visited my heart, urging me to seek Christ, and devote the morning of my life to his service, but I had turned coldly away from all its in- fluences, and refused to accept Christ as my friend and guide. The first meeting held by you in Brunswick, I attended merely out of curiosity. At the close of the service an inquiry meeting was appointed, but I had no disposition to remain, and went home resolved that I would not attend any more of the meet- ings, for I knew they would make me feel restless and unhappy. " But, when the next meeting came, and the bells commenced ringing for service, something in their very ringing seemed to say to me '^o.' I went, and during that evening the Spirit of God was striving with me, but I withstood its influence, and passed out of the chMTch, regardless of the urgent request for any one, who would like to converse on the subject of religion, to remain. I had proceeded but a few steps, when some friends proposed re- turning just to see what would be said to us. We went back, but scarcely any thing was said personally to me as I sat with others. The next evening I did not wish to remain at the in- quiry meeting, but,as all from Topsham stopped, I was obliged to The Spirit was still hovering round, softly yet earnestly OF THE HOLY SPIHIT. 285 pleading with me, and for fear that I should mauifest some signs of the deep emotions I felt, I took a seat apart from the rest. I hai sat but a moment, when you (whom I most dread- ed to meet and tried to shun) , came along and addressed me with the simple words, ' Do you love Jesus? ' I answered, not as I should. You then asked me if I wanted to be a Christian, to which I replied that I had no convictions. You talked a few moments, and then wanted me to kneel down, while you pray- ed. I refused to do this, but you prayed very earnestly for me, told me to read the 3d chapter of John, and left me. I tried to forget what you said, but the few simple words, ' Do you love Jesus ? ' haunted me. I could not forget them. They ex- cited in my heart the deepest feelings. I thought how much I ought to love Jesus. How kind he had been to me since my angel mother passed away. I remembered, too, that he was my mother^s God. That he sustained and comforted her in sickness, enabling her to leave her children in His protecting care, and made the gloomy ' valley of death ' bright with His presence. It seemed as if I could almost feel her hand resting upon me, and hear her voice urging me to love Jesus, and meet her in heaven. I spent a very restless night. During the next day scarcely a moment passed, in which something did not bring to my mind the question, ' Do you love Jesus ? ' Everything in- animate seemed suddenly to have acquired voices, and to whisper me reproachfully, ' Do you love Jesus ? ' In this state of mind I attended the meetings for more than a week, keeping my convictions entirely to myself. Sometimes the sinful pleasures and follies which I must renounce if I became a Christian, appeared very attractive to me. But I felt assured that they could never really satisfy me, that there was a gulf in my heart, which nothing but the peace of Christ could fill. Pride and the Spirit of God were having a severe contest in my heart. I feared above all things that people should think I was serious. I plead an excuse for stopping at the inquiry 286 THE HARVEST WORK meetings, that I was willing to put myself in the way of con- victions— that many stopped from curiosity, while all the time I wanted to he a Christian. At this time you preached from the words, * Why persecutest thou me ? ' Every word went home to my heart. The thought that Jesus, sitting at the right hand of the Father in glory, should stoop so low as to plead with sin- ners and say, ' Why, oh why,' affected me greatly. He seemed to appeal directly to me, and to say, what have I done that you will persecute me. I could bring no charge against the Friend of sinners. He had ever been to me a merciful God, full of forbearance and long-suffering, and I had repaid all his good- ness by rejecting his love — by trampling under foot the blood of atonement — by resisting the Spirit — by despising heaven and putting the world in the place of God. That why added great- ly to my unhappiness. The following Saturday I attended a childrens' meeting. As I was leaving the church, you spoke to me and asked what kept me from Jesus? I answered truly, fear of the world. That evening you preached from the words, < Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' During the discourse you said, ' I see before me a young lady, who told me deliberately, this afternoon, that fear of the world kept her from Jesus. Oh ! my young friend, you may meet those you now fear in torment, and there they may say, * 'T was you that hindered me from being a Christian.' As you spoke, my sins arose before me in all their terrible greatness, and I saw myself lost, /or ei;er lost without Christ as an Almighty Saviour. Before you closed your discourse, you spoke of the willingness of Christ, and represented Him as saying ' Come unto me.' An invitation was given for all who wished to become Christians to rise. I did want to become a Christian, but j)ride rose in my heart stronger than ever, and for a moment conquered. The singing commenced. ' Do n't reject Him just now.' Pride gave way, and I resolved, God helping me, that I would no longer reject Christ, but would seek him with full purpose of OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 287 heart. Looking back upon that evening, I feel that it wels with me the turning point, and cannot but exclaim, * 0 happy day that fixed my choice On thee my Saviour and my God.' Never shall I forget the encouraging words that fell from your lips that evening. You prayed with me, commending me to the care of our heavenly Father. I went alone to my room, read some precious promise of Christ, and knelt, determined never to rise unless convinced that I was saved or lost. I told him, that I came in dependence on his own promise that he would re- ceive sinners, and tuni none away. I asked him to fulfil his word, and repeated, * Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for lue, And that thou bidst me come to thee, 0 Lamb of God, I come.' The burden rolled away from my heart, and peace like a river was mine. I had imagined I should have ^reat ecstatic joj, and the reality was so different that I very soon began to doubt, and the sky again became clouded. That Sabbath evening, when an invitation was extended to those who had given up all for the Lord, and who could sing, ' 'Tis done, the great transaction's done,' to rise, I remained seated. I knew that I had yielded all, but I had none of that rapturous joy many mention of, and the Tempter whispered that 1 should be acting the hypocrite, and ha.d better wait until I was sure that I was a. Christian. That whisper turned the scale, and I immediately went back in- to deep darkness. Had it not been for the encouraging words spoken to me at this most trying time, I should have despaired of salvation, and gone back again to the cold world. I lived in this way for nearly a week. The following Friday evening, at fiix o'clock, you were to meet me at the Mercy-Seat, and I 28^^ THE HARVEST WORK again cast myself on Jesus, asking him to forgive me for denying him before the world, and solemnly promised never to deny him again. The sweet peace I had lost by disobedience returned to my heart, and I felt a calm, resting, trusting in Jesus. I confessed him before the world that very evening, by rising with Christians, and found additional happiness and strength by conversing with those who were sinners, and telling them the simple way in which I found Jesus." Another story of God's mercy in salvation is given by one, who emerged from the darkness of error and unbelief: " Six years ago, visiting in a Methodist family, whose every member was Christian, I discovered a beauty and value of a re- ligious experience, I had never realized before, in softening and beautifying the character, and controlling the wayward ten- dencies of every nature, subject to the temptations of a city life, an exalted station in society, and worldly wealth. The dear friends' anxious solicitude for my conversion, exhibited in lov- ing warnings, tears, and prayers, touched my heart, and more, because it was their desire, than from an owned sense of duty to God. " Knowing what must be tne effect of such unceasing efforts upon a sick head, it gave power to your words over me, through your sacrifice ; thus I listened and learned, till I came to lose thought of you wholly, and accept instead, Jesus' words and promises. For days I worked hard, trying to do for myself, till one Tuesday evening, going home from meeting, a friend in- quired of me my state of feeling, and I said, ' I have done every thing I know how to do ; and now, if Jesus accepts me, he must take me as I am, or not at all,' not thinking it was all he requir- ed ; and,as I said and felt this, my burdened heart knew its first peace. It seemed like awaking from a disturbed sleep, so quiet OF THL HOLY SPIRIT. 289 and calm was my hitherto troubled heart. I was not even then fully assured, but, going home, took my Bible and read the first of John, prayed with new zeal, and lay me down sweetly to sleep, as I had not for many nights before. In the morning I awoke with a song of praise in my heart, and ever since have been quietly happy, only regretting wasted time and lost op- portunities of serving God. And now I must tell you this, that even my poor, weak prayers have been heard, and God has heard my mother'' s cry^ It was the writer's privilege to go amid the mem- orable scenes of that deep and blessed work of the Spirit ; to meet with the students when the heaven- ly influence pervaded the college ; to stand with the pastor who has long been over the flock of Christ, in the sanctuary of God, and open air, when none could doubt the presence of the most High. More hallowed hours, fresh and fragrant still in memory, we have never known in all the experiences of Pentecostal blessings. CHAPTEE X. Revival Meeting in Portland— Its Origin and Object— Addresses by Rev. Dr. Carnithers and seven other Pastors from Maine — Summary of Principles — Beloit — Montreal — Ordination — "Burnt Over Districts"— Chicago— Philadelphia— Halifax— Elmira— Peoria— Towanda— Palestine— England— Ireland — Scotland — Vernon, Ct. — Rochester, N, Y. — Lockport— In- dianapolis— Cincinnati— Evansville, Ind. — Milwaukee — Kan- sas— St. Louis — Galveston — California — Harrisburg — Wash- ington, D. C. — Syracuse — Estimate by Dr. C. L. Thompson. On Monday evening, June 23d, a large audience, filling the church edifice of the Second Parish, in the city of Portland, assembled to hold a Kevival Meeting, as it was called by the pastor ; the first of the kind, we think, ever convened in this country. The idea originated with Dr. Carruthers, by whom it was carried out in detail, with the cordial co-ope- ration of all the Christian people with whom he con- ferred on the subject. The particular evening was selected, because the following day was the time appointed for the meeting of the General Conference of the State of Maine, and many clergymen and others could attend, with reference to the anniver- sary meetings of the week ; and it was also hoped, that the influence of such an occasion would be pleasant and elevating, upon the churches which were represented there, during the sessions of Con- ference. The plan of meeting was, with the usual religious services, to have brief addresses from seven of the Ot' THi: ttOLY SPIRIT. 291 pastors, in whose parishes there had been revivals during the winter and spring. At seven o'clock, Dr. Carruthers opened the meeting with a very appropriate and impressive hymn. This was followed by reading the 4th chapter of 2d Corinthians. Rev. P. C. Headley offered prayer. After singing another hymn, the pastor spoke of the precious work of grace in his congregation, whose fruits remained ^o the glory of God ; and eloquently expressed his hope that these manifestations of the sovereign Spirit's power, might be the bright as- surances of a glorious future for the churches of the Redeemer. The Rev. Mr. Wheelright, of Bethel, was the next speaker. He commenced his address with much feeling, which threw a subduing influence over the audience. He said he came to Portland last Novem- ber, and, as he entered this church one evening, the congregation was singing, " Oh to grace how great a debtor ! " and his heart was fiUed with joy at the words. He felt that God was there ; and asked, can he not bless Bethel? And cannot brother H. come and help gather in the harvest ? He went home, re- solved to go to work for souls, and strive to bring them to Christ. Mr. W. then gave an outline of the efforts and results, which is found in the pre- ceding pages ; closing with the statement, that *' when he received a letter from Dr. Carruthers, in- viting him to attend this meeting, he asked the 292 THE HARVEST WORK j^oung converts what he should tell the people — whether he should say the interest of months past had been all excitement. They replied, " no ; tell them God is here." He believed God was in Bethel. He did not wish to call names, but loved Bro. Hammond, as he loved his own soul. God blesses earnest efforts ; and the minister, who labors most earnestly, will be the most successful. Eev. Mr. Garland, of the Second Church, Bethel, followed, remarking, that in a few words he could add, God has been blessing the town with the power of his Spirit, Mothers in Israel had been praying — one of them for several days, prayed all the time ; and had just gone to heaven. The triumph of the Cross was complete. Men,not fit for the society of decent people, were converted and began to preach that sinners must be born again. Accessions had been made to the church, and others are soon to be added. It needed no human eulogies, to exalt such a work as had been witnessed in Bethel. Kev. J. O. Fiske, of the Winter St. Church, Bath, commenced his statement of the work there, as fol- lows : The best I can say is, to tell you what I saw in Lewiston, last evening. Seven persons, mature in years and experience, rose one after the other, and offered prayer ; and then the young converts. I forgot that I was tired by eight o'clock. One man said that he had not been to meeting for years, but felt he must go and hear Mr. Balkam preach. OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 293 The eermon reached his heart, and soon he found Jesus. He rejoiced to tell them, he was witnessing similar scenes in Bath. Not unfrequently we see a reviving religious interest, and then it subsides. But the work had been deep in that city. Much earnest prayer had preceded it — some persons spent the whole night wrestling with God. He went to Portland and saw such indications as constrained him to send for Mr. Hammond ; and he thanked God upon every remembrance of him, in his prayers. Mr. F. then sketched graphically the thrilHng scenes, whose narrative we have given. Rev. Mr. South worth, of South Paris, said, every true revival must be the work of God, and it must also be carried forward by men — by preaching and prayer, and effort. The stated ministry was indis- pensable, but we ought to use such other instru- ments, as God raises up from time to time. Evan- gelists had their place, among the saving agencies he employed. Mr. S. spoke very earnestly and feel- ingly, of the increase of the spirit of prayer, of the attendance upon meetings — of the indications of God's providence and grace, which led the church to send for help. He went to Bath, and saw the per- sonal efforts of Mr. H. — ^never before, saw and felt how to approach men, although he believed he loved their souls. He had the assistance of the evacgelist but two days, but was taught things he had not learned before. Dr. Carruthers and Dr. Chickering 294 THE HARVEST WORK also came to his help. It would take a long time to tell what God had wrought, subduing strong men, and bringing babes to Christ. A little boy was con- verted— asked God to bless his father — went home and erected a family altar, and still kept it up. Another was so deeply impressed, that he said, he loved Christ, but did not know as Christ loved him. Soon the Spirit revealed Jesus to his heart. The work had been characterized by a vivid sense of guilt. Aged Christians were sure, they had never seen so pungent convictions of sin, in any previous revival. Forty-four had united with the church, and more were coming forward. He closed with an urgent request, for an interest in the petitions of all, at the throne of grace. At this point of great interest, prayer was offer- ed ; and the congregation sang a hymn. Eev. Mr. Howard, of Farmington, was rejoiced when he heard of this meeting. Edwards declared that one great means of promoting the work of God more than a century ago, was to report its pro- gress, to people unvisited by the divine presence. He thought it might save souls in Portland. The past winter he came to P., and saw strong men bow- ing to Immanuel, and longed to transfer the scene to Farmington. He went to Bath, and was called up at dead of night, to pray with two persons. Return- ing home, he asked his people what they should do, to develope and deepen the interest apparent among OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 296 them. They replied, something must be done. Br. Hammond was invited to come and help them. The snow-drifts blocked up the roads, so that he could not get there. But Christians prayed and worked on — and were encouraged by a letter from young ladies in Bath, saying, that they had resolved to pray, till the blessing came to F. Neglectors of the sanctuary, were seen at church. He felt, in pre- paring for the pulpit, that he must present more dis- tinctly and boldly, the doctrine of an eternal hell, and feared he had neglected this duty. The evan- gelist came, and the work swept through the place. Rev. Dr. Tappan rendered timely assistance, and conversions occurred in connection with his earnest words. The fruits of the revival continued ; — mutual love, and good works. God has followed mercy with judgment. 4 com- pany of men used to scojQT. One of these was smit- ten down last week, and died, " making no sign." His wife was taken with the same fatal disease, dip- theria, and such scenes, as attended her death, can never be forgotten. She knelt on the bed, leaning on her father, and asked him to pray for her. She had known that the Spirit was in the place, but trifled with, and grieved him. She begged for, and we hope found mercy. An old man rose in meeting before he left, and asked God to send down the Holy Spirit on this 296 THE HARVEST WORK meeting ; and if we did not grieve him away, that prayer will be answered — it will. Rev. Mr. Balkam, of Lewiston, said there was no rule for the Spirit's operations — striking providences had prepared the way. With the rising religious interest, a desire was expressed by those who had witnessed the work in Portland and Bath, that Mr. Hammond should be invited to hold a series of meet- ings. One of the pastors, who had been greatly burdened for the city, felt the suggestion was in answer to prayer, and united with his ministerial brethren in extending the call. During four weeks the daily meetings were thronged, sometimes filling two churches the same hour. Mr. Balkam dwelt with great force upon the out- lying masses, which could only be reached by these special efforts, and of the immediate answers to the prayers which were offered in the vestry, while the word was being preached above. The lateness of the meetings, was unavoidable. Thousands were brought under conviction of sin, and had there been a sufiicient number of Christians to speak and pray with the anxious, he believed there would have been thousands instead of hundreds, converted. The work had reached all classes, from the most refined and educated, to the most degraded. When the question of compensation arose, he was assured that there would be no difficulty after the people were OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 297 once interested, and he was happy to say that they had not forgotten in Levviston, that the evangelist, as well as the pastor, was worthy of his hire. Rev. Mr. Adams, from Auburn, a part of Lewis- ton in situation and business interest, and separated only by a river, was the next speaker. He said he could not, like some who had preceded him, speak of any special, visible preparation among his people. The work with them was sudden and powerful. He had long felt, that, owing to his ill health, he could not carry on the extra meetings attendant up- on a revival of religion, without foreign aid. Mr. Hammond's first meetinor for children was one of great power. At the close of Mr. H.'s address, hundreds of children, among them two of his own, remained at the meeting, many of them weeping for their sins. And, when told of Jesus' love for them, they did n't know any better, than to think they might then believe in Jesus, and be saved; and the result has shown that many of them were then accepted of Christ. When he met Mr. H. in Boston last fall, he urged him to devote himself to the great work of preach- ing to children ; and he was now more convinced, that he could not spend his time more profitably. Prof. Chadbourne, of Bowdoin College, Bruns- wick, spoke with much feeling of the yearning fbr 298 THE HARVEST WORK the pastor's office, which the touching narrations had awakened. He then sketched in outline the powerful work in B., including the college. The evangelist could do little without the pastor. To God belonged all the glory of salvation. With hes- itation he gave his influence in favor of engaging the services of Mr. Hammond last winter, for the way was not then open. But he blessed God for what he had wrought in connection with them. The work of conviction was deep. When Mr. H. proposed an open air meeting, he feared the result, but when, a few days after, a student spoke of an arrow of conviction having then pierced his heart, he had nothing more to say. We had heard much about the way being prepar- ed in other places, but he believed the Lord also prepared instruments for this evangelistic work. God had been preparing Mr. H. for this work. When a freshman in college, he was the same humble earnest laborer, and often as he accompanied him among the mountains, he had been rebuked, to hear him talk with the people about their souls, and asked them if they loved Jesus, as easily as he would ask the way to town. From the beginning, the exercises were deeply in- teresting. The waves of hallowed influence would sometimes seem to lift the people from their seats — so marked was the moral power of the occasion. We are permitted to quote from '' Times of OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 299 Refreshing," an excellent work by Dr. C. L. Thompson, editor of The Interior ^ published by Fairbanks, Palmer & Co., Chicago, a brief sum- mary of Mr. Hammond's labors from this time till 1877 ; adding a few notes of subsequent labors to complete the record chronologically to 1884: ; giv- ing later more in detail harvest scenes in some of the principal fields. It is impossible to include in a single volume the record of many places, inci- dents, and experiences of great interest, and we must be content with the imperfect, and therefore at best unsatisfactory narrative of the revival work of more than a quarter of a century. " During the same year (1862) he visited Beloit, "Wis. The veteran missionary, Father Gary, urged the evangelist to hold meetings, but having come for the purpose of rest, he declined. During the afternoon a godly woman, having heard of his presence, came to him and said : ' The Lord has sent you here. I have been in prayer nearly the whole night. We must have meetings. ' Not long after another Christian woman came and said : * A wonderful spirit of prayer and anxiety has come over me. I feel that we must have a revival, and the Lord has sent you here to help. ' Mr. Hammond replied that if a prayer-meeting could be arranged for that (Saturday) evening, he would then see what were the indications of Providence in regard to it. This was at four o'clock. This woman went out to circu- late the notice, and by half past seven a large company were assembled. The next day they had a crowded and solemn service, and at the close of it nobody left the house. So Buddenlj bad the Lord come to His temple that good old 300 THE HARVEST WORK Mr. Gary was not ready to go down and converse with in- quirers. Speaking of his hesitation at the prayer-meeting on Monday morning, he said : * The Lord came too sud- denly. I wasn't prepared for His coming. I hoped in a few days to see souls anxious about their salvation, and by that time I hoped to be ready to meet them ; but I feel that the Lord has come to me now, and I will not excuse myself again from the blessed work of guiding inquirers to Christ. ' The meetings in Beloit continued for only a few days, but decided results were achieved. " In the autumn of 1863 Mr. Hammond held services in Montreal, where as many as fifteen hundred sought an inter- est in the prayers of God's people, and large numbers were converted. *' In the following winter Mr. Hammond was ordained as an evangelist by the Presbytery of New York, Dr. Mark Hopkins preaching the ordination sermon. He then held meetings in Brooklyn and Utica. In the latter city there were some remarkable scenes — depths of conviction, and clear and decided conversions of some of the leading busi- ness men of the city. When Mr. Hammond left New York City to engage in work in the central part of the State, a friend said to him : ' I am sorry you are going to those burnt-over districts. You will not find fruitful revival fields there.' The evangelist, therefore, went with some misgiv- ings. He soon found his mistake, and was led to thank God for ' burnt-over districts. ' He found those old men — who were converted thirty years before, under the labors of ■Finney and Knapp — were like war-horses, used to the sounds of battle. Not easily frightened by new methods, they entered heartily into the work, and gave the evangelist most cordial support. '* In the spring of 1864 Mr. Hammond began services in the First Congregational Church of Chicago. Here Mr, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 301 Moody and Mr. Hammond worked together, the former being present at nearly all the meetings, taking notes and an active part. The meetings in Chicago were not so suc- cessful as they had been in some places, partly because of the lateness of the season, and partly because the meetings, instead of being rooted in one place, were moved from one side of the river to another. The correspondent of the New York Independent estimated the number of conversions at nearly or quite a thousand. In 1865 a glorious work was begun in Detroit, Mich., where as many as five thousand were present at open-air services. ** During that winter Mr. Hammond preached for ten weeks at Philadephia, sometimes in churches, sometimes in the Academy of Music, in which latter place as many as five hundred rose for prayers at a single meeting. " Then followed services in Halifax and other towns in Nova Scotia ; Binghamton, Elmira, Watkins, N. Y. ; Towanda, Pa. ; Corning and Erie ; and Peoria, HI., where it is thought that as many as a thousand were hopefully converted to Christ. From Peoria Mr. Hammond went to Springfield, 111., where the work was blessed by a large number of remarkable conversions. " In May, 1866, Mr. Hammond was married in Towanda, Pa., and soon afterward started with his wife on an extend- ed tour through Scotland, England, France, Italy, Egypt, and Palestine. In Jerusalem and Beirut he held services, being assisted by Bishop Gobat of the Episcopal Church. On his return he held meetings at Naples, Paris, and other places on the Continent, preaching the gospel through an interpreter. After visiting scenes of his former labors in Scotland, in the spring of 1867 he held services for six weeks in London. His work among the children there was peculiarly blessed, and has been developed into what is called the Children's Special Service Mission, which is now 302 THE HARVEST WORtC a permanently established institution, its officers being among the leading men of London. " During the summer and autumn of 1867 he continued his evangelistic labors in various parts of Scotland, England, and Ireland, and returned home early in 1868. Like Mr. Moody, he went first to his old family home in Vernon, Coun., and preached the gospel to his own townsmen and neighbors. As the result, several of his own relatives were converted. " During this year he returned to Rochester, the place where his work had been so blessed before, and began an- other series of meetings. At the opening meeting he was pressed down with an unusual weight of prayer that that meeting might be blessed. " In the course of the sermon, while speaking of the valor with which men under earthly leadership would brave dan- ger, Tennyson's * Charge of the Light Brigade ' came so forcibly to his mind that he could not resist the desire to repeat it entire. At the close of the service a lady came to Dr. Shaw, and said : ' There is no occasion for us to go to the theatre now : you provide us with theatrical entertain- ment here.' Somewhat alarmed by this representation, the good doctor said to Mr. Hammond : * This will cause criti- cism. You must not be so theatrical. Why did you do it ? ' "'I don't know,' answered Mr. Hammond. *I had prayed very earnestly to be guided in this sermon. It came to me like an inspiration, and I used it. ' *' The following morning a fine-looking elderly man, with a bronzed face, called on Mr. Hammond and said : ' I was one of that six hundred who went into Balaklava. I am one of the thirty-six who came out of the charge. I have been in a hundred battles, but never until last night did I feel myself a sinner. My wife and I went home from the meeting convicted of sin, and gave our hearts to God. ' OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 303 " Thus it appeared that the Spirit had overruled what seemed to many the preacher's mistake, to the salvation of two souls. " From Rochester he went to Lockport. As the result of the revival there, Rev. Dr. Wisner received into his church in one day two hundred and fifty-six members. About a thousand united with the churches in and around Lockport. " In 1869 Mr. Hammond labored four weeks in Indianap- olis. The meetings of the four weeks were full of power, the churches were greatly refreshed, and a great number added to them of such as should be saved. " In November of that year he went to Cincinnati. The churches had thoroughly prepared for his cominjr — organ- ized union services, and joined heartily with him in the work. When Mr. Hammond reached the city there were already hopeful indications of a gracious harvest. In the First Presbyterian Church there were many inquirers, and throughout many of the churches there was an atmosphere of expectation and prayer. According to his custom, Mr. Hammond began with union children's meetings. He preached the cardinal truths of the gospel with great sim- plicity and fervor, and a large number of young people gave evidence of having been truly converted. Mr. Hammond remained in the city for about six weeks, and the work, both in the city and the towns around it, gave signs of the mighty presence of the Spirit of God. The editor of the Cincinnati Gazette gathered statistics of the numbers who united with the various churches in and around the city, and they were found to aggregate about five thousand. These were, either directly or indirectly, the fruits of Mr. Ham- mond's labors. *' He then spent a few weeks in Evansville, Ind., where the work was rapid and powerful. In one of the children's meetings the wealthiest man in the city was converted to 304 THE HARVEST WORK Christ. The conversion was doubtless genuine, for he has since given a round half million of dollars for public benev- olent purposes of the city. " We have not space to follow the work of the evangelist in Milwaukee, Wis. ; Providence, R. I. ; Brooklyn ; New- ark, N. J. ; Kansas City, Leavenworth, Topeka, Atchison, Fort Scott, and Lawrence, Kan. In the latter place it was estimated that a hundred family altars had been erected. *' In the fall of 1873 eighteen ministers of St. Louis in- vited Mr. Hammond to that city. On January 10th, 1874, the meetings there were begun. "A great revival followed, the practical character of which may be gathered from the following covenant read in the farewell meeting, and signed by thirty-six ministers, who were present on the platform : " ' We, the undersigned, ministers and pastors of the different churches of St. Louis, hereby become members of the "Evangelical Alliance of St. Louis," and by so doing bind ourselves as a band of brothers, combining our Chris- tian forces as a unit, presenting an unbroken front against intemperance, infidelity, and unbelief, laying aside all local preferences, and in a grand union effort on one common platform to do all we can to bring sinners to Christ, to the living Saviour.' *' A paper was also adopted by the pastors, specifying among the characteristics of the revival, the union services, the conversion of children, the deep stillness and solemnity of inquiry meetings, free from all objectionable extrava- gances, the effect of gospel singing, the clearness of the preaching, and its thoroughly sound doctrinal tone, and the closer bond of union created between all the ministers of the gospel. " From St. Louis, Mr. Hammond, accompanied by six ministers and a number of laymen, made a flying evangelis- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 305 tic tour through the Indian Territory and Texas, preaching in Galveston, Austin, and other places. During the summer and autumn of this year Mr. Hammond spent several months in California, preaching in San Jos6, Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco, making a missionary tour as far north as Alaska. ** In 1875 he labored with remarkable success in Wash- ington and the Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania. The work in Harrisburg was specially powerful, the meetings in Dr. Robinson's church often continuing till far into the night. The depth of conviction for sin was so deep in many cases that strong men were physically prostrated and cried aloud under an overwhelming sense of guilt, " The revival soon became general throughout the valley, and refreshing rains of blessing fell successively upon Mechanicsburg, Shippensburg, Greencastle, Chambersburg, Mercersburg, Carlisle, Middletown, New Bloomfield, New- ville, and other places. In Newville the work was wonder- ful beyond anything known in that locality before. We quote from the report made to the General Assembly by the Presbytery of Carlisle, April, 1876. Referring to the work in Newville, it says : ' With the union meetings a work of grace, of great power and of wide influence, began in that community, and which continued during the winter, greatly reviving the professed people of God, and causing them to rejoice in God their Saviour, and resulting in the ingather- ing to the churches of that place and the immediate vicinity, of between four and five hundred souls on profession of their faith in Christ.' *' The same report, speaking of the general effect of the revival throughout all the towns of that valley, said : ' A further result of this most gracious awakening has been an increased spirit of unity and harmony among the professed people of God, a deeper interest in all the different parts of 308 THE HAEVEST WORK public service, the erection of many family altars, a general reformation in the morals of the community, a better observ- ance of the Christian Sabbath, and a strong check upon the public vices of intemperance, profanity, and licentiousness. In short, the whole region has been stirred by a superior spiritual power, infidelity upon all sides stands abashed, and all classes are ready to acknowledge that this was truly the work of God.' " Afterward Mr. Hammond held services in Philadelphia, Newburyport, Amesbury, Mass., and Terre Haute, Ind. The meetings in the latter place were specially fruitful. A re- port in one of the religious papers gives the following sum- mary of results : "'The grand result is that all classes, from the most respectable to the most abandoned, have been reached. Sin, also, has been continually held up as the abominable thing that God hates ; and the conversions taking place have largely indicated how* pungent has been conviction in that regard, thus leading the pastors to believe that the work as a whole has been a deep and thorough one.' " During the winter of 1876 and 1877 a great revival wave swept over the towns of Syracuse, Seneca Falls, Geneva, and other places in Central New York, for a description of which we have not space beyond the general remark that the characteristics of meetings we have already described were present in these also, in the increased faith and life of the churches and the turning of many to righteousness. " A brief estimate of the elements of Mr. Hammond's success may fittingly close this sketch of his labors. " His place as a preacher. The cross of Christ is most distinctly outlined in his own mind, and is therefore vividly presented to his hearers. The substance of his sermons is ruin through sin and present full redemption through Christ, who was * wounded for our transgressions, and OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 307 bruised for our iniquities. ' The substitution of Christ in the sinner's place ; the full satisfaction to Divine justice ; the full justification of the sinner in God's sight on account of the Saviour's work, and the believer's privilege to live ever in the light of conscious acceptance with God, are the notes that he is never weary of ringing in the people's ears. His power of illustration is remarkable. He is eminently successful in picturing before his audience whatever scene he is trying to impress on their minds. The attention of children, therefore, never flags, and his influence over them through vivid picturing of the plan of salvation has been greatly blessed, alike to their instruction and salvation. The criticism that might be founded on his too great urgency in bringing children to an announcement of a de- cision for Christ is largely shorn of its strength by the un- doubted fact that he is as careful to make them intelligent as he is to make them decided. He gives them a reason for the hope he would have them entertain. It is his custom, in separating the young converts from the audience, to have pastors examine them as to the ground of their faith in Christ. Brief as this examination must be, he solemnly and distinctly urges that it be pointedly made, and as clearly warns the children against the profession of a love for Christ for which they cannot give some simple and Scriptu- ral reason. His preaching, then, whether to children or adults, consists in a clear, well-defined, and well-illustrated statement of the central doctrine of the cross. His system of truth is cast in biblical rather than technical or theologi- cal forms. The personality of Jesus as a heavenly friend ; the Fatherhood of God, calling for our confidence and filial love ; the joy fulness of Christ's service and the certainty of its rewards in a real heaven of endless progress and endless work — these truths come from his lips with the freshness and force which only a deep conviction of them can give. 308 THE HARVEST AVORK " His manner of preaching is in harmony with the matter of it. Buoyant, almost boyish, with a certain physical ex- uberance, with a fine commingling of joyfulness and serious- ness, he commends his religion as something that will give relish to this life as well as blessedness to the next. He is no ascetic, removed from the people and shading their thoughts with pictures of religious gloom. He brings a dash of Christian sunlight and a breath of free Christian courage and hope with every sermon. Add to this his earnestness, which never weakens ; his directness of pur- pose, which never swerves, and he is before us as an evan- gelist, a large measure of whose success is in his loyalty to the truth, his sense of its power, his wisdom in presenting it, and his earnestness in enforcing it, as the very Word of God — the charter of Christian liberty, and the guide to a happy Christian life and work. *' Another element of his success is in his generalship. He has singular tact in setting people to work. Many of our later evangelists are gifted in this direction. Indeed, the spirit of the time points to this as one of the coming meth- ods. It was announced by Wesley long ago, ' All at it and always at it. ' It w^as announced by Paul much longer ago, in his appeals to personal devotion. The church has been slow to learn. Evangelism in New England in 1740 meant preaching, and wonderful were the results. In our own day it means preaching followed by hand-to-hand battle for souls. In this conflict generalship has its finest field. Mr. Hammond has decided tact in bringing Christians and in- quirers together. He bustles around an inquiry-room seem- ingly in a hap-hazard way, but in a few moments, somehow, order has come out of the confusion, and the hushed groups and the subdued murmur of Christian conversation show that personal work has begun in earnest. He now — in the pulpit or out of it — is not the most successful man who OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 309 works the liardest, but he who can inspire and organize others. We are probably just on the eve of our best prog- ress here. Mr. Hammond was one of the first men to grasp firmly the truth that a public revival service unfollowed by the close quarters of heart to heart, has failed at the point of its highest success. "All great evangelists are enthusiasts. It was a chief charge against Paul, against Luther, against Calvin, against Knox, against Whitefield, and the Tennents. Mr. Ham- mond owes much to a certain natural enthusiasm of mind. In any calling he would have been ardent, impulsive, enthu- siastic. This state of mind sanctified by grace becomes mighty in religion. It discounts or denies the discourage- ments, it transfigures hope, and in its beautiful light turns it into success. It bridges streams and levels mountains, and batters down walls. It enables a man to make the most of himself, the most of his opportunities, the most of the grace of God. It pictures above the clouds the ideal result of the battle begun below. Standards that trail here are firmly planted and flung out triumphant there. Columns that are weak and wavering here advance with level front there. To that ideal, enthusiasm holds the soldier, and under its inspiration he fights his battle. " We stated at the beginning of this sketch that Mr. Hammond was a pioneer in the work among children. The Church will, perhaps, advance by increasing experience to better methods than have yet been adopted. But the essen- tial idea that supports the work among children, both in Sunday-schools and revival meetings, that little ones can be soundly converted ; that the law of spiritual growth from very feeble beginnings may be emphasized in religious life, and children be trained up in the Church, rather than recovered to it after prolonged wandering, is one that will throw heavenly radiance on all the future life of the Church. 310 THE HARVEST WORK It is one of the characteristics of these days that we believe will shine to ever fairer light as the Church moves on, that * of such is the kingdom of heaven.' Children in the midst of the disciples, with Christ's hands on their heads, is a his- toric pictiu-e on which new and clearer light is falling. It means more to-day than it ever meant before." In the autumn of 1877 Mr. Hammond went to Yonkers, N. Y., holding meetings of so great in- terest for -^ve successive weeks that Rev. Dr. Coles of the Dutch Reformed Church made the journey- to Parkersburg, W. Ya., some five hundred miles, to secure Mr. Hammond's release from his appoint- ment to labor there, that he might continue longer in Yonkers. At the close of the extended time he started for Parkersburg, stopping in obedience to a telegram to attend a reunion meeting in Washington, D. C, the scene of former harvest work. A part of December, and into January, 1878, there was a remarkable display of the divine power, for which Rev. J. G. Hamner did much to prepare the way, and with the rector of the Episcopal Church co-operated most efficiently with the evan- gelist. The editor of the /State Journal, who was con- verted in the meetings of that city, sums up the re- sults as follows : *' His entire work is a thoroughly systematic labor. Marl- borough or Napoleon never planned a battle or organized a campaign with a more effective system than he organizes OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 311 the Christian forces and hurls them against the citadels of sin. In private life he wins friends by his simplicity and artlessness, affability and good humor, and his rare powers as a conversationalist of intelligence and experience. The results of his labor in Parkersburg are the conversion of over five hundred persons, comprising every class of com- munity, the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the gambler, the debauchee, and the worldly man. . . . When he came here he had the prejudices of Christians and sin- ners alike to contend with, for our people are naturally con- servative and look with suspicion upon all innovations, but he leaves carrying with him the love of Christians and the respect and esteem of all, regardless of sects." From Parkersburg sixty ministers, members of the churches and converts, accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Hammond to Marietta, Ohio, the seat of Marietta College, the faculty of which co-operated ; and most of the students who were not before be- came Christians during the progress of the great revival. The next field of successful labor was Zanesville, to which he was again accompanied with a large delegation. Here were repeated the scenes which made angels rejoice over Parkersburg. As no building was large enough for the multitude, a tent was erected in the month of February, with snow on the ground, and filled with between five and six thousand, who seemed quite indifferent to air partially heated by the smokeless coke-stoves. From Zanesville the evangelist opened a series of meetings in Rochester, for the third time, which 312 THE HARVEST WORK continued for four weeks. Then Mr. Hammond went to the capital of the State, Columbus, and soon rejoiced in a glorious outpouring of the Spirit in that city during the weeks of the warm early summer. Mr. Hammond, with Rev. Dr. Lord and others from that city, visited Delaware for a three days' eEort, which was crowned with great success. At Joplin, Mo., closed Mr. Hammond's labors for the season, with a crowning work of the Spirit. The following November the evangelist had a series of interesting meetings in Allegheny City ; then Edinboro in the same State was visited and blessed with the power of the divine presence. After a brief effort at Cambridge Mr. Hammond returned to South Pittsburg, holding a series of interesting meetings, owned of God in many conversions. Later Mr. Hammond crossed the border to Canada, and engaged in a very successful effort at Brant- ford, Ontario, the crowd from the city and sur- rounding country filling day after day the '' drill- sheds" erected for the preparation of men for the dreaded Fenian uprising, the capacity of which was sufficient for about six thousand people, and crowded in every part. At Chatham the pastors, thirteen in number, wrote to their brethren in Guelph that out of six thousand people it was believed that eleven hundred were converted during Mr. Ham- mond's visit of three weeks. In the latter place, ^gain a ^' drill-shed," in spite of the cool weather, or THE HOLY SPIRIT. 313 was tlie thronged place of tearful interest, and the same number of conversions was reported. In the fall of 1881 a successful campaign was opened at Hamilton, Ontario, when Mr. Hammond started for the "sunny South." A reunion meeting on the way was held at Cincinnati, Ohio, followed by the continued journey to Nashville, Tennessee. Here a blessing fell upon the colleges especially, and was attended with many very interesting cases of conversion. At Maryville in the same State and Memphis the Spirit attended the labors of the evang'^list with the seal of his converting power. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Hammond held succes- sively meetings at Cambridgeport, Boston, and Middleboro, which were attended with precious results ; especially in Boston was the work quiet, deep, and far-reaching. At Newark, N. J., for the third time, his labors were richly blessed. Through the influence of ministers who had labored with Mr. Hammond in Canada and were then in Bermuda, Mr. Hammond was invited to that island, to which he was accompanied by E. W. Hawley, editor of Oood Words ^ and others. Seven hundred and fifty in eighteen days professed faith in Christ. Upon his return Mr. Hammond renewed his work in Brooklyn, at Dr. De Witt Talmage's Tabernacle, and enjoyed there a fresh baptism of the Spirit, which was especially felt by 314 THE HARVEST WORK. the yonngjwho gathered in great numbers to hear the gospel message. At the Juvenile Asylum, Fort Washington, the labors of the season were fittingly closed by a most delightful series of meet- ings, during which hundreds gave their names as the young disciples of Jesus. CHAPTER XI. Conversion of an Infidel Lady — Hamilton — Montreal — John Dougall — Three Thousand — Giving God the Glory. Among the many remarkable cases of deep in- terest, we quote tlie following account of the conver- sion of an infidel lady at Hamilton, Ont. : ** The first time I heard Mr. Hammond I felt very un- comfortable, and said to myself : ' Can this be a minister ? I believe his sermon has affected me. It may be mesmarism or magnetism ; but it is certainly something, and I am going to find out what it is. If mesmerism, I am pretty sure it won't have any effect on me. ' So I went to hear him again, but feeling more uneasy every time. I at last gave up the idea of mesmerism, fully convinced that Mr. Hammond was a minister, and one terribly in earnest, and I was afraid I might be converted if I was not very careful. I knew I was a sinner in the sight of God ; but I heard a gentleman Bay that religion was only made for women — that they could not help being Christians, because they were weak-minded, and intellectually of a lower order than men, and I thought I'd show people that all womankind were not simple, and that preaching and praying should not have any effect on m^, at any rate ; and since that time I have fought against every religious influence. When my conscience troubled jne, I thought to quiet it by thinking that 1 could live just 316 THE HARVEST AVOT^K as good a life as a Christian without the trouble of being one, and I will confess that within the last two years I had been getting some infidel notions also. *' For a long time I troubled my brain with mysteries and possibilities, till, finding myself getting more and more in the dark, I gave up reasoning about the matter altogether, ' ' The first time I became really convicted was on Sunday. I was in St. Andrew's Church, where Mr. Hammond deliv- ered a very powerful sermon. I can never forget the effect that sermon had upon myself. I can scarcely describe my feelings. It seemed as if some mighty power had entered my soul, and was struggling with a demon there. I was convinced then that there was a God, and that I had grieved Him sorely, and my heart cried out, ' Oh ! what shall I do ? ' and when Mr. Hammond repeated these lines : ' Just as I am, without one plea ; but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee. O Lamb of God, I come ! ' — I could not keep back the tears. Then he asked those who felt that they were sinners and wished to be prayed for, to rise, while they sang, ' Come to Jesus ! ' '* I will never forget the agony of that moment. I want- ed to rise ; I felt that I must do it, but thought, ' How can I stand up before these people, many of whom I know, and who will be sure to see me. Me confessing that I am a sin- ner, and want to be prayed for ! ' How I ever did I don't know ; I felt as if I should die if I kept my seat, and at last I rose up, feeling more like a condemned criminal than any- thing else. I came home feeling perfectly wretched, con- scious all the time that Mighty Power was still with me, battling with the demon in my soul, and for four days I had no peace, night or day. It seemed as if that Power was drawing me — where or to what I could not tell ; but the demon was using all his influence, throwing in doubts and distracting thoughts, that it was not conviction of sin that OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 317 troubled me, but something else, whispering, ' Don't you go to hear that man any more ; they are trying to make a Christian of you. Where is all your strength of mind ? Where is all your self-reliance ? Do you want to become one of those miserable, praying, weeping, church-going Christians ? Do you want to give up all your pleasure in this world ? Do you want to be made the laughing-stock of your acquaintances, and have them point at you and say, " That girl used to be one of us. She made more fun of ministers and church members than any of us did, and she said things about the Bible that I wouldn't dare to say, and there she is now, setting herself up for a Christian, as if she was any better than anybody else. I wouldn't give much for her religion, anyway." ' But in spite of ihe demon's whispering, I went to hear Mr. Hammond two or three times during those days ; and feeling more wretched every time, I concluded at last that I could not feel more miserable if I was really a Christian, and that I was sure I could never be happy again without a change of some kind, and I made up my mind that I would try to be a Christian for a little while, and then, if I did not like that, I could go back again. But in order to be a Christian, I had got to do something — and what was it ? I had never read many religious books. The only one besides the Bible that I remembered anything about was the ' Catechism, ' and the question, ' What dotli every sin deserve ? ' came to my mind, with the answer, * Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life and in that which is to come.' That certainly did not bring me any comfort, and my mind was in such a state that I could think of nothing that would. ' ' That night (Wednesday night) I was in despair ; I never knew what despair was before ; I hope I may never feel it again. It seemed as if God had forsaken me — as if I had grieved the Holy Spirit, and it had left me. I could not 318 THE HARVEST WORK even pray, and in the agony of my soul I found myself cry- ing out, ' O mother, mother ! ' as if she could come back from the ' spirit land ' to comfort me. "The next morning I went to see Mr. Hammond. All the way the same spirit was trying to turn my purpose, but I thought as I had started I would not go back again with- out seeing him. ' ' When I met Mr. Hammond he was so kind to me that it made me feel worse than ever. He said to me that Jesus had died for sinners, and if I really and truly repented of my sins, and gave myself up entirely to Him, He would re- ceive me and give me a new heart. Then he prayed with me, and I went home feeling as if there had been a great load taken off my soul. It seemed as if Jesus had heard my prayers, and I was satisfied. Since that time so many new feelings have been crowding into my soul that I cannot give utterance to them. " First came a feeling of love toward all Christians, and then a sense of love and gratitude toward our Heavenly Father, who has * followed me though I sought Him not, and come to me though I called Him not, ' and the feeling has increased, till I think I can say with my whole heart, * I love Jesus, ' and I have the blessed assurance within my own soul that He loves me, and has forgiven me, and I would not give up that assurance for the whole world. * '/ have never felt so happy in my life before ; and it is such a different happiness — something which I think one cannot describe. " Death has now lost its terrors ; instead of wanting to * go back ' to my old life again, it is the only thing I am afraid of, that by some chance I may go back again ; and may God, in His infinite mercy, ' keep me,' is my prayer. " Another thing that surprises me is to find that I love prayer-meetings, and sermons too. