STATE OF RELIGION ON THE SUSQUEHANNAH DISTRICT. SUPPOSING it might be interesting to some of the numerous readers of your Magazine, I have thought proper to forward an account of the work within the bounds of the Susquehannah district, and particularly of the happy effects of several campmeetings which I have attended this season-which, if you think proper, you may give an insertion in your interesting pages. For the principal part of the last year, we had nothing especially interesting, though the church was evidently improving. The quarterly meetings generally were seasons of refreshing to the people of God, and of conviction to the ungodly; yet we did not realize what we desireda general revival. But towards the close of the year, appearances were much more favourable in several circuits. We had a campmeeting in June, in Caroline circuit, which was attended with much good. A meeting of this kind had never been held within the bounds of this circuit. Strange things had been reported concerning them. The idea of encamping in the woods, and continuing there several days and nights, had something in it so very romantic, that it seemed hard for many to associate with it the worship of God and the salvation of souls. Campmeetings were considered as a blot in Methodist economy. These views and feelings had so generally obtained, even among the members of our church, that it was doubtful whether the meeting would be successful, or even generally attended; but, as in many other cases, the result was better than our fears. The ground was neatly prepared, and was soon filled with tents. Immediately on the commencement of the meeting, it was manifest to every pious mind that the Lord was there of a truth. The preachers were much in the spirit of the work, and the members ardent in prayer. Solemnity rested on the spectators, and convictions were soon multiplied. A goodly number of awakened persons presented themselves in the altar and tents, in the intervals of preaching, as the subjects of prayer. Numbers of them were powerfully converted, and praised God aloud. As to opposition, we had none. The congregation was perfectly manageable and orderly. The bulwarks of prejudice were demolished, and the meeting conducted VOL. VIII. December, 1825. to the satisfaction of all. Between thirty and forty gave in their names as having experienced religion at the meeting.Several had retired from the ground.From this meeting the fire spread into several parts of the circuit, and the work still goes on gloriously. A campmeeting on Spencer and Wyalusing circuit commenced on the 11th of August. From the commencement, the preaching was plain and pointed, and the prayer-meetings conducted with warmth and ability. But nothing unusual occurred till sabbath afternoon, though the way was doubtless gradually preparing for some signal displays of divine power and goodness. At this time a cloud of blessings broke upon the assembly. The mourners were called into the altar, which was soon filled to overflowing. Their cries and bitter lamentations were enough to melt the hardest heart, and to excite the feelings and call forth the sympathies of the most philosophical and stoical Christian. With the groans, sobs, and cries for mercy, soon began to be mingled some shouts of victory. These increased, till at length they prevailed. The whole mass seemed to experience a shock of divine power, which burst the bands of the poor captives, and brought them at once into liberty. The work went on gloriously till the conclusion. Thirty-seven presented themselves as converts. As several had retired, the number converted was probably near fifty. Our parting scene was truly affecting. Several, who had not done it before, bowed themselves, and asked our prayers. For one o hem, in particular, great solicitude we felt: for him prayer was continued while the people were taking down their tents and dispersing. He has since become happy in God. The appearance of many testified that they left the place smitten with a sense of their sins. Another meeting commenced in Canaan circuit on the 7th of September. A good degree of engagedness was manifested among the preachers and members from the commencement of the meeting.Many seemed deeply sensible of the necessity of a deeper work of grace in their hearts. All the exercises were spiritual and impressive. At an early stage of the meeting several presented themselves as penitents, and desired the prayers of the people of God. A travail of soul increased 61 in the saints. The thunder of the law, sounding from the stand, accompanied by Divine influence, alarmed the conscience, and the light of gospel truth, flashing from the tongues of the heralds of salvation, proved a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Many of the gay, and those who were previously thoughtless, were pricked in their hearts, and cried, What shall we do? The work of conversion, on this occasion, though deep, was in many instances gradual, and the evidence at first not so clear. But, in general, light increased, till joy and gladness filled the soul. A number of instances there were of powerful conversion, and some instances of persons who had not confidence to come into the prayer-meetings, but went into the roads to pray, and were there set at liberty, and came into the