***** “GOSPEL MEETINGS IN ST. ALBANS.
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BUSINESS MEN AND THE BIBLE—AN EARNEST AWAKENING—REVIEW OF THE WORK, AND LIST OF THE WORKERS.
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The series of meetings under the conduct of the executive committee of
Young Men’s Christian Associations and churches of Vermont
opened at the Congregational church on Tuesday last [, Dec. 7, 1875,] at half-past two p. m.,
as previously announced in the ‘Messenger’ of Saturday, Dec. 4th [, 1875].
George E. Davis, of Burlington, chairman of the state committee,
was present and he directed throughout the entire course of meetings.
The first session of Tuesday consisted of a prayer and fellowship meeting,
and a considerable audience was in attendance,
among whom were the resident clergy of St. Albans, and large delegations from the churches.
Printed programmes of the six days were distributed, of which the following is a copy:–
TUESDAY.
2. p. m. Prayer and Fellowship meeting—1st John 1:3, John 13:34-35.
7 p. m. The end to be sought in these meetings,–‘Christ in you, the hope of Glory.’ Col 1:27.
WEDNESDAY.
2 p. m. The Sin of Indifference; of half-heartedness in Christ’s service.
7 p. m. The Word of God: the blessing it conveys, and how to search for it.
THURSDAY.
2 p. m. Unbroken Communion with God: how may we have it, and what are its fruits—1st John 3:21-24, John 15:10-12.
7 p. m. The Sinner’s need.
FRIDAY.
2 p. m. Experience meeting—2d Cor. 13:5.
7 p. m. What must I do to be saved?
SATURDAY.
2 p. m. The Holy Spirit—John 14:16-17, Rom. 8:14-16, John 16:13; Eph. 4:30; is. 63:10.
7 p. m. Jesus the Saviour of Sinners.
SABBATH.
9 ½ a. m. Prayer Meeting.
10 ½ a. m. Duty and reward of personal effort to win souls; and how to labor successfully.
2 p. m. Prayer and Praise meeting.
2:45 p. m. Religion in the family.
7 p. m. The Great Salvation: how shall we escape if we neglect it?
The co-workers with Mr. Davis were representatives of branches of
the Young Men’s Christian Associations in various localities.
The devotional exercises at the opening of each session
were participated in by the pastors of this place, and
were interspersed with singing from ‘Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs,’
a compilation by P. P. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey,
copies of which were profusely supplied for the use of the congregation.
The method employed in conducting some of the earlier sessions was by the announcement of the topic to be considered, which was elaborated chiefly by Bible readings and comments thereon; slips containing appropriate texts being, previous to each similar exercise,
distributed among the audience, by whom they were read.
Exercises of this character were conducted by Mr. Davis and J. T. Quimby of Thetford Centre.
By this process a large amount of Scriptural ground was compassed and
the familiarity with the Old and New Testaments,
togeter [sic] with the simple and clear adaptation of the explanations and illustrations,
evidenced by the gentlemen in charge, made the exercise strikingly interesting and instructive.
The remarks of the leaders were supplemented by each of their corps of assistants in turn.
After Thursday afternoon, Bible reading by the audience ceased to be a feature of the method and the subjects were made the point of special prayer in the preliminary devotional exercises, followed by explanatory comment by the gospel workers.
From Wednesday to Saturday morning inclusive, thirty minute prayer-meetings for young men were held, and on Friday and Saturday evenings from half-past six to half-past seven
young people’s meetings were held in the vestry of the Congregational church.
At these latter the interest was marked, young persons and old rising in quick succession and paying a brief tribute to Christ’s cause in a few apt words.
The magnetism of the earnest, sincere words uttered made these two meetings as effective as any of the week day series, and it was evident that permanent impressions were made on the minds of enquirers.
The prayer meeting of Sabbath morning was held at the Baptist church and was in charge of
A. C. Mitchell of St. Johnsbury. A large number attended and it was very evident that the efforts of the five previous days were bearing fruit.
At half-past ten the gospel workers resumed their labors in the Congregational church, which was filled to an extent far surpassing that of any previous session.
Every seat in the body of the house was filled and upwards of a hundred people were seated in the galleries.
The choir of the church led the singing.
Bible readings under the conduct of Mr. Davis were once more presented and
this meeting was altogether as satisfactory as any, with the exception previously mentioned.