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 319 *' Sunday afternoon, in Dr. Irvine's church, Mr. Ham- mond was telling us about the ' Ark of Safety, ' and said it was something like Noah's ark, with three stories. The first story was in the lowest part of the ark, and it was ' pretty dark down there,' yet there was a little light, and it was a safe place, but when one came to the second story there was a good deal more light, and in the third story was the full glare of day. *' I believe I am in the ' Ark of Safety,' but I don't know which story I am in. I will be thankful to stay in the first, but sometimes I feel as if I was nearer the third than any- thiug else. *' At those meetings which I have attended, the churches were crowded to their utmost capacity with people of every rank and class, and lately I have learned that hundreds go away from every meeting unable even to get standing room. " On Sunday last, when Mr. Hammond asked those who felt that they had not yet found Jesus, and wished to be prayed for to rise, over four hundred stood up — some gray- headed men and women — and, oh ! how it made me feel ! I could sympathize with them all, and I did pray for them. " It must be apparent to every Christian that the ' hand of the Lord ' is in this work. One overwhelming proof is * the union of ministers of different churches and denomina- tions. All seem to have laid aside difference of opinion, and to join with Mr. Hammond in the glorious work, with one great object — that of bringing anxious souls to Jesus." We have not space for the long reports of the meetings in London. Many were led to Christ. Nineteen years after Mr. Hammond was there again and remained for three weeks, conducting crowded services in the great '' drill-shed." S90 tHE HARVEST WORK The writer of the above has since lived a consis- tent Christian. During the four weeks' meetings in Hamilton about six hundred professed conversion. Nineteen years after Mr. Hammond, held another series of meetings in Hamilton, and he found the lasting fruits of that work of God's Spirit. From among the converted children it was stated as a fact that five had become useful ministers of the gospel. Lord Cecil, who afterward became a useful evangelist, it is said was converted at that time, also Colonel Hoste, a man of note. MONTREAL. John Dougall, editor of the Montreal Witness, was a constant attendant upon those services. His paper contained daily reports of the work. He " All who were anxious about their souls were invited on each occasion to remain for an inquiry-meeting, Christians being asked to remain for the purpose of conversing and praying with them, and great numbers availed themselves of the invitation. It was deeply interesting on these occa- sions to see the opening of the hearts of those who, per- haps, a day or two before, had been inaccessible to spiritual conversation, and the loosing of the tongues of those who would not previously have thought of addressing any stranger on the subject of religion. Little groups were formed all over the church, from which prayer in a low tone was heard ascending, and in almost every pew might be seen one or more persons waiting to be spoken with, each of whom was conversed with in turn by some minister or OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 321 other Christian. These precious opportunities of convers- ing freely with persons in a contrite frame of mind were eagerly improved by devout persons of both sexes ; and many penitents, it is believed, experienced a saving change of heart in these inquiry- meetings — some after going through deep distress for days. Some of the evening meetings in the "Wesleyan Church were so crowded that Christians were requested to go down to the lecture-room to pray for the conversion of souls, while the gospel was being preached to the unconverted above ; and the prayer-meeting thus formed numbered three or four hundred, while the congre- gation above probably numbered three thousand." A letter from Montreal to The Indejpendent says : *' Yesterday Mr. H. addressed between three and four thousand souls in the largest Protestant church in the city — the number may seem large, but it is literally true — and so great was the crowd about the doors that the basement was thrown open and immediately filled, while hundreds had to go away, unable to get into the building. The work has both the sympathy and co-operation of the city pastors. " We all stand amazed, saying, ' "What hath God wrought ? ' for ' it was never seen on this wise before.' "We. need your prayers — Mr. Hammond needs your prayers. Pray that God may strengthen him with all might, and especially that he may be enabled to feel that his sufficiency is of God, that Christ may so fill every cham- ber of his being that self may be kept entirely out of view — that the great tide wave of popularity may not sweep him up on to the barrier strand of human pride, but that he may be enabled in all the future, as we trust and believe he has in all the past, to give God the glory." CHAPTEK XII. Meeting in New York — Morgan L. Savage — Dr. Mark Hopkins —Results— Dr. Hatfield— Brooklyn, N. Y.— M. E.Winslow— Child's Testimony — Mock Prayer-Meeting. The next field of labor was in Dr. E. F. Hat- field's chnrcli. The following note from Dr. Hatfield, who has just gone to his reward, appeared at the time in the New York Evangelist : **Mr. Hammond's labors in this church have resulted in an interesting work of grace. Large congregations have gathered, night after night, to hear the Word, and many have been led to seek the salvation of their souls. Some very remarkable cases of hopeful conversion have occurred, and among them a sportsman well known to the fraternity, and of large influence among them.'* At a later date he adds : *' At the celebration of the Lord's Supper last Sabbath, in the North Presbyterian Church of this city, forty-seven persons were received into fellowship, of whom three only were by certificate from other churches. Eleven of the forty-four converts were teachers of the Sunday-school and mission-school of the church, and twelve of them were THE HARVEST WORK. 323 scholars. Only one of the whole number was less than four- teen years of age, and more than half had passed their eighteenth year, including several of mature years. Very many of them were of the best families in the congregation, including two, a son and a daughter of the pastor, and all of them are regarded as valuable accessions to the church. *' Avery considerable number of the older scholars in our Sunday and mission schools regard themselves as recent converts. These will be organized into praying bands, each of them under the special guardianship of some experienced officer or member of the church, with a view to their con- necting themselves with the church after a suitable proba- tionship. " Mr. Hammond's visit has been attended with the happi- est results, and many of the congregation have learned greatly to love him, and will ever gratefully remember him." Mr. Hammond was ordained by the Presbytery of New York City in January, 1863. He was not only ordained as a minister, but as an evangelist for this especial work. Dr. Asa D. Smith, afterward presi- dent of Dartmouth College ; Dr. Thomas Skinner of Union Theological Seminary, Dr. Hatfield, Dr. Burchard, Dr. S. H. Cox, and many others took part in the exercises. Dr. Mark Hopkins of Williams College preached the ordination sermon from the text in Eph. 4:11: ' ' He gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, ev^angelists ; and some, pastors and teachers." He showed first that evangehsts are of divine appointment. He then pointed out what evangelists should be if they would expect 324 THE HAEVEST WORK the confidence and co-operation of the stated ministry. Lastly, he showed what qualifications ministers should possess if they would derive the greatest advantage from the labors of an assistant. It was one of Dr. Hopkins's best efforts. The large audience in Dr. Burchard's church greatly enjoyed it. It was sent to Boston to be printed, but in some way it was lost. W. S. Gilman of ]N"ew York offered to pay liberally for its reproduction. We give in full Dr. Hopkins's reply to this propo- sition. *' Williams College, November 7, 1863. ** My dear Sir : I should have been glad to see more of you in Rochester, but as you say, my time was very fully occupied with the meeting of the American Board. *' The loss of the manuscript I regret, because I considered in the sermon, as carefully as I was able, the subject of evangelists, and intended it as a plea for them, with such cautions that I hoped the more conservative portions of those who really favor revivals would not object to them. It was so finished that I was willing it should be published, and my hope was that it would do good. Still, I do not think there is the same call for such a discourse as at some former times, because it seems to me more correct views generally prevail. On that point, however, you would be more likely to know than I. " My impression is that as the occasion is past, and the in- terest connected with it, it will not be best for me to rewrite the discourse. I have notes which would enable me to reproduce the general course of thought, but it could not be precisely the same thing as it ought to be. " I am pleased to hear that you are better, but think you OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 325 to blame for not having kept yourself well. I do not believe God requires the kind of exertion which would lay aside a young man like you. Look at Wesley, cool himself, but setting others on fire, always retaining his equanimity and his health. Look at Whitefield, who, wonderful as were his labors and exertions, seems to have known how to measure them by his strength. No matter how much one does, if he does not go beyond his strength and so impair his usefulness. "For the little book, 'Blood of Jesus,' you sent I am much obliged. It is the true view of the gospel, and adapted to do great good, We shall always be glad to see you here. *' With great regard, yours, " Mare Hopkiks. "Rev. E. P. Hammond." BROOKLYN, N. Y. From New York he went to Brooklyn, at the in- vitation of Dr. T. L. Ciiyler, Dr. Budington, and others. The following from the Sunday School Times will give some idea of the work which be- gan among the children, but soon reached those of riper years. Miss M. E. Winslow, who has been most useful, especially Avith her pen as editor and writer of excellent books, was led at that time to consecrate her life to the Lord's work. Rev. Alvin Bartlett, D.D., now pastor of one of the leading churches in Washington, D. C, took a deep interest in the meetings, and many of them were held in his church. Meetings for the first week were mostly held in Dr. Cuyler's church. Mr. Churchill, the superintendent of Dr. Cuyler's 326 THE HARVEST WORK Sunday-school, through the conversion of his own daughter was led to enter more heartily into the work, and when the next Sabbath came he found sixty-four of his school professing to have found the Saviour during that week. " The Rev. E. P. Hammond has been holding a series of meetings in this city, in the Brooklyn Tabernacle, one of the largest church edifices in the city. '* There had been more than usual interest in the church. Christians had been praying with more fervency for the outpouring of God's Spirit. But when one Sabbath this stranger brother stood up among us, following his urgent appeals to sinners by the question personally, ' Do you love Jesus ? ' many were overwhelmed with conviction. With one accord pastors and people united in working and pray- ing for the salvation of sinners. Many, many precious souls have been led to the Saviour. *' Every afternoon, stormy or clear, large buildings have been well filled, some rejoicing in their new-found Saviour, others anxiously inquiring the way to be saved. *'I came upon a little girl one afternoon, whose plain dress showed her to be of the poorer class. Under the ragged hood there was a simple, sweet face, with a peaceful smile that made me expect the hearty ' Oh, yes, ' that I received, when I asked, ' Do you love Jesus ? ' ' How long have you loved Him ? ' I said. ' Ever since three weeks ago last Sunday, ' was the reply. ' I never knew anything about Him before ; a lady asked me to go to Sunday-school then, and a gentleman there told us about Jesus and how He came to die for us, and so I could not help loving Him.' ' But did not your father or mother ever tell you anything about the dear Saviour ? ' I said. ' I haven't any father or OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 327 mother, or brother or sister, or anybody — I live with a lady, and when the gentleman told us about Jesus, I went home and asked her, and she told me a great deal more.' ' What makes you love Him ? ' I asked. ' Because He came to save me from my sins. ' ' So you have been a sinner ? ' ' Oh, yes, I did a great many wicked things before I knew how wrong they were, but Jesus forgave me.' * How do you know He forgave you ? ' 'I know He did ; I just asked Him, and left Him to do it.' ' And do you want others to come to Jesus and get a new heart ? ' ' Oh, yes, I wish every one would come, and then they'd be so happy.' " MOCK PRAYER-MEETING. " At another time, a group of six boys were kneeling, and having as I supposed a prayer-meeting, but on watch- ing, I discovered they were laughing instead of praying, and as they rose from their knees I saw plainly they were mak- ing sport, by a mock-meeting, of some boys who were hold- ing a real one near by. I turned to ask some gentleman to go and speak with them, when something within me said. Go yourself. So with a trembling heart I went, not with any special purpose of then leading them to the Saviour, but to try and show them what a terrible thing they were doing in so mocking God. One of these boys did find the Saviour, and tells the story in his own words, as follows : " ' A lady met me on the street, and asked me if I had been to any of the children's meetings at the Tabernacle. I told her no, and asked her what they were. She said Mr. Hammond met the children there every afternoon and talked with them about Jesus, and many had begun to love the Saviour. I said perhaps I'd come, and a few days after came to the meeting and brought some boys — thought I'd have some fun. Something that was said made me feel badly, and when a gentleman came and talked and prayed 328 THE HARVEST WORK. with me, I thought I'd like to be good, and two or three days after I came to meeting again. Mr. Hammond said, after the meeting, that unless we were waiting to be talked with, or to have little prayer-meetings, we must go home, so I told the boys we'd have a meeting. We knelt down, laughing all the time, but when we got up and began to sing " I love Jesus," a lady came to us and told us we were doing a terrible thing — we were mocking God ; that He had seen even more plainly than she did what we were doing, and that when we sang ' ' I love Jesus, ' ' we were telling a lie, for we were really hating Him. I saw we had been doing wrong, and told her I was sorry, but she said I must tell God so, and ask Him to forgive me. Then she prayed with us and went away. A gentleman came and talked to me, and he made me feel how very wicked I had been, not only in doing this, but all my life long. I felt so bad about my sins that I went and found the lady again and asked her, when she prayed her own prayers at home, if she would not pray for me, for I had been such a bad boy. She said we would not wait until she went home, but took me in a side seat and prayed and talked with me. I went right up- stairs as soon as I went home, and asked God to give me a new heart and forgive my sins. Mother prayed with me too, and I think God heard me, for I have been very happy ever since. I didn't love to go to Sunday-school before, but now Sunday is the pleasantest time of the whole week. We have prayer-meetings now, but they are not mock ones. I find some trouble sometimes in doing right, and often have to run in the house and kneel down, I come so near getting mad with the boys.' " Mr. Hammond was in Brooklyn four weeks hold- ing three meetings daily. Among the adults were some striking conversions. CHAPTEE XIII. Utica — Analogical Keasoning — Way Prepared— Kochester — Nine Hundred in a Day — Dr. Shaw — Niagara Falls— Child and Father — Eddie and Black Joe. In February, 1863, at the invitation of Rev. P. H. Fowler, D.D., and most of the ministers of Utica, Mr. Hammond commenced a series of meetings in that city. A few months before, when he was hold- ing services in Dr. E. F. Hatfield's church in New York, Morgan L. Savage, a well-known character on the Long Island race-course, was converted. We have been informed that Mr. Savage is still showing by his Christian Hf e that the change in him was wrought of God. He sold his fast horses, engaged in mercantile business, and connected him- eeK with the church. He was indeed one of the missing links to reach after and lift up those far gone in sin. Afterward when he spoke in I^ewark to a great open-air meeting, a noted gambler was led to renounce his nefarious business and give himseK to the Lord's work. The Utica Daily Oh- ^erver says : ** Never has there been such a large assemblage in the First Presbyterian Church as there was last evening. The 330 THE HAEVEST WORK body of the church was full, the aisles completely choked up, while large numbers left the building, unable to secure an entrance. " Mr. Savage alluded to his having visited TJtica twenty- five years ago on a different mission from the present one. He was then with a circus company. He told of the influ- ences which had worked upon, without affecting him ; among which were the death of four children, and finally that of his wife, a patient, suffering Christian woman. None of these things moved him. He pursued his evil courses all the same — gambling, horse-racing, and the like — never going to church, nor listening to the voice of con- science. He had good Christian friends who endeavored to get him to go to church, but he fought them with all per- sistence possible. Not until last January was he induced to attend church. He was then prevailed upon to attend Mr. Hammond's meetings at Dr. Hatfield's church. At first he was talked to by the members, and the second night he con- cluded to sit nearer the door, hoping thus to avoid conversa. tion. Finally he made up his mind that he had been to church enough. He would not be a Christian. It would do well enough for women and children. He had, previous to this time, been so far wrought upon as to make two prayers, and to ask a blessing over his food twice. He decided to go to the theatre. He took a front seat. The plays were uninteresting. He began to feel serious, and finally to cry. He thought it must be the work of the Spirit. He wanted to get out, which he did with much difficulty, and said he would cry for the distance of a whole block, and see what good that would do. He went home, and found some church people there, and talked very rudely to them ; finally ordered them out of the house, and his daughters cried, and he thought everybody must be crying that night. He then ordered his daughters to go to bed. When alone, he sat OF THE HOLY SPIKIT. 331 down to think, and so he spent the night. He continued a similar relation of his trouble of mind, of his church-goings, of the efforts Mr. Hammond to get a visit from him, and finally of the manner in which the reverend gentleman secured an interview by asking Mr. S. to drive him out in his carriage. This he did ; took him up to the Central Park, pointed out the different equipages as they drove past, Mr. H. in the mean time talking to him about his soul. He determined not to be caught that way again. This sort of a struggle continued for fourteen days, when the Spirit took hold of him, and he became a changed man. He spoke with great ease and told his experience in a straight- forward, earnest manner, which carried with it the convic- tion of sincerity. ** Mr. S. was followed by Mr. Hammond, in a short ser- mon, from the words, * This is a faithful saying,' etc. The audience were much impressed. The inquiry-meeting held many hundreds for another hour, and at eleven o'clock the meeting closed." The superintendent of the Westminster Sunday- school thus wrote to the Sunday School Times of Philadelphia of the work of God in Utica : " A glorious work of grace is in progress in our city. Two weeks ago last Sunday the Rev. E. P. Hammond began his labors. Ministers of the various denominations placed themselves in sympathy with this blessed work. The ear- nest desires and united prayers of Christians swelled the tide of religious feeling, so that sectarian distinctions and jeal- ousies vanished, and all hearts seemed to flow in one har- monious current. THE NATURE OP THE WORK. " This work of grace is in many important respects unlike 332 THE HARVEST WORK any other we have here witnessed. The^ absence of ' relig- ious excitement ' strikes the attention of every observer. Instead of those powerful external emotions that so often accompany revival seasons, the work seems to be dikected BY THE Holy Spirit uttering his still small voice, and while convicting of sin, displaying Christ's perfect righteousness as the blessed provision for every sinner, and offering to clothe as with a garment every soul willing to submit to His gracious influence. THE LOVE OP CHRIST CONSTRAINING. *' It is one of the peculiarities of Mr. Hammond's preach- ing that he turns toward the impenitent that face of the gospel of our Lord that exhibits His infinite love. He loves to hold up before the mind the spectacle of the Lamb OP God hanging on the cross expiating the sins of the world. But he does not forget also to utter, in the words of Jesus, those terrible denunciations against all who refuse to be won by His love. God is honoring such preaching of the gospel ly the conversion of hundreds of souls, and awaken- ing to new life many careless Christians. The criticisms which were freely made now are almost with on accord dropped, under the conviction that this is indeed the work of God and not of man. THE ATTRACTING POWER. " The labors of Mr. H were at first specially among the children. The First Presbyterian Church, the largest in the city, is every afternoon filled with children and young per- sons, drawn thither by a mysterious and invisible power. If we should undertake to state what that power is, we could only say that it is the name of Jesus. No one who has once witnessed the sight which every afternoon may here be seen, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 333 of hundreds of children gathering to hear about Jesus ; no one who hears the flood of melody that pours heavenward in the sweet songs they have been taught by the Sabbath- school, and love so well to sing, can ever forget it. " The next Sabbath, in passing around among the classes, we found that there were seventy-eight children who thought and believed they had given their hearts to Jesus ; and this was full two thirds of the whole number present ; and nearly all the others were either under deep conviction or expressed a strong desire to become Christians. This is but an evidence of what is the fact in many of the other Sunday-schools, showing what God is doing for the children of our city. REVIVALS IN SEMINARY AND COLLEGE. **In the Young Ladies' Seminary in this city, nearly all who are boarders have become Christians. In Hamilton College, which is but a few miles distant, a powerful revival is in progress, and it was publicly stated in one of our even- ing inquiry-meetings that all but seven of the students had BECOME Christians, or were anxiously seeking salvation. Dr. Fowler and Mr. H. began the work there under God. " From the neighboring villages and cities, ministers are flocking in to catch the spirit here prevailing, and while they rejoice with us, are asking our prayers that God would bestow similar blessing on their people also. All seem to be changed and melted in the presence of these tokens of God's wonderful works, and ministers and people speak and pray as they never did before. ONE INCIDKNT. *' A little boy, about nine years old, was seeking his Saviour, but could not find Him. He was in great trouble. He came to Mr. H., and with tears asked him for his prayers, S34 a^HE HARVEST WORK saying he was such a sinner and wanted Jesus to pardon him. The next day he said, ' I have found Jesus ;' but sud- denly a cloud of sorrow passing over his face, he said, ' Mr. H., please pray for my father, for he gets drunk and beats us.' The gospel had reached that neglected little heart, and forthwith love for him — who should have been a tender parent, but who despitefully used and abused him — springs up within his heart, pleading that the same love might also reach and reform his wicked father. THE GOOD WORK GOING ON. ' ' The morning prayer-meetings are crowded with praying Christians and inquiring souls. At the morning inquiry- meetings, held at eight o'clock, are also large numbers of convicted sinners seeking Christ. The afternoon meetings for the children are intensely interesting. The body of this large church is daily filled with children and young persons. They are always attentive, thoughtful, serious, and deeply in earnest while they listen to the beautiful stories and ten- der entreaties of their friend Mr. Hammond. He seems to carry their hearts by the power of his own love for them, and by his strong faith in Christ, almost into the arms of the Good Shepherd, who Himself seems present to receive them. The evening meetings are crowded, and often hun- dreds are obliged to go away for want of room to hold them. After each meeting, all who wish personal conversa- tion are invited to remain, and often six or eight hundred linger for that purpose. The interest is extending rapidly among the young men and the business men of the city." STRIKING CONVERSION OF A YOUNG LADY WHO SAYS, *'l GLORIED IN MY STUBBORNNESS." ' ' At the time of the revival in Utica, I was attending the young ladies' school in that place. I was one of that class OF THE HOLY SPIEIT. 335 who know but little religion, and cared less. I loved amuse- ments of every description, and being the only child of an indulgent and unconverted father, nothing was refused to gratify my wishes. At the time the revival was in progress, hearing that one hundred had already been converted, and many more seeking, I regarded it as quite a novelty, and resolved to go, to gratify my curiosity. I was more inter- ested in the sermon than I cared to show ; a friend wished to know if I intended to remain during the inquiry-meet- ing ? I answered ' Yes, ' laughing as I did so, and saying I would risk any impression being made on me. Several con- versed with me during the time. I felt deeply convicted. I made every effort to conceal it, for I inwardly ' gloried ' in my slvMornness. I hurried from the church, but Mr. Ham- mond prevented me from leaving, by asking if ' I loved Jesus ? ' I was indignant to think a stranger should ap- proach me in such a manner. I did not answer, but hurried away. I hiew all was not right with me. I went to my room, took up some of my most difficult studies, hoping to drown the feelings which were fast getting mastery over me, but I could not rid myself of those feelings. I tried to console myself with the thought that I was no deeper in- volved in sin than were many of my companions. Even this did not set my mind at ease. I felt half angry to think I allowed myself to be carried away with those simple words, * Do you love Jesus ? ' Had I not heard them many times before ? I could not rest. The following morning I at- tended school. My companions noted my feigned cheerful- ness. Some few inquired if I had caught the 'infection.' I replied carelessly, that diseases of such a nature did not affect my temperament in the least. Others that had wit- nessed my emotions the previous evening said Mr. Hammond had made me his victim. Assuming an air of triumph, I remarked that all the Hammonds in the universe could not 336 THE HARVEST WORK impress me. I seemed possessed with the devil. I would not go the next evening for fear I should he converted. I attended a party, at which I was called upon to preside at the piano ; but my mind would not follow the waltz, neither would my fingers perform their accustomed part, and more than once did I blend the strain into one which I had heard the previous night : ' Don't reject Him just now.' It dis- turbed the dancers very much, and many times during the evening was my conduct made the object of remarks. I apologized and withdrew, on account of ' severe headache, ' I said, and was believed. "I attended the next inquiry -meeting. I felt deeply agitated, and was about to leave when I saw Mr. Hammond approach me. I was on the opposite side, and I endeavored to escape before he reached the place where I was standing, but he seemed to move swifter than light. He made me kneel down, actually Tcneel in the aisle. Oh, how that act humbled me ! Pride, companions, everything was forgot- ten, save my soul ; I paced my room until midnight. Oh ! the agony of that hour will never be forgotten — never. I thought my day of salvation had passed. I felt nearer the gates of hell than those of heaven. I could think of noth- ing but sins which rose in multitudes before me ; sins which had long been forgotten flashed upon my already crowded brain. " What could I do ? I fell upon my knees ajidi prayed, in hroTcen but earnest accents. That prayer overcame the devil, that evil one which had led me on for sixteen years in the path that leads to destruction. When I rose a strange feel- ing came upon me — I cannot describe it ; it can only be known to those who have experienced it. I felt that ' peace which passeth all understanding. ' I felt that I loved Jesus, loved every one, and that Jesus loved me. Could it be re- ligion ? I felt a gradual increase of happiness with the in- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 337 crease of prayer. The world may call this excitement, but I know there is a reality in it. Oh ! the height, the depth of the love of Jesus— who can fathom it ? If my friends could but see their danger as I see it, they would not dare remain in the state of lethargy they are in." REASONING ANALOGICALLY. The editor of the Utica Observer thus speaks of the mode of reasoning used ; " Mr. Hammond's effectiveness as a preacher seems to us to consist chiefly in his great zeal and sincerity, whereby he commends himself to men's consciences, as feeling all he manifests, and meaning all he says ; but it consists next in the simplicity, directness and transparency of his discourses, and the pointedness and peculiarity of his illustrations. He reasons, analogically almost altogetlier, hut every analogy has a clear, staHling, and convincing meaning. Thus in illustrating the plan of divine mercy last evening, he referred to the recent order of General "Wool, providing that all deserters who reported themselves at the places of rendezvous desig- nated by the first of April, might escape punishment, while the others should suffer the severe penalties of the law. This course was right, and similar to that practised by all civilized nations — was a necessity. So it was right that God should give sinners a space for repentance, limiting it ac- cording to the necessities of His government. ' Now what,' said he, ' would fathers and mothers think of you if you should drug and stupefy their sons till the first of April so that they could not take advantage of the provisions of the order ? Shall I then lull you to indifference respecting the awful penalties of God's law, and the refuge of escape pro- vided ? No, it must be my business to alarm you. ' In all 838 THE HAEVEST WORK his anecdotes and illustrations Mr, Hammond avoids prelim- inaries, and comes directly to the point by the simplest and plainest route. He varies his voice often from very high or loud to low soft tones. He quotes much sacred poetry, and always with effect. His face is strikingly expressive, and glows with the enthusiasm and spontaneity of his charac- ter." April 5th a series of ^' union meetings" were be- gun in Rochester. THE WAT PREPARED. Dr. p. C. Bush says : ** In order to prepare the way for Mr. Hammond in this city, in order to remove all prejudice and commend him to the fullest confidence at the very outset. Dr. Fowler, pas- tor of the First Presbyterian Church of Utica, a man suffi- ciently known for his conservative leanings, came down and addressed a large congregation in this city last Monday evening, giving a somewhat detailed and very interesting account of Mr. Hammond's labors, and of the great and blessed revival now in progress in that city. " Dr. Fowler stated that all classes were embraced in the great ingathering — young men, sceptics, and scoffers. The doctor said, in substance, * I know Mr. Hammond as thor- oughly as one man can know another, and I believe him to be a sincerely good and godly man. He is also tractable, not headstrong or opinionated ; but simple, modest, and childlike in all his deportment ; always ready to be advised and guided by those with whom he labors. And if ever there was a man who has but one object, it is Mr. H. Truly he can say, '* This one thing I do ;" he lives and labors for the salvation of souls. ' OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 339 " Dr. Fowler did not undertake to say how many conver- sions have occurred in Utica. The Sabbath-schools of his own church number one thousand or twelve hundred schol- ars. He thought about one hundred and fifty of these were already indulging hope, to say nothing of the adults in his own congregation, and children and adults in others. For all the churches united in the effort, and Baptist, and Pres- byterian, and other ministers and church-members labored together in the daily prayer and inquiry meetings ; denomi- national lines seeming to be obliterated, love and joy melt- ing all into one." Says the Independent : *' Rev. E. P. Hammond has labored in these places as an efficient and delightful help to the pastors. Mr. H. has the ' gift ' pre-eminently, the power of interesting children in Christian truth. His earnest love for Jesus and for souls, his aptness of illustration, his power of language, and per- sonal magnetism combine to give him a singular hold on the minds not only of the young, but also of the old. "iw Rochester about nine Jiunch^ed united on one Sabbath to the various churches. Never have they had so good a work in Rochester. In Utica six hundred conversions are report- ed. In Auburn over one hundred united with the churches at the last sacrament, and a large number are expected to unite at the next. '' We hear of revivals at New York Mills, New Hartford, Cooperstown, Cayuga Bridge, and other places. Christians, blessed in the cities, go forth into the villages, tell their experiences, and introduce with happy results the simple system of Mr. Hammond's inquiry-meetings." Rev. J. B. Shaw, D.D., now for more than forty years pastor of the Brick Church in Rochester, in a 340 THE HARVEST WORK letter to the New York Evangelist^ June llth, 1863, says : *' On Sunday, June 7th, we received into the communion of our church one hundred and fifty, and on the first Sab- bath of April we received fifty-one, making two hundred added to the church this spring. Nearly all of these are adults, and many heads of families. Those added to the church last Sabbath are chiefiy the fruits of Brother Ham- mond's labors. He came here the first of April, and God came with him. He has done a great work — it is probably THE GREATEST WORK with which this favored city has ever been blessed. We regard the day which brought that dear servant of Christ to our city as one of the brightest days in the calendar of our church. May God spare his life and send him hither again." It was officially reported at the State Sunday- school Convention in Troy the next summer that *' one thousand and over" from the Sunday-schools in Rochester were examined, and joined the churches as the result of this revival. After holding meetings for a few days at Niagara Falls with Rev. H. A. Edson and others, he went to Auburn, N. Y. Dr. Charles Hawley, with the other pastors, the professors in the seminary, and the students, engaged heartily in the work. The Philadelphia Sunday -School Times gives the following CHAPTER OF ILLUSTRATIONS. " At Auburn, where Mr. Hammond is now laboring, a greater interest is seen in religious matters. A warm Chris- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 341 tian welcome is extended to him, and with unaffected sim- plicity of heart and speech, and with a desire to promote God's glory, he begins his labors. Usually a union meeting is first called of the children of the Sabbath-schools ; but services are held and sustained for all classes. Having, however, secured the interest of the lambs, it becomes an easy thing to arrest the attention of the sheep. They will follow the lambs into the fold. The children, so to speak, live in the parlor, and when the Saviour knocks at the front door they hear Him at once, and fly to open it, and then they carry the news of the presence of the Heavenly Guest back into the kitchen, and into the cellar and back yard, where the older people live, and move about their daily em- ployments. A child's anxiety for her father. * ' A little girl about nine years old was observed ap- proaching an earnest lay laborer who was in conversation with an inquirer. She could not wait until he had finished, but grasping his hand she exclaimed, ' Oh, Mr. L., I've done it, I've done it.' 'What have you done, my little girl ? ' ' Why, I've given my heart to the blessed Saviour, just as you told me to do, and oh, I'm so happy ! But, oh, I feel so for my poor dear papa. He's so wicked. When I first found my Saviour two weeks ago, he was very angry with me. He swore terribly, and knocked things around and used awful language. Oh, he's so wicked ! Last night I tried to get papa to go to meeting with mamma and me, and he was so angry, and I threw my arms around his neck, and he pushed me off, and he swore, and I cried, and mamma and I went alone. But there [pointing to him] lie uts, and you must go and talk and pray with him. ' " That wicked man was constrained to go afterward and alone, and remain to the inquiry-meeting. 342 THE HARVEST WORK. LITTLE EDDIE AND BLACK JOE. " The following peculiarly interesting case is taken from a letter written by a lady in Rochester, who, after giving an account of the hopeful conversion of a little boy of six years, at the children's meeting in her city, adds : ** * We are boarding at a large hotel, and it is affecting to hear little Eddie ask the servants if they love Jesus, and " Won't you go to-night to hear Mr. Hammond ?" We have here a colored man, who is one of the carvers for the table. He is almost an infidel, and Eddie has been asking him to go and hear Mr. Hammond preach, but he always put it off. I asked him to go, and he refused. At the first open-air meeting which was held here, Eddie went after him to his little dingy room, and asked him to go with Mm. He went, and when he met me there he apologized for going, saying, ^^ Eddie teased so !'''' *' ' When the meeting was out Eddie took his hand and trotted on before with Joe, and I saw him talking in his in- nocent way to him, and overheard Eddie ask him : *' * " Why donH you love Jesus, Joe ?" " ' At the next open-air meeting I saw " black Joe" come alone quite eagerly and early, and / saw Mm with tears in his eyes singing with that vast multitude of thousands. I saw him last night, in the rain, at the meeting, and to-day when I spoke to him he filled up at once, and said : u ( ^i]\fj^s. TF., if lam converted you may thanh Eddie for it. He has converted me when no minister could do if'' ' " CHAPTER XIV. Meetings in Dr. Kirk's Church, Boston— Lawrence, Mass.— Andover Theological Seminary Students— Haverhill— Benja- min Leavitt— Bridgeport — Mr. Hammond's Father — His Doubts— Newark— Dr. Parker's Testimony -Eesults — Ten Thousand at an Open-air Meeting-Post-Offlce Clerks Con- verted-'*! Die Happy"— Hymn— "Jesus of Nazareth Pass- eth By"— Joining Churches. BOSTON. In the fall of 1863, after a brief visit to Montreal, Mr. Hammond held meetings in Dr. Kirk's chnrcli in Boston, in Lawrence, and Haverhill. While Dr. E. N. Kirk was in Lawrence assisting the work, he said : " The work of grace in Lawrence is a grand reproof of the infidelity of the Church respecting the conversion of children. " What amazes me about this movement is, that the chil- dren understand what they are about. Though no inquiry- meeting was appointed when Mr. Hammond first addressed the children of my congregation, yet the children would have one, and gathered about the speaker in groups. The thing that satisfied me was that the little ones were convinced that tJiey loei-e sinners in not helieving in Jesus. 344 THE HAEVEST WORK *' I believe that I myself might have been converted at eight years old if I had been taught the way. And how much farther and faster I should have got along! In my thirty years' experience in the examination of applicants for church-membership, I have found it one of the most difficult things to get them to speak the name of Jesus, and ac- knowledge their dependence upon Him. But the children who are instructed in these meetings seem to know all about Jesus ! "Dr. K. read a little letter which was written by a girl twelve years old to Mr. Hammond, relating her religious ex- perience. The child's statements were as clear and definite as those of a mature saint, and expressed with a sweet sim- plicity which an adult could not equal." '^I WANT TO FIND JESUS, AND I CAn't. " ' ' The first night he spoke to the children at the Mount Vernon church, after the services were through, many of them, instead of being anxious to go home, were gathered around him, as chickens gather around one scattering crumbs to feed them. ''A GOOD Christian LADY, who felt she could not converse and pray with the children, at one of the inquirv-meetings saw a little girl sitting alone, no one appearing to care for her tears. She pitied the child, went to her, and asked her a question. The child said, ' I know you are talking to me, but I am deaf, and can't hear what you say. I haven't heard Mr. Hammond, but I want to find Jesus, and can't.' The lady is not easily moved to tears, but found this too much to bear stoically, so she wept freely. She afterward said it made her realize how many lightly-prized blessings were granted her for which she had never thanked OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 345 the Giver. Thus the Holy Spirit touches each heart and draws it upward. "The question was asked if we knew Mr. Hammond's art in revivals. The answer was, ' No, ' unless it is his not having any. The questioner believed it was in getting cold-hearted Christians to speak to these penitent little ones, pray with them, and lead them to the Good Shepherd. This so warms their own souls that they are soon ready to co-operate with him heartily in this blessed work. It does, indeed, seem that the most unbelieving heart could not remain so five minutes among these dear bleating lambs, whom Jesus loves, and of whom He says, ' Suffer them to come unto Me.' Mr. Hammond talks incessantly about Jesus, constantly presents Him, who was ' lifted up, ' that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. He reads few passages of Scripture where he finds not something in them which points to Jesus. Is this not one of the reasons that the Saviour can so wonderfully bless his labors?" ANDOVER STUDENTS. A writer, speaking of the work in Lawrence and of the part the theological students from Andover took in it, says : '' At the inquiry-meeting, you may see the good of both sexes, of various ages, of different denominations, of dis- similar professions and worldly positions, all scattered among the hundreds of souls which the arrows of the Spirit have wounded, bearing them the consolations of the gospel. Some of the workers were among those who, a few years since, passed a long gloomy night in the City Hall, striving to relieve the poor, burned, and bruised victims of the, Pemberton tragedy. 