encampment, testifying how great things God had done for them. On sabbath morning, a number who had become cold, had lost their first love, and got into the spirit of the world, some members of our church, and some of the Presbyterian church, presented themselves with the mourners as subjects of prayer. They felt a conviction of the necessity of being renewed, and to them the Lord graciously appeared the second time without sin unto salvation. Finally, it was a time of general grace, and we trust will be of lasting benefit to many individuals, and to the circuit generally. Near forty professed to have been converted at the meeting, and many, we trust, seriously resolved to seek the Lord. Our last campmeeting in the district commenced on the 15th of September, in Kingston, Wyoming circuit. For some time previous there had been considerable excitement in some parts of the circuit, and the members of our church generally were looking forward to this meeting with great expectations. The way was evidently preparing for something signally important to the church. Some unfavourable circumstances, with regard to the situation of the ground, a little damped the spirits of some while they were assembling; but these were soon forgotten; when the glory which shone upon us evinced that to be no less than the house of God and the gate of heaven. The commencement of the meeting was solemn, interesting, and powerful. The first prayer-meeting in the altar was honoured with the conversion of a soul, which was the commencement of a most gracious work of God, such as was never before witnessed in this part of the work: It would not be possible for me to give in detail an account of the numerous interesting cases which occurred during the meeting, within the limits which it is necessary for me to observe in this communication. But I would state, in general, that the work progressed, from the commencement to the close, in an astonishing manner. The word, faithfully and forcibly announced, was quick and powerful, and the labours of the ministry and membership crowned with immediate and wonderful success; and the number of labourers was constantly increased, for as soon as any were brought into liberty, they went in pursuit of their relatives and acquaintance, and brought them forward, prayed for them, and exhorted them till they found the same pearl of great price. On Monday the crowd had retired. All remaining on the ground seemed interested in the great object for which we had assembled. In the morning, after an appropriate discourse, the sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered. This was a melting season. The saints were much refreshed, and inspired with fresh courage to discharge the duties devolving on them. After the ceremony was concluded, the mourners were invited into the altar, which, though it would contain a hundred persons, was soon filled, and large numbers still waited at the gates and hung on the railing. The altar was enlarged, and finally entirely taken down, that sufficient room might be made for all the mourners, and those who wished to labour for them. Some were constantly coming into light and liberty. The very ground seemed to be holy. All hearts were broken to pieces, and few had obstinacy enough left to resist the general impulse towards the place where prayer was so prevalent. The exercises continued without interruption till Tuesday morning. The whole of Monday night there was one incessant volley of prayer and praise, excepting a short space that was occupied by a midnight cry. The morning was delightfully pleasant; but the joy which sparkled in many countenances exceeded the splendour of the sun. Many who saw the sun set in the west, almost in the gloom and horror of despair, saw it now arising in the east under very different circumstances; for they now felt joy in their hearts, and a hope full of immortality, the Sun of Righteousness having previously arisen upon their hearts, with healing in his wings.Previous to the conclusion of the meeting, those who had experienced religion since its commencement were requested to assemble near the stand. One hundred came forward, and it was estimated that at least thirty had left the ground. Ninety-seven offered themselves as candidates for admission on trial. Between thirty and forty presented themselves as penitents, several of whom found comfort before they left the ground for some, as though they had been riveted to the spot, continued there, and pleaded for mercy, and enjoyed the prayers of several of their friends till the people were principally dispersed, when they obtained the blessing they so much desired. The glorious work continues, and the flame is spreading in various directions through the country. In Kingston many are turning to the Lord. We kept up meetings every evening for two weeks, when I left the place, and some professed conviction at every meeting. The pros pect seems to warrant an expectation of a great harvest of souls. Oh, that the gracious work may continue and increase, till the glory of the Lord shall fill the land! One thing in this revival is peculiarly important. We as yet have witnessed nothing of that extravagance and disorder which sometimes attend reformations. The meetings have all been solemn and orderly, while the people have been