The working force seemed to have gathered inspiration from the day, and the topic—
Duty and reward of personal effort to win souls, and how to labor successfully;
it was one that must have gone straight to the souls of these earnest self-forgetting laborers in the Master’s vineyard.
The searching words of Messrs. Davis, Fairbanks and Mitchell
to professing, non-performing Christians, both on this occasion and on Friday evening,
must have startled many of those whose apathy and self-righteousness were operating as hinderances to the work in hand, to self examination and new zeal.
It is quite probable that a considerable number were disappointed in the application of the topic of Friday evening; it not being generally expected that the enquiry, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ would be directed to the needs of such as are already enrolled in Christ’s service.
Keen students in human nature; dauntless spirits in the work to which they are committed; led in every avenue of thought and purpose by their supreme love for their fellows,
the men composing this band of ‘workers’ are doing their work in a manner that should summon every believer in the Lord Jesus to their side.
Emulating the system operated upon by
Young Men’s Christian Associations of Massachusetts and Connecticut [sic?; New Hampshire],
this movement was initiated at Norwich, Vt., in 1874, with Mr. Davis at its head.
space will not allow a detailed account of the work of last year, and
the history of the months during which they have been in the field,
it is impossible to reproduce within these limits of a necessarily hasty and inadequate report.
Leaving out of the case the results to such places as have been visited,
their own apparent everlasting gain is evident to even the most indifferent.
Their knowledge of the Bible,
their renderings of obscure and ambiguous passages or
those that seem such to minds less absorbed in these matters so vital to every human creature, and the power accruing to them thereby is ample reward for the consecration of a life.
It cannot be denied that evangelical effort is that of which the world is in perishing need.
The prayer and praise meeting Sabbath afternoon and
the usual session for discussion was not quite so well attended as that of the morning but
the interest was deep.
The relation of personal experiences by Messrs. Small, Blodgett and Hopkins were most touching and impressive.
At half-past six p. m., a young people’s meeting was held
in the vestry of the Congregational church.
Five minutes beyond the time of assembling every seat was occupied,
a crowd filled the anteroom and hall and
nearly every inch of standing room in the vestry was appropriated.
In a few moments a meeting was organized in the church and
two distinct services were held.
At the meeting which followed,
the large audience room of the church was crowded to its utmost, and
the space surrounding the pulpit was filled with people occupying chairs.
A large number nearly filled the galleries.
Throughout this service the depth of interest was intense, and
when it concluded, a little before ten o’clock,
the throng dispersed slowly and with manifest reluctance.
Union meetings were announced for Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and
as several of the workers must wait until noon before leaving St. Albans
a prayer meeting was arranged for Monday morning.
Follownig [sic] are the names of the gentlemen who have spent six days
in untiring effort to awaken souls in St. Albans to a sense of duty and danger.
Some of them have been in attendance continually,
others have come for a day and gone to help in other fields, their places being filled by alternates.
George E. Davis, Burlington;
Rev. Henry Fairbanks,
[A.] C. Mitchell,
[A.] S. Hopkins,
P. D. Blodgett,
F. B. Denio, St. Johnsbury;
F. L. Small[,] Springfield;
John T. Quimby, Thetford Centre;
W. F. Bowman, Newport[;]
Peter Paradie, Fairhaven[;]
Geo. M. White, Boston.
Mr. Blodgett is better known in St. Albans as Captain Blodgett,
who was in command of the companies here after the rebel raid.
Both he and Capt. Davis were valiant officers in the 10th Vermont during the war.
The prayer meeting Monday morning was largely attended by the Christian people of this village and so deep was the sentiment awakened that it was extended two hours instead of one, as first appointed.
The personality of Mr. Davis and others of the workers was strongly felt and
there is now no question as to the permanency of the impressions they made.
The union meeting at the vestry of the Congregational church that evening
was one of the most remarkable ever held in St. Albans.
It showed ‘revival’ in its best sense;
influential business men and citizens standing and testifying to their own remissness and neglect of privileges.
No distinct appeals were made to the unconverted ‘as such,’ but the sincere, Christian humility an new determination to do positive duty in God’s service expressed by those present brought to their feet a number quite as large, if not larger than at any of the preceding meetings.
Over twenty-five responded to Mr. Van Norden’s delicate, well chosen words of invitation.
God’s own power and peace that passeth all understanding pervade the place like a flood from a heavenly source, and the joy and gladness that marked every face was wonderful to see.”
“The St. Albans Weekly Messenger,” [Friday,] December 17, 1875, p. 5.
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