346 THE HARVEST WORK " There was at first a critical spirit on the part of the members of the seminary, but I have already heard many express themselves as refreshed by contact with awakened sinners at the meeting. They are becoming too much in- terested for uncharitable comments. ' They are now diving for the pearls, and don't mind the ripples and bubbles on the surface.' And when they see these set in the Saviour's diadem, will they not rejoice that they participated in seek- ing them ?" When Mr. Hammond left Haverhill he intended to sail for England, where he had been invited to hold services, but on the way to his home in Yernon, Conn., he was too late for the train at Hartford, and so spent the Sabbath with his old classmate, Mr. Lobdell, at Bridgeport. A revival at once ^^ broke out," and he was compelled to remain four weeks. The Bridgeport Standard of February 22d, speaking of one of the meetings, says : *' Those who attended the great meeting yesterday after- noon at the North Church, and in South Church in the even- ing, must have seen that a most wonderful interest in re- ligious things was pervading the minds of multitudes in our city. Such packed houses have not been seen in Bridge- port for many a day. We have rarely seen a more deeply impressed audience than at Dr. Smith's church in the morn- ing and afternoon. The sermons delivered by Mr. Ham- mond seemed to be received with great kindness. The whole audience at times was melted. Many were in tears, as with moistened eyes and deep emotion the speaker told of the love of Christ in giving Himself to deliver us from the OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 347 curse of & broken law. In the evening the South Church could not well have been more crowded. Hundreds upon hundreds in all the aisles and about the doors and in the side rooms were standing. Among the requests for prayer was the following note : ** * I have attended nearly all of the meetings since you came here. Your words did not seem to make me feel what a great sinner I was, until last Sabbath. I then felt what a great sinner I was in the sight of God. I felt like crying all the time, and when you came and spoke to me so kindly, I thought I would not keep in any longer ; but Satan said to me, Don't be so foolish as to cry. Monday after- noon I attended the prayer-meeting, and a kind Christian friend spoke to me, and I cannot tell you hew dreadfully I felt. On Tuesday evening I went to the meeting in the "Parlor," and there my Sabbath-school teacher spoke to me. I shall never forget his precious words. That night, before I went home, I think I found the Saviour, and oh, I cannot begin to tell you how happy I have been since then. I have felt like singing and saying " Praise the Lord " ever since. It was a time of rejoicing with my dear mother, for I have been a child of many prayers. I have a father and a sister who attend the meetings, I am afraid for idle curiosity. Will you pray for them, that they may become children of God ? Oh, will you say to poor sinners for me, *' seek ye the Lord while He may be found " ' ? " MR. Hammond's father. "At Mr. Hammond's farewell meeting in Bridgeport, after Dr. Smith had spoken in regard to the blessed work of the Holy Spirit in their city, an old gentleman of about seventy- five winters, a stranger to nearly all present, was seen slowly walking up the centre aisle of the church, and turn- 348 THE HARVEST WORK ing, he addressed the audience as follows : ' I should like,' said he, ' to say a few words before this meeting closes. This is the first of a series of meetings which I have attended, conducted by my son. I have often read about meetings like these, I must confess, with a good deal of unbelief. Being naturally of a conservative turn of mind, I was slow to receive the glowing accounts I had read, of meetings like these. Especially was I incredulous with regard to the " children's meetings," and the reports I had read of their numerous conversions. I thought them exaggerated statements. I feared that too much depend- ence was placed upon human agency, and that there was too little 7'eliance upon the ivdispensable agency of the Eoly Spirit. But since leaving my home, sixty miles away, and attending these daily gatherings, I am more than satisfied this is not the worh of any man^ but that God of a truth is in this place, leading young and old to the Saviour's feet. " ' I never saw such a sight as I witnessed in the " chil- dren's meeting" yesterday. The faces of those hundreds of children shone with a ' ' heavenly lustre, ' ' and I could but believe that they had been taught by the Holy Spirit that wisdom, which, the wise man saith, ' ' maketh the face to shine" (Eccl. 8 : 11. It seemed as if they were almost possessed with angels' wings, and ready to fly away to their Saviour's presence in heaven. And when some of them told me the simple story of their conversion, and gave me the scriptural evidence of their hope in Christ, I could but put my hand upon my mouth, and exclaim, The half has not been told. " Itis the Lord's doings ; it is marvellous in our eyes ; my unbelief is gone ; I praise the Lord for what I have seen." ' ''These words, and others from Mr. Hammond's venerable father which we have not room to report, made a deep im- pression on the audience, and many were in tears. ' ' OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 349 LETTER FROM MR. EDWARD STERLING, 1883 PERMA- NENT RESULTS. ' " In reference to Mr. Hammond's labors here, I find the followitig in our church records in the annual report, March 1st, 1865 : ' In January, 1864, Rev. E. P. Hammond, whose labors in other places had been greatly blessed of God, was invited by our pastor and others to hold a series of meetings here. He remained with us about four weeks. The pastor and many members of this church, also the pastors and members of some of the other churches, co-operated with Mr. Hammond in his labors, and God was pleased to pour out His Spirit, and many souls were con- verted. As a result of this precious work, fifty-three were added to this church on the first Sabbath of May, moit, if not all, of wTwrn still give good evidence of a true change of heart, and remain faithful in the service of our Master. Dur- ing the past year more have united with this church than in any previous year of its history. Those who united at that time include many of our most faithful members, and no consecutive list of the same number could be taken from the records who bore higher Christian characters, or were more faithful and active in the prayer-meeting, or the Sab- bath-school, or general work for Christ.' " NEWARK, N. J. LETTER FROM DR. PARKER. On March 13tli, 1864, the evangelist began a series of union services in Newark, IS". J. The New York Ohserver contained the following con- cerning this religious movement : "The Rev. Joel Parker, D.D., pastor of the Park Presby- terian Church in Newark, sends us the following account of the remarkable religious movement of that city : 350 THE HARVEST WORK " * Mr. Hammond came to Newark and held his first meet- ing in the Park Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon. An immense audience was assembled, and a deep and ten- der impression was produced. " ' The next day the meeting was held in the First Baptist Church (Rev. Dr. Fish's). It is the largest audience-room in Newark, and was filled to repletion. At the close of Mr. Hammond's address, a meeting of free conference was held, in which not less than six hundred remained for conversa- tion and prayer. " ' The feeling was deep and overwhelming. Ministers and Christian people engaged freely in these conversations. Each day, from that time to this, similar meetings have been held in several churches. " * The evangelical ministers in union have agreed upon a continuance of the meeting daily through the week. Mon- day and Tuesday the meetings are to be held in the First Presbyterian Church (Dr. Stearnes's) ; Wednesday and Thursday, in the First Baptist Church ; Friday, in the First Dutch Church (Rev. Mr. Terhune's) ; and on Saturday, in the Methodist Church in Halsey Street. "'The meetings thus far have grown in interest from the first, and the hands of the pastors are full of work in their separate congregations, for many children and adults are inquiring what they shall do to be saved. " ' Scenes of great interest are every day occurring. We saw, in the side room of one of our churches, sixty boys on their knees, one after another praying with solemn, quiet earnestness, and with as much order as a Fulton Street prayer-meeting. * ' * We ask our friends who would understand the matter to come and see for themselves. We say see it, not glance at a single meeting and the apparent unintelligible confu- sion of a crowd that seem to move like a swarm of bees, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 361 but stop and talk with the individual inquirers and hopeful converts.' " RESULTS. The New York Evarigelisfs correspondent gives the following epitome of the great revival in Newark : * ' Last week two churches were opened every night. Several nights twenty-five hundred people were crowded into one of these churches, and at least one thousand into the other. Mr. Hammond spoke at both churches. Rev. Dr. Joel Parker, with whose labors in kind every church- goer in our connection in New York is familiar, has been indefatigable, and has nobly sustained and assisted Mr. Hammond in his labors, so wonderfully abundant. Morgan L. Savage, a member of Dr. Hatfield's church, New York, has added interest to the meetings during the latter part of the week, and to the open-air meeting yesterday, by his narration of the manner in which he found a Saviour. Though once eminent as a sinner, he is now a humble dis- ciple. " Our clergymen of all denominations have sympathized in the work, and there are no churches which are not watered and blessed. We saw at one inquiry-meeting full five hundred young men among the converts or inquirers. " The events of the week culminated in an open-air meeting on Sabbath p.m., at which there were present, at some time during the meeting full ten thousand persons. The bulk of the audience were men who would not enter a Protestant church. The Mayor presided. We have lived opposite the Park for about twenty years, and we never saw so many at any political mass-meeting collected there. The crowd carried home many wholesome truths fastened by 352 THE HAKVEST ^^^ORK striking and very appropriate illustrations in the peculiar style of Mr. Hammond. " We think more than one thousand believe that they have learned to love Jesus during these five weeks. " All the clerks in our post-office, and many whole families of four, five, and six sons and daughters, are among the converts. We could tell of a dozen young men who have been regarded by their parents as lost, who are now giving good evidence of having found the pearl. *■ ' We know of one little girl whose parents — good Pres- byterians, but afraid of ' excitement ' — would not let her go to hear Mr. Hammond, who attributes her conversion to the influence of another child whose parents took a different view of the subject. A young man in an Episcopal family was converted by the same kind of influence. The child was taken suddenly ill — was told that she must die. She said, ' Jesus is my friend. I die happy.' To the surprise of her parents, she had attended Mr. Hammond's meetings, and had learned to love Jesus. " We have passed through many revival seasons, but we have never seen any in which the teaching was so perfectly orthodox. " At the farewell in the presence of two thousand people, Kev. Dr. Henry C. Fish, of the Baptist Church, said: ' The result of Mr. H.'s labors was that the people had been put to work, had learned how to work. The num- ber of conversions has been very large, not less than one thousand, of which Jive hundred are adults. Joy has been brought into many a household. ' He was reminded of the text, ' There was joy in that city.' ' This is the most won- derful work that I ever saw in Newark — greater than 1857-58.' " The hymn '' Jesus of Nazareth passeth by" was OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 353 written Ijy Miss Eta Campbell as a description of the wonderful scenes witnessed in Newark at that time. She handed it to Mr. Hammond, and he had it set to music, and afterward he used it continu- ously in his meetings with excellent effect. Some eight years after Mr. Sankey began to sing it, and so it has been sent around the world doino^ 2:ood. Many have attributed their conversion to the sing- ing of that hymn. We give it in full : " Wnat means this eager, anxious throng Pressing our busy streets along ? These wondrous gatherings day by day ? What means this strange commotion, pray ? Voices, in accents hushed, reply, ' Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! ' " E'en children feel the potent spell, And haste their new-found joy to tell. In crowds they to the place repair, Where Christians daily bow in prayer. Hosannas mingle with the cry, ' Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! ' " Who is this Jesus ? Why should He The city move so mightily ? A passing stranger, has He skill To charm the multitude at will ? Again the stirring tones reply, * Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! ' ** Jesus ! 'tis He who once below Man's pathway trod, 'mid pain and woe ; j 354 THE HARVEST WORK ] And burdened hearts, where'er He came, Brought out their sick, and deaf, and lame ; j Blind men rejoiced to hear the cry, j ' Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! ' 1 (( Again He comes, from place to place His holy footprints we can trace. He pauses at our threshold — nay, He enters, condescends to stay ! Shall we not gladly raise the cry, ' Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ? ' " Ho, all ye heavy laden, come ! Here's pardon, comfort, rest, a home. Lost wanderers from a Father's face. Return, accept His proffered grace. Ye tempted, there's a refuge nigh, ' Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! ' " But if you still this call refuse, And dare such wondrous love abuse, Soon will He sadly from you turn, Your bitter prayer in justice spurn. ' Too late ! too late ! ' will be the cry, ' Jesus of Nazareth has passed lyy ! ' " It was reported at the Sunday-school Convention in New Jersey, the year following the revival, that over one thousand from the Sahhath-sohools in JSFewarJc joined the various churches as the result of God's blessing on those union meetings in the spring of 1864. The work extended in the towns and cities about Newark. Dr. Parker, Dr. Fisk, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 355 Mr. Aaron Coe, and others accompanied Mr. Ham- mond to several places, where, from one to two hundred in each place, as the result of God's bless- ing upon a few meetings, were hopefully led to the Saviour. CHAPTEK XY. Buffalo — Chicago— Qualifications — Honors Pastors— Timid Worker's Experience— Minnesota — Open-air Meetings— Va- cation Labors. From !N"ewark Mr. Hammond went to Buffalo, where lie spent a week with his friend Dr. Heacock. Other pastors joined in the work. The blessing of God rested on the services, and many- professed a new-found hope in Christ. Dr. Joel Parker went from Newark to Chicago to assist in preparing the way for Mr. Hammond's labors in that city. Being well known as a conservative, cautious man, his words did much good. He advised the people to cordially co-operate with Mr. Ham- mond in his efforts to save souls, and not forget that God's work was to be carried forward in the same way that revivals had always been — by a blessing on fervent prayer and faithful labor. The Chicago Tribune thus speaks of the first ser- vice : *' The Rev. Dr. Patton's church was crowded full, above and below, on Thursday afternoon, to listen to an address from * the children's preacher.' THE HARVEST WORK. 357 "The sight of these hundreds of children earnestly listening to the speaker, and uniting with so much heart in the soul-stirring song of praise, is sufficient to show that chil- dren can become deeply and intelligently interested in seri- ous things. It was a most melting scene to witness the large number of children who remained for conversation and prayer. As ministers and Christians were moving about speaking words of comfort, we noticed that they were sometimes met by boys and girls in tears, with words, ' Will you please pray for me V We saw whole seats full of children and youth waiting patiently with bowed heads for some one to come and tell the way to be saved. " It is observed that large numbers of adults attend, and seem as deeply interested as the little ones." Mr. D. L. Moody was among those who urged Mr. Hammond to hold meetings in Chicago. He was not then an evangelist, but he had the same earnest spirit, and did all he could to help Mr. Hammond in his work. The editor of a religious paper at the time thus characterizes the work : " To say nothing of the fact that Mr. Hammond has a very fine, clear, ringing voice, which he manages with skill, and that he possesses a noble physical constitution, which enables him to endure almost any amount of labor, bearing a comparison in both these respects to Spurgeon, we would refer his success to the fact that he is " 1. A man of prayer. He believes in the promise of God to hear prayer, and he constantly pleads that promise in faith. Hence God is honored, and sends the blessing. "2. He possesses a happy faculty of leading Christians 358 THE HARVEST WORK. to work with him and pray with him. And when Chris- tians in any community begin thoroughly to work and pray, a blessing is sure to follow. "3. In his preaching Mr. H. is plain, pointed, and evan- gelical. He seems to have resolved with Paul to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. He preaches not HIMSELF, BUT ChRIST JeSUS THE LORD. He HIDES BEHIND THE CROSS, and sinners seeing only Jesus, suffering, dying for them, are led to embrace Him. ' ' 4. Mr. Hammond, like Spurgeon and the Scotch divines McCheyne and Bonar, makes large use of the Word of God. He reads it largely, and draws many of his illus- trations from it, and in every way seeks to lodge larger por- tions of the word in the minds of the hearers. No true re- vival can exist without this, and we regard his practice in this respect a very hopeful feature of the work. " 5. Mr. H. honors the pastors of the churches. He speaks kindly of them, consults them, commends them, and defends them. We believe that all true Christians, recent converts and others, will love their ministers after this worlc, more than ever ; the fact speaks volumes. ' ' We see no reason to doubt the genuineness of the con- versions ; and if we care for as we should those brought under the Spirit's power, we will not fear the result." SEEKING KEST, FINDING WOKK. The next fields of labor were in Minnesota. Eed Wing, Northfield, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Excelsior, engaged his attention. Jnly and August are not the most favorable times for evangelistic work, but yet it went on day and night. The evangelist had been invited by San ford Smith, the grandson of Edward OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 359 D. Griffin, to come to Minnesota to rest. But nearly all the time he was there he held two or three meetings a day. In St. Fanl nearly all the ministers united heartily in the work. Many of the meetings were held in D. W. IngersoU's hall. Among many cases of conversion we select the following : " A little girl about twelve years old told me, with her little frame shakiDg with emotion, that she wanted very much indeed to be a Christian. I asked her why she did not become a Christian, and she replied that she would, in a moment, if she only knew how to do so. I asked her if she really believed that Christ would do just as He said He would do in His Word — ' Come unto Me, and I will give you rest, ' ' Suffer little children to come unto Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. ' She believed it, but did not un- derstand how she could come to Him. He was in heaven, and she upon earth. The answer was that Christ came just as near to children and men now, in spirit, as He ever did in body ; and that being God, He knew when our hearts were given to Him just as well as if we saw Him standing at our side. She did not know clearly what it was to give her heart to Jesus, so I inquired how she would obey mother if she had asked for something which she could give. She said that she would take it and place it right in mother's hand. Now, I replied, Jesus says to you. Give Me yourself ; I have bought you with My life, suffered in your stead, that you might live with Me forever, and I want you to give yourself to Me ; will you do it ? Yes, she said, I will ! Then let us kneel down just here and give ourselves to our dear Saviour. So kneeling down in the pew we prayed as if we were seeking Jesus for the first time, and solemnly 360 THE HARVEST WORK said, ' Here, Lord, we give ourselves to Thee, 'tis all that we can do.' When we rose she wiped away the tears and smiled as brightly as the sweetest May morning. I said, If you give anything to mother, you never take it back, do you ? so if you have truly given yourself to Jesus and placed yourself right in His open hand, you do not wish to take yourself back, do you ? No, indeed, she replied, and her eyes were sparkling with the new and happy dawning of the brightest day of her life. Did one become a Christian at that moment ? Two days after I asked her if she be- longed to Jesus now. She smiled and said, ' I think so. ' Can you not say ' I know so ? ' She replied she was afraid to say that. Then I replied, If you have any doubt at all, let us just kneel down and give ourselves away again, for I love to do so every day. How happy she looked when we rose ! and immediately taking the hand of a little friend with her, she went into another pew to tell another there how to find the same Saviour she loved so dearly." HAPPY EXPERIENCE OF A TIMID WORKER IN ST. PAUL, MINN. "On that first Sunday afternoon Mr. Hammond had gone over the main part of his sermon, preparing the way for the personal appeal to all those who do not love the Lord Jesus. He had shown us what a simple matter it was to ' believe and be saved,' and how important it was to do so at once. He turned the eyes of the children again to the Saviour suffering for them, by an impressive story il- lustrating his meaning, and after asking those who desired to become Christians to rise, he came down into the aisle, with the request that Sabbath-school teachers, and all Christians, would speak to those who had risen. He passed by me saying, ' Come, are there none of your Sabbath- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 361 school class here ?' I replied, ' Yes, but how can I speak to them now ? ' His hurried answer — for he had no time to argue then — was, ' Do as I tell you.' But I stood as if unable to move, while he went from one to another weep- ing child — and the room was filled with them — urging them to ' come to Jesus just now / ' I did not understand the scene ; it seemed unreal, and I dared not venture upon what— Satan suggested — might prove a delusion. But a little voice sobbing itself into my heart opened my eyes and unsealed my lips. I thought, Oh ! if I could sit down alone by this little girl, how I would love to lead her to the cross of our dear and only Saviour. Immediately the Spirit whispered, ' Would you leave " one of these little ones" to die because there are others in the same room ? ' and I, with a trembling heart and faltering words, but a ' Jesus help me ' for my strength, told her as well as I knew how to say and mean, ' Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'tis all that I can do ! ' How sweet the work became at once, and the remaining moments spent in the hall were more than golden. " A few days ago one of my Sabbath-school class — all but one of whom are dear little Christians now — said to me, 'Fannie W wants to see you.' I did not know the name, and the description. ' You talked to her on Sunday afternoon.' I went at once, and received a glad welcome. I asked her how long it had been since she became a Christian. ' I gave my heart to Jesus while you prayed for me that afternoon,' was the happy answer. " As I was about leaving the hall that first afternoon, one of our Sabbath-school teachers stopped me, saying, ' I am afraid that I have never been truly converted.' She went on to give the reasons of such conviction— no joy in a Chris- tian life, no comfort in prayer, and others of like charac- ter. But the simple gospel story, explained and illustrated 362 THE HARVEST WORK by Mr. H., was bringing her face to face with the cross, and with Jesus the only way, truth, and life. So I said to her, ' It seems to me that there are times when Christ comes specially near to all of us, and that we cannot do better than, as these little children, to begin our Christian life anew by giving ourselves, with all honesty of purpose and earnestness of endeavor, again to Him who gave Himself for us. Then we can have no doubts, for ' whosoever Cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out, ' and the of tener we go thus to Him the surer we become of our reception ; and it has seemed as if ' the blessedness we knew when first we saw the Lord ' was being revived in our hearts with even more than its long-lost freshness. . . . " A very interesting feature of Mr. Hammond's visit to St. Paul and the North-West has been the open-air meet- ings. These have from the outset enlisted the hearty co- operation of the pastors of the several evangelical churches, who have contributed their best endeavors for their success. The manner of conducting them has been to select some corner where three or four thoroughfares would be com- manded by the speakers' voices, and commence by singing. Carriages would stop for those riding by to hear what these strange sounds and scenes might mean. Idlers from neighboring saloons would stroll into the crowd to see what this new thing was, and the windows of the bar and bill- iard rooms would be filled with those who would pause, from curiosity at first and interest afterward. Very many who have not been within a church for years— with which class the far West is overflowing — have thus heard again the words of truth and mercy. The speakers' voices would ring up and down the silent streets in the stillness of the Sabbath hour, and find their way into the offices and cham- bers around, laden with the words that burn. Poor sin- ners, who are the despised and rejected of men, here heard OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 363 the glorious messages of the gospel spoken directly to them, and in addition were kindly urged to ' drink and live, ' to ' believe and be saved.' " After speaking for an hour in the open air, the meet- ing would be adjourned to a neighboring hall, ready lighted and open for the purpose. Here, after short addresses from our own ministers and a closing appeal from Mr. Hammond, the exercises would end in an inquiry-meeting. Opportunity is thus afforded for those who have been impressed by the truths spoken during the evening to be told more of what so intimately concerns their eternal interests. Many awakened ones remain to have these things made more clear to their minds, and Christians have found delightful em- ployment in leading others through the same gate which they entered years before. " As to the numbers present at these open-air gatherings, it is of course difficult to form a correct estimate ; nor is it a very important item ; for, if a single outcast is reclaimed through their instrumentality, or a single arrow winged by the Spirit shot through the steel encasing the Sabbath- breaker's heart, their usefulness is established. In this frontier country it would not be expected that the crowds of eight and ten thousand which listened to Mr. Hammond in Newark and in other Eastern cities could be collected together ; and yet I have been told that as many as fifteen hundred have stood for an hour to hear these simple gospel truths. It is a relief to be in the cool evening air after the close summer's day — a fact which, doubtless, has its weight in attracting many. Then, the freedom to come and go when one chooses induces many to stop who would pass the open church door, with the thought of ' no time to wait now.' Thus numbers are reached by the ambassadors of truth who have successfully closed against themselves all other avenues of approach. 364 THE HARVEST WORK " Mr. Hammond's practice of directly connecting the inquiry-meeting with the preaching seems to me to be in accordance with sound theory. Many are brought under a sense of guilt in the sight of God by the earnest appeals and convincing reasoning of our ministry, who, for the want of a word at the right time and of the right kind, harden themselves again in their unbelief." VACATION LABORS. Rev. J. W. Mears, D.D., of the American Presbyterian^ Philadelphia, gives this brief notice : " Our readers have been made acquainted with Mr. Ham- mond's labors in Chicago — where the correspondent of the Independent reports one thousand hopeful conversions — at St. Paul and Minneapolis, during this tour. At Red Wing, Minn., and other places not previously mentioned, his labors were equally blessed. Besides the number mentioned in Chicago, it is believed by good judges that as many as six hundred found the Saviour through these vacation labors. Indeed, Mr. Hammond found it almost impossible to carry out his intention of recruiting in this visit ; his aid was so earnestly sought that he could not find it in his heart to refuse. On the edge of Lake Minnetonka, twenty-five miles west of St. Paul, whither he had gone to camp out, he found a little church, whose pastor. Rev. Mr. Sheldon, in- duced Mr. Hammond to assist in special services. This he did, returning at night, after preaching, to his bed of boughs in the woods, and resuming his hunting and fishing through the day. Many souls were hopefully converted at this little place. Soon after Mr. H. started in a north-west- erly direction and travelled one hundred and sixty-three miles through the dense, unbroken pine forests of Northern OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 365 Minnesota, toward the shores of Lake Superior. In this trip he frequently had no company but Chippewa Indians. On the broad river St. Louis he was upset in a sailboat, and had to swim for his life. At Superior City he took the steamboat on the lake, but desiring a further experience of the wild life of the woods, he soon left the water and struck through the forests of Northern Wisconsin, and kept on, sometimes with a single guide, sometimes with railroad sur- veyors, fishing, shooting ducks, prairie hens, and one deer, until he emerged into civilization again at Green Bay. His whole north-western tour has lasted three months. " One of the subjects which lies especially near his heart is open-air 'preaching. As witnessed by himself abroad, and as practised by Mr. H. in this country, it has commended itself to his judgment as a most eflBlcient and valuable evangelizing instrumentality. At our request Mr. Ham- mond has consented to furnish for our columns a series of articles, in which he will present the results of his own ob- servation and experience in this branch of effort." CHAPTER XVI. Hackettstown — G. C. Busli — Motlier's Sickness and Death — Lines — Blairstown and Newton, N. J. — Marked Features — Gathering in of the Fruit — One Hundred received in a Day. In January, 1865, Mr. Hammond spent three days in Hackettstown, N. J. Rev. G. C. Bush says, '^ Christians bow themselves in prayer, look- ing for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Suddenly He came. When the sufferings of Jesus were described, hundreds were bathed in tears. A flood of light came down upon the audience. The Bible seemed a new book. Time and eternity stood be- fore us in new relations. It was evident the cloud of God's presence was leading many out of Egyp- tian bondage. It looks as if hundreds had received the new song." '^ Mr. Hammond stayed with us only three days. During that time about two hundred persons expressed their interest in Christ." An officer in one of the churches said to his j)astor, '^ I was six weeks under conviction ; I fear this work has been too rapid. I fear these young converts have jumped over something.^ ^ '' Thank the Lord," THE HARVEST WORK. 367 was the reply, '^/ believe they have jumped over everything into the arms of the Lord Jesus ChHst?'^ MOTHER. In the winter of 1865 Mr. Hammond, on return- ing home, found his mother approaching the borders of the promised land, yet she lingered long ere she passed over. By her bedside and with the help of her prayers he wrote ^' Children and Jesus," which has been owned of God in the con- version of many souls. One of Mr. Spurgeon's members stated that it was through the influence of that book that he had learned to hold children's meetings and to point many to Christ. From Washington, N. J., where he had gone for a few days, he was called by a telegram to witness the final entrance of his sainted mother, at the age of seventy-three, to the promised land. Before going there to hold a few days' meetings he had the assur- ance given to him in prayer that she would be spared till his retui'n. But on his way home he was told that she was dead. His heart was well-nigh broken at not receiving her parting blessing. He was, however, rejoiced to find, on entering his home, that he had been misinformed. After wel- coming him, she soon became absorbed with the glorious visions of heaven which seemed vouchsafed to her in a way we cannot explain. It did appear as if she literally looked through the gates of the 368 THE HARVEST WORK New Jerusalem. Often, with gasping breath and with a heavenly smile upon her placid countenance, she exclaimed : " The joyful cherubs clapped their wings And sounded grace on all their strings." In writing to a friend February 8th, 1865, Mr. Hammond said : '' Our precious mother left this world of sin and sorrow last night at a quarter to two o'clock. Never, never can I forget her ex- pression of calm, joyful triumph, just as she was about to take her flight. 1 never witnessed any- thing so glorious. I am so thankful that she seemed to be perfectly conscious just as her spirit was borne upward. Her sun shone out the brightest at the setting. The following lines came to me about three hours after mother's transit to the green fields of Paradise : ' ' Dearest mother, thou hast left us, Left us for a happier clime ; God our Father hath bereft us, We shall meet no more in time, '* But we Boon shall meet in glory, Where all tears are wiped away ; Meet to part no more forever, Till fruition's perfect day. *' All thy sorrows now are ended, Thou again shalt never sigh ; Now in praise thy voice is blended With angelic choirs on high. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 369 ' ' Oft our eyes are dim with weeping, But we will not weep for thee, For we know that thou art reaping Joys through all eternity. ** ' Oil, come quickly, dearest Jesus,' Was thy plaintive, longing cry ; When He came to bear thee heavenward, Oh, what joy lit up thine eye ! ** Volumes, volumes thou didst speak then. With those soft, expressive eyes. Ere the Saviour gently closed them. Bearing thee to yonder skies. " Oh, that we may never falter In the path which thou hast trod ; Oft we'll meet around the altar Where thy prayers went up to God. " When at last we too are summoned Each to lay our armor down. May we then with thee be numbered, And receive the promised crown.'' The above was set to music and sung at her funerah Mr. Hammond oft in his sermons refers with much tenderness to his mother. He depended much upon her ])rajers in his efforts for the Lord. Five years later his sainted father died a most happy and triumphant death. He was eighty-one years of age. Tlie next phices visited were Blairstown and Newton, N. J. Concerning the work in the latter 370 THE HARVEST WORK place we find the following in the American Presbyterian : DEEP RELIGIOUS INTEREST IN NEWTON, N. J. • ' ' Our town has been deeply moved by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. A few Christians had long been earnestly praying for the blessing, but yet when it came all seemed to be taken by surprise. We could not believe our eyes when we saw hundreds asking, with tears, what they should do to be saved. "Mr. Hammond spent Sabbath morning endeavoring to get Christians to pray for a great blessing, and not to be sur- prised when God answered their prayers. He had address- ed the children's meeting Sabbath afternoon, which crowd- ed the Old School Presbyterian Church, and found, as he went among them, that almost hundreds seemed convinced by the Holy Spirit that they were sinners. But when he asked Christians to come and help — pointing them to the Saviour — scarce any, at the first meeting, were found ready. But in a day or two Christians were heard asking God to forgive them, that after they had been praying for a bless- ing so long there was not found ' room enough to receive it. ' ' ' On Monday night, after the sermon to adults, at the suggestion of one of the ministers the anxious were invited to one part of the house, that they might be the more readily conversed and prayed with. At once over a hun- dred came. All heads were bowed, and many were in tears. Judge Ryerson was among those who were active in point- ing weeping souls to the cross. Numbers also were found in the audience who were deeply anxious about their souls' salvation." He only remained fonr days in Newton. The OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 371 following is the condensation of a long article to the New York Observer which gives some account of the GATHERING IN OF THE FRTJITS. " Yesterday the Presbyterian Church received into its communion one hundred on profession of faith. Of these, forty-eight were adults, many of them advanced in life, many heads of families, men as well as women, and two over seventy. Of the remaining fifty-two, none were under four- teen, and less than twenty under sixteen. The session of the church had determined, out of abundant caution, not to receive at this time any under fourteen, and of such, we think, there are at least from twenty to twenty-five savingly converted, and some eight or ten adults wlio, for various reasons, did not apply for admission at this time ; and as the work still continues, I fully believe that not less than fifty will unite with our church at our next communion in July. ' ' The scene in the Presbyterian Church yesterday was of the most solemn and impressive character, and will never be forgotten by those present. The whole lower floor of the church would scarcely hold all the communicants ; the elders had to sit on the pulpit steps. Of the one hundred admitted, sixty were baptized, and by a very marked, but wholly undesigned arrangement of those baptized, the first was a venerable-looking man, aged seventy-eight, with locks as white as snow, and the last a gray-headed man over seventy ; the whole scene was moving and melting in the extreme. After partaking of the communion all the com- municants bowed their heads for a few moments in silent prayer ; you would have heard a pin drop ; not the most sceptical could have doubted it. During parts of the ser- 372 THE HARVEST AYORK. vice there was much sobbing and weeping among the un- converted, and many could be observed in vain trying to stifle their convictions ; we all felt and saw with our own eyes the mighty power of the Spirit of God. " This revival has many marked features : 1. Deep feel- ing, but an absence of what is ordinarily termed excitement. 3. A spirit of earnest prayer on the part of Christians, and while there was a great deal of personal effort and conversa- tion with the impenitent, yet a deep feeling of humility, and dependence upon the influence of the Holy Spirit. 3. The unusually large number of adult converts, and among them many intelligent, active business and professional men, and several of both sexes who had led profligate lives. In some of these cases there have been extraordinary manifestations of the power of the Spirit in the work of conversion, with- out any direct human agency, either in preaching, prayer, or personal appeals. 4. Constant earnest prayer by Chris- tians that the preaching of the word might be blessed, and as a consequence most powerful and pungent sermons, at- tended, too, with the happiest results. The churches of other denominations shared equally in proportion." CHAPTER XVII. Detroit^Eight Years' Prayer Meeting — Ministers Uniting — Geo. Dufl&eld's Statement— Ann Arbor — Open-air Meeting — Dr. Duffield's Letter. DETROIT. At the invitation of nearly every pastor the evangelist commenced a series of meetings in Detroit. For eight years a band of faithful Chris- tians had met daily to pray for a blessing to rest on the city. Some of the leading ministers were among those who cried to God day after day for the outpouring of God^ s Spirit. On his arrival Mr. Hammond found the churches and pastors, some twenty in number, harmoniously united. Morning, afternoon, and evening the meetings were crowded. Often hundreds were unable to gain admission. The following letter, dated March 17th, 1865, from Dr. Duffield, the author of *' Stand up for Jesus," gives a bird's-eye view of the great work in Detroit : " Knowing the sad state of things, how the world had got into the Church and the Church had gone to such an 374 THE HARVEST WORK alarming extent into the world, I felt concerned for Brother Hammond, and pitied him from the bottom of my soul, when I found that Detroit was to be his field of labor, and that too during a week when a mammoth fair was in prog- ress, with all its side-shows to increase the tide of dissipa- tion. " Hearing that he was to hold a children's meeting that afternoon (March 1st) in the ' Old First ' Presbyterian Church, I went to the meeting, though, I must confess, with some anxiety as to its success. The church was crowded with children, standing in the aisles, in front of the pulpit, in the pulpit, and everywhere that they could find room to stand. On the invitation being extended to them to remain for conversation, they remained by the hundred. Follow- ing the natural impulse of every Christian in the house, I found the children immediately around me deeply convicted of sin, and as earnest inquirers after salvation as any of those who were older. The test between genuine feeling and mere sympathy is very simple, and very easily applied. Genuine feeling comes out in view of truth, and where you find a germ of evangelical truth in the mind as a basis, you have good reason to believe that it is the work of the Holy Spirit. If anything more was needed to convince me of the fact that ' out of the mouths of babes and sucklings God was about to ordain praise because of the adversary,' it was found in the extraordinary alacrity of Christians to take hold of the work. Clergymen and laymen, Sunday-school teachers and others, seemed just as much and as earnestly bent on saving souls from death as if it were from shipwreck or some impending physical calamity. This feeling was especially manifest in the evening, when after the sermon the sight of the * slain of the Lord ' and the ' groans of the wounded ' in spirit reminded me more of the scene I wit- nessed in the churches of Gettysburg on the Tuesday fol- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 375 lowing the great battle than anything else I could think of, by means of which to illustrate it. Alike on saint and sin- ner the conviction seemed to be universal, ' surely this is the finger of God. ' " The next day the services were h^ld in Dr. Hogartli's church, where all the various phenomena attendant on other revivals of religipn were more fully brought to light, and where the joy of the pastor, and that of all who were per- mitted to engage in the delightful services, was the joy of our Lord. While some ministers, like Dr. Hogarth and the venerable pastor of the Old First, have been more actively engaged in this work than others, yet we have heard of no opposition ; and so suddenly has it come, that even among the wicked scarcely a dog has dared to move his tongue. ' ' The great meeting thus far was on Sabbath evening in Young Men's Hall. Upward of five hundred were counted of those who rose after Mr. Hammond's sermon to ask an interest in the prayers of God's people. No noise, no con- fusion, but serious stillness. Solemnity, intense interest, fixed attention to the Word, and frankness in conversa- tion characterized the assembly. Numerous soldiers were present, many of them giving evidence that they had been converted. So many lingered for conversation that the in- quiry-meeting could not be closed until after eleven o'clock. Neither the great fair, nor the stormy weather, nor the ex- citement of the draft, nor the news of Sherman's and Sheri- dan's victories have interrupted the steady progress and triumph of the truth. As nearly as I can get at the truth by a careful comparison of opinions on the part of those who are best qualified to judge in the premises, the number of hopeful conversions thus far in connection with Mr. Ham- mond's labors in Detroit is about one thousand. " On Thursday it was my privilege to accompany Mr. H. to Ann Arbor, where he went more especially for the sake 376 THE HARVEST WORK of the students in our State University. I had my doubts as to what could be accomplished in a single day, but they were entirely removed by the result. The children's meet- ing in the afternoon was one of the most powerful meetings I ever witnessed in all my life. At no previous time did I hear Mr. Hammond speak as he did then, and toward the close of his discourse I felt that my only choice as an im- penitent sinner would have been to bow before the truth or to leave to the house. The immense meeting in the Presby- terian Church in the evening was characterized by similar power, and the next morning over two hundred seemed to have found peace in believing. Both at Ann Arbor and in Detroit well-known young men, soldiers, are willing to rise in the various meetings and tell their short and simple story about how they touched the hem of Christ's garments and were healed. Thus the Lord honors prayer and the preach- ing of His truth and the labors of His servants. Evidently He is now ' on the giving hand,' and as giving does not im- poverish Him, nor withholding make Him rich, what is to hinder this revival from, 'becoming general all over the country V Speaking of the meeting at Ann Arbor, Rev. Dr. Hogarth said : '^^ 1 never witnessed such a sud- den remarkable manifestation of the mighty work- ings of God's Spirit. Hundreds were at once brought under deep conviction of sin. Loud weep- ing from young and old was heard all over the church. The president and professors of the col- lege were among those who conversed and prayed with the anxious." A correspondent of the Amerioa7i Presbytericm gives additional facts : OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 377 GREAT OPEN-AIR MEETDiG. " Last Sabbath p.m., five thousand congregated in the Campus Martins to listen to a sermon by Mr, Hammond. It was a most interesting sight to behold such an audience of all classes, standing in breathless silence for an hour and a half, listening to the simple declaration of the way of salva- tion through a crucified Redeemer. Eyes unused to weep were filled with tears. Large numbers of Catholics were among the attentive listeners. The majority of those pres- ent were men. " When Mr. H. had concluded, he invited the anxious to adjourn to the Baptist Church for an evening meeting. As many had been standing for near two hours it was feared this proposed meeting would prove a failure ; but those who had watched closely the audience knew better, and were not surprised to see more flock to the large Baptist Church than could well crowd in. The sight there was wonderful. " Rev. Mr. GriflJth, of the Baptist Church, stated at the Monday daily prayer-meeting that among the men weeping for their sins in that inquiry-meeting, he found a gambler, who had not been in church before for many years. Dr. DufReld said that he believed a vast amount of good was ac- complished by that open-air meeting ; that it was as large as any political gathering he ever saw in Detroit. ' ' Mr. H. went almost immediately from that inquiry-meet- ing to address a packed audience in the Young Men's Hall, where probably twenty-five hundred were gathered. Dr. Dufiield stated at the daily prayer-meeting that when Mr. H. had finished his sermon, and an opportunity was afford- ed for those who wished the prayers of God's people to arise, it seemed as if three quai'ters of the audience were at once on their feet. It was a most tender and affecting sight. * ' No one knows the number of hopeful conversions. We 378 THE HARVEST WOliK. have heard it estimated between one thousand and twenty- five hundred. Hundreds of children have evidently found the Saviour who will not likely be soon admitted to the churches. " In his closing remarks Sabbath evening, Mr. H. seemed anxious to give God all the glory for the worTc of the Holy Spirit in the city, and strove to do all he could to strength- en the hands of the ministry. He stated that if his labors had a tendency to weaken the influence of the stated minis- try, he would at once abandon them. Most earnest prayer was offered by the different ministers of Detroit, that God would pour out His Holy Spirit in Philadelphia, to which city Mr. H. was expecting to go." Tlie venerable Rev. George Duffield, D.D., speaking of the work in Detroit, says : " I am reminded of the glorious revival scenes of 1831, which I witnessed then, especially in Cumberland and Franklin counties in Pennsylvania, which prevailed all over our country, " Should the Lord employ His dear servant, Brother Hammond, in your city, I hope the way w^ill be prepared, and that my dear brethren Barnes and Brainerd, and all the ministry of your city, will bid him God-speed, and co- operate in the work of the Lord. God employs and owns the simple j^reaching of tlie great radical truths and/ac^s of the gospel, and makes them the sword of His Spirit. I bless Him for the manifestations He is making through this dearly beloved brother, of the melting and subduing power of the simple story of the cross. ' Christ and Him cruci- fied,' and faith in the dear Redeemer, with penitence and love, are the themes presented and preached from day to day, in a plain and affectionate manner," CHAPTER XYITL Philadelphia — Dr. Mears's Account — Dr. G. D. Boardman's Conviction of the Work in Rochester — Materials Exhausted — "Cannot Give up Dancing" — Boy's Letter — Lincoln's Funeral — False Communicants — 800 in a Day — Open-air Meeting — Bishop of London — Passers-by Ai-rested — Bouquet of Flowers — Gambler Converted — Letters — J. W. Mears — Dr. Barnes's Testimony— Evangelists — Best Theologians- Child's Library — Matthew W, Baldwin — Meetings at Acad- emy of Music — Useful Life — Triumphant Death. March, 1865. Mr. Hammond, at the invitation of numerous pastors, began a series of meetings in the city of Brotherly Love. J. W. Mears, D.D., editor of the Ainericam. Presbyterian, thus writes of the first service in Philadelphia : '' North Broad Street Church was crowded to its utmost capacity, and every square foot of standing and sitting room, in pews, aisles, galleries, front of the pulpit, pulpit stairs, and platform itself was occupied. Mr. Hammond, by his earnest and affectionate manner, his abundant *and graphic illustrations, his hymns, his prayers, his questions, and his frequent drills of the children on verses of Scripture or of hymns, easily held the attention of great and small for two hours. The object of the speaker was, by divine aid, 380 THE HAEVEST WORK to bring his young hearers at once to a sense of their sin in not loving Jesus, and to persuade them to come, then, in simple faith, and give their hearts to the Saviour that very hour. "After the address, Mr. Hammond, with several of the pastors present, the Sabbath-school teachers, and other Christian friends, spoke with individuals, moving among them as far as the crowded state of the assembly would allow. ." Mr. H. comes fresh from scenes of the deepest interest and most extensive success in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in Painesville, Ohio. Ministers of all evan- gelical denominations have cordially co-operated with him there, and the cautious and judicious have recognized in him a chosen instrument of God's gracious purposes among the unconverted, young and old. " The hearts of the youthful hearers were manifestly and deeply affected. Many youths of twelve or fifteen years of age were among those on Monday deeply affected in view of the sin of not having loved the dear Saviour ; and many seemed calmly and intelligently to give themselves, then and there, to the Lord. Scarcely any left the house while the personal conversations were going on, the whole audience seeming to be transformed into a vast inquiry-meeting. Be- sides many Sabbath-school teachers, we noticed, as engaged actively in this all-important supplementary work, Rev. Dr. Adams, the pastor, Messrs. Taylor, Hamner, Shepherd, Cul- ver, and Mears of our own church, and Rev. Messrs. Henson and Simmons of the Baptist Church. Many groups of anx- ious ones remained long after the audience generally had disappeared, and went reluctantly at the last. Yet there was no excess, and notliing in the slightest degree excep- tionable in the manifestations. " Perhaps some will think it a suspicious circumstance OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 381 that this show of feeling should be so sudden ; but in a cer- tain aspect it is far from sudden, having been long and ardently prayed for by many pastors, parents, and Sabbath- school teachers in this city. No answer to believing prayer should be surprising ; it is delay rather that should sur- prise, while the beginnings of the answer, such as we have seen in these first meetings, should kindle grateful joy, and encourage to still higher measures of faith and expectation. " On Tuesday the meeting was transferred to the Fifth Baptist Church, which was crowded, many adults being in the audience. A large number of ministers of various de- nominations were present, and one of them, Rev. George D. Boardman, formerly of Rochester, now pastor of the First Baptist Church in this city, introduced Mr. Hammond in a happy address, as one with whom he had labored two years ago in Rochester. He said : " * I thank God that my dear Brother Hammond was ever at Rochester. I thank God that he is in Philadelphia to- day. And I am here to declare, with the authority of per- sonal observation, that I heartily approve of Mr. Ham- mond's mode of conducting children's meetings. When he goes along the aisles and asks this one and that one, " Do YOU LOVE Jesus ?" he asks a personal, test, pivotal question, which brings the person directly before the face of Almighty God. Its very simplicity gives it grandeur. That simple question, as Brother Hammond puts it, has been blessed to the awakening of hundreds. I speak what I do know, and testify what I have seen. ' Mr. Boardman proceeded to say that some ninety persons were added to his church in Rochester as the result, under God, of Mr. Hammond's labors, seventy of these young persons. Recent intelli- gence from Rochester is to the effect that biat one of the whole number has been disciplined, and that one for doc- trinal error, not for misconduct. 382 THE HARVEST WORK " On Wednesday the proportion of adults was larger than at any previous meeting. Forty or fifty ministers, of almost every evangelical denomination, including Episcopalians and O. S. Presbyterians, were in the house, most of them on or near the platform. The passage read was the Philip- pian jailer, and the text for the address was, ' Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.' This was drilled into the children's memory until they all repeated it in most pleasing and general concert. "The body of the children and youth attending the meetings regularly seemed to have found the Saviour. Those indulging a hope began to gather in prayer-meetings of their own, or were brought to the pulpit for special in- struction, and Mr. Hammond began to pay regard in his addresses to their condition. " On Thursday the North Broad Street Church was again filled. Here the evidences that a very extensive work of grace had teen finished in many hearts was very clear. Over a hundred children held a prayer-meeting in the lecture- room, the great body of whom believed that they had found the Saviour ; many others in the same state of mind being in the upper part of the house or having left for home." The correspondent of tlie Sundm/- School Times says : " The work of the Holy Spirit, in connection with Rev. Mr. Hammond's labors, continues with increasing interest. Last Sabbath a series of meetings was commenced in the Tabernacle Baptist Church on Chestnut Street. Sabbath- school teachers have joined heartily in the work, and tes- tify that they have secured a great blessing to their own souls. Teachers from quite a distance have brought their classes with them, that they might share in the blessing. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 383 " A young lady, when asked by a minister, a few days since, if she wished to become a Christian, at once an- swered, ' No ; I am not willing to give up the opera and dancing. I know I'll be lost, but I don't care.' The words of the minister seemed to have no efifect upon her ; but she was present the next day, and asked his forgiveness for her rudeness. She confessed her anxiety for her salva- tion, and asked him to pray with her. She is now rejoic- ing in the Saviour's love. " Many letters have been received by Mr. Hammond. Some of these letters are read by Mr. H., and they add much interest to the meetings, A little boy, twelve years old, writes : " ' I came to the meeting on Sunday, and I did not like it at all. I came again on Wednesday, and a lady talked to me. I felt I was a great sinner in not loving the dear Jesus, and I prayed to Him to give me a new heart ; and now I think I have found the dear Jesus ; I feel a great deal happier than I ever did before. And now I go around among the boys and girls that have not found Jesus, and I talk to them about how He came down from His home in heaven to die upon the cross for them, and pray to Jesus to give them a new heart. ' *' On Wednesday of last week, the day on which the churches were open for the President's funeral services, the daily meeting at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Chestnut Street was more densely crowded than we had before seen it. Large numbers went away, unable to find standing room, and a blessed work was carried on. " Calvary Church was well filled even on Sunday, the solemn day on which the remains of the beloved Lincoln were lying in the Cradle of Liberty, and when thousands upon thousands, old and young, were pressing to take a last look at the noble dead. 384 THE HARVEST WORK " At one of these meetings an influential gentleman stated that he had been for ten years a member of an evangelical church in this city ; but it was not until Mr. Hammond met him and asked him if he loved Jesus that he felt himself to be a sinner. His answer was, ' Yes, I profess to love Him. ' Mr. H. replied, ' How can you be a Christian and sit still in this inquiry-meeting, when just here near you sits a lady weeping for her sins ? ' This question greatly troubled him, and prevented his sleeping that night. But at last he was enabled by God's Spirit to come as a lost sinner to Jesus, and to understand fully the meaning of that precious verse in Isaiah 26 : 3, ' Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.' " This gentleman is now a constant worker at the daily inquiry-meetings, helping to point anxious ones, young and old, to the Lamb of God. In his factory, where many young persons are employed, they are constantly singing the sweet hymns learned in the meetings. " A glorious work has progressed among the orphans in the asylum on Eighteenth Street. The matron testifies that a wonderful change has come over the children ; that no one can attend their daily prayer-meetings and listen to their simple, artless prayers without being convinced of their saving faith in Christ. " Last Sabbath another meeting of remarkable interest was held in the House of Refuge. Hundreds of the youth declared their hope that they had found Christ, though warned faithfully against self-deception. " Mr. Hammond is to preach in the Academy of Music on Wednesday evening." Dr. Mears says : EIGHT HUNDRED IN A DAY. " It has been our unspeakable privilege to witness, on a OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 385 single Sabbath and under the use of the simple truth of the love of Jesus for sinning and perishing men, as many as eight hundred persons under conviction of sin, seeking the Saviour, or rejoicing in hope. Half of the number were the children and youth in the House of Refuge, to whom Mr. Hammond preached in the morning ; and the other half were in the Tabernacle Baptist Church, in the after- noon of the ssme day, comprising persons of all ages. The phenomenon was as delightful as it was marvellous and un- precedented in the religious history of our city for a genera- tion past. Let us be thankful, and remember the encour- aging words of the Psalmist : ' The Lord hath been mind- ful of us ; He will bless us. ' " I send a word of encouragement from the th Ward Grammar School. The teacher says since the commence- ment of the children's meetings there has been such an im- provement in the behavior of her scholars that she is will- ing to give one day in a week for them to attend the meet- OPEN-AIR PREACHING. By Dr. J. W. Mears, editor of the American Presbyterian : " Philadelphia owes to Mr. Hammond the revival of the excellent custom of open-air preacliiug, so important as a means of reaching the irreligious masses. For three Sab- baths past audiences numbering from fifteen hundred to three thousand have gathered on the open lot, south of the Academy of Music, where Rev. Dr. Irvine, of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Mr. Calkins, of Calvary Church, and Mr. Hammond have delivered simple and appropriate addresses. The children who have been attending Mr. Hammond's meetings form an excellent choir. 386 THE HARVEST WORK " Open-air preaching is no novelty in this city, but for several years this excellent practice has been intermitted. Nor did there seem to be any prospect of renewing it until Mr. Hammond's visit. We trust systematic arrangements will be made, by which every great district in the city may be reached, and all evangelical denominations enlisted in the work. Why should the best preaching talent and the highest pulpit dignity shrink from work for which Christ Himself set the example ? Why should the Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania, or the clergy in general of that Church in this city, hesitate to walk in the footsteps of the Bishop of London, who, in the most unassuming and apos- tolic manner, with no apparatus but his Bible, proclaims the gospel in any and every favorable place of concourse to the perishing crowds in that great city ? " One feature of his work in the open air deserves to be borne in mind. It is, in fact, part of his entire system, and a principal part of it — namely, to have an eye to im- mediate results and to utilize at once the impressions that have been made by an inquiry-meeting immediately fol- lowing the preaching. Hence it is part of his plan to hold his open-air meetings in the immediate vicinity of some church, where such an inquiry-meeting may be announced to be held. We regard this as a decided improvement upon the existing methods, under which there is great danger that impressions may be dissipated, and the seed sown with much labor be carried away by the fowls of the air. The crowds on the Broad Street lot have been invited for conversation to Calvary Church by Mr. Calkins, and very large gatherings, with most marked and powerful in- dications of the Holy Spirit's presence in that church, have been the result. Calvary has never before witnessed such crowded audiences and such interesting, such melting, such inspiring scenes as have followed these open-air meet- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 387 ings under the preaching of Mr. Hammond, night after night, for the past two weeks. Nor has such a precious season of early morning prayer and worship ever been en- joyed within its walls, as during the same period from day to day. " On Tuesday and Wednesday meetings were held in the Tabernacle Baptist Church. An incident of marked inter- est occurred in connection with the meeting of Wednes- day. This was the day of the mournful funeral ceremony in Washington, and the church was densely crowded ; num- bers stood in the doorways and upon the steps, and not a few passers-by stopped in the streets to listen to the sweet songs of the children. Some one closed the door of the church, but Mr. Hammond requested that they might re- main open. * Some poor sinners,' he remarked, ' might be reached by what he hears through the open doors, and brought to Christ. ' It was so ordered that a young man who was passing by on the other side of the street was at- tracted by the singing, came over and entered the church, and remained to the inquiry-meeting, having been deeply impressed by what ho had heard. Subsequently he came into one of the churches and related his experience, traced his first impressions to what he had heard upon the side- walk, and declared that as the result he believed he had found Jesus. THE BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. " In one of the meetings Mr. Hammond, while speaking to the children and youth about giving their young hearts to the Saviour, asked what they would think were some one to offer them an old withered bouquet of flowers. They all agreed they would feel insulted. ' And yet, ' he added, * some of you are thinking of giving your hearts to the Sav- iour when you are older. Are you not afraid that Jesus 388 THE HARVEST WORK will spurn your offer ? Will you not rather come and give your young affections to Him just now ? ' "At the close of the services Mr. Hammond requested only those who felt they had truly given their hearts to the Saviour to come upon and around the large platform pulpit, in order that some one of the ministers present might instruct them, and also that it might be more convenient to move among the anxious who remained in their seats for conver- sation and prayer. Between two and three hundred at once flocked from all parts of the house. While standing in and around the large circular platform, their appearance, after what had been said, reminded us of a large bouquet of fresh young flowers, all given to Jesus. All in the house seemed impressed with the thought. While these joyous children and youth were singing ' I love Jesus, ' other hun- dreds all over the house were bathed in tears. GREAT MEETmG IN THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC. " It is now six weeks since Mr. Hammond commenced his daily Union meetings, and still the Holy Spirit con- tinues to bless the efforts made for the salvation of the perishing. On Wednesday of last week a grand audience assembled in the Academy of Music, to listen to a sermon to adults from Mr. Hammond. Rev. Mr. Calkins, of Cal- vary Church, and Dr. Robert Irvine, of Westminster Church, conducted the opening services. M. W. Baldwin, Esq., spoke warmly in favor of such efforts as these to reach the neglected masses. He stated that Mr. Hammond would conduct another open-air meeting. Sabbath p.m. It was worth going a long way to listen to the singing of that audience. We heard a lady, who used to be fond of the operas, say that she never before had her whole soul so much moved with all the splendid performances which she OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 389 had listened to in the Academy of Music. What music is there like that which swells up from hundreds of persons rejoicing in the hope of their first espousals ? We attended some of those great political gatherings in the Academy of Music last fall, when the hearts of all were deeply moved, but never did we see an audience there more fixed in their attention. Nothing but the Holy Spirit could have thus riveted the truth upon so many hearts. " The fact that about five hundred rose for the prayers of God's people in one meeting shows the great power of these meetings. Such a solemn scene was never before witnessed in that gay hall, where congregated the votaries of fashion and pleasure. The meeting demonstrated that tlie masses of our city, who seldom attend the house of God, can even on a week night be brought out to hear the simple gospel, if only the proper means be used to enlist their in- terest. *' Last Sabbath an audience estimated at three thousand assembled again in the vacant lot near the Academy of Music to listen to the preaching of the gospel. Rev. Dr. Irvine, of the Westminster Church, and Rev. Mr. Calkins, of Calvary Church, conducted the opening exercises, and Rev. Mr. Hammond followed with a sermon on Tim. 1 : 15 : * This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' " It is safe to say that almost hundreds were in tears. The Spirit of God was most manifestly present. Gray- headed men were melted by the simple gospel truth. " As one of the ministers came down from the stand, rather a hard-looking man met him, saying : ' I am a sports- man. I have been out with my gun all day — came here from curiosity, and have been weeping the whole time. Now what shall I do to be saved ? ' His coat was still wet with tears. ' ' 390 THE HARVEST WORK THE GAMBLER. " An interesting incident took place at the meeting, il- lustrating the permanence of the work wrought through Mr, Hammond's instrumentality, even in cases which might be considered unpromising. At one of the open-air meet- ings held in Newark, N. J., a year ago, a professional GAMBLER, proprietor of a gambling saloon, came with the express purpose of scoffing at the meeting. He was arrest- ed by the Holy Spirit, remained at the inquiiy-meeting, and the next day sold out all the tools of his infamous trade. Subsequently he made a profession of religion and joined Rev. Dr. Fish's church. There were, as usual in such cases, abundant predictions that lie would not hold out. But at this meeting he made his appearance, as a wounded soldier, with his right arm permanently disabled in a sling. He was an inmate of Chestnut Hill Hospital, where he had seen the notices of the meetings in the papers ; and with diffi- culty obtaining a furlough, had come ten miles, out of per- sonal regard to Mr. H. and from interest in the work, to the Buttonwood Street Church. Here he was induced to come forward and tell his story, which he did in a simple and impressive manner. The spectacle of this rescued man, at once a soldier of the cross and a sufferer for life for the flag of his country, was in a high degree touching ; many heard it with tears. " At this meeting the Spirit of God was present with great power, and at times the whole audience seemed melt- ed ; and yet, as is often the case in the first meeting, Chris- tians were scarcely prepared for the work, and, as a conse- quence, many were suffered to go away who would doubt- less have gladly remained if they had been spoken to in time. At the meetings of the two following days this diffi- culty entirely disappeared, and nearly the whole audience OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 391 remained for prayer and conversation. Already the pastor speaks of the delightful results of these three meetings in the conversion of the young of his flock and in the general quickening of his people. " On Saturday afternoon a farewell meeting was held in North Broad Street Church. It was one of the most inter- esting occasions we have ever witnessed. There were no less than two hundred and fourteen letters from those who felt that they had found Jesus in these meetings. We give one or two of them. One says : " ' I went to your meeting on Friday for fun. I came home after the meeting was over, and I felt that I was a great sinner. I stayed to the inquiry-meeting, and Mr. Tay- lor came and spoke to me. He asked me if I loved Jesus. I told him that I did not. Yesterday afternoon there was a little boy came and spoke to me, and that went to the very depth of my heart. I can now say, for the first time in my life, I am happy. I felt a great change. Oh, who will not come to such a dear and most precious Saviour ! Now I can sing " Jesus is mine." I love to pray and read my Bible as I never did before. Oh, if only one or two of my friends would come to that dear Jesus, I would feel so happy ! Oh, do pray for my dear mother, that she may find Jesus, and my two brothers, that they may not go on another day in their sins !^ " Another writes : " ' I am fifteen years old, and I want to tell you how I found Jesus On Monday I went to the meeting at the corner of Broad and Green streets on purpose to make fun. I made fun of everybody and everything all that afternoon, and thought everybody was a fool for believing such stuff. On Tuesday I went to Mr. Shepherd's for the same pur- pose ; but soon after I got there I felt what a great sinner I was, and I could not make any more fun that day. After you 392 THE HARVEST WORK were done preaching a little girl came and spoke to me, and her words went to my heart, and I know now that I have ''found a Friend, Jesus is mine." I used to think I was happy, but now I find that I never was happy before. These meetings are so precious that all the time you are in the city you will see me where you are. If you were to go to Germantown, I believe I would follow you. I do so like the inquiry-meetings ; I like them better than the preaching, because I can tell the boys how I love Jesus, and point them to Christ, who suffered and died on the cross to save all sin- ners. I wish everybody could sing, " Now I have found a Friend, Jesus is mine." " ' P. S. — I forgot to say that now I find that I was the fool for not coming to Jesus before.' " Still another : ' ' ' When I first came to your meeting I did not care much about finding the Saviour. Of course I cried as I saio those a/round me doing ; hut that was not coming to Jesus ; I found crying did no good. I got my mother to write me a note to get out early from school on Monday afternoon, and I came to your meeting ; but the next morning, when I met one of my little companions at school, I told her how the people went around asking children if they loved Jesus, and Satur- day, when I came away, I felt very much impressed, and that night I prayed that my heart might be clothed in right- eousness. I think God heard my prayer. I felt like a new person. I trembled all over, but I was happy. I wanted to tell somebody. So I woke my sister and told her ; but I did not want to tell my mother until I was sure my sins were all forgiven me ; but when I did tell her she said noth- ing could be so precious to her as to know that I had found the Saviour. Will you pray for me that I may always cling to the Saviour, and look to Him for everything, and ask my little friends to pray for me too, and pray for my sister too ? OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 393 I feel like singing all the time now, since I have found Jesus. I am so happy. I love these meetings. I love all those who have found Jesus, but I love Him better than anybody. From your little friend, thirteen years old.' " EARNEST WORKER. One of the most earnest workers in the meetings in Philadelphia, Sunday-school superintendent in Dr. Marsh's church and afterward Vice-President of the Young Men's Christian Association, was Gr. W. Mears, Esq. , who made personal sacrifices to be present at the different services. It was largely- through his efforts and those of his brother, Dr. J. W. Mears, editor of the American PresbyUrian^ that the meetings were inaugurated. He afterward labored with Mr. Hammond in London, England, and wrote accounts of the great work there to Amer- ican papers. Speaking of the work in Philadelphia, he says : " Last Sabbath afternoon the Tabernacle Baptist Church, Chestnut Street, above Eighteenth, was crowded with lis- teners, young and old, filling galleries, aisles, pulpit, and platform. It was a precious meeting. More than two hun- dred remained at the inquiry-meeting, all anxious for salva- tion, and many weeping bitterly. " Those ministers and laymen who have labored with Mr. Hammond in the inquiry-meetings have been greatly blessed in their own souls. The ministers are of various evangeli- cal denominations, and among the laymen may be seen men of high standing in business circles, all lending a hand in the good work. * ' 394 THE HARVEST WORK G. W. Mears, referring to his daughter, who was converted when a child in Mr. Hammond's meet- ings in Philadelphia, says : ' * I have been looking over our church register to see who joined after Mr. Hammond's services in the church some eighteen years ago — I have been able to trace them nearly all good Christians to-day — a number of them who were then girls of fifteen or sixteen years are now mothers of families, here and in other cities and towns. Not one that I know of went back into the world. ' ' The year Lillie united with the church — in 1865, we spent the summer five miles from the city. With some assistance we got up a Sunday-school in an old school-house standing by the roadside in a grove of trees. Lillie, then a very young Christian, visited all the houses of the people and filled the school-house up to the brim. The infant class had to be marshalled under the trees as they made too much noise reciting together inside. Lillie was greatly interested in the scholars she had so success- fully gathered and took great delight in their classes all that fall, till we returned to Philadelphia. Thus began her young Christian life ; how she worked on till its close I have told you. Dr. B. Griffeth, Secretary of the American Bap- tist Publication Society was deeply interested in the work. He at that time commenced a publication of what he has called ^^ Hammond's Library," a OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 396 series of books for children, intended to lead them to Christ, and to assist them in leading Christian lives. All of these books have since been published in England ; some of them translated into the Italian, French, Norwegian, and other languages. These books have been used of God in leading many to Christ. MATTHEW W. BALDWIN. During Mr. Hammond's stay of ten weeks in Philadelphia he was the guest of Matthew W. Bald- win, whose beautiful conservatory of flowers is known to all frequenters of Chestnut Street. Mr. Baldwin paid all the expenses of the meetings in the Academy of Music, the rental of which, for each night, was $175. This builder of two locomotives a week, also found time and money to hidld churches for the preaching of the gospel. When he was a little boy he was converted in one of Dr. GriEen's meetings in Newark, N. J. He stated that the scenes he then witnessed were similar to those seen in Philadelphia in this work of God's Spirit. CALVARY CHURCH, At a meeting in the above church the following words were used by Mr. M. W. Baldwin : '' How much has this church to be thankful for ! Nearly forty expect to join us to-morrow at the Lord's 396 THE HARVEST WORK. table, besides others believed to be converted, who go to other churches. If one soul is worth more than all the world, what are forty worth ? Who can calculate the sum V ' He also took occasion to thank the brethren from other churches, who had assisted in these meetings, and who had encouraged us by their presence and counsel. It was stated in the American Preshyteria/n, that probably, at that time, between two and three thousand children and adults had been hopefully led by the Holy Spirit to accept Christ as their only hope of heaven during those union meetings. CHAPTER XIX. Binghamton — No Opposition — Christian Mother and Children — Elmira— Infidel Soldier — Billiard-player — T. K. Beecher's letter — Female College — Towanda— Mode of Preaching — Athens— Corning — The Prophet — Prejudice— Victory. In the fall of 1865 the Evangelist, at the request of Dr. Boardman and the other pastors, held a four weeks' meeting in Binghamton, IST. Y. All the churches united, and the work rapidly spread throughout the place and the surrounding towns. "We give a few quotations containing facts and in- cidents concerning the work. Says a correspondent pi the Preshyterian : *' The city of Syracuse has been repeatedly mentioned in the morning prayer-meetings, that the Spirit of God might visit it. One Saturday afternoon, at a children's meeting, as a minister was taking his leave, he asked the little ones to pray for the children of Syracuse, and as many as would do so were requested to hold up their hands. About two hundred hands went up instantly. On the following Mon- day morning a note was read in the prayer-meeting fiom a mother whose little girl had said to her after family wor- ship, ' Mamma, you forgot to pray for the children of Syra- 398 THE HARVEST WORK " Mr. Hammond came to Binghamton three weeks ago, and held his first service in the Presbyterian church on Sab- bath afternoon, October 23d. The meetings for prayer have been the most delightful and encouraging feature of the revival. They increased in numbers so that the place of meeting was changed from a lecture-room to one of the Methodist churches, which is now crowded to its utmost capacity. Rev. Dr. Bristol, one of our pastors, remarked one morning in the meeting, that in all his experience he had never known such evidences of the deep work of the Holy Spirit — such unity among Christians, and, what is more, no opposition from any quarter. He said he had yet to hear the first word against these meetings, or the least fault-finding in regard to them. All, even worldly persons, are forced to acknowledge that it is of God. This is very strong testimony from one who has had extensive experience in revivals." A Christian mother says : " ' Work and pray, fainting never ; for God's due time will come. ' " We believed it, and were looking for it. We were as those who watch for the morning. But not like the morn- ing did he come ; suddenly in the temple he revealed him- self, and then came the harvest work. First he gathered the little children — and it is believed that over two hun- dred of them gave their hearts to Jesus while Mr. Ham- mond was here. *'A Christian mother who had sowed the seed prayer- fully and in faith in her children's hearts, was not quite satisfied with the evidence the oldest gave of entire surren- der to Him, and went to her closet as soon as she heard of Mr. Hammond's coming, and asked God to lead the child to Himself, during that first week of the meetings for chil- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 399 dren. It was the first time she had ever been led to ask Him definitely as to the time. As she prayed, Christ said to her, ' Believe ye that I am able to do it ? ' And her heart replied, ' Yea, Lord ; thou knowest that I believe.' And she heard His gracious answer, ' According to your faith be it unto you. ' The mother rested on this sure word of promise until the third day, when her little girl came home from the meeting, crying, *' ' Mamma, I've got a new heart, and I've given myself to Jesus, to belong to Him forever ! ' " After two months' jealous watchfulness, that mother confesses her entire, satisfied confidence in that child's con- version. " A Sunday-school teacher with a class of six pupils, ex- amined them closely, at the termination of the meetings ; and five of those boys could tell the very time when they came to Jesus and received a new heart ; their little school- fellows giving unanimous testimony to their newness of life. In the Sunday-schools and day-schools a very large majority profess to have found the Saviour. A doubter grumbled, " ' Why, you can't meet a child, but he tells you he loves Jesus.' " Thank God that it is so ! I believe they do love Him, and if they are inconsistent, are they more so than children of larger growth ? I believe that these little ones have given themselves to Him, and that if they wander away, it will be in great measure the fault of their minister, parents and teachers, who fail to fulfil Christ's trust to them, ' Feed my lambs. ' If Christ receives them, should not we ? He says, ' Suffer them to come. ' Shall we forbid it and be guiltless ? " There has been much interest among the older classes, and many have given themselves to Christ. God has heard and answered prayer. The work is still going on. Let praying ones take courage, and be not afraid, only believe. 400 THE HAEVEST WORK " On last Saturday evening, commencing about six o'clock, a gathering of Christians and young converts met Mr. Hammond before his departure, at Mr. Charles McKin- ney's. The house was crowded with children and young persons. After the children had gone, older persons assem- bled. It was a public gathering, the invitation being gen- eral to all Christians who desired to meet Mr. Hammond. Perhaps no happier meeting was ever held in Binghamton. The voices of the young singers, floating out upon the night air, could be heard for distances along the streets. " On Sunday evening Mr. Hammond preached his last sermon. The large Presbyterian church was filled with a greater concourse than had heretofore assembled. The seats were full, the pulpit steps filled with children, the gal- leries packed, numbers were seated on the floor, and in the vestibule, and about the door stood many who could not find sittings. Mr. Hammond addressed Christians and young converts, near the close of his sermon speaking only for a few minutes to the unconverted. An earnest, solemn feel- ing prevailed in the audience, and, at the close of the dis- course, hundreds of young converts and inquirers rose for prayers. ' ' ELMIEA, N. T. A united call from this city took Mr. Hammond to that place in December, 1865. Most of the evening meetings were held in Rev. Dr. Curtis's Presbyterian church. Eev. Thomas K. Beecher had spent a day in Binghamton, and had brought back a report which had encouraged the Christians in Elmira to pray for a similar blessing. The Annerican Presbyterian says : OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 401 *' The meetings are crowded nightly, and so large is the number unable to obtain seats in the church where Mr. Hammond preaches, that a neighboring one has been open- ed and filled. " Among those who gathered in one part of the house for a second meeting was a Scotchman, from Glasgow, who at- tended Mr. Hammond's meetings in that city four years ago. He was a scoffer then, and did not belie v^e in sudden conversions at least. But when he heard Mr. Hammond was here, he came to hear him, and, thongh still a scoffer, the truth so solemnly held up reached his heart, giving him no peace till he found it in Jesus. " An infidel soldier came to the meeting to scoff. The truth reached him, and for several days he was very un- happy. One night, as he was going home from the meet- ing, he felt, for the first time in his life, as if he would like to pray ; but he w^as driven back by the thought of en- countering the scoffs of his old companions. Next day he was placed on guard, and he studied the matter all day ; but that night as he paced his beat, he stopped and looked up at the moon and stars, and as he thought how beautiful they were, he seemed to hear the words, ' Come to Jesus.' * I will,' said he ; and there, leaning on his gun, he offered his first prayer, yielding himself to Jesus, and resolved to bear all for His sake — ' and,' said he, ' Jesus took me."* He has become a hard-working Christian, and his influence is great among the soldiers. "A young man, professionally a champion billiard- player, went into the meeting several times in Binghamton, but always under the influence of liquor, and attended by a crowd of young men, who came for amusement. Mrs. Sluyter saw him there, and repeatedly conversed and prayed with and for him. When Mr. Hammond came to Elmira, that young man commenced attending the meetings again. 402 THE HARVEST WORK Last night he confessed a hope in Jesus, and his new life gives sweet evidence of the genuineness of the work. "Mr. Hammond held a meeting out at the Confederate camp yesterday, where are many thousands, and the inter- est among the soldiers is constantly increasing. "Wanderers from Christ's fold have been brought back, and many led to the Saviour. It is wonderful how ready they are to hear and embrace the truth, and it seems as if what we see here is only an instance of what God will do for them, all over the land, if the effort to reach them is made. " There is great interest in the jail. There are twenty- four male prisoners charged with State prison offences. Of these, twenty-one said yesterday that they were resolved to become Christians — to begin the new year not merely with external reformation, but by coming to Jesus. "Mr. Hammond preached twice in Waverly last week. A glorious work is in progress there. Daily meetings are being held, and it was announced in the meeting last night that a proportionately large number had found Jesus. " Take courage, Christian ! God is true and faithftil ! If we work and pray, He will, for Christ's sake, bless and aid us. If we try to be faithful agents by consecrating our- selves wholly to His work, and by simply considering our- selves His own, that He may work and speak through us, it will be true of us as of His servant of old, 'I being in the way the Lord led me. ' And if we sow faithfully, and watch and hope in entire dependence upon His promises, whether we see it now or not, it will all be gathered, and we shall know it in the great Harvest Home." REV. T. K. BEECHEK. We quote a few sentences from a letter written to the Elmira Advertiser, by Rev. Thomas K. Beecher : OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 403 " I think that I speak the profound conviction of every pastor in the city when I confess myself weak, oh, how weak ! in the matter of converting men from worldliness to holiness, from self to Christ. We toil all the night, and take nothing. Yet betimes, letting down the net, at our Father's bidding, we find it filling full. " Such a time the present seems to be. We have not found a new gospel, but the gospel has found a new hear- ing— and we are glad. We open our Testaments and read, ' The wind bloweth where it listeth, and ye hear the sound thereof and cannot tell whence it cometh, nor where it goeth, so is every one that is born of the Spirit. ' ' ' How account for this sudden and widespread waken- ing ? Reverently I answer, it is the Spirit of God ; and happy is he who is found willing in the day of His power." One of the pastors stated that he believed the number of conversions to be no less than fifteen hundred. The Elmira Female College received a rich blessing. Of the one hundred and forty joung ladies, all but four testified that they had then or before found Christ or were seeking Him. Would that every young ladies' seminary in the United States might receive such a baptism of the Holy Spirit ! Watkins also shared in the blessing. Huben Abby, Presbyterian pastor at Terra Haute, Ind., was converted at that time. TOWANDA, PENN. Rev. William H. Harris gives the following account of the work in Towanda, Penn. He thus speaks of Mr. Hammond's ten days' labor : 404 THE HARVEST WORK " Rev. E. P. Hammond came down from Elmira, and has held two meetings here daily. He preached a powerful dis- course, or rather series of short discourses, on Sunday night, enchaining for hours the attention of a large and un- wearied congregation by his peculiarly interesting mode of illustrating gospel truth. "At this time the thermometer, which had fallen sud- denly about the time Mr, Hammond left Elmira, had got down to thirteen degrees below zero, but after that long-to- be-remembered cold Monday morning the weather moder- ated ; very soon it got above the freezing point, and in a few days there was a great thaw ; forming an apt illustra- tion of the progress of the good work in the hearts of the people. Beautiful weather followed, and thank God, ' the Sun of Righteousness arose with healing in His wings. ' " To describe what followed after the tide turned is far beyond the power of the writer. The history of the con- version of a single sinner, a description of that wonderful tiling, a change of heart, must ever be a futile attempt. It must be felt to be fully understood. But how can we de- pict the scene where hundreds of all ages were ' converted and became as little children.' As the coldness at the be- ginning of the meetings was not peculiar to any denomina- tion, so the awakening was general and simultaneous. The ' shallow sectarian pools on the shore were obliterated ' by the incoming spring-tide of the ocean of Christian love. Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians filled the largest churches in town, and sometimes the Court House to overflowing ; many persons often standing during services protracted to three or four hours, refusing to go away after the meeting was dismissed more than once, fill- ing the seats, aisles and standing places sometimes till near midnight, in the most extraordinary manner. Aarons and Hurs, the clergy of all the different denominations in the OF THE HOLY SPIKIT. 405 town and vicinity aided in the good work, and above all the voice of fervent prayer from the hearts and lips of thou- sands ascended to heaven. Old Christians were revived, * the boarders ' who had been mere inmates in the house of God, many of whom had not (or thought they had not) done enough for the family to even pay for their board, became active, working Christians, discovering that it was not enough to pray to God to save sinners, without them- selves saying a word in season to them, or reaching out a hand to help them. Hundreds upon hundreds who had heretofore ' ' cared for none of these things, ' gave them- selves up wholly to Jesus and confessed their sins, renounc- ed all self-righteousness, looked to the cross and were healed, depending alone on Christ and Him crucified and finding comfort in believing that He is able and willing to save all that come unto Him, while many anxious inquirers saying, ' What shall we do to be saved ? ' listened with breathless interest to the answer of Christian friends, ' Jesus has done it all. ' " Let no one who reads this suppose this is a mere tem- porary excitement got up among weak-minded women and children. On the contrary men and women of all ages, of the best intelligence and capacity, tradesmen, merchants and professional men, officers and soldiers in the late war who had faced death in many battles, tavern-keepers, the profane and vicious, and those who had been strictly moral in their lives, the rich and the poor, the rude and the re- fined, the learned and the ignorant, the talented and the simple-minded, bowed together at the foot of the cross, friends rejoiced together, and foes were reconciled. "It is very difficult to estimate the numbers of anxious inquirers and hopeful converts, but we think we may safely say that at least four hundred in this town of twenty-five hundred people gave outward evidence of conversion, and 406 THE HARVEST WORK if we add to these the many who conceal their interest in the subject or attempt to smother their convictions by feigned indifference or frivolity, the numbers who have been visited by tlie power of the Holy Spirit will strengthen our faith in believing that there are many that shall be saved and reminding us of that ' great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindred and people and tongues, which stood before the throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and with palms in their hands." " A number of our young men have been going out, ' two and two,' holding religious meetings nightly, in the school- houses and churches in the neighboring townships and smaller villages. The people take great interest in the sub- ject of religion, and the meetings are all well attended. The state of feeling has been compared to a cup of water full, ready to overflowing on the addition of a single drop more. As an illustrative example, I will give one instance taken from many. * ' A young lady from the country was converted at one of the union meetings held in Towanda. The next day she walked up to town, six miles, to secure the services of two of the young Christians to hold a meeting in her neighbor- hood. She gave notice, and collected a goodly number of persons, but, unfortunately, the young men did not come, and the people went away laughing at her. Nothing dis- couraged, she walked up again, and procured the positive promise from two others to go the next night. As they were about starting out, a clergyman of the ' little faith ' kind, advised them not to cast their pearls before swine in so unpromising a locality. There was no Sabbath-school there, no preaching, and no prayer-meeting held in the place. The two young men who went had never conducted a meeting before, and their religious experience had been OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 407 very short. They had to do all the praying themselves, and nearly all the singing, the audience not having even respect enough for religion to bow their heads in prayer. The ex- hortations of these young men were not attempts at lay preaching, they were not public speakers, and they had lit- erally obeyed the injunction to ' take no thought before- hand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate ; but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye, for it is not ye that speak but the Holy Ghost. ' They told the story of their own conversion and the conversion of so many others in Towanda, at those precious meetings in January ; they told the story of the cross, too, in a plain and simple way, ' as though Christ did beseech you by us be ye reconciled to God.' ' ' The result I must tell you in a few words. Before the close of the first meeting, six or seven arose for prayers, and a unanimous vote was taken that the meetings be con- tinued, and that the aid of the Y. M. C. Association of Towanda be requested for this meeting. " The work was continued by these and other young con- verts nightly, without a single sermon by a minister ; and at the end of two weeks, the seed sown was watered by the Spirit, sinners were converted, fifty-six arose for prayers or as young converts, and only one man, at the last meeting, did not rise as a young convert, an anxious inquirer, or as a Christian ; he went home, and that night, for the first time in his life, had family worsliip, and he is now a hopeful, happy Christian." THE MODE OF PREACHING. The author of the '' Coal Regions of America" says : *' Mr. Hammond preaches from a high platform where he 408 THE HAKVEST WORK can get as near his hearers as possible. John B. Gough speaks with his coat-tail sometimes as effectually as with his tongue, and certainly we have seen some good ideas, or shades of meaning, communicated by Mr. Hammond from the platform which would have been lost behind an ordi- nary pulpit. You may call his gestures and action on the stage dramatic if you please, but we can certainly see no reason why the devil should have all the good speaking and acting, any more than ' all the good singing, ' as Wesley said. Then again, the singing from his hymn book, is made a powerful means of conveying truth. Not confining him- self to any order of exercises, he often rests himself during his protracted sermons, after some exhausting effort, by singing a hymn, at the same time resting the audience by a change of position by their rising, and ventilating the room. His discourses are also sandwiched by an occasional short, strong, earnest prayer, the audience bowing their heads, and sometimes a few sentences are repeated aloud after him by the people. " He is a wonderfully successful preacher. What is his system ? We can only answer what we think about it. If a man of strong bodily constitution, and with the other physical qualifications, prepared by a thorough education, with good abilities, a good fund of choice language and fine natural powers of eloquence, and inspired by great zeal and exhaustless energy, starts out in early life to prepare him- self, and devotes his whole soul to one subject and with one object in view, he can almost always do wonders. Nature has done more than we have stated for Mr. Hammond, and the grace of God has done the rest. The result of his suc- cess is his strong earnest faith, and his more than magnetic power of impressing his hearers with the saving faith in Jesus. He preaches only on one subject, but that is as wide as the world, faith in Jesus, repent, believe and be saved OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 409 * just now. ' He comes into a town, or to an individual, with a confident assurance that admits of no doubt, and insists, nay, urges, with an immovable firmness that that town or person can and shall and must be converted from the error of their ways and turn to Christ. He is so sure of it that you cannot help believing him, and generally he has his own way about it. But this of course is only the lowest aspect of the matter, behind and over it all is the unseen, but deeply felt power of God which accompanies this man's words, and which soon enables us to forget the messenger and heed only the message. ' Without parables spake he nothing ' has been Mr. Hammond's lesson in rhetoric. Not that he is destitute of powers of persuasion and alluring in the ordinary forms of pulpit eloquence, or that he fails to use them. It is evident he could preach as splendid thirdly and fourthly sermons as any man. But that is not his busi- ness. He is a mental artist, his sermons are pictures to be seen and felt as well as heard. His powers of illustration are admirable and inexhaustible. A point which any amount of plain reasoning would not convince you of or make clear, you at once concede and remember forever after, in consequence of some little narrative about a tree, or a bunch of moss, or incident of foreign travel (a descrip- tion of some picture which you almost see again painted on the wall), a dangerous bridge, a shepherd and a lamb, or some Scripture incident in which he shows you a meaning you never saw before, or perhaps a single comparison con- veying a world of truth and meaning like a skilful stroke of a pencil. " Are his meetings very solemn ? If it is a solemn thing to see persons shedding tears for their sins, and for the sufferings of a crucified Saviour, then they are very solemn. But if by a solemn meeting you mean one where no face shining with joy is seen, and no happy smile is permitted, 410 THE HARVEST WORK then they are not solemn meetings. Mr. Hammond is a Christian, and when he has finished a series of meetings, most of his hearers, by the blessing of God's Holy Spirit, are Christians also. He is always overflowing with a Chris- tian's joy unspeakable, and it is of a very contagious char- acter. His meetings prove that there is joy on earth as well as in heaven when a sinner repenteth. " Aside from his own very remarkable qualifications for the work of the conversion of sinners, he has a great faculty for calling for help from other Christians, and enlisting them also. And one important aid in his work, and which gives him so much assured faith, is that he is, and feels that he is backed up by much fervent prayer by Christians where he has recently labored, thus continually following him from place to place with an unseen power from on High. " Let us do justice to Mr. Hammond, as a man, to his talents, his zeal, courage and piety ; and those who deny him any of these qualities cannot deny what is more impor- tant, the reality of the results of his preaching, God bless him ! is the earnest prayer of thousands, and he is blessed, for ' he that converteth a soul covereth a multitude of sins. ' " The immber of communicants of the Presbyterian church was doubled at that time, and very many of the most active members at present, then made a profession of rehgion. The bnihling itself had to be enlarged to accommodate the increased number of worshippers. ATHENS, CORNING, EKIE. A. company of thirty or forty accompanied Mr. Hammond from Towanda to Athens, where a few meetings were held, with the blessing of God. The OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 411 next place of labor was Corning on the Erie Rail- road. Union meetings were commenced in the church of Rev. Dr. Niles. Only a week could be given to the place. The children and young people yielded to the Spirit's inflnence and accepted Christ, but the adult population seemed to be within an impenetrable fortress of prejudice. Words that had touched hearts in other places fell powerless. Comparatively few adults were converted. At the closing meeting, Saturday morning, an old man who went by the name of '^ the Prophet," just as Mr. Hammond had said, ^' I must meet an engage- ment in another city to-morrow," arose and said, ''^ If lie leaves this jplace now God will send him hack / his work is not done. " He did leave, how- ever, with no intention of returning. Each of the pastors, meantime, found that from Elmira, where there had been such a glorious work, there had come false reports prejudicing the people against the evangelist, and behind this barrier many were intrenched. After all Mr. Hammond did not suffer as much as Paul did at Lystra, when ' ' There came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city supposing he had been dead." The next Sabbath each of the pastors cleared away these false fortifications, and many felt ashamed that they had resisted the truth as spoken night after night by His servant. 412 THE HARVEST WORK. Contrary to all expectations Mr. Hammond was led back to Corning the next Tuesday, where he was able to spend one night. A crowded house greeted him. From the very first it was evident that '^ the arrows of the King were sharp in the hearts of the King's enemies." "' The slain of the Lord were many." So great was the number of anxious in- quirers that it was impossible to close the meetings till long past midnight. Though Mr. Hammond was obliged to leave the next day for Hornellsville and Erie, yet the work went on with great power. The results were widespread and permanent. Some of the children converted at that time. Rev. Dr. J^iles writes, are now missionaries in foreign lands doing a grand work for the Master. CHAPTER XX, Erie — Remarkable Experience of a Minister — Consecration — Results — Williamsport — Peoria — Remarkable Work — Cars Thrown from the Track — Judge Gale's Conversion — A Doc- tor's Experience — A Raid upon Pekin — Many Surrender — Note from D. W. McWilliams — Missionaries for Japan. After three days at Horiiellsville, meetings were commenced at Erie, where Mr. Hammond spent eight days. Eev. Mr. Bainbridge, who has since written an interesting book giving an account of his travels around the world, had visited Mr. Ham- mond in Corning, and secured from him a promise to spend at least a week with him in Erie. Other churches joined in the work. The Presbyterian Banner correspondent says : " We trust hundreds have been converted in our city ; some of whom would have been regarded as almost hope- less. One hundred and forty have connected themselves with the Baptist church, and several of the others will have large additions. Thirty-four persons, among whom were several of our most influential citizens, came forward and confessed Christ." 414 THE HARVEST WORK C. W. Higgiiis, writing to the American Presby- terian^ says : " Rev. Mr. Hammond read, this morning, a deeply inter- esting letter, before the Erie County Sabbath-school Con- vention : " I am nearly a stranger to you, though I heard you preach in Rochester in 1863, when I was in the Theological Seminary. But I did not work in the meetings. And much of the time, since I have been preaching, I have labored under the lash. But nearly two months ago the Holy Spirit showed me that I was not living as a minister of Christ ought. But the Holy Ghost came upon me in answer to earnest prayer and self-examination, and began to purify me. In the first place, I made an entire consecration of myself to the Lord. I asked myself a number of questions, probing to the very centre of my soul, wrote them out on paper, went to my room, and after a full confession of my sinfulness to God, prayed for grace to answer them in the affirmative. The struggle was very severe ; but at last grace was given me in full measure, I was enabled to feel that my will was swallowed up in the divine will. And a few days of great peace and boldness in the Lord succeeded, and then I prayed for a still greater anointing of the Holy Ghost, and, thanks to Jesus, it came. For nearly an hour and a half I had the most unspeakable sense of the presence of the Spirit. I was almost speechless. I felt so deeply that I had not honored Him in my preaching. Then a sweet and blessed view of Jesus succeeded, filling my whole soul with a most ecstatic sense of the preciousness of the blood of Calvary. Then came a realization of the love of the Father in giving His Son to die for me. I could hardly endure the sight. " The fruits are most blessed. I preach as I never ex- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 415 pected to. I have the boldness to tell the people anything that I know God wants me to. I have a spiritual discern- ment I never had before I have power with God in prayer such as I never experienced. It is blessed to live by the faith of the Son of Ood. " What a blessing to the Church and the world would ensue, if all of us that handle the word of life should wrestle up to a like experience. Surely we should also speak with ' other tongues ' as the Spirit should give us utterance." WILLIAMSPORT, PA. The next place of labor was in Williamsport, where Mr. Hammond spent eight days. No building in the city was large enough to contain the crowds. Every nook and corner of the Court House was filled. '^ Reconstructed " Christians were aroused to greater activity. It was reported that during the brief time Mr. Hammond was there, something like eight hundred professed conversion. Whether this be true or not, it was a mighty work of God's Spirit, and one long to be remembered. Anson G. Phelps Dodge, son of William E. Dodge, resided there at the time, and induced the men employed in his lumber works to attend the meet- ings. PEORIA, ILL. Nearly all the ministers in this city were united in laboring with the evangelist for the salvation of souls. About eight years after, says Kev. Dr. Hovey, now of Minneapolis, those who were still 416 THE HARVEST WORK: present witli the others united in inviting him again to that city, but Mr. Hammond was on his way to California and could not go. The daily and the religious press gave lengthy accounts of the work there. We give a few extracts : ' ' About three weeks since, at the urgent solicitations of the Christians of Peoria, Rev. E. P. Hammond came here. During the first week of his stay, meetings were held more especially for children, and God so far blessed his efforts that we think it safe to say about three hundred children were rejoicing in a Saviour's love. Since that time meet- ings for adults have been held every evening. Our largest hall has been found incapable of holding all those that throng to hear Mr. Hammond. While he speaks of the wonderful love of God, of His ready forgiveness, words so simple that a child may understand, we cease to wonder at his success. 