overwhelmed with a sense of the presence and glory of God. Finally, we think we have cause to expect much good in the district the ensuing year. May our expectations more than be realized! With sentiments of love and respect, I am, dear sirs, your unworthy brother in Christ, GEO. PECK. Speedsville, Oct. 15, 1825. CAMPMEETINGS ON THE CHAMPLAIN DISTRICT. Letter from the REV. BUEL GOODSELL to the Editors, dated Charlotte, Oct. 19, 1825, THE following account of the campmeetings held in Champlain district, during the month of September last, is sent for insertion in the Magazine. THE first we held this season was in the town of Peru, N. Y., on the western shore of Lake Champlain-a most beautiful situation. A fine grove of young trees thickly spread their branches over the spot selected, and formed a very necessary and agreeable shade; and the pure waters of the lake glided gently along, within a few rods of the ground, with which the numerous assembly was amply furnished. The time appointed for the commence ment of this meeting was Thursday, the first day of September. Early preparations were made for the meeting. The ground around which the tents were erected, was considerably larger than what it had been on similar occasions, and the seats were more numerous than usual. On Thursday, one week preceding the time appointed for the commencement of this meeting, a number of tents was erected; and two or three days before the meeting began, there were many engaged in rearing up tents, until the ground was encompassed with them, from three to seven deep-in number between three and four hundred. token of Divine approbation. At the conclusion of this exercise at the stand, the preachers and people united in forming one general circle of prayer; and immediately hundreds were raising their strongest desires to God for the outpouring of his Holy Spirit, and the general revival of his work. It was not long before answers were given. Sinners were awakened, and coming forward, in many tears and strong cries for mercy, deplored their past folly, until God, in answer to prayer, sent deliverance and salvation. After this manner the work continued to progress, and the Divine influence to increase among the people, until the close of the meeting. Souls were hourly coming into the kingdom of God, and singing and prayer were kept up night and day, with very little intermission, until it was judged that about one hundred souls were brought from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. In addition to these, great numbers of backslidden professors were reclaimed. They had wandered in darkness, destitute of the peace and favour of God, but here they deplored their folly and unfaithfulness, and, with heart-rending lamentations, cried, "Return, oh Holy Dove!-return, At the appointed hour, the congregation united in the worship of God, and gave themselves up in those devotions which terminated in the spiritual profit of several hundreds. The people listened with attention to the word, and the influence of the Spirit that attended, was an evident until the love of God was again manifested I bate the sins that made thee mourn, And drove thee from my breast ;"— to their souls, and they were enabled to say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." While such a work of God was going on among sinners, the hearts of God's people were enlarged, and many were the cries for full redemption in the blood of the Lamb. "Give me a clean heart; sprinkle me with clean water; cleanse me from all unrighteousness, and fill me with all the fulness of God," was the constant cry of many, until the blood of sprinkling purified their hearts. But this work was not confined to the membership. The preachers felt this glorious power also, and once, in particular, the Divine influence prostrated several of them upon the floor of the stand. The cries of the priests and people now went up to heaven together, and nothing, for a considerable time, could be heard, from the souls of happy hundreds, except shouts of praise and bursts of glory. "Truly, the place was none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven." The preachers on this occasion were very active and zealous: they were of one heart, and their labours were specially owned of God in the salvation of souls. We usually had seven sermons in a day., These were generally well arranged, and delivered in "demonstration of the Spirit ;" and often powerful effects were visible in the congregation while they listened attentively to the herald of divine truth. The principal doctrines of the gospel were chiefly introduced in the sermons. The fall of man, his consequent depravity and helplessness, the divinity of Christ, the atonement, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the necessity of faith in Christ to procure pardon and holiness: these are the truths which were repeatedly explained and enforced, and which God so eminently owned on the occasion. Several missionaries from the province of Lower Canada, the brothers Richard and Henry Pope, Lang, and Stinson, attended the meeting, and favoured us with their highly interesting and useful labours of love. Our hearts quickly ran together, and the same spirit of faith, of zeal, and of love, animated our souls; and such was their satisfaction on the occasion, that