REVIVAL "MISSIONS."

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3535, 6 November 1882, Page 4

REVIVAL "MISSIONS."

Under the above heading a correspondent to the Wanganui Herald writes as follows respecting the " Misson " at present being conducted there by Mrs Hampson, the revivalist :—" Before the women of Wanganui all go mad over Mrs Hampson, perhaps it •would be well for them to pause and ask themselves what benefit they expect to obtain. I remember carefully watching two revival movements at home. The first was conducted and generally managed by a gentleman known as Bichwd Weaver, the cnnverted something (I forget what, but fancy he had been a coal heaver) —I have no doubt many of your readers will be familiar with his name. This man addressed crowded audiences wherever he went, had men weeping occasionally over their sins, but it was principally women who were influenced by his rough eloquence to such an extent as to throw themselves on the ground, tearing at their hair and uttering most frantic yells to God. In some, unfortunately, this was a permanent result, their friends having to commit them to a lunatic asylum. I may just mention, en passant, that this gentleman's last public appearance was a damper to his followers, as lie was brought before a magistrate to show cause why he did not maintain his illegitimate child. The second revival movement was that of Moody and Sankey. I attended a few of their meetings, and a greater farce than some of their proceedings it would be hard to see. Once in particular, Moody came down amongst the audience, composed mostly of women, who nearly trampled on each other in their efforts to get near this saint, while he stood pointing his forefinger, first at one and then at another, as quickly as over he could, exclaiming ' Are you on the rock ?' ' Are you on the rock ?' ' Yes,' ' yes' ; 'all right' ' all right' was his reply. I watched this performance for a quarter of an hour, and then elbowed my way out. Six months after their visit to the city I speak of, out of a large circle of acquaintance, dozens of whom had been ' converted,' I could sec no sign whatever of their labors, save two ; the first an increase in the number of lunatics suffering from religious mania, and the other, that the more lucky ones who escaped with a less degree of madness, as they gradually came to their senses, they were ashamed to mention the revival or anything connected with it. surely, sir, we have enough lunatics here without another form of it being brought about amongst us to turn the heads of the people for a time. I cannot appeal to the number who rnsh anywhere in search of any excitement or to the other equally certain number of young people who go to flirt, and be near each other, but to those who merely think of going out of curiosity, and the more thinking portion of the Wanganui people, I say reflect before you countenance a foolish and hurtful movement by your presence, and let Mrs Hampson and her supporters seek a fruitful field for their labours elsewhere."