'Tis not merely the outcasts from society that have been reclaimed during these meetings, but a large number of our most prominent and influential citizens, who have disbelieved the Bible, and even scoffed and made light of the meetings, when they fiirst attended, have given con- clusive evidence of their love for Christ. Some of our most distinguished lawyers and physicians have taken a decided stand, and declared their determination to serve the Lord the remainder of their life. Many, of all classes, ages, and conditions of men, who have not attended church during the last nine or ten years, have, through the influence of God's Spirit, been drawn to the meetings. The good that is being done here cannot be estimated. Business men seem to be absorbed in the prevailing topic, religion. " The First Presbyterian church was thronged last even- ing, and the meeting was one of the deepest and most in- tense interest. At the close of a practical sermon by Mr. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 417 Hammond, the congregation was dismissed, but each one seemed reluctant to leave the church, and then was wit- nessed a scene which will always live in the memory of those who witnessed it. A prominent lawyer of our city was in- troduced by Mr. Hammond, who related a most deeply in- teresting account of his recent conversion. In the cars he was talking with some friends against the revival. In five minutes the cars were thrown from the track and many in- jured, and the thought occurred where should I have been now if I had been killed, all unprepared as I am to meet God. The next Sabbath evening he came with his wife to hear Mr. Hammond preach. He had listened but a few mo- ments when his sins became a heavy burden. " The next night he gave himself up to Him who died to save sinners, and all the burden was gone, and he felt far happier than ever before in his life. It was not any mere excitement with him, but a more glorious and solemn reali- ty. He wished all could experience the happy change of heart which he had. Many were bathed in tears during his touching remarks. " On Thursday evening between fifteen hundred and two thousand people were gathered in Rouse's Hall. A deep thoughtfulness pervaded the audience. Perhaps one of the most impressive parts of the exercises was the manly avowal of Christ by a prominent lawyer in the city, a man of talent and influence. He said that on Sabbath afternoon he stepped into the children's meeting, and after remaining for about five minutes he went home and ridiculed the whole affair. On Monday, in the court-house, on the street, in his office, with bitter opposition in his heart, he spoke of the meetings, and said he wondered that people of sense could stay in a place where scenes were taking place which he considered supremely ridiculous. He had a Christian wife, and she induced him to attend a meetino- for adults. He 418 THE HARVEST WORK had not heard Mr. Hammond speak ten minutes when he felt his heart burdened with a strange weight. He went home, requested his wife to retire and let him read the paper. But it had no attraction for him that night. He laid it aside, and knelt and prayed. He could not pray loud enough in the parlor, fearing that his wife would hear him, so he went to the barn and prayed there. Still he gained no relief. So he went back and retired, but not to sleep. He would not suffer his wife to know that anything troubled him ; so when, in the morning, she asked him if he had slept well, he told her a lie. He attended the meeting on the next evening, came home, and went to the barn to pray. '■ And, ' said he, ' though I have often scoffed at the idea of finding Jesus, I did find Him, and that night I lay down to rest with a feeling of peace and security I never experienced before. ' " A case of probably the most remarkable conversion which ever took place in this city was related last night, which sent joy to every Christian heart. Judge Gale, a man of prominence in this community, a man of middle age, who has grown up believing a false doctrine, which has strengthened with his years — denying the divinity of Christ — a calm, determined man, for whom a praying wife ago- nized at the throne of grace, for whom Christians prayed, but, perhaps considering his case one of the most hopeless in the city, this man stood up before that large audience, and declared that Jesus is the Son of God, that He is the Hearer of prayer, that He will forgive sins, that He had for- given his sins. " The facts, as he stated them, were these : He went to the meeting on Sabbath evening to oblige his wife. The truth was preached, and he listened ; but no impression was made, and he intended to go home and think no more of the matter : but he sat in one end of a seat filled with those OF THE HOLY SPIRI'T. 419 who wished to stay at the inquiry-meeting. As he could not leave, he remained. Mr. Hammond came and talked with him, but could produce not much apparent effect upon him. He then prayed that God would plant a thorn in his pillow, and give him no rest until he found peace in Jesus. Mr. Gale went home. Next day, his pastor called upon him and conversed with him. He was willing to listen, and said, ' K I believed as you do, I should want to be a Chris- tian, but I cannot believe that Jesus Christ is God ; and if He is not God, He cannot save me, and all the other doc- trines of the cross fall to the ground. ' His pastor would not leave him, however, until he had promised to examine the matter again and to pray to God for light. Then he thought of God, as his Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor, and thought it strange that he could refuse to pray to Him. He resolved to pray for light to clear his difficulties, and during all that day his heart went up to God for direction ; but he felt that, though perhaps he ought to pray to Jesus, he could not do it. " After a day or two, however, the character of his prayer changed. A burden of sin seemed to press him down ; he began to consider his ways and note how he had refused, when God said ' This is the way, walk ye in it.' Now the burden of his prayer was for forgiveness ; and finally he was led to believe that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. He did not discover the changes in his feelings, day after day, as they took place ; but now he looks back and sees plainly all the way in which the Lord led him. '* As for the doctrines which perplexed him before, he hopes to have some understanding of them some time, but they shall trouble him no more. " Others still told us last night of wonderful things God had done for them. A physician, although it cost a great 420 THE HARVEST WORK effort, told us that, since these meetings had commenced, he had been angry and rebellious, using all his influence against them. One afternoon he took his wife to a prayer-meeting for wives whose husbands were out of the ark of safety. As he left her at the church, he said he never felt so mean in his life. He went to meeting in the evening, but during the first part of the sermon, while the speaker declared God's justice and judgment, his heart was hard and rebellious. But when Jesus was held up, the melting story of the Lamb touched his heart ; he could resist no longer, but gave him- self up to the Saviour. " Before Mr. Hammond came, God's people prayed that He would prepare the way by His Holy Spirit. Many in- stances have proved that these prayers were answered. About a month ago, a dentist — according to his own state- ment last night — one of the most openly wicked and careless men in town, was induced to attend church. He had neg- lected divine service so long that he had almost forgotten how the inside of a church looked. The sermon he heard was a practical one, and he felt that the minister was preach- ing directly to him. The Holy Spirit brought home the truth to his heart, and he was troubled. He thought of the subject almost constantly, and the burden grew heavier. At last, while he was alone for some time in his office, he thought he would try to pray. He did not know how to pray, but thought he would try and say the Lord's i^-rayer, which his mother had taught him when a boy. He got about half through, and found he had forgotten the last part of it. He came to the meetings, but they only deep- ened his convictions. One evening he caught hold of one of God's people, and begged him to come to his office next morning early. His anguish was so intense, that sleep for- sook him. The brother he spoke to came to his office and prayed with him. Afterward, he was alone in his office for OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 421 three hours, and he learned how to pray, and he did offer such a prayer as God always answers. '■'' Religion is the common subject of conversation, even on the street. A gentleman came to the city to buy goods, but found it difficult to carry out his purpose, for he said nearly every one was talking about religion. The owner of a dis- tillery, who was stopping at a hotel, declared that this was the work of the Spirit, and he wished that his own soul might receive a blessing. " Last Sabbath evening the exercises were peculiarly solemn and impressive, and at the close of the meeting nearly five hundred persons rose for prayer. The hearts of Christians in Peoria have been greatly encouraged by the work of grace in the neighboring town of Pekin, Illinois, ten miles from here. On Friday last, about fifty Christians and young converts accompanied Mr. Hammond to that place. He could only stay long enough to hold three meet- ings, and many were fearful that very little good would result from so short a period of labor ; but God wonderfully blessed the effort. In the evening the hall, which was quite a large one was filled to overflowing, and those present tes- tified that seldom had they seen such a solemn assembly, such an intensely interested audience. At the morning meeting next day, about one hundred and fifty declared that they had found the Saviour. Those who went there fearful of the results, came home rejoicing because of the great things God had wrought. " Some of the leading men in Pekin expressed great inter- est in the conversion of Judge Gale, Mr. O'Brien, and others who were well known in that city. They could scarcely be- lieve the report, and wished to hear it from their own lips ; then they said they would be convinced of its reality. After Mr. Hammond's return several of these gentlemen went to Pekin and told what the Lord had done for them. 422 THE HARVEST WORK " A meeting was held here last night for men only. The hall was filled, and the meeting accomplished much, espe- cially among those who for want of room and other reasons had never attended before. Christians visited the saloons and shops and compelled men to come in ; yet more than all it was the Holy Spirit that drew together that multitude of men, over a thousand, representing all classes and profes- sions. A number of moral men, who have heretofore de- pended upon their morality, despising the blood of Jesus, have been brought to see that their own righteousness is as nothing, but only the righteousness of Jesus will avail with God. Strong wills are being broken, and proud hearts humbled ; new cases of interest are occurring almost every day." MISSIONARIES FOR JAPAN. The following note from D. W. McWilliams, a well-known leading business man in New York City, and an elder in Dr. Cujler's cliurch, is one of the many encouragements which Mr. Hammond receives to labor on for the conversion of the young. "39 8. PoKTLAND Ave., Brooklyn, October 8, 1883. " Dear Brother Hammond : To cheer and encourage you in your good work, I send you this line to say that Rev. Charles Fisher and wife, of Peoria, 111., recently left there to become missionaries in Japan. He is a young man of great promise. At the farewell meeting he said : ' As a child in 1866, and as the first of the revival under Mr. Ham- mond, I stood up in this church to confess my Saviour." Then he wept and sat down. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 423 '* Was not that alone enough to compensate for your visit to Peoria ? ** With kind regards to Mrs. Hammond, sincerely yours, *'D. W. McWiLLIAMB." A minister arose in one of the meetings in Wash- ington, D. C, and said, " I was a little boy when converted in one of Mr. Hanmiond's meetings in Scotland in 1860, and I know of many more minis- ters converted at the same time." CHAPTEK XXI. Springfield, 111.— Results in Peoria— Meetings in Prison- Great Open-air Meeting— Preparation — Fruits — Girard, Pa. — Rockford, 111. — Vernon, Ct. — Starting for Palestine — Scotland — London— Paris — Switzerland— Vienna —Italy- Egypt— Alexandria — Ships of the Desert — Veiled Women— ^ The Nile — Cleopatra's Needle — Pompey's Pillar — St. Mark — ApoUos — Beyrout, Mount Lebanon, Damascus — Dr. Mesha- ter— Abd-el Kader— Sketches of Palestine— Dr. Robert Knox — Journey through Palestine — Jerusalem— Dr. Budington — Gospel Meetings — Crown of Thorns — Gethsemane — Cairo — Sicily — Naples — Lord Kintore — Florence — Interpreters- Meetings in Paris — Albert WoodrufE — Sunday-Schools. Springfield, the capital of the State, the home of Abraham Lincoln, was the next objective point. The meetings were nearly all held in the House of Kepresentatives, that being the largest audience- room. A correspondent of the Sunday -School Times thus speaks of the work : ' ' A GREAT REVIVAL has been going on in our city during the past few weeks. Meetings have been held in the Hall of Representatives twice and sometimes three times each day. The house is always well filled, and in the afternoon and evening services crowded to overflowing. Every night many are obliged to go away for lack of even standing room. THE HARVEST WORK. 425 " The children's meetiDgs were the most pleasant gather- ings I ever witnessed, so many eager, happy faces, radiant with the newly found hope, which nearly all express, is in- deed a blessed sight. Many careless, indifferent persons of all classes and ages seemed attracted there by the voices of these little ones all uniting to sing praises to Jesus — and we now have the testimony of some of these, who went from idle curiosity, that the simple little hymns in the mouths of children were instrumental in bringing them to a realization of their own sins. "Since these meetings have ceased the children incur public schools have been holding daily prayer-meetings during their intermission, often two and three each day, which they conduct themselves. This certainly is sufficient proof of their earnestness and sincerity. " A letter from Peoria, received a day or two ago, states th&t four hundred and twenty-two persans united with the vari- ous churches in that city the last Sahhath, which was commun- ion day in several congregations, and also says that one thousand is not considered an over-estimate of the number of conversions during Mr. Hammond's labors there. " For several days Mr. H., with some of our ministers and Christians, has been visiting our jail, singing, praying, and conversing with the prisoners there, and we received the encouraging report yesterday, that out of sixty-three who were confined there, thirty-seven were rejoicing in their Saviour. All the inmates of the prison except three or four, seemed anxious, and desired the prayers of Christians. We feel assured they will not plead in vain, and that ere many days they too will be joiniDg in grateful songs of praise. GREAT OPEN-AIR RELIGIOUS MEETING. " The fact that four or five thousand in that city of but sixteen thousand population were in attendance, shows the 436 THE HAEVEST WOEK extent aud depth of the work of the Holy Spirit now in progress in that city. " The fact, too, that even after one of Mr. Hammond's long sermons in the open air, the Hall of Representatives was at once filled with an 'inquiry-meeting,' shows that many must have been led by the Spirit to ask, * What must I do to be saved ? ' ** "Would that all over our land we might, in the secular press, read of such efforts to reach the masses in the open air. How else are the thousands who never frequent the house of God to be brought within sound of the glad tidings of salvation ? * ' A gentleman of this city, a man of culture and refine- ment, said as he arose that he had scoffed and ridiculed the meetings ever since they began, even being offended at his wife for the interest she manifested in his welfare ; and he further said he continued his opposition until about ten o'clock Thursday evening, when those who heard Mr. Ham- mond at that time will remember the change in his subject from ' The Wages of Sin is Death ' to ' The Gift of God is Eternal Life.' At this point the Spirit of God seemed to touch his heart, and it was melted in view of the love of Christ to him." PREPARATION NEEDED. It is hoped that this book will be used by the Spirit of God, in preparing the way for evangehsts and ministers in many places. With this end in view we venture to give the following letter, from some of the ministers in Peoria, to the pastors of the churches in Springfield : " Peoria, III., March 30, 1866. " Dear Brethren : The undersigned, pastors of churches OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 427 in this city, haviog enjoyed the assistance of Rev. Edward Payson Hammond during the past four weeks, in connec- tion with a most remarkable religious awakening, and learn- ing that he is about to visit your city, desire to express to you our estimate of Brother Hammond's character and labors. " We regard Mr. Hammond as eminently fitted for the work of an evangelist. A thorough education and a long experience, combined with sound judgment and true piety, qualify him for the line of effort in which he has been sig- nally blessed. We have learned to love him, and to rejoice and thank God for his instrumentality. '' You will permit us, dear brethren, to express the earnest hope that, in view of the limited period of Mr. Hammond's ■tay in your city, you will put special emphasis on the neces- sity of active effoi't lyy Christians in the inquiry -Tneetiiigs. From what we have observed here, we fear that several days will be partially lost to you unless you secure the immediate co-operation of a large force of your church officers and mem- hers who shall go at once to anxious souls and paint them to the Lamb of God. "Trusting that God may visit your city with a copious outpouring of the influences of the Spirit, we remain. Your brethren in Christ (Signed by the pastors) A. L. Brooks, etc. Among the many remarkable conversions was that of Roland Diller. His experience is narrated in Mr. Hammond's book on the '^ Conversion of Children." Three years had passed away when two ministers came to Indianapolis, where Mr. Hammond was holding meetings, with an invita- 428 THE HARVEST WORK tion, asking him to return there and work for the Master. They stated in one of the morning meet- ings that thirty-three hundred had joined the churches in and around Springfield, as the result of the work of God's Spirit in the spring of 1866. GIRARD, PA. Rev. H. C. Rowland, after telegraphing and writing repeatedly with no encouragement, went to Springfield, 111., five hundred miles distant, say- ing : ^^ I shall remain here till you return with me." He did so and took Mr. Hammond back. He could only remain a week, but oh what wonders of grace God wrought in that time ! Two years ago a minister in one of Mr. Hammond's meetings in Corning, Pa. , said that out of a population of two thousand there was reason to believe some four hundred were converted — most of them during that memorable week. The membership of Mr. Rowland's church was doubled, he said, " Not only Girard, but a wide range of territory shared in this time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." MARRIAGE. On the 24rth of May, 1866, in Towanda, Pa., Mr. Hammond was married to Miss Eliza Overton, youngest daughter of Edward Overton, Esq. She returned with him to Girard, Peoria, and Spring- field. They then went to Bockford, 111., where a OF THE HOLY SPIKIT. 429 State Sun day- School Convention was in progress. Each afternoon the convention adjourned to attend a mass meeting conducted by Mr. Hammond for the immediate conversion of the old and young. Yery many during those three days were led to Christ, but a most widespread awakening followed through the labors of the workers from all parts of the State, ^vho were many of them for the first time initiated into the work of leading weeping sinners to Christ. Numerous revivals were re- ported as the result — one as far south as Cairo. After spending a few weeks with relatives at his home in Yernon, Conn. , Mr. and Mrs. Hammond started for Palestine on board the Hibemia, a steamer afterward lost off the coast of Ireland. Some of our readers may have seen at the Centen- nial a mammoth painting by one of the survivors, of the ^ ' Foundering of the Hibernia. ' ' This oc- curred in a storm which Mr. and Mrs. Hammond encountered on their return to this country two years and a half from the time they left New York for the Holy Land. An absence of live years from Scotland made it pleasant to meet hosts of dearly loved friends of former days. After a few reunion services they proceeded on their way to London and Paris. There they joined their old friends, Dr. and Mrs. Budington, of Brooklyn, with whom they travelled for four months. After spending a few weeks in 430 THE HAEVEST WORK Switzerland they crossed the Splugen Pass to Milan, thence to V^enice. After a week in that delightful city they crossed the Adriatic to Trieste, from there to Yienna, where a week was passed very pleasantly. The party intended to proceed to Jerusalem by way of Constantinople ; they therefore took steamer down the Danube. Mr. Hammond was delighted with the thought of passing through Bulgaria, where for many years he cherished the purpose of spending his life as a foreign missionary. But at Pesth they received a telegram informing them that before seeing Constantinople they would be com- pelled to spend eight days in a loathsome quarantine at the mouth of the Daimbe River, from which if they attempted to escape they would be ' ' carefully shot and carelessly buried." They therefore turned back to Yienna, and from thence to Saltz- burg, where they spent the night at the same hotel with Mr. Motley, the author of the " Dutch Re- public." After a night at Innspruck the party took carriage over the Brenner Pass to Italy. At Yerona they visited the amphitheatre, where, in the presence of twenty thousand, gladiators fought in days of yore. After visiting Bologna, and other cities of classic interest, they went down the eastern coast of Italy to Brindisi. Mr. Hammond wrote a series of letters to the New York Evangelist, giving an account of his OP THE HOLY SPIRIT. 431 journey to tlie Holy Land, from which we select the following : ^' We left Brindisi in a fine Italian steamer. After we had passed by the old pier built by Julius Caesar, we found the sea quite rough. ^' We had seen in the harbor some of the same sort of galleys as Yirgil sailed in, when he made his last sea voyage from Greece to Italy. When we found the sea so rough, we did not wonder that, tossed about for days in a Kttle boat, not much larger than an American yacht, he died soon after reaching Brundusium. We thought, too, of Paul's sea voyage in the same sort of a ' ship,' when he says : ' But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country. ' *' The winds soon lulled, and our voyage of three days to Alexandria was very pleasant. Cavre Sebastiano Fenzi, from Florence, told us that eleven hundred ^ communes ' or towns, out of eigh- teen thousand in the south of Italy, had no roads to them, only bridle-paths ; and that, too, in the most fertile part of Italy. " I began to tell you of the wonderful things we have seen in this classic land of Egypt. The tiring of a cannon announced our approach, and soon our steamboat was surrounded with little boats, rowed by fantastically-dressed ebony natives, all eager to 433 THE HAKVEST WORK get us as passengers, that they might increase their supply of hackshish. It was no easy matter to fight our way through turbaned, clamorous Arabs, to the custom-house. Sometimes we had to stop, and all join in a hearty laugh, while those with whom we had bargained were telKng us the most palpable falsehoods. '' In a drive to the hotel we saw many strange sights. But amid all the hubbub and excitement incident to the arrival of a steamer, the sedate camels, ' the ships of the desert ^'^ as they slowly passed us, appeared entirely unmoved. While the ragged boys, with their donkeys, were flying about in all directions, the calm, patient, and we might almost say dignified, camels looked upon the scene as an every-day occurrence. '^ Alexandria has a population of about 200,000 ; but, as you walk about the streets, you would think that the native population were nearly all men and boys. 1 have just laid down my pen and been to the window of our ' Hotel d' Europe,' which is situated in front of a large square, where hundreds pass and repass continually ; but 1 have seen only one native woman, and she, of course, was veiled. '' The women of the better class on the streets are covered from head to foot with white muslin. They look strangely enough as they waddle along in great yellow boots, with their black eyes peering at you, as if amused at your astonishment. One, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 433 riding upon a donkey, seemed to join in our laugliter, and really bowed to us. '• A very intelligent dragoman, who wishes to conduct our party through Palestine, told us this morning that his wife never went out of doors, ex- cept to the mosque, which was only a few steps from their house ; she had never seen the beautiful fountains in the square where we were standing. ^' Often have 1 been led to exclaim, as I have seen the degradation of woman in this heathen, Mohammedan land : ^ Oh ! how much woman in Christian countries owes to Christ.^ Not to Chris- tianity in the abstract, but to the fact that she lives in a land where it is known that the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world and died to save sin- ners. Where this fact has never been declared, woman is but a slave to the brutal passions of man ; but where the light of the gospel has penetrated, there she is elevated to an equality with man. ^' As we walked along one of the streets yester- day, we saw what at first sight resembled a very FAT BLACK PIG, Carried by a donkey. But a closer examination showed us that it was only an Oriental leather ' bottle. ' Though filled with water instead of wine, still it brought to mind the words of Christ in Matt. 9 : 17 : ' Neither do men put new wine into old bottles ; else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish ; but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are pre- 434 THE HARVEST WORK served.' These ' bottles,' of course, were filled with the sweet water of the Nile. ^' It led me to think of one of the many reasons why the Nile is all in all to the Egyptian. Not only would he thirst and die without it, but this fertile valley, with the annual overflow of its waters, would soon forget to bring forth its life- giving treasures. It is not only one of the indis- pensable agents in the production of fruits and grain, but it also transports them to the sea. It connects far distant countries, and thus the mis- sionary is enabled to penetrate, with the light of the gospel, into the felt darkness of heathenism. Its source has for ages been a mystery, but the millions whom it has blessed have not for this reason refused its precious gifts. Who can help thinking of those who, because of the mysteries connected with the incarnation of the Son, have refused to drink of the ' river of life,' ' the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God ' ? His words are : 'I come forth from the Father. ' Ah, how true that, as the Nile, though flowing through a parched desert, ' maketh it to rejoice and blossom as the rose ;' so, where the streams of salvation take their course, there the ' lame man shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing ; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert, and the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. ' OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 435 '' Yes ; the souls which had never before brought forth any of the fruits of righteousness, shall wel- come the overflowing of the riches of Christ and thus learn what it is to ' bear much fruit ' to the glory of the Father. Such, too, at length, like a ' shock of corn fully ripe, ' shall, on the bosom of the Saviour, be transported to the sea of heavenly rest. *' A little beyond where we saw the leather bottle, we found Cleopatra's Needle. Our guide told us that she ordered it to be brought from Heliopolis near Cairo, where it had stood for cen- turies. The one which is now standing we measured, and found to be twenty-eight feet in circumference, and it is seventy -one feet in height. Pompey's Pillar is also a monolith. It is ninety- one feet in height and thirty in circumference. It was not called after Pompey, Julius Caesar's great rival, but after the name of the Egyptian who was employed to rear it, in a.d. 269. *' It has been hard to realize as we have moved in and about the modern city, that we were walking over the ruins of the ancient emporium of the East, which was at one time the centre of learning and civilization — that here St. Mark preached the gos- pel, and it is believed suffered martyrdom, and that ' Apollos, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures,' first saw the light of day here and played on these sandy shores. But we tried, in 436 THE HAEVEST WORK imagination, to repeople the great city of 600,000, surrounded with walls fifteen miles in circum- ference, and containing a library of 700,000 volumes. The words of the victorious Saracen general to his chief helped us to complete the picture in our own minds. He says : ^ It is impos- sible for me to enumerate its riches and beauty, and I shall content myself by observing that it contains four thousand palaces, four thousand baths, four thousand theatres, twelve thousand shops and forty thousand tributary Jews. ' Yet the words of Ezekiel spoken more than twenty-four hundred years ago are fulfilled with regard to this and other cities in Egypt : * And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste ; and they shall know that 1 am the Lord ; because he hath said. The river is mine, and 1 have made it. Behold, therefore, 1 am against thee, and against thy rivers. And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate. ' Ezek. 29 : 9-12." At Beyrout they tarried about two weeks. Rev. Dr. Jessup, from the United States, and Mrs. Thompson, a missionary from England, got together all the children from their schools, and Mr. Ham- mond addressed them. Soon a deep interest was manifested and numbers professed to find the Saviour. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 437 Greeks and Moslems, Jews and Maronites, and Druses from Mount Lebanon sat side by side and listened with moistened eye to the ^' old, old story of Jesus and His love.' ' The ride over Mount Lebanon to Damascus was greatly enjoyed by the party. Damascus is called by the Orientals *"' a pearl surrounded by emeralds." Approaching from Mount Lebanon the view is enchanting. '■^ One of the most magnificent pros- pects in the world," says Addison ('' Damascus and Palmyra," vol. ii. p. 92), ''burst upon my sight : like the first view of Constantinople, it is unique. We were looking down from an elevation of a thou- sand feet upon a vast plain, bordered in the dis- tance by blue mountains, and occupied by a rich, luxuriant forest of the walnut, the fig, the pome- granate, the plum, the apricot, the citron, the locust, the pear, and the apple, forming a waving grove of more than fifty miles in circuit ; possess- ing a vast variety of tint, a peculiar density and luxuriance of foliage, and a wildly-picturesque form, from the branches of the loftier trees throw- ing themselves up above a rich underwood of pome- granates, citrons, and oranges, with their yellow, green, and brown leaves ; and then conceive our sensations, to see grandly rising in the distance, above this vast superficies of rich luxuriant foliage, the swelling leaden domes, the gilded crescents, and the marble minarets of Damascus ; while in the 438 THE HARVEST WORK centre of all, winding toward the city, ran the main stream of the River Barrada. As we descended, here and there the openings in the trees displayed little patches of green verdure or a glimpse of richly- cultivated gardens : the whole of the rich tract was surrounded by a wall, beyond which all was arid and desert." In this delightful spot the party remained a few days forming numerous pleasant acquaintances, in- cluding Abdel Kader, who defended the Christians when some six thousand men and women were cru- elly put to death in the plains of Syria, and also the American Consul, Dr. Meshaker, an Arab, and yet a Christian, led to the Saviour by Dr, King of Athens. It is impossible in this book to.give more than an outline of their journey through the Holy Land. Mr. Hammond has given an account of it in his ''Sketch of Palestine." Rev. Robert Knox, D.D., in the introduction says : '' These sketches will be valued by Christian readers, because of the fulness and frequency with which the precious gospel is set forth. Bible lands are often visited by those who have no hving faith in the Son of God. They are drawn there by other considerations than love to Him. How barren and meaningless must be their, reflections compared with the man whose heart is full of adoring love to the Saviour ! '' What can the mere man of letters, or the anti- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 439 quarian or sentimentalist, enjoy in a visit to Bethlehem, or Gethsemane, or Calvary, or the place where Jesus was laid, compared with the man who can say, and is not ashamed to say, ' He loved me, and gave Himself for me ' ? ^' The reader is not treated here to cold criticism on a point of disputed topography. The heart of the author is too much filled with love to Him whose footprints made all these places sacred, to linger over such questions, and hence we find him, ever and anon, breaking forth in the language of prayer and praise, or commending to others the Saviour so dear to himself. '' None but those who are unacquainted with Mr. Hammond's history will think it strange that he should have held special meetings for children in Jerusalem and other cities of the East. These lov- ing labors have been so accompanied with the power of the Holy Spirit, that I have no doubt in the great day tens of thousands of children will rise up and call him blessed." Thirteen men and eighteen horses were ready on their return to Beirout to take them through Palestine. Michael Hany was their dragoman. They visited all the chief places of interest, going as far south as Hebron. In Jerusalem Mr. Hammond held a few gospel meetings. He found one hundred boys who could speak English quite well. Some of these it is 440 THE HARVEST WORK hoped gave themselves to Christ. The meetings were inaugurated by Bishop Gobat of the Church of England. At a little gathering at the bishop's palace one evening, Mrs. Gobat presented Mr. Hammond with a crown of thorns, resembling, no doubt, the one our Saviour wore. It was her desire that the sight of this crown of thorns in other lands might lead some careless ones to think of Him who bled and died for us on the cross. Mr. Hammond when holding meetings in London, and a few other places, has shown this, and some have testified that the sight of it has convinced them of their sinfulness in not loving Him who gave Himself for us. In the garden of Gethsemane Mr. Hammond composed this hymn, which has frequently been sung in his meetings. Some have attributed to it their conversion. My Jesus, I would ne'er forget That hour I spent with Thee ; When there I saw Thy bloody sweat In dark Gethsemane. 'Twas in that olive press I felt That Thou didst bleed for me ; Alas ! how great I saw my guilt, While in Gethsemane. I thought of how thy heart did throb, While all Thine own did flee, And left Thee with the cruel mob In sad Gethsemane. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 441 'Twas there I felt my guilt and shame In oft forsaking Thee ; How precious was Thy very name In dear Gethsemane. Should e'er our love to Thee grow cold. And we forgetful be, We'll call to mind Thy love untold While in Gethsemane. In his sermons frequent allusion is made to his visit to ' ' the place where He was crucified. ' ' It was no doubt God's hand that led the evangelist to these sacred localities that he might with more ten- derness speak of the sufferings and death of Christ. Keturning by way of Jaffa to Egypt, they went up the Nile as far as Cairo and the Pyramids ; they had much pleasure in visiting the missionaries from Scotland and the United States. After spending a few days at Messina, Sicily, passing Mount Etna, they entered the Bay of Naples, on the shore of which they lingered about two weeks. While there they conducted crowded evangelistic meetings day after day. Lord Kintore from Scotland took part in them, and rejoiced in the work of God's Spirit, leading many souls to Christ. Touching experiences from young converts were given. mTEKPEETERS. At Florence, evangelistic meetings were held on two sides of the city, with quite different results. 442 THE HARVEST WORK The cause was apparent. In both eases the char- acter of the audiences was similar, but in the one case there was a clear-headed but cold-hearted in- terpreter, in the other the interpreter seemed to feel every word he took from the Hps of the speaker. At times as he described the sufferings of Christ, and explained how he took our place, " wounded for our transgressions," tears stood in his eyes, and all felt the truth of the words spoken. Paul and Barnabas in the temple of Iconium '' so spoke that a great multitude believed." So it was in Florence. Ah, yes ; men must feel the burden of the divine message if they expect others to do the same. Something like two hundred professed conversion under the tearful words of that tender-hearted in- terpreter, but Mr. Hammond says that not one that he knew of on the other side of the city came to Christ. In Paris, meetings similar to those in Florence were held, with much the same results. SABBATH -SCHOOLS IN EUROPE. Mr. Albert Woodruff and family, of Brooklyn, started for a pleasure trip abroad, but finding such a destitution of Sabbath-schools they gave their time to establishing these in different countries. Just be- fore Mr. Hammond left New York, Mr. Woodruff asked him to try and do for the children in Europe what Keginald Radcliff did for the adults through OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 443 an vnteryreter. Mr. Hammond, therefore, made the attempt, and found that when he could get an in- Urpreter, who was a godly man^ ready to throw his whole soul into the work^ the children and adults could he reached and' led to Christ. The gospel was, therefore, often preached through Palestine . and in other lands, sometimes in the open air, and it is believed much good was done even where the stay was so short the harvest could not be fully gathered. Another cause of these meetings being held in Jerusalem and other places, was owing to the efforts of Mr. Aaron Coe, of Newark, going in advance of the party and awakening an interest, so that in some places as soon as Dr. Budington and Mr. Hammond arrived, the people were ready to say in the words of Cornelius (Acts 11 : 33), ^^ Now are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." CHAPTER XXII. Annan, Scotland— Carlisle, Eng.— Paley Castle— Gordon Fur- long—"We've believed for a long time" — " I forgot about the stories"— Cardiff, Wales— Weston-Super-Mare — George Miiller's — Wm. Bradbury — Sixteen Weeks in London — Young Men's Meeting — Meeting at Baptist Noel's— Meeting for Young Ladies — Surray Chapel — Testimony from Mon- treal—C. C. Kimball— Children's Special Service— Mission- Work permanent— Samuel Tyler— John Sands— Baptist Noel's Soiree— Reports— Meeting at Spurgeon's Tabernacle— G. W. Mears— "Fifty Thousand"— Shepherd's Dog— De- pendence upon the Spirit— Gen. Booth— St. Louis— Com- modore Davidson. ANNAN. The first field of labor in Scotland was Annan, where Mr. Hammond met many whom he had fointed to Christ in 1861. He was told by Rev. Mr. Gardner, of the U. P. Church, that some had made the estimate that, as the result of those re- markable meetings in Annan in the town and in the vicinity six years before, it was believed that no less than THREE THOUSAND wcrc hopefully led to Christ. Yet Annan is a little place of only five or six thou- sand. THE HARVEST WORK. 445 ** A convert of 1861," writing to the Christian, says : "Though but four meetings have been held for adults, the interest is very deep. One of the ministers remarked that no meeting we ever had, even in 1861, was more solemn and impressive than the one held last evening ; and, had the same number of impenitent persons been present as used to assemble in Mr. Hammond's meetings in 1861, no doubt the results would have been the same. Hundreds who, in those days, used to be seen weeping for their sins, now appear at the meetings with happy faces, and during these six years have maintained a consistent Christian walk. The church was full three quarters of an hour before meeting time, and when the hour came every foot of space was occupied. At least eighteen hundred people were crowded into the church. Many were anxious about their souls. Mr. Ham- mond spoke for upward of two hours, yet the impression deepened to its close. Though it was a late hour when we left, the under part of the building was still filled with in- quirers. "Many people came to the meeting from ten or twelve miles round. On Saturday evening, a large meeting was held of those who believed they came to Christ during Mr. H.'s previous labors here. The ministers testify that those who have since joined the churches here have held out as well as any converts they ever knew. Thus the evidence has been most pleasing that it was the work of the Holy Spirit blessing the preaching of Christ and Him crucified." CARLISLE, ENGLAND. At the invitation of Rev. William Eeid, Gordon Furlong, and others in Carlisle, our evangelist went to this city one hundred miles south of Edinburgh. 446 THE HARVEST WORK It contains a cathedral, of which Paley was arch- deacon, and the castle founded in 1092 and in which Mary Queen of Scots was confined. Crowded daily meetings were held for three weeks, and many pro- fessed to find Christ. Gordon Furlong, formerly a lawyer, but now for many years a useful evangelist, resided in Carhsle at the time. Returning from an afternoon children's meeting, his little daughter, who, it was believed, had for some time been a Christian, said : '' It was very nice to see them weeping for their sins, wasnH it, jpajpaf hut it wasnH for us ^ for we have helieved a long time. ' ' A child there was asked which of Mr. Ham- mond's stories she liked best, and replied, " Ah, I forgot all aho^it the stories, I was thinhing so much ahout Jesus. ' ' CardiflP, Wales, for three weeks enjoyed union meetings, crowding the largest hall in the city. Hundreds of all ages professed conversion. The following letter appeared in a long account of the work in a London paper. I extract the following from a letter by a minister's wife in Cardiff, where Mr. Hammond had been laboring just before com- ing to Weston : " Believers have been blessed and abundantly refreshed. This I know, and I praise God I have shared largely in the blessing, and many have been truly converted to God. I so continually hear of cases that it makes me sing for joy and OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 447 praise our gracious God ; and how can it be otherwise ? Jesus so unceasingly ' lifted up ' must, does ' draw ' souls ' unto Him.' If we do not see it as we could desire, yet we must trust for it. I for one most heartily and implicitly believe it, and give Him glory for it. A dear brother in Jesus, a day or two since, was telling me how he had re- joiced in Mr. Hammond's labors here. ' It was,' he said, ' so exceedingly precious ; how he held up Jesus ! Oh, ' said he, ' it delighted my soul, and I know of much blessing as the result.' " Weston-Super-Mare was tlie next field of labor. Rev. Dr. "Walker and Lord Cavan were the leaders in the movement ; but all the churches united with these Church of England brethren. THE CHANGE. *' A little girl attended Mr. Hammond's first meeting, and at the tea-table at home related what she had heard about Jesus' love for the children ; something in this recital was carried home to the heart of an elder sister present, who bad been hitherto quite unconcerned about her soul's wel- fare. On Good Friday she went to Mr. Hammond's meet- ing at the Assembly Rooms, but was so distressed in mind she could not remain. Knowing nothing of this, a lady felt constrained to go down into the street, when she met this girl, and after asking some unimportant question, inquired if she had been to the meeting in the Assembly Rooms near at hand. She looked at the lady, and said, ' Have you ? ' ' Yes,' was the answer ; and then very earnestly she asked, ' May I walk with you ; I want some one to speak to.' And as they walked along she told the lady the above, and much besides, showing how God works accord- ing to His own mighty power. She lamented how she gave 448 THE HARVEST WORK way to a bad temper, and added, ' And this week I have been worse than ever. ' On the 29th she came to her friend with a face beaming with joy, expressive of the fact that her troubled soul had obtained peace through believing in Jesus. This young girl, with others to whom I have spoken closely, express their own marvel at the change in them- selves— the change in their desires and hopes, in their temptations, and abounding joy ; also their desire for their friends to come to the Saviour. The girl above named spoke of her concern about her younger sister, and her own struggle the evening before with her bad temper, and how, by lifting up her head and looking to Jesus for help, she had been strengthened. HAPPY BOY. " A POOR LITTLE BEGGAR-BOY Went, a fcw momings back, to a door in Weston and asked for ' a bit of bread ; ' the servant, a thoughtless girl, refused. ' A cold potato ? ' 'No.' It is so easy to say, 'Be off about your business.' The little begging one turned away, and as he did so sang to himself in a low voice, ' Yes, Jesus loves me ; yes, Jesus loves me ; The Bible tells me so. ' This went like a dagger to that servant's heart ; she called him back, and gave what he asked. Now God has led her also to sing, ' Now I feel this heart of stone Drawn to love God's holy Son, " Lifted up" on Calvary, Suffering shame and death for me. Yes, Jesus loves me ; yes, Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so.' " OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 449 Lord Cavan, who with Mr. Elwin and others invited Mr. Hammond to come, read a note at one of the meetings, which he had received from a young person, as follows : " ' I attended the first meeting just out of curiosity, but the wonderful love of Jesus, as told of by Mr. Hammond, softened my hard heart, and I felt I was a great sinner in having neglected that Saviour who had loved me so for so long ; and then, when Lord Cavan, in the second meeting, read to me, and showed me, in the 53d of Isaiah, how Christ was bruised for my sins, and also in Peter, my sor- row was turned into joy. I found peace in believing, and am only sorry that I have lived sixteen years without having loved Jesus or served Him.' " At the invitation of Mr. George Miiller Mr. Hammond held some impressive services with the hundreds of children gathered at the orphanage at Ashley Down. Rev. W. Bradbury, of Clifton, writes in the London Revival^ May 10th, 1867 : " Rev. E. P. Hammond drove over to the orphan houses, to visit the eleven hundred and fifty orphans under the care of Mr, George Miiller. He gave an address to the children, by Mr. Miiller' s invitation. A solemn impression was pro- duced, and he was invited to address the children again the next day. At the close of the address, a large number of the children were in tea;rs. An inquiry-meeting was held, and many were spoken to personally. It was deeply affect- ing to hear their sobbing tones, as they followed Mr. Ham- mond's address to the throne of grace, sentence by sentence. At the close of the inquiry-meeting, Mr. Miiller spoke to the children. It was quite evident that he entered most heart- ily into the work ; and though he is a man of much belief in 450 THE HARVEST WORK the power of prayer, he none the less advocates the use of earnest means for the conversion of sinners. He dwelt much on a hymn Mr. Hammond taught them, each verse of which ended with ' just now,' and urged all the dear chil- dren to come to Jesus this very moment, and told them how much he longed that they should all, every one of them, meet their dear friend in heaven. He much wished that Mr. Hammond would visit the other orphan houses as soon as it is possible for him to do so." SIXTEEN WEEKS IN LONDON. At the invitation of the Hon. and Rev. Baptist J^oel and others, Mr. Hammond began a series of union services in the great metropohs. From the first they were crowded, and many at once became anxious for their sonls' salvation. AMONG YOUNG MEN. G. Kirkham, who is now in this country, thus speaks of one service : " Sunday Mr. Hammond addressed the Young Men's Christian Association. At first he began in a quiet, pleas- ant, conversational style ; but warming with his subject, his voice assumed an earnest, pathetic tone ; and his matter being of a striking character, touched the hearts of his hearers, and brought tears to the eyes of several of them in a brief space of time. His theme was young men's notions of religion, man's relation to God, God's right to make the laws and punish the breakers of them, the misery and folly of rebelling against God, the exceeding love of God in sending His Son to be the sinner's substitute and surety, the black ingratitude of refusing instant submission to God, the OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 451 importance of at once accepting the terms of peace and suing for pardon — in fact, instant salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. His ilhistrations were chiefly gathered from his observation while travelling, and were remarkably appropriate, and forcibly told. He prayed at the close of his address, and then, while a hymn was being sung, went in among the young men, speaking to them one by one, briefly and pointedly. *' An impression prevails that Mr. Hammond is only a children's preacher, but it is quite evident that he is an effective preacher to adults also. He needs the prayers of God's people. His style of preaching is very exhausting." Tiev. C. C. Kiuiball, D.D., says : "I have no doubt that the Christian people of Great Britain would be gratified to know that in America the labors of Mr. Hammond have been followed by so marked a work of the Spirit among adults of all classes, that the work among the children has a secondary place in the estimation of American Christians. As an American minister I have been largely conversant with his work in various places dur- ing the past five years, and have observed in several large cities the most gratifying results among leading business men. In some cities the work has been chiefly among adults. The greatness of the blessing which has followed Mr. Hammond's labors in the United States and in Canada is much more considerable than may be generally known. It has been estimated by persons whose judgment deserves a high regard, that to-day there are in the American churches, as the fruit of these evangelistic labors in connec- tion with Mr. Hammond's meetings, not fewer than forty THOUSAND C4ENUINE CONVERTS WHOSE HEARTS HAVE BEEN RENEWED BY THE HOLY GhOST. *' Not claiming for himself any of the glory which belongs 452 THE HARVEST WORK to God only, this earnest laborer will be found by all who are privileged to know him singularly full of humility and Christian love. No one, perhaps, more than he ever relied more entirely upon the agency of the Holy Spirit, and this, no doubt, is the secret of the great results which have fol- lowed his labors, and secured for him the cordial co-opera- tion and sympathy of so many of the leading ministers of America." LITTLE ONES BKOUGHT TO JELUS. " The meetings at Mr. Noel's chapel were evidently own- ed of God. On Monday in the after-meeting many warm- hearted Christians spoke to the children, and later in the week many of them dated their change of heart to that evening. On Tuesday over two hundred children went into the vestry, on Mr. Noel's invitation to those only who believed they had in the meetings learned to love the Sav- iour. In what was said to them they were rather severely tested, but in spite of exhortations not to deceive them- selves, many of them persisted that they had given their hearts to Jesus. " Mr. Hammond lets the children sing for nearly an hour, one after another of the sweet ' Hymns of Salvation, ' by which their hearts are softened and prepared for the beauti- ful gospel of God, which is illustrated to them by touching stories which cannot fail to impress them deeply with the love of Jesus, and to instruct them clearly in the way of life. After the singing this evening, Dr. Hogarth, of Wis- consin, rebuked sharply, yet kindly the unbelief of older Christians