one of them said, while beholding the wonderful work of God among the people, "This is worth crossing the Atlantic to see!" But after we had spent the time, from the first to the morning of the fifth of September, in these delightful exercises, witnessing the conversion of souls, and the displays of the power of God, the pe riod arrived in which it became necessary to close the meeting, and return to our dwellings. The closing scene was moving indeed. While we enjoyed a short season in rehearsing the wonderful works of God, we beheld with delight parents rejoicing over their children, recently converted to God-brothers and sisters filled with redeeming love-and friends and neighbours exulting in the joys of present salvation, while tears plentifully bedewed almost every cheek, and loudly proclaimed the power and presence of the ever-blessed God. Our second campmeeting was held in Pittsford, Vermont, and began on Tuesday, the 13th day of September. The weather was remarkably fine; except a few little showers, which occasioned once some uneasiness, and a little derangement of our order. This meeting also opened with displays of Divine power. The people of God became exceedingly happy on the first day of the meeting, and especially at the going down" of the sun, about the time of the evening sacrifice, while the preacher was showing to saints and sinners the ability and willingness of God to save to the uttermost. The preaching at this meeting also was generally excellent, plain, pointed, and powerful, without much controversy; and the fundamental truths of revealed religion were forcibly urged upon the understanding and consciences of the assembly. The general conduct of such as attended as spectators was with decorum, except on Wednesday, the 2d day of the meeting, when I never saw so much rudeness and inattention before in an assembly professing civilization. An entire indisposition to observe the order of the meeting seemed to prevail among them; and although our regulations were often read, and their propriety shown, yet the people behaved as if they had come to a theatre, or some military exhibition. But on the last day of the meeting, the people were serious, attentive, and orderly, and God was pleased to visit many penitent souls with his converting grace. Great numbers of backsliders were powerfully reclaimed, and rejoiced in a sinforgiving God, while the church seemed to be generally made alive, and many professed to be wholly sanctified to God. The conclusion of this meeting was glorious also. The Divine Presence reigned awfully in the assembly, and the people spake, as with tongues of fire, the things the Lord had done for them. It was at this meeting that the preachers volunteered to hold the third, and ac cordingly it was appointed in the town of sin. With the exception of two or three individuals, the people behaved with the greatest order and regularity. They were all attention to the ministry of the word, and listened as creatures that expect to give an account to the Judge of the quick and the dead. Indeed, such was the anxiety of many in the town to enjoy a meet ing of this description, that although they only had about ten days' notification of the appointment, yet every preparation necessary was made by the time, and nothing remained to be done when we assembled but to labour for the salvation of their souls. The closing part of this meeting was gloriously solemn. The awful Presence was evidently felt throughout the assembly. Those that had not felt, or felt but little before, now burst into floods of The people of God penitential tears. rejoiced exceedingly, the young converts B. GOODSELL. STATE OF RELIGION ON THE NEW-HAVEN DISTRICT. Letter from the REV. SAMUEL LUCKY to the Editors, dated New-Haven, Nov. 1, 1825. Or the state of religion in the district, a number of letters received from the preachers at our late district conference give me more direct information than I usually possess at any one time. In the small society to which brother Willett's labours are chiefly confined, he writes, that "for the last three or four months, the good Lord has been pouring out his Spirit upon the people. About twenty have joined society, most of whom have lately experienced the forgiveness of their sins; and the work is still, though perhaps slowly, progressing." There are flattering prospects in other parts of Dutchess cir cuit. Of Poughkeepsie, brother Pearce writes that "circumstances wear a more favourable aspect." They "have added nine new members; and several souls appear to be sincerely engaged in seeking salvation. The account from Hartford is very similar. They have received the same number into the church; and, considering the difficulties with which that station has had to contend, prospects are considered encouraging. There have been revivals, more or less promising, on all the circuits: some of them assume very encouraging appearances. At our district conference, about two weeks since, in Amenia circuit, a good work commenced. In a part of New Milford, on the same circuit, where there had been very little preaching until brother Silliman visited it, something more than a year ago, a society of between forty and fifty has been raised up, of more than ordinary promise. Most of the subjects of this work are heads |