as to the salvation of children. Said he, the con- dition of simple, trustful faith is the easiest and most nat- ural in which it is possible for the human soul to be. A little child of two years, who looks, as Coleridge says, into the blue heaven of his mother's eyes, believes all she says OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 453 without a doubtful thought. He has to learn to doubt by being deceived, and by contact with the sophisticated life around him as he grows. "Two words very much describe Mr. Hammond, in rela- tion to his public ministry — simplicity aiid faith. He real- izes a world of strength in the text he so frequently quotes : 'I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.' In child-like words he lifts up the Lord Jesus, dwell- ing on all His love and sorrow, and showing, in many a little story. His power and willingness to save, and he believes that while he thus speaks the Holy Spirit is draw- ing young hearts to the Saviour. " Mr, Hammond was peculiarly happy this evening in his illustrations, and explained the great truths of the gospel with such simplicity that very young ones could well com- prehend them. At the close two hundred and fifty children came into the vestry, and a few Christians, at Mr. Ham- mond's request, stood at the door to see that only those en- tered who professed to have believed on Jesus. " One evening a boy of twelve was brought to Mr. Ham- mond by his elder sister, who said he wanted to speak to him. We never shall forget the rapt expression of that dear child's face. There was no tear, for there is a joy as well as a woe too deep for tears, but his voice and his whole frame quivered with suppressed emotion as he said, ' Mr. Hammond, I have come to thank you for the words you have spoken ; they have brought me to Jesus. ' We cannot recall the brief conversation which ensued, but if we could, we should still be unable to convey the sense of God's presence which was manifest in the steadfast, tearless gaze of that believing boy, who appeared, like Stephen, to behold the heaven opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. "Many boys and girls were weeping bitterly that they 454 THE HARVEST WORK ■were such sinners — their conviction not arising so much from their outward acts as from not having loved so kind a Saviour ; and thoughtful Christians will readily perceive that conviction of sin on this account is deeper in its char- acter, and has the elements of permanence." MEETING OF YOUNG LADIES. Mr. John Sands, a deacon in Kev. B. W. Noel's church, thus describes it : "My first feeling was that it would be a very difficult matter to make any impression on the young ladies present. After singing, Mr. Hammond spoke to them about the love of God in giving Jesus to suffer for them. For a consider- able time scarcely any interest was visible ; but as he con- tinued, illustrating his subject by touching anecdotes, it was quite manifest that their attention was thoroughly arrested ; and when at the close they were individually addressed, to my surprise they all bowed down their heads on the table and sobbed aloud. Those to whom I spoke appeared deeply in earnest to come to Christ, and I could not but leave that meeting with the deep conviction of God's presence and power having been in our midst. " Mr. Noel said that if any of Mr. Hammond's methods should appear unusual, he would remind them that the great object and the great difficulty, with the young especially, was to secure their attention. When the people saw the miracle on the lame man they all ran together, greatly won- dering. If he gets them together, that is the way to get them under the power of the sword of the Spirit. But, as Mr. Hammond has already said, they were not to depend on man or means, but on the Holy Ghost alone. "A young man who had been brought to God under Mr. Hammond at Dumfries, mentioned some remarkable instances of conversion besides his own, not only among OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 455 children but adults, one being a Unitarian, a merchant of position. The interest was so deep that ladies had left their families at the seaside, and returned to Glasgow, in order to be present at the daily meetings for prayer which were held in connection with the services. ESTQIJIRY MEETING. " At the close of the address I glanced at the throng of youthful listeners, and do not overstate the facts in saying that scores of them were weeping. Yes, little children of five and six years of age, and others who had numbered thirteen or fourteen summers, both boys and girls, in differ- ent parts of the chapel, were melted into tears. The scene was a remarkable one. I have not infrequently heard ad- dresses to the young, but never until now have I known an audience of children moved as was the one before me. Mr. Noel, Mr. Hammond, deacons, elders, and teachers, were engaged in comforting these youthful mourners, and in pointing them to that Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world ; the sins of little children, as well as the sins of those who have lived long upon the earth. MR. HAMMOND AT SURREY CHAPEL. *' The name of Surrey Chapel brings with it many grate- ful memories. It is a place in which many have been born to God. For half a century the well-known Rowland Hill was its ' zealous, active, and devoted minister. ' Newman Hall, the author of ' Come to Jesus, ' is now the pastor of the church assembling here. "Mr. Hammond addressed a crowded meeting on the evening of Sunday. At the close, Mr. Nelson, a gentleman just from Montreal, bore testimony to the value of Mr. Hammond's labors in the American colonies. Mr. Nelson said that as the result of a fortnight's meetings in Montreal, 456 THE HAEYEST WOEK from eight hundred to a thousand persons were believed to have been savingly converted. At that time he had seen a rumseller, his wife, son, and daughter, kneeling together in the same pew, bowed down under the sense of their sins ; .and, on their conversion, they hesitated not to give up their business, and abandon the traffic in which they had been engaged. ' I had three children brought to God under Mr. Hammond's preaching in our city,' continued the speaker, ' one of them, and a daughter-in-law, who was converted at the same time, are with me here to-night. When he came among us I saw that his mode of working was somewhat different to that to which I myself had been accustomed ; but when I discerned that God was blessing the work, I found it impossible to stand aloof.' Mr. Nelson's presence was quite unexpected ; he had visited Surrey Chapel Sun- day-school that day, and had then learned that Mr. Ham- mond was in London, and was to speak in this chapel on the same evening. The two young ladies, to whom refer- ence has been made, were present with him at the meeting. ' ' At the close. Rev. Newman Hall dismissed the meet- ing, but said that if any children, or others, were spiritu- ally anxious, they would be conversed with up in the school- room. My impression is that both he and Mr. Hammond were surprised at the number of children and adults who availed themselves of the invitation, and pressed from the chapel to the school-room. Sure I am that teachers and deacons were astonished at the results that followed this Monday evening's preaching. There, in that school-room, sat row after row of young and older persons anxious about their souls ; very many of the children sorrowfully weeping, and several of the adults with that pained and troubled look upon their faces, that look which those who have had ex- perience in soul-trouble may have once and again seen. The scene was a solemn one. ' Surely God is in this place OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 457 and I knew it not,* was the thought which passed through many minds. '^ At the beginning of the after-meeting, Rev. Baptist Noel and several Christians from John Street Chapel came into the room — a most welcome re-enforcement. They had that evening, at John Street, held a tea-meeting for children and youths who believed they had been brought to Christ during Mr. Hammond's services ; and three hundred and thirty children and seventy adults had been present. "With hearts warmed by what they had seen and heard at John Street, these brethren had come over to help. They were needed, and in a few moments were zealously engaged in conversing with inquirers and directing them to the Lamb of God. Subsequently Mr. Noel addressed some very sol- emn and weighty words to those teachers and office-bearers who were connected with Surrey Chapel. He told of the blessing that had been received at John Street, and desired that the same spiritual refreshing might be known here and among them. ' We believe that a large number of our chil- dren have been converted ; they believe they have been ; and their friends and relatives believe it too. If we can say this and speak of hundreds, surely we may hope that Surrey Chapel will be able to tell of well-nigh a thousand brought to God. ' He besought the teachers and elders not to hinder the work by standing aloof from it, but the rather to help it on to the best of their ability by taking the children by the hand and pointing them to Jesus. ' Shall it be said that you believe children are old enough to sin, old enough to die, old enough to be lost, and yet not old enough to be saved ? ' 'In our chapel,' continues Mr. Noel, ' I rejoice to say that one of the deacons has had his daughter brought to Christ in tht course of the meetings." This word of exhortation brought forth fruit, for on the succeeding evenings many of the Sunday-school teachers 458 THE HARVEST WORK and other members of the chapel were diligently engaged in speaking to inquirers, and in counselling the anxious. " On Wednesday evening, Mr. Noel was again present at the Surrey Chapel, and after Mr. Hammond had concluded his address, Mr, Noel in touching words referred to the probability of these little ones being made the messengers and heralds of salvation to their parents at home. He went on to narrate a little circumstance that had occurred in con- nection with the John Street meetings. A little girl, eight years old, went home to her father and asked him to look out some texts for her. The father, a man who attended no place of worship, and who had probably not looked into a Bible for years, declined complying with his child's re- quest. ' Well then, father, read me a chapter ; read to me about the prodigal son.' 'If you'll find the place forme I will.' 'I can't find it, father ; you know I can't read well enough to find it.' The father then found out the chapter, and read to his little daughter the fifteenth chap- ter of Luke. ' ' One of the teachers said to me, ' As the result of these meetings we have now a band of happy little Christians. And God has given us this great blessing notwithstanding our unbelief ! ' " The children's special mission, the influence of which has been felt nearly all over the world, grew out of Mr. Hammond's visit to London. He was very anxious that his method of labor for the con- version of the young should be perpetuated, and so it has been most thoroughly. Samuel Spiers, T. B. Bishop, Samuel Tyler, K. Westall and others, have been untiring during the past fifteen years. Men adapted to do this work have been sent OF THE HOLY SPIEIT. 469 bj this society over Europe, and in various climes and languages have held meetings for children, and conducted inquiry meetings much after the manner the evangelist introduced in London during the six- teen weeks of his labors there. In fact, the meetings begun at that time have continued and extended to the present time, and will likely go on for a long time to come in various parts of the world. LETTER FROM T. B. BISHOP. The following letter is one of many showing the precious results of the work begun in London in 1867: " 71 Thistle Grove, West Brompton, London, S. W., October 5, 1877. " It would require a treatise to write fully on the work we have had in this country during the last few years among the children. God has blessed us so greatly that I have felt impelled three years following to go to the Conti- nent to tell of what we have seen. '* We are all deeply grateful to you as the first mercer in this worl:. You certainly gave us the first impulse, and I have been mentioning your name everywhere on the Con- tinent. Our oldest friends all remember you with affec- tion and gratitude. ******* '* We make a practice now of taking down the names of all who stop to the conversational meetings, with age, Sun- day-school, etc., and we send the names afterward to the superintendent of each Sunday-school, asking him to watch 460 THE HARVEST WORK over these children especially, and some Christian friend often undertakes to correspond with these anxious inquirers and young converts. When I was in Switzerland I heard of a lady who is doing a very important evangelistic work among children in Nismes, and who was first led to commence it by reading of your meetings in England. Her name is Mile. Levat, 13 Mai de la Fontaine, Nismes, France. She reads English. "It is quite impossible for us to attempt to write an account of the work among children in England. It is impossible to give any one an idea of the blessing that we see upon the work. No one but those actually in the work can realize it. Sometimes we hear of fifty or sixty young people joining the church in a town where Mr. Spiers has been, or a class of young Christians being formed, and only in this way do we venture to give numbers. " Mr. Spiers has a Christian instruction class of more than two hundred and fifty. At his central services in London these were converted as children, but are now growing up. But of course his great work is in visiting different towns. ' ' We shall not forget you in our prayers. Pray for us, and let us all pray for more laborers in this important part of the vineyard." Mr. Samuel Tyler says : ' ' You will be gratified to hear that the gracious influ- ences of the Holy Spirit are still resting upon the dear chil- dren and youth at Surrey Chapel, and that many little lambs are being gathered into the fold of the Good Shepherd. " On the Sunday evening following Mr. Hammond's ser- vices, a meeting was held especially for little Christians and those whose hearts were impressed with the truth. The fol- lowing placard was posted between the doors, so that every child might see it on entering ; OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 461 CHILDREN'S MEETLNG FOR Those WHO Love Jesus | AND Those who Want TO LovE Jesus. *' The joy beaming on the faces of these dear little ones was most touching to behold, and showed how ripe some of them were for heaven. An inquiry-meeting was announced, to which almost all remained, and during which I have reason to believe many found Jesus. " At the close of this meeting it was found necessary to hold a second inquiry-meeting for about a hundred dear children, who seemed to be deeply solicitous about their own souls or the souls of others, that they all might find Jesus. The interesting cases which now came to light were so many and various that I forbear even to mention them. I give you a letter from a lady teacher who was present, detailing one case : " ' A boy about ten years old seemed distressed ; he was sobbing very much. A dear boy who was sitting by his side, who had himself found Jesus, and who was trying to con- sole him, told me that his distress was on account of his sins. I asked the dear boy how long he had felt such dis- tress for sin. He said, " I felt nothing of this before I came to this meeting to-night. I have heard the gospel which has convicted my conscience." I repeated the verse, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, which he repeated of his own accord, and with great em- phasis, after me. The meeting in the school-room being closed, I found him still sobbing in a room below, which was filled with children, many of whom were seeking Jesus. 462 THE HARVEST WORK I again spoke to him, and he said to me, " Before I came to-night I could play on the Sabbath and do other bad things." "But," I said, "you would not do them will- ingly now?" He replied, "Oh, no." But the weight of his sins seemed almost to crush him, and he said to me, " My sins are great, and I cannot answer for one of them." I said, " My dear boy, you are not required to do this; Jesus Himself answered for every one of them when He died upon the cross. All you have to do is to believe it, and trust in Him, Are you doing this?" He replied, " Yes," and added, " Jesus has paid the mighty debt." I then praj^ed with him, and the meeting being brought to a close, I parted with him in the hope that he would soon find peace in Jesus.' " We find the following in the London Sunday- School Times : " The officers and teachers of the Metropolitan connected schools met in the lecture-hall of the Sunday-School Union on Monday evening, for the purpose of hearing addresses from D. L. Moody, Esq., and Rev. E. Payson Hammond. " Mr. John Sands said it afforded him satisfaction to have the opportunity of alluding to the important work which, under the instrumentality of his dear friend Mr. Hammond, had been carried on in John Street Chapel. It was now three weeks since Mr. Hammond first addressed the children there. On that occasion the usual evening service was given up to them. The senior children of the school connected with the chapel, with the children of the congregation and other children from the neighborhood, filled the area of the chapel. The service was to commence at half-past six ; but many of the children having assembled some time previously, were interested by singing some of Mr, Hammond's hymns to his own tunes, from ' Hymns of OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 463 Salvation.' Then, in the most affectionate manner, Mr. Hammond spoke to them of the truths of the Bible, the great truth of Jesus' mission, His sufferings and death, explaining it with interesting anecdotes, all of which, how- ever, bore upon the one subject of Jesus' love to sinners. The result before the close of that evening was what he had never before witnessed. There could not have been less than three or four hundred children who bowed their heads and wept, feeling deeply their sin in never having loved so precious a Saviour. The following evening the meeting was continued. The children did not need to be invited to come ; they felt constrained to come, and a similar blessing followed. Each evening of the week, except Saturday, they met, and it was difficult to get them away. Not only children, but youths and grown people all seemed alike in- terested and moved. The following week the services were more for adults, but still there was great blessing, and, although the children were requested not to come, many of them came. After the fortnight had expired, Mr. Noel in- vited those who believed that they had found Jesus and were trusting in Him, and those only, to come on the Monday evening to the chapel, and he would have tea pro- vided for them at six o'clock ; but those only were to come who in their hearts and minds believed that they had found Jesus. On the Monday evening three hundred and thirty children came, and before any of them were admitted they were subjected by the senior teachers and others to a scru- tiny, and a number of those who had come merely expect- ing to get tea were sent home. He had conversed with teachers who were sound, excellent Christians, and who said the change in the school was something wonderful. One female teacher had told him she believed all the children in her class were converted except two, and even these two were awakened. He could ascribe it to nothing but the 464 THE HARVEST WORK loving way in which the mission of our blessed Saviour was told to these children. Christ had been precious to his heart for many years, but he had never had his own heart so drawn out in affectionate, tender love for the blessed Jesus, and never did he so feel how little he had loved Him, and how much He deserved to be loved before. " The quarterly meeting of the Superintendents' and Secretaries' Association was held at 56 Old Bailey to hear reports of the result of Mr. Hammond's meetings for chil- dren, and to consider the lessons which might be learned therefrom. " Mr. Samuel Tyler, of Surrey Chapel, bore testimony to the work of grace which had been going on since Mr. Hammond's visit. He argued that we set the evidences of a child's conversion too high. Because the child remains a child, and does not put away childish ways, many think it is not converted at all. An adult Christianity is the Chris- tianity which a child must be forced to wear, would he be regarded as a Christian. He believed the Sunday-school was white to harvest, and that lambs were ready to run into the fold, did they only see the gate open to them ; and why should they be allowed to form the idea that, until they were matured Christians, they are not Christians at all ? In Surrey Chapel they have two meetings a week, and out of those who attend them he believed there were from one hundred to one hundred and fifty little Christians ; and to hear the way those little ones talk of Jesus, you never could begin to doubt. They try to have as little formality as possible in the meetings ; have a good deal of singing, using Mr. Hammond's beautiful hymns and tunes. They adopt silent prayer, and thus teach the little ones to seek the presence of Jesus, and the solemnity of it is very astonishing ; all seemed to be engaged in earnest prayer for a few moments. Then they also have short and simple OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 465 prayers with the children, in which they join very heartily. And one very interesting feature which is quite new to Sabbath-schools, is the many requests for prayer sent up by those little ones for their sisters, and brothers, and friends. Then they read the Scriptures, and expound them, and invite them to come to Jesus now. "Rev. Benjamin Davis, of Greenwich, said he believed that the words of Christ need to be reiterated now as much as when they were spoken — ' Buffer little children to come unto Me.' If we would only stand out of the way, he believed little children would oftener be found coming to Jesus. At Greenwich they had prayed for the blessing, and many expected just the results which have been seen. Large numbers in Greenwich had been led to the Saviour. At one of the meetings at Maize Hill, Mr. Hammond de- sired all who had found Jesus to go into the vestry, and none were permitted to go who did not really believe they had come to Christ. There were one hundred and ten who thus, professed to have found peace. AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE. ' ' A correspondent of the Christian World writes : ' Last Sabbath morning Rev. C. H. Spurgeon preached a sermon having special reference to a series of services to be held there by Mr. Hammond. He urged his people to pray for a great blessing and to do all they could to assist Mr. Ham- mond in the blessed work of leading children to the Sav- iour. In the afternoon the Tabernacle was crowded with an audience of no less than six thousand to listen to Mr. Hammond's earnest address. It was one of the most glo- rious sights we ever beheld. Every one of the children had leajflet hymns reprinted from Mr. Hammond's hymn and tune book, " Hymns of Salvation." Many of the children must have practised the hymns before, for it seemed as if 466 THE HARVEST WORK the whole audience knew them. It was worth going a long distance merely to hear them sing those sweet hymns which Mr. Hammond has himself composed expressly for children. Though the service was professedly for children, the adults present seemed to be as deeply interested as the little ones. We sat near a gray-headed gentleman who was weeping nearly the whole time. At the close there were two in- quiry-meetings, one in the Lecture Hall and one in the Tabernacle, and many were found deeply anxious about their souls. At the close of the service a gentleman, who is one of the officers of Calvary Church in Philadelphia, stated to the teachers that, as the result of a few meetings held in their church by Mr. Hammond, fifty-five young people were received into the church ; that now, after nearly four years, they have the most satisfactory reason to believe that every one of the number experienced at that time a change of heart. He stated that those churches in Philadelphia which threw themselves heartily into the work received a great and permanent blessing. He said it would be the same in the Tabernacle if the Christians all united to pray and labor in the after meetings. Another gentleman, from New Jersey, stated that in the city in which he lived upward of six hundred professed to be con- verted in Mr. Hammond's meetings four years ago, who were soon after received into the churches, and that now it was the unanimous testimony of the different ministers that they never saw converts give better evidence that they had been born again of the Spirit of God. Mr. Tyler, of Surrey Chapel, also stated to the teachers that, as the result of Mr. Hammond's services in Surrey Chapel a year and a half since, he believed about a hundred and fifty have been truly converted. Mr. Hammond sails for America on the 17th inst. His last meeting in the Tabernacle will be held this (Friday) evening.' " OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 467 During these services in London, in 1868, Mr. Moody, who was then paying his first visit to Lon- don, was asked by a leading minister about Mr. Hammond. He replied that he believed that up to that time there could not be less than fifty thousand in the churches in the United States and Canada who had been converted in his meetings. We can- not judge as to the correctness of Mr. Moody's esti- mate. The numbers who have been converted in these services since that time in Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States have, without doubt been much larger than those before 1868. Let no one think Mr. Hammond regards himself as anything but a shepherd^ s dog, as he calls him- self. He says he only assists the shepherds of the flocks to coax some of the stray sheep and lambs into the fold. Those who Jcnow him believe that he seeks continually to hide behind the cross. We have frequently heard people who have attended his meetings say that after a little they lose sight of the speaker. How could he expect the blessing of God unless it was his chief aim to honor God in seeking to hold up Christ and to lead souls to Him. At times we know this evangelist has been so overwhelmed with the sense of God's presence and his own shortcomings that, with Job, he has in self-abasement and tears been forced to cry out, " I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear ; but now mine eye seeth Thee : wherefore 468 THE HARVEST WORK I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." He realizes that only so long as he heeds the words of the Master, ^' Without Me ye caa do nothing," may he expect His blessing. Perhaps no verse in the Bible does he repeat oftener than this '^ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." GENERAL BOOTH, OF THE SALVATION ARMY, quite surprised Mr. Hammond by telling him in 1868 that it was through his influence that he was induced to give up his stated charge and to go into the work in which he has been since engaged. General Booth told him that in 1861, when he was holding meetings in London, he asked his advice as to whether he should trust the Lord for support and go forward as an evangelist and do the work God gave him. The encouragement he received from Mr. Hammond was the turning point in his history. A letter which Mr. Hammond received from Gen- eral Booth the past year confirms this statement. Some one has said that '' We are touching cords that will vibrate throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity." How little do we know of the influence of lives consecrated to the Lord's service. ST. LOTIIS. Dr. C. E. Kabb, of the Herald cmd Presbyter, says : " In St. Louis, last winter, the largest halls in the city OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 469 were crowded day after day, and one of the pastors has recently stated that over five thousand persons were added to the churches of St. Louis as the result of these special services. " Rev. James H. Brooks, D.D., of St. Louis, is one of the best known and ablest pastors in that city. When it was proposed to invite Mr. Hammond to St. Louis he op- posed the movement, and for a week after the meetings began he did not attend. At length he went, and then wrote to a friend on the Pacific Coast, in a letter we have been permitted to read and to make extracts from, as fol- lows : " ' Without startling denunciations and thrilling appeals, but in the simple presentation of Gospel Truth, men and women, all through the immense audience, were bowed down under the burden of conscious guilt, and asking with profound solemnity, whoUy.^unlike the boisterous emotions of a spurious revival, " What must we do to be saved V ' ' ' Since that evening I have been in almost constant at- tendance, and only eternity can unfold the blessed and far- reaching results of those wonderful meetings. Backsliders have been reclaimed by scores ; the fallen and the friend- less have been freely and fully forgiven, to the praise and glory of God's sovereign grace, that delights to pluck brands from the burning ; and men and women of culture and refinement, giving up the vain attempt to establish their own righteousness, have gratefully submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. It is quite certain that never before in the history of St. Louis has there been a M^ork of the Holy Spirit so deep, so pervading, or so promising of a harvest yet to come, and under God this work has been chiefly due to the indefatigable labors of Mr. Hammond. *' ' None of the ministers, nor all of us together, could attract such vast crowds, and it may be truly said of him. 470 THE HARVEST WORK as it was said of his Master : " The common people heard him gladly. ' ' Yet, not only they, but all of every class and condition, so far as I know, who have regularly attended these meetings, have been drawn more and more closely, and bound more and more tenderly to him, and now that he is taking his departure, a feeling of general sadness rests upon the Christian community, as though each were called to say farewell to a beloved friend. "'There are three things about his ministrations that have particularly attracted my attention and elicited my approbation. The first is that he is a man of prayer. He seems to live in the secret of Jehovah's presence, and car- ries with him a sense so habitual of the Lord's nearness, that continually in conducting his meetings, or in talking with inquirers, he is darting up ejaculatory supplications to the Throne of Grace. The second is the honor he puts upon the word of God. The th#rd is his singular fidelity in holding up the cross. Never once has he lowered the standard of truth, and his aim has been the glory of God in genuine conversions.' " COMMODORE DAVIDSON AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. During the meetings which Mr. Hammond con- ducted in St. Louis in 1874 Commodore W. F. Davidson, in a very striking manner, was led to believe that he had received Christ as his Saviour. He at once banished liquor from all his line of boats on the Mississippi River. He had received the large sum of thirteen thousand dollars a year for the privilege of allowing others a little space in which to sell it. . During these past eight years he could have received this amount per annum, which OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 471 would have amounted to over one hundred thou- sand DOLLARS. This fact has several times been published and we know it to be reliable. In spite of this strong inducement, the commodore remains inflexible, and will not, for any considera- tion, allow liquor to be sold on his boats. Would that owners of steamboats all over our land might follow his example ! How many thou- sands of hearts would be made to rejoice, and how many would be saved from a drunkard's grave ! CHAPTEE XXIIl. California — San Jose— The Robber Vasquez— Jews and Catholics — Gambler Converted — Who is God ? — Dr. Babb — All-night Prayer-meeting— Sacramento— Chinamen — Railroad Men— Galesburg Letter — San Francisco— Earthquake — Sarah B. Cooper— Prayer vs. Pistols— Dr. A. L. Stone's Statement- Farewell Meetings— Permanent Results in St. Louis— Oak- land— Tabernacle Meetings — Great Crowds — Theological Pro- fessor— Co venant. In the winter of 1874-5 Mr. Hammond paid a second visit to California. He spent at that time upon the Pacific Coast nine months. His first meetings were held in San Jose. Dr. C. E. Babb gave lengthy accounts of the work in that city in the Cincinnati Herald and Presbyter^ of which he has long been one of the editors. We can only give a few extracts : *' Rev. E. P. Hammond has commenced a series of meet- ings in San Jos^. On Sabbath afternoon fifteen hundred were present, half of them children. Mr. Hammond preached to them in his earnest and tender way about the love of Jesus, His sufferings and death for them, and their guilt in not loving Him. All were attentive — many were in tears. After the sermon the ministers present and others THE HARVEST WORK. 473 went through the congregation talking with the anxious. The Spirit of God was manifestly present, and some of the brethren thought that there were at least a hundred hope- ful conversions before the meeting closed. ' ' In the next issue he wrote as follows : ** Since I wrote last week there has been marked progress in meetings conducted by Mr. Hammond. The attendance at the morning prayer-meetings has more than doubled. Nearly five hundred were present this morning. This in a city of twelve thousand inhabitants, with less than a thou- sand church members, shows that Christians at least are pretty generally waked up. The hall, which holds about twelve hundred, is crowded every evening. Many stand in the aisles during the services. Mr. Hammond has drawn to these services, and interested in them, hundreds who never go to church. In passing through the congregation night after night I find many who say : ' I have not been in a church for five, ten, and even fifteen years.' I find others who say : ' I have not opened my Bible since I came to this State.' California is full of backsliders — men and women brought up in Christian homes at the East — but who have gone far astray over here. Mr. Hammond is reaching this class of persons. He is drawing them to hear the gos- pel, and some of them are embracing it. There have been some remarkable answers to prayer and some deeply inter- esting cases of conversion already. There is a smaller hall, holding about two hundred, connected with Music Hall. Into this hall, for two evenings past, we have invited the young men after the sermon. The first evening the hall was well filled. Last evening it was crowded. At least two hundred young men, many of the class that we call hood- lums, remained in that room for two hours, all quiet, atten- tive and respectful ; some deeply convicted of sin. We 474 THE HARVEST WORK talked to them both collectively and individually, and hope that many of them will be converted. " Yesterday Mr. Hammond, with a large number of gen- tlemen and ladies, visited the jail and held a meeting with the prisoners. They talked and prayed with Vasquez, the notorious robber, who has recently been convicted of murder and sentenced to be hung. They found him penitent, and anxious for religious instruction and the prayers of Chris- tians. He (Vasquez) took the hand of a little boy, eight years old, the son of the Baptist minister, and said to him, ' Won't you pray for me ? ' Pointing to a lady who had been reading the Bible to him, he said, ' The priest came to see me ; he want my money ; but that lady loves my soul.' *' This morning a Jewish lady sent in a request for prayer, saying that she wanted to be a Christian, and that her hus- band, who is an infidel, told her if she found that Christ was really the Son of God, and could make her happy, he would become a Christian too. In going through the con- gregation, after the sermon, we meet some curious speci- mens of humanity. Said a young hoodlum to me the other night : ' I don't want religion. I am just as happy as a clam in high water.' I told him that some of us believed in a higher life than that of a clam, and that even if he was only a clam he might not always be in high water. He was taken aback by having his slang comparison retorted on him, and listened quite seriously as I preached Christ to him. "Mr. Hammond compares Scripture with Scripture, and brings out hidden treasures from familiar passages in a way that delights and edifies God's people. Dr. James Eells, who came from San Francisco to attend the meetings, said to me ' that single Bible reading was worth to me all the cost and time expended in coming here. ' The minister who feeds his people on the Word, who makes it not only palat- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 475 able but nutritive to them, will have a church strong in the Lord. At the morning prayer-meeting Brother Hammond feeds us, and then we go out and work for Christ with joy and with success. " One remarkable feature of the meetings is the number of Jews, Catholics and infidels who attend them. Last night I said to a man who remained to the inquiry-meeting : ' Are you a Christian ? ' * No,' he replied ; ' I am a Jew.' * Ah, ' said I, ' then I do not wonder that you are interested in these meetings, for Jesus of Nazareth, about whom Mr. Hammond has so much to say, was one of your own people. He was the best and wisest Jew that ever lived. He is ac- knowledged by the foremost scholars in the world to be a far greater Lawgiver than Moses, and His kingdom to-day is a thousandfold more powerful than that of Solomon. You ought to be proud of Him, even if you don't love and won't serve Him.' This seemed to the man a new view of the case. He stammered out : ' I don't care about Jesus. You know our people crucified Him. I just stayed to hear the music' 'Well,' said I, 'they are singing the praises of Jesus. And now tell me, isn't your heart sick with hope deferred about your Messiah ? No one has come claiming to be He that was promised for many long centuries. Meanwhile, Jesus, whom your people rejected, is received as the Son of God by all the enlightened nations of the earth. Isn't it time for you to conclude that your people made a mistake when they crucified Him ? ' He seemed puzzled. He sat on an hour after I left him, still listeniag to the praises of Jesus. A Jew told Mr. Hammond last night : ' I come to all these evening meetings. I like them ; but I dare not come in the daytime, for then they would all abuse me and say that I was becoming a Chris- tian.' How like Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night ! ' ' I have talked with several Catholics in these meetings. 476 THE HAEVEST WORK They manifest a real interest in the services, deny that they rely upon the priest for pardon, say that they trust in the atonement of Christ, and that confession and absolution are but helps. They go to their priests, not for salvation, but for advice and encouragement. I have not found such Catholics anywhere else. *' The infidels that attend are the most shallow specimens of that class that I have ever seen. They are generally dis- ciples of Tom Paine. They bring up the objections that have been answered a thousand times, and that no infidel anywhere else would think of urging in this day. I meet men night after night who don't believe in the immortality of the soul — whose creed is gross materialism. I meet others who say ' there is no God.' It is useless to reason with these men. They reply to every argument : ' I won't believe in anything that I can't see. If there is a God, show Him to me. ' I asked one of these men one night : * Who is President of the United States ? ' ' Why, General Grant, of course,' he replied. 'Did you ever see General Grant ? ' I asked. ' No. ' ' Then you have no right to be- lieve in him. You are living in this country, and you don't know that it has any President.' ' Oh, that is difierent,' he said. But when I asked him to show me the dijfference he was silent. And yet these atheists and materialists come to the meetings night after night, and often stay until eleven o'clock. They are drawn in by the Spirit of God, and in His own set time, if we are faithful, the truth will reach their hearts. " Some of the conversions thus far are worthy of special mention. A young man of good education and address came here from San Francisco to practise his profession as a gambler. The singing in the street in front of the hall where the meetings are held attracted his attention. After the choir had sung a few pieces, the crowd that was drawn OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 477 together was invited to come up into the hall and hear Mr. Hammond. He went, listened, was interested, was con- victed. His struggle with his convictions was protracted and severe ; but in three or four days he found peace. He appears now to be a humble, earnest Christian. He has made several speeches in the hall and at the open-air meet- ings, and gives promise of usefulness. " Another sporting man had just bought a ticket for the races, strayed into the meeting with it in his pocket, be- came interested, forgot all about the races, thought only of his sins and of the love of Christ. He, too, has been con- verted. " A man who had important business at Hollister had bought a ticket for that place. As it was an hour before train time, he went into the hall to see what was going on. He was held there by the Spirit of God until the cars had gone. He came in the evening, came again next morning, sought and found the Lord, and is now working to bring others to him. For more than a week he has had that rail- road ticket in his pocket, but he says he can't go until the meetings are over." Kev. Dr. Woodbridge, editor of the Occident^ was greatly interested in the work in California, and did all he could to promote it. He says that during one of Mr. Hammond's addresses in the Music Hall, crowded with fifteen hundred people, a man arose and interrupted him by asking, '' Who is GodV " Mr, Hammond paused, while a death-like stillness per- vaded the audience, and then replied slowly and impres- sively, ' God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness 478 THE HARVEST WORK and truth. ' He then related the incident of how that an- swer came to be prepared in the Westminster Assembly — the previous discussions, the anxiety in respect to the state- ment, the solemn vote of prayer, and the words that sprang like inspiration to the lips of him who led in the invocation. This was followed by a close personal appeal to the person who had addressed him, which fairly thrilled the audience.'* In another column of the OcGident Dr. Babb " The whole city is roused. The meetings are talked of everywhere, and multitudes are thinking, more or less seri- ously, about things spiritual and eternal. " Last Sabbath evening, while Mr. Hammond was preach- ing to an overflowing audience in Music Hall, the Methodist Episcopal Church was full of Christians, who spent more than three hours in earnest, agonizing prayer for God's blessing on San Josg. I never attended a meeting on which was poured such a spirit of ' grace and supplication. ' In the great congregation in the Hall that evening, there were scoffers and blasphemers ; but there were many also con- victed of sin and awakened to their need of a Saviour. " Mr. Hammond is working indefatigably. He is endear- ing himself to multitudes by his simplicity and godly sin- cerity, his burning love for Christ and for the souls of men. He conducts the morning prayer-meeting, expounding the Scriptures and talking with inquirers. He goes to Santa Clara in the afternoon and holds a children's meeting ; then he preaches in Music Hall at night, and talks with saints and sinners for hours after preaching. Between these ser- vices he conducts street meetings, or goes to the jail to talk and pray with the prisoners. He is busy all the time, and the wonder is that even his stalwart frame can endure a pressure so constant and so great. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 479 " The prayer-meeting tliis morning voted, unanimously, to send an address to all the ministers and churches on this coast, telling them what God is doing here, asking them to pray for us, and exhorting them to seek and expect a gen- eral revival of religion. ' ' Dr. Babb conducted two all-nigbt prayer-meet- ings at this time in San Jose. It may be truly said that, in answer to much prayer, a work of God's Holy Spirit began in San Jose which extended through various parts of California, Washington Territory, British Columbia, and even to Alaska, two thousand miles north. Some months after Mr. Hammond left San Jose Dr. Babb wrote as follows : *' The young converts in San Jose, and some older Chris- tians with young hearts, have organized a band of Christian workers, and are going all over the valley, in delegations of from ten to twenty-five, holding meetings. They are a noble company of lay laborers, and are doing a vast amount of good. This is the spirit that the Church needs. The primitive disciples went everywhere preaching the gospel. They were all workers. They were all evangelists." MEETINGS IN SACKAMENTO. On the first of February, 1875, a series of meet- ings was begun in Sacramento in the Horticultural Hall, a building fitted up for the purpose, accom- modating several thousand persons. The following letter written by Dr. C. E. Babb and signed by the pastors of the various evangelical churches in San Jose, helped to prepare the way 480 THE HARVEST WORK for the work in Sacramento. We insert it, hoping that God may use it to prepare the way in other places where the evangelist may labor in the future ; it may be in England the coming winter. *' To THE Ministers of the Gospel in Sacramento : "Dear Brethren: As our brother, Rev. E. P. Ham- mond, who has been with us for four weeks, laboring day and night to impart unto us spiritual gifts and to bring sin- ners to Christ, goes to your city to-day, we would most affectionately commend him to your confidence and love, and would entreat you for his sake and the Master's to co- operate with him promptly. His methods of working, though they seemed strange at first to some of us, we now regard as wise, and admirably adapted to interest men in the gospel and to bring them under its power. Those methods have been adopted by him after years of study, and their efficiency has been proved by his uniform and wonderful success as an evangelist. If we had realized more fully at once the importance of doing whatever Brother Hammond suggested; if we had organized, the first day of the meeting, such a choir of singers as we now have ; if we had seen to it that the ' Song Evangel ' was in the hands of all, so that the whole congregation could join in the singing ; if we had united with him more heartily in personal work, * warning every man and entreating every man ; ' if we had gone more from house to house, inviting the people to come and hear and rallying Christians to Mr. Hammond's sup- port ; if we had advertised more, secured fuller reports, held more neighborhood prayer-meetings, distributed more religious literature, gone oftener into the streets singing the praises of Jesus and preaching the gospel ; if, in a word, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 481 we had been, from the first, more like our leader, ' instant ia season and out of season,' we might be rejoicing to-day in a blessing richer even than that which excites our won- der, our gratitude and our praise. God has done great things for us under the leadership of Brother Hammond." The Chinamen of Sacramento soon became in- terested, and attended the meetings to the number of a hundred and fifty. Their interpreter spoke in a low voice so as not to disturb the main body of the great congregation. Many of them were deeply interested, and some of them gave evidence of being truly converted. Frequent meetings were held in the Central Pacific Railroad shops, where something Kke twelve hundred men were employed. Great numbers assembled at noon, day after day, and listened to the words addressed to them by Mr. Hammond and others. At one of these gatherings Mr. Hammond read the following letter from Galesburg, 111., where he held crowded meetings for four weeks, just before going to California : ^^ I am a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy "Railroad. At first I scoffed at the meetings. My wife made me go on Sunday, and my heart was pricked, and I saw where I was stand- ing. I give myself to Jesus, and am now bearing the cross as manfully as I can. I've been baptized, and am living a new life, and it is sunshine at home where it was quite dark at times. If you are 482 THE HARVEST WORK engaged where there is a railroad place, read our names aloud, for I have many a railroad friend in California. " James K. P. Rowland." RESULTS IN SACRAMENTO. Bev. Henry H. Rice, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Sacramento, writing to the Occident J says : " The results are good without any admixture of evil. The impression left on the city at the close of the Union services was beautiful. No unpleasant memories jar upon our feelings ; no transgressing of denominational courtesy ; no proud attempts to number Israel ; no proselyting nor any of those contradictory experiences which the world are so ready to charge upon the Church in times of Union work. In this particular, God has been very gracious to us and has proved sufficiently that His Church on earth is one. " On the last Sabbath in January the Union services be- gan, and they closed on the second Sabbath of March. Six weeks of blessed labor with one heart and one voice. I am told — for being a recent arrival from the East I have to be * told ' everything — I am told that never before in Sacra- mento has there been such a thorough union of the different parts of the Christian Church as in the present revival. " Our dear Brother Hammond will never cease to be remembered with gratitude for striking the heavy blows which welded the churches together, melted as they are by the Holy Spirit. May the Master prosper him wherever in the Master's name he goes, and may God spare him yet many years for the blessed work to which He has so evi- dently called him. ' ' OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 483 REVIVAL IN SAN FRANCISCO. The pastors of Sacramento were very anxious that the evangelist should be permitted to see a great work of God in San Francisco. They, there- fore, sent to the ministers and Christians of that city the following statement : " We, the undersigned, pastors of Sacramento, -would ac- knowledge our gratitude to Almighty God for the gracious revival which is now visiting this city. And we desire also to express our appreciation of the labors of Rev. E. P. Ham- mond, who has conducted the revival services during the last three weeks. Mr. Hammond commenced his labors with the children, and from the first the influence was re- markable. Under his addresses, and the personal appeals of Christians in the inquiry-meetings which followed, many were bathed in tears, and with bowed heads or bended knees confessed their sins against God, and yielded their hearts to Jesus. In four days over three huDdred professed conversion, and signed the covenant. " The Pavilion, which was fitted up to accommodate about twenty-five hundred people, has been filled with adults at nearly all the evening services from the com- mencement, and on Sunday evenings hundreds turned away, unable to find standing room, even so much as about the door. A general interest has pervaded the city, and pro- found impressions have been made, which we believe will never be lost, though some may not yield at this time. " Mr. Hammond's methods of conducting his meetings are somewhat unique, but after becoming familiar with them, as we have during three weeks of earnest co-operation with him in labor, we can testify that they have been greatly blessed by God in the conversion of sinners. 484 THE HARVEST WORK ' ' His great heart of sympathy, which, like that of Paul, yearns for the salvation of all for whom Christ died, and his inexhaustible fund of thrilling incidents, many of which have come under his personal observation, together with a marvellous aptness in applying these illustrations to the hearts and consciences of his hearers, often make his ap- peals irresistible, and great audiences seem under his con- trol. But he never fails to lay the spoils at the feet of Jesus. ' ' Brother Hammond leaves Sacramento in a blaze of revival, and carries with him the love of all hearts. Our prayers shall follow him wherever he goes, that he may still have many years of service in his Master's vineyard, and that he may gather many sheaves for Jesus. "J. E. Dwinell, Congregational ; A. M. Hough, Meth- odist ; J. L. Trefren, Methodist ; C. Chamberlain, Meth- odist (Southern) ; H. Taylor, First Baptist ; H. W. Read, Second Baptist ; H. H. Rice, Presbyterian." Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper says : " San Francisco is accustomed to being well shaken up, but not after the manner of its present shaking. The sturdy old Californian stands unblanched amid the convul- sive upheavings of old Mother Earth ; in fact, he is on terms of intimate fellowship with riotous earthquakes, but of these heaven-quakes he is profoundly ignorant, and they seem to jostle and start him from his wonted equilibrium. " On Saturday evening, February 20th, Mr. Hammond began his work in this city. A daily prayer-meeting had been held for seven weeks, and the rank and file of the Lord's army had been burnishing up their weapons of war- fare, and were well equipped for action. They were ready for marching orders, and Mr. Hammond was quite ready to issue the word of command. And so it came to pass, for OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 485 the first time in the history of our stirring and beautiful city, that the hosts of our God started forth for mighty conquest. " On the afternoon of Sunday, the 21st, an immense as- semblage of children gathered in Dr. Stone's church, one of the largest audience rooms of the city, to listen to Mr. Ham- mond. The meeting was of the most interesting char- acter, a deep and earnest feeling pervading the entire gath- ering. Mr Hammond loves children and reaches them with magical facility. There have been many children's meetings, all of which have been well attended, and a variety of most touching and interesting scenes and inci- dents have characterized these immense gatherings. The stories and illustrations given by Mr. Hammond are calcu- lated to awaken in the children a lively sense of the tender and brooding love of the blessed Redeemer, and turn their little hearts in grateful adoration to One who has done so much for them. Among the earliest fruits of this blessed revival season was the conversion of a young miss, of about fifteen, whose case embodies much of unusual interest. Naturally bright, vivacious, and of strong will power, she possesses decidedly pronounced characteristics, both of mind and heart. Underlying much of external sweetness and attractiveness was the latent heat of volcanic action, that on occasion could spend itself with suggestive force. Her father, one of our most popular pastors, had felt the deepest concern for her spiritual welfare. She had long been a member of his Bible class, which afforded additional opportunity for earnest teaching and exhortation. But so resolutely had she set herself against all appeal that she would not only evince the most frigid indifference, but would, when appeal waxed fervent, not infrequently, lit- erally stop her ears with her fingers in a half-vexed, half- defiant, half-playful attitude of resistance. When asked if 486 THE HARVEST WOKK she loved Jesus, she would promptly respond, ' No, nor do I wish to love Him ! ' And yet, with it all, there was so much about the girl that was irresistibly sweet and attrac- tive ! Her shibboleth was smiling indifference and cool resistance. But prayers were going up for her, many and fer- vent. During the first week of the meetings she was brought into the fold of that loving Jesus whom she had said she did not wish to love, and at a morning meeting the following letter, which she had written to Mr. Hammond, was read : " ' I have at last found the Lord. I came home yester- day, after the meeting, and read that little tract entitled " The New Heart." I read it and prayed to Jesus that I might become a Christian. I gave Him my heart, and I hope and pray He will always keep it. . . . " ' Since writing the above my father has been talking and praying with me, and I have never been so happy before in my life. I wonder if Jesus is as happy as I am ! I know He is, for He loves all children, and as they give their hearts to Him I know He is very happy. ' ' ' Yours sincerely, " 'Marie.' "Mr. Hammond is laying siege to the strongholds on California Street among the bulls and bears of the Stock Exchange. His first meeting among the brokers was held this day, and some three or four thousand men gathered to listen. They are used to excitement down there on ' 'change,' but the Mighty Spirit can do His work, and nothing can hinder if but faith take hold on the promises. * ' Union Hall has been crowded at every one of the mass- meetings held there, and it was estimated that in that hall and the churches near it, and at the street meetings in the neighborhood, on last Sunday evening, were ten thousand people, who left their homes hoping to find admission." OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 487 PRAYER VS. PISTOLS. ' A young man of the hoodlum class swaggered into Union Hall with a brace of pistols in his pockets. He was dissipated, miserable, desperate. He was looking for a man who wronged him, and meant, if he found that man, to shadow him until he got a chance to shoot him, and then, if in danger of being arrested, to shoot himself. He was arrested, but it was before he found the man. He was arrested by the truth and the Spirit of God. He went home under deep conviction. He came to the meeting next day. He learned to pray and to trust in Christ. He threw his pistols aside, and standing up in the hall last night he told the story of his conversion, of his peace and happiness, of his love for his enemies, and of his earnest desire for their salvation. It was a thrilling scene, and made a deeper im- pression upon impenitent men than any sermon could have made. " At one of the meetings in Union Hall Mr. H. said : * If there is any infidel in the house, a man who says, " I don't believe in the Bible or in Christianity," let him rise up.' A young man, a civil engineer, arose. Rev. Dr. Cox sought out this young man in the inquiry-meeting, and finding him to be honest in his skepticism, he urged him to seek the solution of his doubts by prayer and the reading of the Bible. The young man finally promised the doctor that he would go home and read the fifty- first Psalm on his knees. He kept his promise, and while reading he was convicted of sm. His skepticism vanished. He sought and found salva- tion through Christ, and last night stood up before the great congregation, which was composed of men only, num- bering about four thousand, and told his experience." Mr. Hammond remained about nine weeks in San Francisco. After lie had been there four weeks a 488 THE HARVEST WORK fellow-townsman of Mr. H. wrote to the Kockville, Conn. , Journal as follows : *' I suppose I shall not exceed the truth in stating that since arriving in San Francisco, Mr. Hammond has held one hundred services and spoken to fully one hundred thou- sand people. I am not informed of the number of conver- sions, but know they reach into the thousands and include among the number Jews, infidels, heathens, harlots, back- sliders, business men, California Street brokers, and chil- dren in large numbers, and, judging from the tone of the papers, some of the reporters must have been somewhat softened, if not changed. In fact, it has been a general revival of religion among all classes and conditions of men. "Mr. Hammond has been blessed abundantly, and he gives the whole glory to Christ ; this seems to be his pre- vailing thought, ' Jesus does it all.' " Dr. A. L. Stone, one of the leading pastors in San Francisco, gives SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORK. "... All the Methodist, Baptist, Congregational and Presbyterian churches, with their pastors, and many mem- bers of Episcopal churches, here met, and sang, and prayed, and labored together in this blessed confederation. A spirit of fraternal love, tenderness, and confidence has character- ized, from first to last, this intercourse and co-operation. I know that I speak the feelings of all hearts when I testify that each has been to each a brother and a helper in the Lord, with no sentiment or sign of any such thing as jeal- ousy, or shyness, or distrust. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 489 ** Under such favoring auspices, and under this union banner, Mr. Hammond commenced his labors. His first discourses were to children and youth. They came by thousands to hear him. His great theme was, day after day, the love and sacrifice of Jesus. The preaching was repeated in the beautiful hymns of the ' Song Evangel,' the singing of which was a marked and effective feature of the meetings. The children were not frightened and terrified into a state of morbid excitement. They were led gently and tenderly to a waiting Saviour. By many a beautiful and varied illustration they were shown how the Good Shepherd was seeking His straying lambs. Their emotions in these meetings were those of weeping penitence and joy- ful trust. " They entered into covenant with Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. The scenes where they were assembled were scenes of childlike sorrow, gladness, and peace. No man who frequented these meetings could doubt the genuineness and wholesomeness of the effects produced. I think that in my own Sabbath-school not less than one hundred and fifty of the dear children and youth have given their hearts to Christ. And in other schools the proportion has been, I believe, quite as large. " A prominent feature of all the meetings, for adults as well as for children, has been and is the honor put upon the Word of God. The reading and expounding of the Script- ures daily, bringing out in fresh and impressive forms the riches of the divine teaching, have kept the whole move ment in closest harmony with inspired truth. " God has been magnified as a hearer and answerer of prayer. Addresses are supplemented with prayer. The sermon pauses for prayer. Conversation with inquirers be- gins, proceeds, and concludes with prayer. "Christians are harnessed into faithful working. They 490 THE HARVEST WORK are humbled, and revived, and strengthened, and glad- dened by this continual labor for souls ; following each dis- course with personal pleading with all who will receive and listen to their words. " The sermons are distinctly evangelical. They give the marrow of the gospel. If they hold up men's danger, they show the way of life in a crucified Redeemer. " The preacher does not philosophize much, though a clear intelligence of the system of revealed truth appears in every discourse. He does not depend upon argument and logic ; his forte is in illustrating in every variety of way, by figures, and tropes, and symbols, and especially by anec- dotes and facts, the one way of salvation. He succeeds wonderfully in leaving the minds and hearts of liis hearers in the happiest attitude for receiving and obeying the truth." FAREWELL MEETING AT THE LICK HOUSE. As guests of J. W. EL. Campbell a large company of ministers and members of the Union Revival Committee, with their wives, met. the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond, Thm-sday evening, April 16, at the Lick House. JSTearly all the city pastors were present, and a large sprinkling of members of their flocks. In the splendid dining hall, where eight tables were filled with guests. Bishop Peck presided, with Mrs. Hammond by his side, and the company were requested by him to rise and sing grace before meat, which made the hall ring with sounds novel to the waiters, unused to such an interruption of their duties. After the supper, the Bishop called the company OF THE HOLY SPIEIT. 491 to order, and having expressed his sense of the honor done him in asking him to preside at this social interchange of views and feelings, referred to Mr. Hammond, ^'our honored fellow- worker for Jesus, ' ' as the occasion of their gathering, and called on Dr. Stone to speak on the theme thus suggested. An interesting pamphlet was published at the time, giving a verbatim report of the speeches made at that meeting and at the farewell gathering in Union Hall, but we have not space to quote from it at length. Rev. Mr. Pond said : '' The lambs must be fed ; pastors, mature Christians, and Sunday-school teachers must attend to this. What a blessing it would be to this city ten years hence if the two thousand persons who have signed the covenant and thus expressed their new-found hope in Christ, should hold fast to the truth and grow up pillars in the temple of God." After reading reports of meetings like these in San Francisco, the question naturally arises in the minds of some, What shall he the jperinanent re- sults f The following notice of the lasting effects of the revival in St. Louis, from the New York Observer^ will help to answer this question : " It is now twelve months since we were in the midst of a great revival, one which was said to have added five to seven thousand to our evangelical churches. Some of the 492 THE HAEVEST WORK most desperate men — infidels, drunkards, etc. — became members of our churches. Those I have personally known have not only continued faithful, but have grown in grace and Christian manhood. There may have been many who have fallen, but I have not heard of them. The pastors do not complain of sad falls and shipwrecked converts. ' ' The long revival of three months, when Mr. Hammond was the central figure, did not lessen the influence, in his own church, of any pastor in the city. Now we are having union meetings again in two different sections of the city. They are conducted similarly to those of last winter. Pas- tors of different churches unite in conducting the exercises. The interest is deepening. We are hoping to see blessed results. Already over one hundred have been added to one of our churches." THE TABERNACLE MEETINGS IN OAKLAND, CAL. A correspondent of the London Christiom writes as follows : " Rev. E. P. Hammond has been for four months in Cali- fornia, and he has so often told us of his experience in Great Britain, we feel that multitudes of Christians there will rejoice to hear some account of the blessing of God which has followed his labors here. Never during our twenty-five years' existence as a State has there been any such movement of the great masses of our population as the present. ' ' After spending some weeks in our neighboring city, San Francisco, he came to Oakland, and held his first public meeting on Sunday afternoon, April 18th. Oakland is a conservative, dignified city ; she aspires to be the ' Athens cf the Pacific,' and is cautious of innovations. This spirit extends even to our churches, and many of their members OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 493 and some pastors did not cordially approve of the invitation which, by vote of the majority, was extended to Mr. Ham- mond. Yet they resolved to lay aside all personal preju- dice, and aid him in his labors, which God had so signally owned elsewhere. The first meeting was for children, and filled to overflowing the largest church in the city. At its close an inquiry meeting was held, and many expressed themselves anxious in regard to their eternal welfare. In the evening such a throng assembled that a second church was opened and filled to overflowing. During the following days the interest so increased that it was evident some larger place of meeting must be provided. The committee of arrangements, therefore, caused to be erected a large pavilion, capable of seating thirty-five hundred people, and affording standing room for one thousand more. This building was crowded to its utmost capacity. * ' On the platform with Mr. Hammond were clergymen of every Protestant denomination, who rendered valuable aid in the inquiry meeting. To insure some degree of system, the pavilion was divided into sections, for each one of which one man was responsible in endeavoring to see that no one was passed by who desired a word of religious in- struction. While this personal effort was going on, the choir continued singing, and there was not a night when many did not linger, till, at eleven o'clock or later, the gas was turned ofE, and they reluctantly left the place." At the end of Mr. Hammond's three weeks' labor ten hundred and fifty had expressed a hope in Christ, and given in their names and ages. It is estimated that nearly as many more have begun the new life, and this out of a population of only twenty thousand. 494 THE HARVEST WORK A professor Id our Theological Seminary, scholarly and conservative in an unusual degree, said : ''I desire to thank God for the variety of ways in which He speaks to the sinner's heart. "Words that would fail to impress me bring other souls to Christ, and men whom 1 might preach to for years without elBEect are persuaded by the earnest call of our dear brother to choose the better way." THE COVENANT. In Mr. Hammond's book, '^ The Conversion of Children," he gives a full account of the manner in which he was led some fifteen years ago to adopt the use of what he calls the " Covenant Book." Some well-known, responsible person is usually selected by the pastors to examine each person pro- fessing conversion, and to allow them, if they choose, to subscribe their names to the following covenant : ^' I, the undersigned, hope I have found Jesus, to be my precious Saviour ; and I promise, with His help, to live as His loving child and faithful servant all my life. " ' They shall ash the way to Zion with their faces thitherward^ saying^ Come and let tcs join oiir selves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not he forgotten.^ — Jeremiah 50 : 5." It may be interesting to know the relative ages of tKose who signed the covenant during the first three weeks of the meetings in Oakland. It will also 01* THE HOLY SPIRIT. 495 give some idea of this characteristic of the work in other places. Dr. R. E. Cole prepared this table. AGES. 5 to 10 109 10 to 15 372 15 to 20 283 20 to 30 68 30 to 40 29 40 to 50 16 50 to 60 11 Over 60 4 Not given 158 EXPEEIENCE OF AN INFIDEL. At one of the meetings in the Tabernacle at Oak- land, Mr. Hammond introduced Dr. My rich, who had been converted a few weeks before in San Francisco. " He said that, when on his way home from Dr. Stone's church, he chanced to pass a place of infidel convocation. At his suggestion to the lady accompanying him they stepped in for a few minutes to hear what should be going on. The exercises were in denunciation of Christianity. The utterances were so coarse, so abusive and withal so un- true, from even the stand-point of an unbeliever in Chris- tianity, which position the speaker then held, that he could not forbear taking the platform when opportunity was offered. He could but feel ' this is your mother's religion which is so coarsely attacked, your mother's God, your mother's Bible,' and felt that his manhood called upon him for some reply. Taking the stand he proceeded to speak of 496 THE HAUVEST WORK the effect of Christianity upon civilization, and wound up by saying, ' Where, except under the reign of Christianity, can you show me a country where a woman sits as the presiding oflScer of an assembly like this ? Where, except where Christianity has made it possible, can you find woman sit- ting side by side with man, his peer in condition and cult- ure ? ' The speaker related that, from the moment of con- cluding his speech, he felt self-convicted of the truth of Christianity, in a deeper sense than that which he had been defending. He resolved to give way to this conviction. He did so. He threw himself with all energy into the San Francisco meetings. Did all he could for men of his own acquaintance, and of like standing, in which, as well as in his personal hope, God had blessed him exceedingly. This address carried great power with it. Dr. M. is a man of calm and dignified bearing, of unusually prepossessing ap- pearance, and evidently spoke out of all the candor of sin- cere and earnest conviction. ' ' Mr. Hammond held meetings in Stockton and various other places in Californiaj but we have not space to give particulars. •General O. O. Howard and all the ministers of Portland, Oregon, sent him an urgent invitation to visit that city. A great work was accomplished in Oregon, "Wash- ington Territory, and British Columbia. Were the facts and incidents connected with that evan- gelistic journey gathered, a volume might be writ- ten. The record is on high. With one or two exceptions there has been noth- ing said about the numbers who professed conver- OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 497 slon during Mr. Hammond's labors up and down the Pacific coast. It is impossible, from the reports given, to furnish a correct estimate ; but some at the time, who were familiar with the general results, expressed the belief that from seven to nine thou- sand professed a hope in Christ. In many places he only remained a day or two and the work went on long after. Large companies of Christian workers went with him through Oregon and British Columbia and Washington Territory, and sometimes very many in a short time professed conversion. Pastors of the churches everywhere worked nobly with Mr. Hammond ; to them is largely attributed the blessed results. In meetings like these Mr. Hammond regards himself as only one among many earnest workers, and he wishes to give God all the glory. CHAPTER XXIY. Alaska — Missionary work introduced — Indian Chiefess — In- dian Doctor — Remarkable Conversion — Answer to Prayer — Letter from Rev. T. Crosby — The great Glacier — Gospel Meetings at Sitka— Indians joining the Church— Their Ex- periences—Speech of Indian Chief — Child Influence— Judge Sawyer — Dr. Ruber's experience — Mr. Hammond's Home — His Bibles — Sermon — Oakland— Washington, D. C. — How to promote Revivals. ALASKA. In the summer of 1875 Mr. and Mrs. Hammond, with a party of friends, visited Alaska, five thousand miles from New York. The object of their visit was to not only preach to the heathen, but especially to awaken an interest on the part of Christians in the United States to send missionaries among them. On his return, by his pen and voice, Mr. Hammond did much to call attention to the need of work in that Territory. Dr. Kendall and Dr. Shel- don Jackson have since surveyed the field and sent earnest missionaries there, who are now leading souls to Christ. A short stay was made at Fort Wrangell. From that point a flat-boat was char- tered to take them up the Stickeen River far into SHELDON JACKSON, D. D., Founder of American Missions in Alaska. 500 THE HARVEST WORK the interior. Thirty-five miles above Wrangell they found between two mountains three thousand feet high an immense glacier forty miles long, ^ve miles wide, and from five hundred to one thousand feet thick. It was a most imposing sight. Oppo- site this glacier, just across the river, are large boiling springs. The water from these meeting the ice- water from the glacier caused a cloud of steam con- tinually to arise. At one of these glaciers ships from California take cargoes of ice for San Fran- cisco. In a letter to the Herald and Presbyter Mr. Hammond says : '-' We are now on board the good steamer Cali- fornia, bound for Sitka. The distance from Port- land, Oregon, by the route we take and return is three thousand miles. All day yesterday we seemed to be sailing up some majestic river like the Hudson, only that on either side were snow-capped mountains, nearly all the way. Be- fore 1 tell you anything about our journey over these beautiful waters I must give you an account of the way the Sabbath-school was commenced in which an Indian chief ess was converted in Yictoria. A few Christians in that place deter- mined to do what they could for the Indians. Many members of the church said it was of no use. At length they gathered in a number of Indians, and began to teach them to read. One Sunday OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 501 there was not .an Indian present. They therefore started over to the Indian ram,cJierie to find why- there were none at the Sunday-school. As they approached the rancherie they heard a terrible shouting and yelling, and saw about seventy-five in a circle, making the most hideous noise vtdth drums, rattles, kettles, dancing round the man who stood in the centre holding a dog by his hind legs and his neck. This man was taught by the Indian custom that if he could thus hold the dog and tear him to pieces with his teeth and eat him, and then go into the woods without any blanket and come back alive after three days, he was fitted for an Indian doctor. At first they all looked like evil spirits, for they w^re so painted, some of them covered with tar and feathers, that they looked Hke no human beings. The poor dog they soon saw torn from limb to limb and half eaten up. Among those very Indians were numbers who are to-day earnest, devoted Christians. Amos was the first one who was con- verted. I heard him tell his experience a few days ago in one of our meetings. His eyes filled with tears as he spoke of the great love of Jesus in giving Himself to die for a poor heathen savage. These Indians have built a nice little church. There they meet and study God's Word, and sing and pray. None of the Indians feel they are too old to study the Word of God, hence there were more adults than children present in their Sunday- 502 THE HAKVEST WORK school. Nearly every one of them wept when they stood up and told the story of their conversion. I felt, as I had never done before, the truth of the words of Jesus, '^ And I, if 1 be lifted up, will draw all unto me." Yes, the poor Indians, when they see how Jesus has loved them and given Himself for them, feel their hearts in return going out in love to Him. At the farewell meeting in Victoria five or six hundred people walked across the plat- form to shake hands with us, and among them were thirty or forty of these Indians. Nearly every one of them wept as they bade me good-by. At Nanaimo we fell in with an Indian missionary, who took us in a canoe to a village where were several hundred Indians. There we found a church and street on which were houses built by Christians, in which everything was clean and comfortable ; but in the same village we saw the wretched abode of the heathen Indians. In a great building, made of rough boards, with leaky roof of the same, live from fifty to two hundred of these wild Indians, huddled together like animals. There is no chimney in this great rough building ; all the smoke finds its way through cracks in the roof and sides. "When the Indians fill it at night and fires are burning in different parts of it, it looks more like some dark cavern filled with evil spirits. If I had never be- lieved in the power of the gospel, a visit to this Indian village would have been enough to convince OF THE HOLY SPIEIT. 503 me of the truth of it. Kev. Mr. Punshon was there a few years ago, and gave a glowing account of it in a lecture in Exeter Hall, London. The first Indian who was converted in this village, about fourteen years ago, took us in his canoe, made out of a log, on a fishing excursion in the straits of Georgia. I was more interested in hearing the story of his conversion than in trying to catch salmon and trout. As you have been reading, my dear friend, of these savage Indians being led to Christ, have yoic been able to say, ' I, too, love that same Jesus who is so dear to them ? ' If not, let me entreat of you this very hour, make him your Friend and Saviour. He bids you come to Him just as you are. Do not try to make yourself better first, but trust in Him, and He by His Holy Spirit will change your heart and make you happy in His love. I heard to-day of a gentleman who saw a dog jump- ing into his garden. He threw his cane at him, in- tending to hit, but the dog picked it up and in a good-natured manner brought it to him, as much as to say, ' You tried to kill me, but 1 brought your staff to you.' The gentleman's heart was touched, and after that he allowed the dog to come into his garden whenever he chose. That dog would not run away from his enemy, but sinners, old and young, often run away from Jesus, their best Friend, though He bids them come to Him, that He may make them happy now and hereafter." 504 THE HARVEST WORK In a letter to the Christian at Work he speaks of the remarkable conversion of an Indian chiefess : '' 1 have just returned from an Indian Sunday- school here at Yictoria, in British Columbia, and in it I found a noble chiefess, who spoke in the meet- ing yesterday. Her people live about six hundred miles north of here. She was their born chiefess. About seven years ago she came here to live, where she saw large churches, in which she was told the people were taught how to love God and get fitted for a better world. For seven long years she went to church, all the time anxious about her soul ; but no one ever invited her to come to Jesus. One day she was passing by a Sunday-school, and through the open door she saw the children at their lessons, and asked a child at the door if she could go in. She did so, and there heard of how Jesus had died on the cross for sinners. Her heart was touched, and before long she' learned to trust Him. Her soul was then so filled with holy joy that she wanted all her friends to come to Jesus. She therefore went among them and urged them to attend the Sunday-school. Little by little they came in, till scores of them also began to love the Saviour. At the same time she felt a great burden for the con- version of her son, who lived six hundred miles north at Fort Simpson, with his tribe. Whole nights she spent in prayer that the Lord would send him down here, that he might hear Amos, the OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 505 converted Indian, pray in the Sabbath-school as she had, and so find his heart moved as hers had been. This son was a terror to all. ^' But what was the result ? Just this : he took his wife and uncle and started in a little canoe on a journey of six hundred miles — all in answer to prayer. He knew not what he was taking that long journey for, but the Lord did, and so did his mother, the chief ess. As soon as he reached here she began to tell him all about Jesus, and got him to go with her to the Indian Sunday-school. He went, but did not like it at first ; but her faith failed not. Again he went, and heard the same converted Indian, Amos, pray. He then began to tremble with astonishment to hear a hated, flat-head, degraded Indian pray. When a boy he had been taught to read, but his mother had not then learned to read. She said to him : ' You know how to read, and you must read for me the fourteenth chapter of John. ' He did so. His heart melted ; and as she explained to him about the way of salva- tion through the finished work of Christ, he could not resist such love ; and so this wicked man, who had scalped many a one, came as a lost, guilty sin- ner to the Saviour's open arms. His sins were all forgiven, his heart changed, and his soul filled with a new love. He then begged that some one go back with him to his tribe. As soon as a mis- sionary was promised him, he started back to tell 506 THE HARVEST WORK his people of the sufferings of Christ on the cross for them. 1 am told that he led about three hun- dred of those wild, blood-thirsty Indians to the foot of the cross. When the missionary some time after went among them, they met him twelve miles below the landing, and took him off the steamboat on board their war canoe, and it was hours before he was through shaking hands with them, for every one of them would have a shake of his hand. ^^ The good work is still going on, and many more are being led to Christ. As soon as these heathen were converted they brought their idols to the missionary ; and when he returned here a few months ago, he brought back a wagon-load of all kinds of idols and images with him. General Howard, who was up there a few weeks ago, told me that he never was in a more delightful meeting in his life. He was very anxious that we should stop there and see them. How thankful we should be that we have such a Saviour, who is able to save these wicked Indians, and all who will trust in Him. Do you love Him, my friend ? Is He your Saviour ? If not, do come to Him at once." LETTER FROM REV. T. CROSBY, MISSIONARY TO FORT SIMPSON, B. C. "Fort Simpson, January 30, 1880. ' ' My dear Brother : You ask if the chief aud his wife are still living for Jesus. I am glad to tell you they are ; they have just returned from Rit-a-mat, one hundred and sixty OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 507 miles from here, where we have a little church and an ap- pointment, where they have spent four months, he as teacher, and wife as missionary teacher. Alfred's mother is now living at this place, and works and lives for Jesub. " We have work all around us still, hundreds of unsaved poor people without the gospel. Our day-school numbers about one hundred ; Sunday-school about the same. Oh, may God send us a glorious revival ! Amen I" SITKA. In this place Mr. Hammond held meetings in an old, forsaken Russian church. Representatives from two tribes of Indians, with their chiefs, were present. Thej were dressed, many of them, in a most grotesque manner. In attempting to imitate the whites, they did so only in part. An Indian costume surmounted with a stove-pipe hat did not appear quite in keeping, to say the least. While Mr. Hammond was preaching they often interrupted him. They had no idea of taking seats in a pew like white people. Some were sitting on their heels, others on the back of the seats, others at times stood talking in little groups, only half hsten- ing to what was said. One man interrupted Mr. Hammond, saying, ^' We know about God as well as you do. We know He made that great moun- tain [pointing away to Mount St. EHas, over nine- teen thousand feet high]. We know He put the salmon in the rivers for us, but we never heard be- fore of this Jesus. Did He really die for us poor 508 THE HARVEST WORK. Indians /" This fact, above all others, moved their hearts and hrought tears to their eyes. At the close of each service Mr. Hammond held an inquiry- meeting ; numbers remained. Some appeared deep- ly moved by the Holy Spirit, and with tearful eyes prayed for the pardon of their sins. That must have been tJie first inquiry -meeting held in Alaska y thanh God it has not heen the last. Dr. Sheldon Jackson's interesting work on Alaska testifies to this fact. '' Sitka Jack," one of the chiefs, was deeply in- terested in the meetings, and asked many questions. Four years after Mr. Hammond and his party visited Alaska, twenty-three, in one day, in the presence of Rev. H. Kendall, D.D., and Dr. Jack- son, were received into the church on examination. Eighteen of these were Indians and received bap- tism. Rev. L. Hall Young was much blessed of God in leading the Indians to Christ. From Dr. Jackson's work we quote the following testimonies, given at the examination for church membership at Wrangall : *' MoBES Louie. — ' I am a sinner — very evil. My hope is that God had sent His Son to wash away my guilt. I believe that God has given me a new heart. I love to pray daily for strength. I want only one mind toward Chris- tians. ' '' Martha (wife of Moses).' — ' I have learned about God and Christ and want them to have pity on me. Will try to obey God as long as I live, not in my own strength, but bio THE HARVEST WORK. pray God for strength. Daily pray God to have pity on me.' " Matthew Shakats.— ' Formerly blind in sin. Very long time in sin. Think God has changed my heart, and I want to come out on God's side. I have had much trouble, and want the help of the church and of God. Learned of God that Jesus died for me. Now carry my sins to God and have hope. ' " Aaron Kohanow. — ' I understand very solemn thing to join the church. Indians don't understand as well as white men about it. Willing to go on boking to God to help me. Understand how Christ has spoken that I must be born again. I want the new birth. I ask God to give me a new heart. God hear me. Take my sins and troubles to God.' (Aaron was formerly a shaman and sorcerer. Upon his conversion destroyed all the implements of his sorcery.) " Annie (Aaron's wife). — ' I was sick and told God. I wanted to walk with God's people. Always bad before, because I did not know about God. Now I know about Him and want to follow Him. The Lord Jesus knows that I am a sinner and He died for me.' *' Jonathan Katanakb (leading councillor of the head chief). — ' Willing to try and obey God. Know how God pity on us. Died for me— pains for my sins — pities me, and teaches me to live aright. I try to do it. I give my heart to Him. I do not disbelieve about God— how He saved me— I know it. I nearly lost. He stretched out His hand and pulled me back. I feel it. Willing to leave all earthly things. I want to live as God says. Not my strength, only if God helps. Don't say this to make men believe. God knows my heart. I want to live in His sight. When a boy I went to Victoria and heard some one say the Son of God died for people's sins. I did not know then. 512 THE HARVEST AVORK When sickness come, then I ask the Son of God to save me. Did not ask that sickness go away, but that He save me. God heard me, therefore I believe.' " Jeremiah O'unk. — ' I love God and want to be a Christian. When young, ray hair was black, and I never heard of God. Now I am getting old — my hair is white, and I hear about God, and want to love Him and obey Him. One time I heard about God. Fort Simpson people say, believe God and I would be saved. I try to believe Him. I give my heart to God, and want to do what is right. I am a sinner. I always before do bad toward God, but when I heard that Jesus die for my sins, I believe. Formerly I talk bad and strike my wife and children. Now I try to do right, and I pray God to help me do right.' " ToY-A-ATT (chief). — ' How many sins we must quit on earth ! The serpent, he make us blind. That the reason we live so poor. Now God show Himself to us and we believe. You know all about how I formerly lived. How I was all the time in trouble and quarrelling — all the time when the ball or knife go through me. Now I quit it all. Jesus help me. I live peaceably. I always ask God give me a new heart. Bible tells how Jesus lived on earth — not proud. The Son of God, He washed His disciples' feet. I wash all the brethren's feet. Two things I want : Be like little children ; thank God help us always. Formerly I love myself. Didn't want to die quick — all blind heart. Now I know better, and want to love every one. I love my enemies, and pray God to save them. I pray God send ministers and teachers. God hear my prayer. I very happy.' " At Wrangell, where about five hundred whites and a thousand Indians were congregated, a meeting was called to introduce some form of government. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 513 '^ The great speech of the Convention was that of Chief Toy-a-att before a crowded audience of whites and Indians. We give it as reported in the Port Townsend Weekly Argus : *' * My brothers and friends, I come before you to-day to talk a little, and I hope you will listen to what I say, and not laugh at me because I am an Indian, I am getting old, and have not yet many summers to live on this earth. I want to speak a little of the past history of us Stickeen Indians and of our present wants. In ages past, before white men came among us, the Indians of Alaska were barbarous, with brutish instincts. " 'Tribal wars were continual, bloodshed and murder of daily occurrence, and superstition controlled our whole movements and our hearts. " ' The white man's God we knew not of. Nature evinced to us that there was a First Great Cause ; beyond all that was blank. Our god was created by us ; that is, we selected animals and birds, the images of which we revered as gods. " ' Natural instincts taught us to supply our wants from that which we beheld around us. If we wanted food, the waters gave us fish ; and if we wanted raiment, the wild animals of the woods gave us skins, which we converted to use. Implements of warfare and tools to work with we constructed rudely from stone and wood. [Here the speaker showed specimens of stone axes and weapons of warfare.] " ' These,' said he, holding them up to view, ' we used in the place of the saws, axes, hammers, guns, and knives of the present time. Fire we discovered by friction. [Here he demonstrated how they produced fire.] " ' In the course of time we became aware of the fact that we were not the only beings in the shape of man who inhabited this earth. White men appeared before us on the 614 THE HAEVEST WORK surface of the great waters in large ships, which we called canoes. Where they came from we knew not, but supposed that they dropped from the clouds. The ships' sails we took for wings, and concluded that, like the birds of the air, they could fly as well as swim. As time advanced, the white men who visited our country introduced among us everything that is produced by nature and the arts of man. They also told us of a God, a Superior Being, who created all things, even us, the Indians. They told us that this God was in the heavens above, and that all mankind were His children. These things were told us, but we could not understand them. " 'At the present time we are not the same people that we were a hundred years ago. Contact and association with the white man has created a change in our habits and customs. We have seen and heard of the wonderful works of the white man. His ingenuity and skill has produced steamships, railroads, telegraphs, and thousands of other things. His mind is far-reaching ; whatever he desires he produces. His wonderful sciences enable him to under- stand nature and her laws. Whatever she produces he im- proves upon and makes useful. *' * Each day the white man becomes more perfect in the arts and sciences, while the Indian is at a standstill. Why is this ? Is it because the God. you have told us of is a white God, and that you, being of His color, have been favored by Him ? " ' Why, brothers, look at our skin ; we are dark, we are not of your color, hence you call us Indians. Is this the reason that we are ignorant ; is this the cause of our not knowing our Creator ? " * My brothers, a change is coming. We have seen and heard of the wonderful things of this world, and we desire to understand what we see and what we hear. We desire OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 5l5 light. We want our eyes to become open. We have been in the dark too long, and we appeal to you, my brothers, to help us. *' * But how can this be done ? Listen to me. Although I have been a bad Indian, I can see the right road, and I desire to follow it. I have changed for the better. I have done away with all Indian superstitious habits. I am in my old age becoming civilized. I have learned to know Jesus, and I desire to know more of Him. I desire educa- tion, in order that I may be able to read the Holy Bible. " ' Look at Fort Simpson and at Metlakatla, British Co- lumbia. See the Indians there. In years gone by they were the worst Indians on this coast, the most brutal, bar- barous, and blood-thirsty. They were our sworn enemies, and were continually at war with us. How are they now ? Instead of our enemies they are our friends. They have become partially educated and civilized. They can under- stand what they see and what they hear ; they can read and write, and are learning to become Christians. These Indians, my brothers, at the places just spoken of, are Brit- ish Indians, and it must have been the wish of the British Queen that her Indians should be educated. We have been told that the British Government is a powerful one, and we have also been told that the American Government is also a powerful one. We have been told that the President of the United States has control over all the people, both whites and Indians. We have been told how he came to be our great chief. He purchased this country from Russia, and in purchasing it he purchased us. We had no choice or say in change of masters. The change has been made, and we are content. All we ask is justice. '* ' We ask of our father at Washington that we be recog- nized as a people, inasmuch as he recognizes all other Indians in other portions of the United States. 5l6 THE HAEVEST WORK " ' We ask that we be civilized, Christianized, and edu- cated.' " CHILD INFLUENCE. In an address to Sunday-school teachers at Harris- burg Mr. Hammond spoke as follows : *' Every Christian and Sunday-school teacher acknowl- edges the power which converted children often exercise over godless parents, in leading them to Christ. But we are sometimes led to feel this truth more deeply when we see little children actually leading their parents to Jesus. The other evening, in the Opera House at Harrisburg, a gentleman came to me during the inquiry-meeting, and with great earnestness said, ' Do come with me and see this little girl weeping on the neck of her father.' He led me through the crowded audience almost down to the door, where hun- dreds of men were standing closely together. In one of the back seats I saw a little girl who had found the Saviour a few days before, with both her arms around her father's neck. With the great tears rolling down her cheeks she was pleading with him to come to Jesus. Though I was asked to speak with him, I did not dare to interrupt this little girl ; but I crept up slowly behind and listened to her earnest words. " ' Dear father, won't you come to Jesus ? Don't you re- member, when by that accident you were almost killed, you said you would be good afterward, but you did not come to Jesus ? You forgot all about Him after a little and became as wicked as ever. You would be so happy if you would only trust Him. You know what a wicked girl I was, and how I disobeyed you and mother ; but after I came to Jesus and got a new heart, I became a better girl. How can you help loving such a precious Saviour ? for He loves OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 617 you, father, He died that dreadful death on the cross that your sins might be forgiven, and won't you come to Him ? * *' I stooped over and said, * Will you not listen to these earnest entreaties of your darling child ? ' His only answer was, ' I am seriously considering the subject.' At this his child wept louder than ever and said, ' Oh, papa, don't reject such a precious Saviour ; you will be lost forever if you do.' But he would not yield, and as the meeting closed the dear child seemed heart-broken. *' A few nights after a young lady came to me and said, * My father is up in the men's inquiry-room, and my little sister is there pleading with him to come to Jesus. Will you go and speak to him ? ' As I entered the room I found over a hundred men in Rev. Dr. Robinson's church, every one of them on their knees, and many of them sob- bing aloud under terrible conviction of sin. The young lady led me to her father, and there I found his little daughter no longer pleading with him to come to Jesus, but thanking God that he was coming. Her left arm was thrown around his neck ; her right hand was uplifted and she said, ' Oh God, I thank thee that my dear papa is com- ing to Jesus. Dear, precious Saviour, I know thou wilt receive him. Thou hast said, " He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." ' His handkerchief was wet with tears — of godly sorrow for sin. I believe that angels were rejoicing at that touching sight. So many others were asking the way of life that I had to leave the father and child upon their knees in prayer and praise together. " A few days after, just as I was starting with a company of young converts and Christians for Newville, a gentleman came to my room and said, ' Would you like my little daughter to go with you to Newville ? ' ' Who is she ? ' I asked. 'Why, don't you remember me?' 'No,' said I, * I am sure I never saw your face before.' And indeed I 518 THE HARVEST WORK had never seen but a portion of it, for it was mostly covered with his hand and handkerchief while his little daughter was pleading with him to come to Jesus. ' Oh, ' said I, ' is it you, and did Jesus give you that smiling face ? Has He answered your dear child's prayers ? ' ' Yes, I believe He has. We now have prayer in our family and I thank God for my praying child. ' She went with me to Newville and there told the story of her conversion in such a tender manner to the children that many, who had been unmoved by all that I had said, were melted to tears, and I believe have been led to seek and find the Saviour. " May God give us more faith in the conversion of chil- dren, and in their power to lead hardened sinners to the foot of the cross. God grant that every Sunday-school teacher may at once set about leading their scholars to Christ, and rest not until they are led to rejoice in Him. May the Holy Spirit, dear teacher, help you to believe the words of Jesus, ' And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me. ' Our Saviour did not say all men, but alh Yes, thank God, when little children see how Jesus has loved them and died for them, and when in simple language it is explained to them how Jesus took their place, suffered in their stead, and ' bore their sins in His own body on the tree, ' they can but exclaim : " * Now I feel this heart of stone Drawn to love God's holy Son ; Lifted up on Calvary, Suffering shame and death for me. *' ' Jesus, take this heart of mine. Make it pure and wholly thine ; Thou hast bled and died for me, X will henceforth live for thee,' " OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 619 NASHUA. Judge A. W. Sawyer, of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, under date of November 20th, 1876, wrote from Manchester to a friend in New- buryport, Mass., as follows : ^* I am holding court here and shall have no time to go to Newburyport, but can frankly say Mr. Hammond was dearly be- loved by all denominations at Nashua. I hope Mr. Hammond will go to Newburyport, I feel like vouching for his behavior. God has blessed his efforts in every place where he has been. He is the best evangelist I know of, and I have heard several. " The London Christian contains the following ac- count of the remarkable work of God's Spirit in Newville, Pa., together with the experience of Dr. Huber : " In the year 1875 Mr. Hammond spent a few days in Newville, Pa., and the wonderful results which followed are still fresh in the minds of the people. Those meetings will be long remembered by me personally, for it was through their influence that I was led to a new life. " I went to them with no friendly feeling. I left my place of business with the determination to criticise, but came back a convicted sinner. In the back seat of the Lutheran Church Mr. H. found me, and asked, ' Do you ever pray ? ' to which I answered in the negative. *' He evidently knew by my appearance that I was a 520 THE HARVEST WORK godless man. By my side sat my associates, ready to join me in opposing any effort to do us good. He spoke a few kind words and asked me to attend the meeting the next day. " While on my way to church, accompanied by my wife, he overtook me, and during his conversation said, ' Doctor, you are too good a man to be lost. ' During his sermon that Sabbath morning, when the feeling in the audience was very deep, he mentioned my name, and looking me in the face, said, ' If you would give yourself to Sim who hied and died for you and come out boldly on the Lord^s side, forty men in Newville would follow you.'' " At the close of the sermon he came directly to me and said, ' Will you forgive me for mentioning your name pub- licly ? I never did such a thing before. ' With tears in ny eyes, I said, ' I thank you for it ; by the help of the Lord I will try and be a Christian. ' " The next morning I stood up in the old Presbyterian Church, publicly avowed my determination to forsake my sinful ways and trust in Him * who loved me and gave himself for me.' Erelong great peace and joy filled my soul ; a wonderful change came over me. Things I loved before I hated, and the good things I before hated I loved. From that hour my heart went out to the evangelist, and I have loved him ever since. I know there are many in New- ville who feel toward him as I do. Nearly one fourth of our population at the time professed conversion. Mr. Hammond, and the thirty or forty from Harrisburg, only remained in our little town two days ; yet, out of a population of about two thousand, four or five hundred professed conversion. It has been stated that, as a result of the meetings conduct- ed by Mr. Hammond during the brief period of five weeks in Harrisburg and Cumberland Valley, there was reason to believe that there were not less than three thousand conver- sions. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 521 " With these personal and general facts before me, it is not surprising that I desired to see my old friend at his home in Vernon, Conn. It is a beautiful town in the Con- necticut Valley, on the line of the New York and New Eng- land Railroad. Mr. Hammond's ancestors for generations have lived in this locality. " On my arrival I found Mr. Hammond unpacking his trunks, as he had .iust returned from a series of meetings in New York and Brooklyn. In Brooklyn he held meetings mostly in the Tabernacle of Dr. Talmage, by special invita- tion of the pastor. It is well known that the capacity of that building is from four thousand to five thousand. A series of meetings in a place like that, where people attend from all parts of the city and country, must have been one of great influence. In a letter from Dr. Talmage he said, ' Eternity alone can reveal the good accomplished.' " The evangelist spent several weeks this spring in the Bermudas, a group of three hundred and sixty-five islands seven hundred miles south-east from New Y^'ork. He there held crowded meetings in the Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Methodist churches, all denominations uniting in the effort. O^er seven hundred professed conversion during the eigh- teen days he and his party were there." Woodbine Cottage, Vernon, Conn., August, 1879. THE HOME OF REV. E. P. HAMMOND. Mr. C. A. Jones, son of Kev. Peter Jones, known in Canadian history as a most successful worker among the red men of that country, over whom he was missionary and chief for a number of years, thus gives the following description of Mr, Hammond's home : 522 THE HAEVEST WORK " Last winter in the city of Brantford, Ont., the ministry and laity of that city enjoyed the revival labors of the evan- gelist, the Rev. E. P. Hammond. Great good resulted. I speak from a personal knowledge and acquaintance with the work, and from a layman's standpoint, and am able to state, from an interview with the pastors, made during the month of July, that between five and six hundred have been added to the roll of membership of the various churches there. *' These figures do not touch the number of children converted, nor those living in the surrounding towns and villages, who were brought in by the revival, and does not, in fact, give all who were converted in Brant- ford, but is near enough to give an idea of the extent of the work. *'For my vacation I accepted an invitation from Mr. Hammond to visit him at liis home. " Thus it is that I can now speak personally of ' Wood- bine Cottage ' and its inmates, and report one of the most profitable and pleasant excursions of my life. '' The evangelist's home is located two miles from Ver- non Station, Conn., which is twelve miles from Hartford Capitol. The Hammonds on the father's side are descend- ed from an old family who came over to England with William the Conqueror, and whose names are registered in * the Battle Abbey ' at Hastings. Thomas Hammond came to America in 1635, and settled in Hingham, Mass. His mother was a descendant of George Griswold, of Kenil- worth, Warwickshire, England, who came to this country in 1635. " Connecticut received two governors from this family. About one, Roger Griswold, a grandson of that worthy divine, Jonathan Edwards, writes : ' He was a great law- yer, and a man of greater abilities and talents than any OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 523 that ever held the office of Governor of the State of Connec- ticut. ' " It will thus be seen that on both father's and mother's side Edward Payson has some of the best New England blood in his veins. *' * Woodbine Cottage ' is a neat Gothic frame structure, painted a delicate drab. From the lawn and croquet ground on the western side of the house, on a clear, fine day, a glimpse of Hartford and the new Capitol is obtain- able. " The eye can catch a fine panoramic view of the beauties of the Connecticut Valley from any side of the cottage. The rolling hills and the white cottages peeping out from the deep green surroundings of trees and grass, form many a pretty picture upon which the tired city resident can gaze for the hour with profit and relief. The grass-plot on the northern view, which lies on the Rockville Road, has a miniature pyramid of rocks and shells, over which a fountain is continually throwing its spray. These stones and shells could each, if they had tongues, tell a history of their own, for they have come to this quiet resting-place with the evangelist and his wife from the cold mountains of Alaska, the bright waters of the Adriatic, the historic shores of Galilee, and many other places of note in Holy Land his- tory. The ' Curiosity Shop ' of this cottage contains a num- ber of relics, the result of travel in foreign parts. " To Bishop Gobat and lady, Mr. Hammond, while hold- ing children's meetings in Jerusalem, was indebted for what, he was informed, is a correct representation of the crown of thorns with which our blessed Saviour's head was crowned. Rosaries of olive wood from Bethlehem, and of pearl from the Red Sea, representing the faith of the Mo- hammedan and the Roman Catholics, can here be seen by the curious. 524 THE HARVEST WORK *' One Bible, which Mr. Hammond values greatly, is the volume out of which the Evangelist Whitefield once preached, as is certified by the following on a fly-leaf : ' This is the book out of which the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield preached a sermon when the foundation of Tottenham Court Road Chappie was Layd, being on the 10th day of May, 1756. The text was taken from the third chapter of Ezra and 11th verse. — Robt. Sanders.' " Perhaps one of the greatest curiosities Mr. Hammond has in his house — at any rate, the one he places the greatest value upon — is his collection of Bibles. The Bagsters, includ- ing that of his wife, are eight in number. A glance or a study of these would be interesting to any biblical student. From Genesis to Revelation every verse shows marks of the earnest student, and the wonder is that with red marks and black and marginal notes, so much extraneous matter could be got into the Bible. He has used these Bibles since his first evangelistic visit to Scotland, now twenty years ago, and some of them are almost worn to shreds with use. " One of the greatest sources of amusement is pretty Poll, the parrot. This deep green bird is a great talker, and delights in making the air ring with such remarks as ' Polly wants her head scratched,' ' Edward,' ' Ida,' ' How do you do,' ' Good-by,' etc. ** The home life of the evangelist is not one of idleness. It is a change indeed from the seven to eight months of day and night work in crowded audience rooms, but I can certify that the evangelist of Vernon is a human busy bee. When he is not to be found in his study reading and answering a large correspondence, or writing books for children and adults, he is at work in his garden, or going on errands of mercy to his neighbors, or telb'ng in some country church the story of the cross. '' From five in the morning until the evening shadows OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 6^5 fall, this hard-working man is about doing good. For over thirty years Mr. Hammond has at times gone in and out be- fore the congregation of the neat village church of Vernon, visiting the good people of the country-side, and sympathiz- ing and assisting them in their afflictions and trials. The consequence is, that through the Connecticut Valley the name of this evangelist is honored, and many a farmer in his field and mechanic at his bench blesses the day when E. Payson Hammond told him the story of his life motto ; * Looking only unto Jesus.' " HOW CAN WE PROMOTE GENUINE REVIVALS f In an article to a New York weekly Mr. Ham- mond answers this question. One of the leading objects of this book is to stimulate God's people to labor more earnestly, in- telligently, and, we may add, scripturally, for the immediate salvation of those of all ages. The fol- lowing answers to the above question should have more weight from the fact that they are given as the result of long experience with God's blessing in leading souls to Christ. First, every Christian believes that a genuine re- vival is the work of God's Spirit. The great re- vival on the day of Pentecost was the worJc of the Holy Spirit given in answer to the prayer of faith. Every revival must be preceded by that same prayer, coming from hearts deeply burdened for the salvation of the perishing. Last winter, in San Jos6, California, two all-night, prayer-meetings were 5^6 THE HAEVE^T WOR]^ held. Like Jacob, God's people wrestled, and like Jacob they prevailed. The results were seen at once in the increased power with which the *' Sword of the Spirit" penetrated the hearts of sinners. In Dubuque, Iowa, a series of meetings were commenced. Sermons which had been preached in other places and blessed in the conversion of many souls were powerless. Mr. Millard, the city mis- sionary, proposed an all-night prayer-meeting. Every one present at the meeting must have felt that those who plead for a deeper work of grace in the hearts of Christians and for the awakening and conversion of sinners, knew what it was to '^ com- ply with the conditions of prevailing prayer." The very next night a solemnity rested down upon the audience that was unmistakable in its indications. A prominent gambler was led to cry for mercy. After a severe struggle he was enabled to rejoice in the '^ finished work" of Christ. During these years past, I am told, he has led a consistent Christian life. Secondly^ prayer and the use of appropriate means must go hand in hand. The Holy Spirit is not bound to any one set of agencies in the promotion of a revival of religion. The ''truth as it is in Jesus" must be faithfully preached, and sinners shown their relation to God as under this moral government. Every one under- stands this, but Ot* THE HOLY SPIRIT. 527 HOW TO AROUSE A SLEEPING CHURCH and arrest the attention of the careless, is a difficult problem. The theory that God will not, in large numbers, convert sinners while His people are asleep or in- different, is correct. But in my experience I have found it not wise to preach a long series of sermons, as some do, to the church, but rather relying on the prayers of the few, to begin at once and preach to sinners, believing that even the sight of a few weeping penitents will do more to cuwaken cold- hearted professors than any sermon that can he delivered hy mam>. Then, when Christians find they are not ready to talk with those who are saying : '^ Tell me what I shall do to be saved ?■ ' they, too, will be thus brought under conviction, and will ''' look unto Him whom they have pierced and mourn." Nothing tends more to humble God's people than the fact that in their midst are sin-burdened souls inquiring the way of life, and that their hearts are so cold and lifeless that they cannot take them by the hand and point them to the bleeding Son of God. Often sinners are deeply convicted of sin, and only need earnest, judicious Christians to take them by the hand and lead them to Jesus. I remember that President Tuttle, of Wabash College, came home from a morning service con- ducted by one of the ministers of Cincinnati, and 528 THE HARVEST WORK said : " We had a most powerful sermon, and, if it had been followed by an inquiry-meeting, many would have been led to Christ." That faith and holy boldness which accompany deep humility and self-abnegation are needed at such times to lead God's people to go at once among the impenitent, and to point them to the Lamb of God. I often think of those words of our Saviour in Mark 4 : 15: '' These are they by the wayside where the Word is sown ; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the Word that was sown in their hearts." Dr. Edward Payson, one of his old deacons told me, was in the habit of asking every unconverted person in the audience to remain in the church after preaching, and there, in the atmosphere of prayer, to urge Christians to go '' immediately," before Satan had an opportu- nity of ^^ snatching away the seed," to talk and pray with them, and to seek to lead them to the Saviour. Oh, that Christians all over the land felt the re- sponsibility of leading sinners around them to Christ. I have frequently been in great audiences where hundreds, and sometimes thousands, were moved by the Spirit to ask : " What shall we do to be saved ?" and where but few Christians were ready to take them by the hand and lead them to Jesus. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 529 GOD FORGIVE TJ8 THAT WE HAVE SO LITTLE COMPAS- SION FOR THE PERISHING ! During the past summer I have seen among some of the converted Indians in British Columbia and Alaska more burden for the salvation of the lost than is generally observed among our Eastern churches. We speak of sinners being '^ gospel- hardened ;" is it not in a measure true also of average Christians. Here, in West Philadelphia, I found it most difficult to induce a good deacon to move about in the church during the inquiry-meet- ing and talk with the anxious. But when, at last, he did so, one of the first he met was his own daughter, rejoicing in Jesus, and then another, and still another, and last night, in ^ ' the praise meet- ing, " he thanked God for the conversion of three of his children. While in Alderney, an island in the English Channel, I visited an old castle built by Lord Essex, and heard the following touching incident concerning his sad death : Queen Elizabeth, aware of the impetuous temper and unguarded words of her favorite Lord Essex, on one occasion presented him with a ring, which she desired him to send to her in any emergency, promising that it should insure his safety and pro- tection. Having joined in a treasonable conspiracy he was imprisoned in the Tower. The Queen, ex- pecting to receive the ring, delayed passing the sen- 530 THE HAEVEST WORK tence of death. When, however, some time passed and it did not arrive, she signed the warrant, and Essex was executed. Two years afterward the Countess of Nottingham, on her death-bed, con- fessed that the ring had been sent to her by Essex to deliver to the Queen, but, being a concealed enemy to him, she never gave it. After receiving this intelligence the Queen was never known to pass one happy day. That countess had it in her power to save Lord Essex's life. She could at once have secured a par- don for him. "When Queen Elizabeth found out her neglect, she seized her and fairly shook her. No words were severe enough to express her indig- nation. Is it not possible that you are even now in a posi- tion where you might carry A BLOOD-BOUGHT PARDON TO THOSE *' CONDEMNED ALREADY. " God grant the ''' blood of souls" may not be found on your skirts. A few weeks ago we sailed from Victoria in British Columbia to San Francisco, on board the Pacific, to all appearances a noble steamer. Our state-room was on the upper deck, and we were often thrown in with the ofiicers, and had constant opportunity of mingling with the crew. A week ago last Thursday Captain Howell and his officers OI' THE HOLY SPIRIT. 531 and crew, and all on board (nearly two hundred and forty souls) with the exception of two, 'perished with the Pacific. Oh ! if I had only known that in a few short days every one of those brave ofiScers must appear before God in judgment, how much more earnest I should have been to sound the warn- ing : *' Prepare to meet thy God !' ' Would that I had, with tears, plead with them to ' ' flee from the wrath to come !" Around you^ dear friend, are those who must soon die. Have you done all in your power to win them to Christ ? Read the life of Robert McCheyne, and seek to imitate his tearful earnest- ness in saving souls. I never read Paul's parting words to the Ephe- sians without deep self-abasement. He could say : ** Remember y that hy the space of three years 1 ceased not to warn every 7na/n, night and da/y with Uars:' (Acts 20 : 31.) ' ' He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing pre- cious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoic- ing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Ps. 126 : 6.) DuKiNG THE PAST WINTER Mr. Hammoud has held meetings in Philadelphia, Darby, Millville, and Camden, N. J. In various places in Western New York he labored for twelve weeks. In most of these places the work of God's Spirit continued long after the evangelist left. 532 THE HARVEST WORK The Kew York EvomgeUst^ in a recent number, " The evangelistic labors of Rev. E. P. Hammond in Addison, Hornellsville, Hammondsport, and other places in Western New York have been remarkably successful. Hundreds have been aroused from a sluggish, spiritual con- dition to a closer walk with God and zeal in His service. Other hundreds have been made to realize their lost condi- tion out of Christ, and to come unto Him in the exercise of repentance and faith. The editor of the Steuben Courier at Bath solicited from our pastors in the first three villages above named an account of the results of Mr. Hammond's work among them and their opinion of his methods. Their replies are published in the Courier of last week, and com- mend in the warmest terms the course he has pursued. Rev. B. Bosworth says : ' The largest congregations that have ever assembled in Hammondsport on any occasion have listened to the faithful, searching, and yet tender pre- sentation of gospel truth, and many with tearful eyes. This is altogether the most extensive and vital religious movement this vicinity has experienced for a generation, and it seems not yet to have reached its height.' Dr. Niles writes : * Hornellsville has been thoroughly stirred by the power of the gospel. Mr. Hammond is, I am sure, a man of God, and full of the Holy Ghost. The more I know him the better I like him. These three points constitute the central truths of his preaching : man ruined by sin, saved by the blood OP Jesus, and kegenerated only by the Holy Spirit.* The Hammondsport Herald says : ' The work has been the one absorbing theme of conversation, not only in the village, but on the hills, in the valley, and in every direction. Dele- gations have been present on different occasions from Bath, Wayne, Pulteney, Prattsburg, Mitchellville, and in fact OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 633 from every quarter for miles around. Mr. Hammond has won his way to hundreds of hearts who will have lasting gratitude and love for him and the Master in whose name he works.' " Dr. J. C. Jackson, the founder of the ^* Sanita- rium" in Dansville, N. Y., at Mr. Hammond's closing meeting in that place spoke as follows : '^ I am sure that I shall only express the feelings of all Christians in the house when I say that the going away from us of Brother Hammond will be an occasion of sadness and joy commingled. He has labored faithfully for our advancement in the divine life. To those of us who were followers of the Lord Jesus when he came here, it is not too much for me to say that through his labors we have all been quickened ; we have been greatly benefited. Our inner Kves have taken the place of our ordinary external lives, and we have made advancement toward heaven. We shall all think of him, pray for him, love him, when he shall have gone out from among us ; quite likely a large majority of us will never again behold his face. Certainly those of us who are old cannot rationally hope to have so great a privilege. You who are younger may meet him elsewhere than here ; if you should do so you will be thankful for the opportunity, I know. '' He came among us a man heralded ; we had heard of him by the hearing of the ear, but our eyes have seen him now, and all the horrible and terrible 534 THE HARVEST WORK tales that are told of him in places where he has not been were told of him before he came. How the Lord Jesus Christ has put all this falsehood to shame, how He has cleared our vision, and made us see in this devoted apostle of His a man set apart by the Holy Ghost to preach repentance and remis- sion of sins to all who beKeve in the Lord Jesus Christ. '^ We who live here and were Christians when he came have had our hearts made glad, and our eyes have been rejoiced to see so many young men, young women, boys and girls rise up at the different meetings and express their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, so that all these hearts which used to beat and throb in the service of sin now palpitate with love and joy and peace in believing. It is a won- derful change which one undergoes when he is con- verted from the service of Satan, who is the prince of evil, to the service of Jesus the King of men, the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Everlasting Father, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace. *' For myself, what can I say ? Mr. Hammond with his wife has been for weeks the guest of our home on the hillside. Its proprietors have made them welcome and have done everything they could to make their stay pleasant and comfortable. I have an abiding faith that in the days to come, when in all probability I shall have found ^^the beautiful shore," and shall have entered upon my OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 535 home, my residence in the land of the blessed, Mr. and Mrs. Hammond will think of their visit here and of their lodgment in our beautiful Sanitarium with feelings full of gladness and of joy. *' I have had such an opportunity as has not been given to you en masse to make Mr. Hammond' s ac- quaintance. That acquaintance has ripened into love. His face will never fade from my sight while I have vision on earth. I am sure that I shall see him when I have gone to heaven. I have been greatly helped by his ministrations, and I trust that out of these in my last lingering days on earth grow up a holier purpose and a purer determination and a clearer vision of life for me, so that I may walk up and down my little remaining path of life before you, impressed with the love of God, so that in whatever way I meet you 1 may be able to illustrate the power of everlasting life which Jesus can confer upon a dying, sinful man. ^* To you who have been in attendance on these meetings and have listened to all he has said, have heard the prayers that he has made and the prayers of the pastors of these churches and their members, and have not given yourselves to the Lord Jesus as yet ; beloved, you do not know what a mistake you have made (Mr. Hammond — that's true ; that's the sad thought with me to-night), and when days shall come to you and go, and you shall remain out of 536 THE HARVEST WORK Christ, not touched by the blessed Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and strength for this world's struggles, its troubles and trials, its perplexities and great vexations of spirit, when you are alone, and reflection comes to you, you will remember what I now tell you, that you made a great mistake in not bringing yourselves into close, helpful, and life-giv- ing alliance with Him. '^ I declare to you that the grandest achievement that a man ever makes in this world is that which he makes when he yields himself to the control of the divine Spirit and becomes a follower of Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords. I do hope you will, in the meetings which are yet to be held after Mr. Hammond has gone away, come here in true and manly spirit ; for it is no derogation to one's manliness to become a Christian. ^* "We live in a healthy region ; we have most beautiful scenery ; we have great opportunities for growth and development. We want the continu- ation of this divine inspiration to quicken our peo- ple, and our town will be known all over the land as one which has been greatly blessed by God in this movement, which is no more to be led by our brother and friend. Kemember that such a man as he is always hated by the powers of evil. There- fore, when he goes out from among us, let us follow him with our prayers, and cherish him deeply in our hearts with imperishable love, and may God bless OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 537 him in the labors of life before him, and give him great strength and wisdom and grace to perform this to the honor of the Master whom he serves. " It has been found impossible to give a full and in some instances a connected account of Mr. Ham- mond's labors for the Master. Several years, including that in which he labored in Washington, D. C, have been omitted almost entirely. At some future time, it is hoped, another book will be written, giving an account of these harvest scenes. The following propositions we think, are establish- ed in the pages of this narrative. 1. Eevivals come not by any sovereign interposi- tion, apart from the responsibility of the church, in securing the salvation of men. In every case, so far as we can trace the history. Christians, at least a small company of God's people, have " set their faces to seek the Lord," — often by fasting and prayer,— then have used the means, personal effort, and calling in such aid as God's Spirit led them to accept. Usually, while some have expected a blessing, the work of grace has been carried forward under God, by a minority of the nominal membership of the church. That is to say, a majority have floated on the tide of feeling, or been indifferent. A part only, have manifested Hving sympathy with Christ in his 538 THE HARVEST WORK travail of soul, and efforts to save the perishing. So that, the believing should neither " make haste," nor wait till the church as a body are awake. 2. The inquiry meeting has been especially bless- ed, and for reasons very simple and influential. The minds of the people are in the best possible condi- tion for hopeful effort in leading to Christ, when the truth is freshly laid upon them, in an atmosphere of prayer, pervaded by the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the difficulties to be met, stand clearly before the conscience. Besides, the opportunity itself developes and brings to the surface, conviction which had been hidden for months or years, because no personal effort in their behalf had called it forth. And far- ther, the sight of a single anxious sinner will affect the inactive Christian more than many sermons ; and often make, also, impenitent observers thought- ful. No other means of promoting a revival has been more signally successful. This demonstrates the affirmation of one who has had much experience in revivals, " that God is always in advance of his church." Christians are not watching and waiting to be " led by the Spirit." 3. The masses of every community, who do not attend the sanctuary, and are overlooked to a great extent in the ordinary means of grace, have been reached alone by unusual methods to gain the listen- ing ear ; such as inviting them to come, and open- OF THE HOLY SPIRIl. 589 ing a temple or hall freely to them ; or in the open air, bringing to bear upon them, the agencies of sal- vation. 4. Children can be converted,- — and oftener than otherwise, are made the first fruits and earnest, of a glorious harvest in the kingdom of God. The com- mand of Him who took them in his arms, rings over the generations since that hour, but imperfectly heard and heeded by the church of his love, " suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not." 5. The simple gospel, presented directly and earnestly to the conscience, is " the power of God unto salvation." In no instance has a revival or conversion been traced to logically powerful or elaborate sermons as such ; but oftener than other- wise to the repeated text of God's word ; a fearless, tender appeal, or a tearful declaration of what God has done for the soul. Sermons and the pastorate are indispensable, but successful, in proportion to the Scriptural simplicity, and adaptation of the truth and labor, in the ministry and laity, to the com- mon thought and experience, accompanied with be- lieving prayer. 6. The power of a revival, and consequently its extent, depend very much upon the united efforts and hearty support by Christians, of the plainest and most searching exhibitions of the truth of God. If his seal of approval is apparent, and thus.recog- 640 THE HARVEST WORK nized, cavilers and scoffers are left to the lightnings of Sinai, as well as to the tears of Calvary, with no refuge or hiding place in the church of God. We think this point of primary importance. " The ter- rors of the law," have their place in the gospel mes- sages, and cannot be ignored without fatal loss of power. Love must alarm, as well as beckon. 7. It is also clear, that, while we are not called upon to deny the imperfections and mistakes in the human agencies, and to have no desire for their re- moval, it is obligatory upon Christians, to accept whatever God sends to promote his kingdom, using it with all bold and hallowed prudence, and prayer. And his seal may be seen in the Holy Spirit's saving presence, overruling the weakness of man for the glory of God, in securing the travail of the Eedeemer's soul. 8. One of the principal means of success, in special efforts, is the Scriptural method of dealing with souls, in seeking and expecting an immediate de- cision, upon the claims of Christ. We think no single source of power in the harvest-work, greater than an urgency of appeal to the impenitent, with a full dependence on the sovereign Spirit, not to leave the sanctuary or the place of entreaty, without the choice of God,— the submission of the soul uncondi- tionally to Him,— pressing upon the sinner the com- mand, " Choose you this day whom ye will serve." OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 541 9. Another fact, and peculiarity of the evangelis- tic lahors described in the pages of this volume, is the directness of the effort to the sinner's case. No preparatory sermons to the church were delivered ; but relying on the few engaged in the Master's ser- vice, and the truth as it is in God's word, with the quickening effect upon all Christians, which their efforts to save, and the tears of the anxious will have ; the labors of even a day or two have re- sulted often in the conversion of many souls. This was Richard Weaver's, and also Reginald Radcliff 's successful method, in Scotland and England. And this suggests the question : whether an expectant and decided measure to test and develope feeling in our congregations, by pastors, would not often be the outburst of the gracious work of the Spirit. Manifold are the ways of the Lord in saving men, and revivals in their origin conform to this fact, in the economy of his grace. 10. The question sometimes raised, why were con- victions of sin — of personal guilt — generally deeper, formerly than now, we think answered in the nar- ratives of conversion. It is not because, as a yoimg clergyman recently remarked, men, in the progress of theological thought, pass '' more easily and gracefully into the kingdom ;" but on account of superficial views of the natural heart and its only means of cleansing. The best indication that the Holy Spirit's work has been chronicled, is the poignant 642 TflE HARVEST WORK sense of sinfulness expressed by nearly all who gave evidence of conversion. Those who have been "slain by the law, and made alive by Christ," have a clear and well de- fined experience, and love to hear all truth, re- ceiving with docility and profit, that contrasted and awakening statement of the sinner's lost condition ; "He that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned." Any other gos- pel, i. e., messages mainly of love and clemency, or of guilt, judgment and retributive wrath, are a par- tial exhibition of truth. Paul declared, solemnly, " Knowing the terrors of the law, we persuade men." God's ambassadors and witnesses, need to feel more deeply the words of the faithful, tearful Doddridge : " The watch for souls, for which the Lord Did heavenly bliss forego ; For souls — that must for ever live In raptures or in woe ! " The sainted Bogatzky expressed the living Chris- tian's holy longing, a century and a quarter ago ; a fitting close to the records we have given of the past : ** Oh that thou ^^ouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence ... to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence.'* — las. Ixiv. 1, 2. " Awake, thou Spirit, who of old Didst fire the watchmen of the Church's youth ; Who faced the foe, unshrinking, bold, Who witnessed day and night the eternal truths O^ THE HOLY SPIRIT. 543 THE FIRST CHURCH IN ENGLAND. We clip from the Simda/t/ Magazine an account written by Mr. Hammond of the first church in England, said to have been erected in a.d. 61 : " When in Brantford, Ontario, I became acquainted with the aged widow of that remarkable missionary, Peter Jones. She was at one time a member of Rowland Hill's church, in London. " Her father, Mr. Field, was one of his leading members. With her husband, Mrs. Jones labored as a missionary among the Chippewa Indians in Upper Canada. This cult- ured lady presented me with a pencil drawing of her own, from which the above representation was made. With the picture she sent the following description : WHO BUILT THE FIRST CHURCH IN ENGLAND ? ON WHAT SPOT OF ENGLISH GROUND DID IT STAND? " Joseph of Arimathea is said to have reached the shores of Britain in the year of the Christian era 01, where he established himself with his eleven companions at Glaston- bury. There they built the ' First Church. ' The length of it was sixty feet ; the breadth, twenty-six feet ; and its walls were made of twigs and branches ' wended and twist- ed together after the ancient custom. ' This was believed from a very early period throughout Britain. " Southey considers the tradition to be worthy of credit, from the circumstance that it never was contradicted in those ages, when other churches would have derived very great advantages from being able to have advanced similar preten- sions on their own behalf. It is certain that the churchmen of England who were present at the councils of Pisa, Con- stance and Basle brought this tradition forward as proof that THE HARVEST WORK. 545 no Continental ecclesiastics had a right to rank before them- selves in precedence. And at the present time, in his * Architectural History of Glastonbury Abbey, ' very recently published, Professor Willis, the most cautious of engineers, after narrating the early traditions of that church, remarked : ' One fact can be certainly derived from them — namely, that there existed on the spot which is the scene of the tale, a structure of twisted rods or hurdles which was believed to have been built as a Christian oratory, and reported to be the earliest church erected in Britain ; also, that it especially bore the name of '* Vetusta Ecclesia,^^ the " Old Church." ' *' To show the veneration in which the structure itself was held, the chronicler records that ' According to the tradition of the Fathers, St. Paulinus, Archbishop of York (a.d. 630), clothed the Old Church, which before was made of intertwined rods, with boards, an 1 covered it with lead from top to bottom.' *' The church that Paulinus built, and the * Old Church ' that he protected, alike have passed away. Of the magnifi- cent abbey, in part Roman, and partly of the early Gothic of England, a few shattered fragments are the only existing remains amid those eloquent ruins, covered over and shel- tered by a low rounded arch of massive masonry, lavishly enriched with the zigzag work that the architects of the north so dearly loved. The Well of St. Joseph of Arimathea may still be seen, and close by the remains of the good and pious saint himself, the first of English church-builders, were believed to rest. " Sir Henry Spelman, in his ' Consilia ' (a.d. 1639), has given an engraving of Glastonbury ' Old Church,' as he ob- tained it from a plate that was fixed in a pillar of the New Churchy and was preserved after the demolition of the mori- astery. Since the seventeenth century, that ' Old Church ' has repeatedly been engraved again. The Latin name of 546 THE HARVEST WORK. the site of this church was Avalon, and to perpetuate its memory Lord Baltimore, when he began his colony in New- foundland, before he undertook the Maryland project, called his settlement Avalon. " THE END. INDEX. Alexandek, W. Lindsay, 58. " A wheea o' us Lassies," 36. Address iu City Ilall, Glasgow, 60. Arnot, Dii. W. 63. Aberdeen, 85. Annan, remarkable work, 101, 444, Ascent of Mt. Cenis, (sleigh-ride,) 182. Adams, Rev. Auburn, Me., 271. Attracting power, 332. Andover, Theo biudeuts, 345. Are his meetings solemn, 388. Athens, Pa., 400 Academy of music, Philadelphia, 409. Alexandria, Egypt, 432-436. AauLKY Down Orphanage, 449. Alaska convert's experience, 498- 500. All night prayer-meeting, 526. B. Birthplace, Ellington, Ct., 37. Balcom's resolutions, 28. Ballymena, 48. Boy's experience, 57. BosroN work, 216. Boy's letter, 227, 283. Bkthel, Me., 237. Batu, Me., 24'). Bku^swick, Me., Bowdoin College, 2S1-283. BoNAR, Horatio. 74. Beloit. Wis., 299. ilUKNT over districts, 300. IJuANTPoRU, Ontario, 312. Brooklvn Tabernacle. 326. BuiDUKPoRT revival, 346. Buffalo meetiniis, s56. Blaiu!»town, N. J . 370. Bo.vRDMAN, Rev. G 1) , 381. BouciUBi' of flowers, 387. Binouamton, .397. Beecuer, T. K , 402, Bey ROUT, Syria, 459. Brooks, Dr. James H., St. Louis, 469. BAJJB.Dr. C.E., 472-477. C. COUQHT, 21. Chalmers, D.D.. 33. Caruutuers, D.D., 33. Chadbourne, President P, A., 42, 297. College appointment, 43. Call to sjettlem^ nt, 76. Children's prayer-meetings, 93. Com. Davidson. i;>). CoMMER lAL Traveller, Dumfries, 134. Cabmen's meeting, City Hall, Glas- gow, 167. CowcADDENS scrvice, 168. Continental lour, 179. Cathedral, Milan, 187. Curriculum, 195. Campbell, D.D.. London, 197. Child's letter, 224. Catholic student converted, 224. Convert's experience, Bath, Me., 249. Capt. Delano's experience, 250. Christian soldier, 261. ( HiLDRiiN's meetings. 273. Carey. Rev., Beloit, Wis., 300. , Chicago, 3U0. Central N Y., 801. Charge Li;:ht Brigade, 312. Cincinnati meetings, 303. California, 472. Columbus, O., yi2. Christ's love constraining. 332. Child's anxiety for father, 341. Chicago Tribune, 356. Child's conversion, St. Paul, Minn., 359. Crving did no good. 392. Chuistian mother's testimony, 3)8. CoNFEDEiiATE camp, Elmira, N. Y., 402. Church doubled, Towanda, Pa., 400. Corning N. Y., Prophet, 410. Cleopatra's needle, 435. Carlisle. Eng., 445. Chinamen. Sacramento. 481. Cooper. Mrs. Sarah B. in '• Evan- gelist," 4S4. 548 INDEX. Covenant Book, 494. Child influence, Harrisburg, 516, Crown of thorns, 523. Crosbt, Rev. T., Fort Simpson, B. C, 506. Children can be converted, 301. Dunfermline, Scotland. 86. Dumfries standard, great work, 117. Dr. Woods's statement, 137. Detroit, Mich., 301, 373. DouGALL, John, 3*20. Dr. Cuyler's, Sup., 326. Dr. p. H. Fowler, 338. Dr. Shaw's letter, 340. " Deaf, but I want to find Jesus," 344. Diving for pearls, 346. Death, Triumphant, of Mr. H's mother, 367. Duffield's. Rev., statement, 375. Dr. Hogarth's words, 376. Damascus visited, 437. Dansville, N. Y., 533. Directness of effort, 541. Edwards, Jonathan, on child con- version, 67. Edinburgh experiences, 89. Established Kirk, minister's testi- mony, 104. Enquiry meetini^ described, 127. Experience in Dr. Arnot's church, 151. Exmouth, man-of-war Naples, 189, Editor's heart touched, 235. EvANSviLLE, Ind., 303. Eddie and black Joe, 343. • Elmira, N. Y., 400. Erie, Pa., 413. F. Free Church, Theo. Sem., 51. Farewell Meeting, Glasgow, 194. PisKE, J. O., D. D., Bath, Me., 246. Fessenden's experience, 268. False communicant led to Christ, 270. Farewell meeting, Lewiston, Me., 275. Five thousand added to Church, 303. Father of Mr. Hammond, 347. Fish, Dr. H. C, 352. Fruits in Newton, N. J.. 371. Five hundred rising for prayer, 389. Female College, Elmira, N. Y., 403. Fi^oRBNOB, Italy, 441, G. General Assembly Report, 305. Generalship, 308. Gives God the glory, 378. Girard, Pa., 428. Griffith, Dr. B., 440. Gethsemanb, 440. Greenwich, London Meeting, 465. Glacier, Alaska, 500. a. Hethbrington's definition of re- vival, 14. Hopkins, Rev. Henry, 41, 227. Hbnshelwood, John, 72. Haddington, Scotland, 76. Howard, Rev. R. H.,255. " He must take me as I am," 288. Harrisburg, Pa., 305. Hamilton, Ontario, experiences, 315. Hatfield. Dr. E. F.,322. Hamilton College revival, 352. Honors pastors, 358. Hacketstown, N. J., 366. Hi bbr, Dr. S. S., Newville, Pa., 519. How to promote revivals, 525. Ireland revival, 48. Infidel converted, 123. Interesting experience, Dumfries lady, 164. Inquiry meeting, Boston, 220. " I can never be a Christian," 233. " I have found Jesus," 235. IndianapoliSj 303. " I GLORIED in my stubbornness, 334. Illustrations, 340. "I know I'll be lost, but I don't care," 383. " I MADE fun of everybody," 391. Infidel soldier, Elmira, N. Y., 401. Italy, 431. Interpreters, 441. Indian S. S., Victoria. B. C, 600. Indian chiefess' prayer answered, 504. J. JoPLiN, Mo., 302. Jesus of Nazareth passeth by, 353. " Jumped over something," 366. Judge Gale, Peoria, 111., 418. Jerusalem, 439. Jones, C. A., 521. Knili., his earnestness for souls, S P^IRK, Pf, Rev., Boston, 219, 343. INDEX. 549 Laborers in revivals, 19. LowESTorT, Eng., shipwrecks, 78. LiNLiTUGOw, ScotlancI, 94. Leghorn, Italy, Dr. Stewart, 186. LiVBKPooL meetings, 198. "Low before God," 221. Little boy's story, 252. Lewiston, Me., 263. LocKPORT, N. Y., 303. Lawrence, Kan., 304. Letter to Independent, 321. Lincoln's funeral, 383. LiLLiE Meara, 394. Lawyers and physicians converted, 416. Leather bottles, 433. London, Eng., sixteen weeks, 450. Lick House, Farewell Meeting, 490. Letter to Great Britain, 492. Lord Essex, 529. in. Musselburgh, Scotland, 51. Montrose, " 89. Motherwell and Wishaw, 94. McNab (Dr.), conversion of, 96. Men's meetings, 128-160. Merchant's testimony, 181. Milan. Italy, letter, m. Cenis, 182. Magenta battlefield. Italy, 185. Moffat, Scotland, 196. Montreal, 300-.320. Mock prayer-meetiniT, 327. Morgan L. Savage, ;^29. Moody in Mr. H.'s meetings, 357. Minnesota, work in, 358. MiNNETONKA Lake, 364. Mears, Dr. J., 379. Ministers, forty present, Phila., Pa., 382. Matthew W. Baldwin, 395. " Mamma, you forgot to Pray," 397. McKiNNEY, Charles, 400. Ministers consecration, 414. Missionaries for Japan, 4S2. McWilliams, D. W., 422. Marriage, 428. Metropolitan Tabernacle, 465. Mears, G. W., 494. Myrich, Dr., 495. N. News of revivals, 70. Naples letter, 191. Newfoundland, 199. Newark letters, 214. Nbal, John, 231. Napoleon's method, 276. Nova Scotia, 301. Nashville, Tenn., 313. Newark, N. J., 313, 370, 371. Nine hundred in a day, 339. Newton, N. J.. 370. Necessary characteristics, 357. Nile. 439. Naples, 441. Noel, the Hon . and Rev. Baptist, 350 Nanaimo, B. C, 502. New York Evangelist Report, 532. O. Open-air meeting, Boston, 219. Out-door meeting,Brun8wick, Me.. 282. Ordained ministry, 177. Ordination, New'York, 300-323. Open-air meeting, St. Paul, Minn., 362. Oakland Tabernacle, 492. Oakland Covenant, 495. Porter's thoughts on revivals, 18. Prayer, its efficacy, 26. Place for Evangelists, 27. Phillips Academy, 41. Prejudices removed, 41, 214. Pownal, Vermont, 41. Pisa, Leaninii Tower, 189. Portland, Me., Mirror, 226. Prayer answered, 235. Plymouth, Mass., 258. Philadelphia, 301-304. Palestine, 301. Paris meetings, 323. Professional gambler converted, Newark, 390. Persevering worker, Towanda, Pa., 404. Picture sermons, 409. P*RAYBR answered, 420. Pekin, 111., 421. Peoria, 111., results, 425. Preparation needed. 426. Palestine visited, 429. Prayer versus Pistols, 487. Portland, Oregon, 496. Prayer and effort, 526. Payson. Edward, 528. Propositions established, 537. QuiNCY Railroad Conductor, 481. Reid, Rev., Wm., 16. Revivals in other days, 19. Review of work in Glasgow, 175. Revival on man-of-war, 191. Raffles, D.D., Liverpool, 198. Revivals on Great Eastern, 200. 550 INDEX. Roman Catholic Converted, 201. Revivals in Ireland, 203. RocHESTFR, second meeting, 302. Reasoning analogically, 337. Requksts for prayer, 347. Red Wing, Minn., 358. Roland Diller, 427. RocKFORD, 111., S. S. Convention, 429. Rah ROAD Conductor, Quincy, 481. Results at Newman Hairs Church, 466. Rice, Rev. H. H.'s statement, 482 RocKViLLE, Ct. Journal Letter, 488. S. SuNDAT-soHooLS established, 41. Sails for Europe. 42. Shipwreck described, 45. Sabbath rcL'arded. 79. Synod report of Annan, 102. Soldier converted, 125. Scotch infidel converted, 129. Sermon, 'acquaint now thyself," 143. Sermon to women, 152. St. James Hall, London, Eng., 189. St. Lawrence Harbor, 201. Summary of work in Ireland, 215. Sailors I<^d to Christ. 223. S. S. scholars converted, 224. South Paris, Me , 253. Scenes at Plymouth Rock, 261. Striking experience, 286. Spirit of prayer, 299 '' Suddenly to Hi- Temple," 300. Spbingpield, 111., 301. St. Louis, Mo., 304. Substitution, 306. Syracuse, N. Y , 306. Stekling, Edward, Bridgeport, Ct., 349. S' eking rest, finding work, 3.58. St. Paul, Minn., meetings, 359. S. S. Times, 382. Sportsman weeping, 389. Shallow sectarian pools, 224, 428. Sketches of Palestine, 438. Sands, Mr. John. 454. Surrey Chapel, 455. Soiree, Hon. Baptist Noel's Church, 463. Spurgeon's Sermon, 465. Shepherd's Dog, 467. Salvation Army, 468. St. Louis, 468. San Jose. Cal., 473. Sacrambnto, Letter to Ministers, 479, San Francisco, Letter to Minis- ters, 183. Stone, Dr. A. L., Characteristics, 488. Sitka, Alaska, 507. Sawyer, Judge A. W., Nashua, N. H., 519. T. TiLLICOU'-iTRT, 91. Temperance revival, Annan, 115. Thanksgiving, a joyous heart, 173. Turin, Italy, 185. "The Congregationalist's " report, 217. Testimony of ministers, 291. Terra Haute, Ind , .306. Talmage's Tabernacle, 313. Timid worker's experience, 360. Tabernacle Church. Chestnut St., Philadelphia, 387. Towanda, Pa., 403. Tyler S.. 460. ToY-A-ATT Alaska chief, 512. The masses overlooked, 538. U. Unequally yoked together, 157. Undkceived, 238. Univebsalist converted, 263. Utica, N. Y., 300, 329. V. Victor Emanuel, 185. Voyage home on Great Eastern, 199. Vernon, Ct., Air. H's home, 302, 522. Vacation labors in Minn., 364. W. Woods, Dr. Julius, Dumfries, Scot- land, 29. Williams Collesre, 41. Work in London, 301. Waverly, N. Y.,402. Willi amsport. Pa.. 415. Women in Egypt, 432. WooDRUFr, Mr. Albert, 442. Weston-Super-Mare, 447. Y. Young Ladies' experience. 77. YoiNG, Rev. E., Annan, Scotland, 106. Young converts' letters, 221. Books by the Rev. E. P. HAMMOND, THE CHILDEEN'S EVANGELIST. CONVERSIOlSr —OF— OHILI3RB N With Hundreds of Incidents. Rev. E. p. HAMMOND, the Childben's Evangelist. EVERY PREACHER, TEACHER AND PARENT SHOULD HAVE THIS BOOK. Paper Bound, 30 cents ; Cloth Bound, 75 cents. CONTENTS. Chap. I.— The Conversion of Children. Chap. II.— How Early may Children be led to Christ ? Chap. III.— Will Children Continue Steadfast ? Chap. IV. How can Children be Led to Christ? Chap, v.— Preaching to Children. Chap. VI.— How Early may Converted Children Join the Church ? Chap. VII.— The Influence of Children. Chap. VIII.— Testimonies About the Work and from Childrea Themaelves. Chap. IX.— Testimonies from Ministers. Significant and Suggestive Testimonials. Rev. C. H. SPURGEON says: *' My conviction is that our converts from among children are the very best we have. I should judge them to be more numerously genuine than any other class, more constant, and in the long run more solid." MARK HOPKINS, D. D., says : "I wish it great success." RICHARD NEWTON, D. D., says : "I do believe in the early conversion of children." D. L. MOODY, the Evangelist, says ; *' I fully believe in the conversion of children." President CHADBOURNE, of W^illiams College, says : •* I have full faith in the conversion of children. ZIONS HERALD, Boston, says: "It is a useful and suggestive volume." The CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, N.Y., says: ** The book will do good." The CHICAGO ADVANCE says : ♦•Even very young children can become intelligent and earnest disciples of Christ." The CHRISTIAN AT VSrORK, N.Y., says : "A careful perusal must convince the most skeptical mind, not only that young children are converted, but a full belief in the possibility of rery young childj'ea being converted.** The CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, Pitts- burgh, says : '♦Parents will find this work material for mo-t profiUb-e reflection." The METHODIST, N. Y., says : '*Tlie excellence of the work is that it gathers \\i) a large body of experience and of opinion upon the important; theme." The FOUNTAIN, Dr. Joseph Parker's, London, says : "The facts and narratives here furnished cannot long bo ignored." The CHRISTIAN AT AVORK, England, says: " This book is written for adults, and specially for those engaged in Sabbath-school teaching, or other work for the soul's good of children. Wise and precious counsels are presented to parents and guardians of youth for the godly upbringing of the children committed to their care " The PENUEL, England say : ♦*We devoutly wish that by some means or other a copy could be placed in the hands of every Sunday-school Super- intendent and every Pastor of a Church." PUBLISHERS, 10 & 12 Dey Street, New "Yo.i?k. THE- CHILD S GUIDE TO HEAVEN. OB, STORIES FOR CHILDREN. BY REV. E. PAYSON HAMMOND, THK CHILDREN'S BVANGELIST. PRICE, IN PAPER, ID Cts. ; LEATHERETTE, 25 Cts The object of this precious little book is to show children the way to Jesus, who is "The Child's Guide to Heaven." It is replete with Bible truth and forcible illustrations, abounding throughout with those tender persuasives which draw young hearts to the Savior. READ WHAT OTHERS SAY OF THIS WORK. •'This is one of the sweetest and best of books for chil- dren, explaining the way to be saved in such very simple language, that it would seem strange for the very youngest not to comprehend," — Bdirjious Herald. *' The book is one well suited both to interest children and lead them to the Savior."— S. S. Times. " This is really a delightful book. It is a book for the young, written by one who has learned by long experience, and by intense delight in the work, how to find his way to the hearts of children, and lead them in the road to Heaven."— Berwick Warder. "Little ones cannot but be deeply interested in the author's narrative, which is written in a language the most appropriate for a child's understanding." — Sunday Teachers* Tr easury. "We admire the simplicity and earnestness of this work. It is broken bread adapted to the youngest minds, and those who read what is herein written will be both fed and ^ed." —Evangelical Theology. ♦*Mr. Hammond has a special gift of talking to children on religious subjects. His stories are simply told, pointed and impressive, appealing to the intelligence and the heart.** Journal and Messenger. PUNK & WAGNALLS, Publishers. lO & 12 Dey Street, N. Y. 0 T H IG (: BLOOD By Rev. WM. REID, M. A., — ^BY — Rev. EDW^ARD PAY80N HAMMONP. Price in Paper, 10 cents ; Cloth, 40 oepts. Wfbis -aios' precious volume lias reached a circulation of over bOO,000 in this country and in Great Britain. It has *jso been translated into various foreign languages. In issuing ihis edition at a reduced price, we desire to place it in the hands of every person within our reach. "We know of no work that more clearly and helpfully sets forth, in language that aU ca,u mderstand, the ground of peace with God, In the Introduction Mr. HAMMOND says : "While in Scotland I often met with those who spoke of it as having been use^ by the Holy Spirit in leading them to rest solely upon the finished work of Christ as the only ground of their acceptance with God. "It was my privilege to spend several months with the author in scenes made both solemn and joyful by the mighty outpouring of the Spirit of God, where hundreds and even thousands were askiDg the question, ' What shall I do to be saved?' or rejoicing to find, by happy experience, that ♦ the blood of JesiLS Christ His Son ckanseth us from all sin.* "When, therefore, the author intrusted me with his favor- ite work for publication in America, I could but feel thankful for this opportunity of extending the field of its usefulness." It is intensely objective, holding up continually to the sinner's gaze, " the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Volumes might be written in speaking of the vast amount of good this book has accomplished. It has been the means of leading multitudes to Christ, and it has taught thousands of ministers and Christians how to hold up Christ in such a way that sinners are drawn to him. 60,000 were circulated by the Christian Commission in the army during the war. Mr. Hammond was the first who introduced it in this country. It is now being largely circulated in the place of *' James' Anxious Inquirer." Good judges pronounce it on the whole a better and more pra^stical book than Dr. J. A. James' excellent work. Says President Hopkins, of WilHams College: "It is the true vievr of the Gospel, and adapted to do great |0")d." '?.mo, io8 pages ; Price, postaj^e free, bound in Manila cents. FUNK & WAGNALLS. Publishers, lO & 12 Dey Street, NEW YORK. A NEW BOOK FOR CHILDREN, GATHERED XAMBS. SHOWING HOW JESUS, " THE GOOD SHEPHERD/' LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US, AND HOW MANY LITTLE LAMBS HAVE BEEN GATHERED INTO HIS FOLD. BY KEY. EDWAED PASON HAMMOND, Author of '^ Child's Ouide^'' '■'■ Blood of Jesus,'' '■'• Conversion of Children,'''' etc. 12iiio, 176 pp. Paper, 10 cents; clotb, 40 cents. OPINIONS OF CRITICS. Freshyterian Observer, Bal- " In this volume Mr. Hammond blends in a charming manner short stories and interesting anecdotes, illuminating them all with the shining rays of Gospel Truth." Interior, Chicago: " A series of stories for children by one who has had a large expe- rience with them, and who knows exactly how to gain and hold their attention. The children will be delighted with the book." Evangelical Messenger, Cleve- land: " In a simple, clear, and illustra- tive style, with apt, telling incidents and pertinent application, it is ad- mirably adapted to fasten saving truth upon the young mind." St. Iiouis Evangelist: "This book has been read by thousands with delight and encour- agement. It is Scriptural, tender, impressive in style. It will direct attention to the guiding of children into the shepherd's fold." r^m^,"." Theological Setnir 1 1012 01057 0416 DATE DUE HIGHSMITH #45230