Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4127, 12 June 1874, Page 2

“ Proposed Religious Awakening in Otago” is the heading of one of the sections of a report of the proceedings of the Dunedin Presbytery which appears in the morning papers of that city. The heading would bo ambiguous were it not for the context, for a calm proposal to awake to a sense of religion, at a given time and in a particular way, is scarcely compatible with common experience as to the manner in which such awakenings are usually produced. Tho report itself, however, explains what tho heading makes equivocal. It is not so much proposed that the Presbytery should awake per se, as that it should tako part in producing an awakening among tho people. That thoro is urgent or immediate necessity for this at tho present moment, moro than at any othor time, was not contended ; but because in England and Scotland, through tho action of two American revivalists, much excitement with an avowedly good end had lately prevailed, it was thought well to imitate tho example hero, and to clibot, by adventitious aid, what seemed slow to come through voluntary action or conscientious conviction. It _ was oven suggested that tho “best thing to do” would bo to import tho two American gentlemen, Messrs. Moodio and Saukcy, but such an addition to our system of immigration, it was admitted, was a somewhat hopeless speculation, and tho morq simple scheme of holding daily and undenominational prayer-meetings was favored as tho orthodox and moro easily attainable method of achieving a “glorious work,” Tho prevalence of such mootings at homo was cited, and moro “ modern instances ” relating to tho Colony might have been quoted, for both in Hokitika and Christchurch some hundreds havo lately boon assembling at united prayer-meetings, and exhibiting in public an earnestness which, if it were but permanent, should exercise a most benign influence both upon tho individuals themselves and upon tho communities to which they belong. But oven among tho members of the Presbytery there wore doubts and differences of opinion as to tho feasibility of tho plan proposed, for it was shown that, on former occasions of attempts to produce an “awakening,” denominational differences or aversions militated against anything

like perfect success —in fact, contributed to failure. The Rev. Dr. Stuart, whose experience and practical ideas deserve at least to be respected, was especially sceptical. According to the reports, “he dared say it would be a good thing if ministers and office-bearers collected their people together by themselves for the purpose. Ho favored the meetings being congregational, because they had once or twice united with the different churches in Dunedin, and lie did not think much good came of it. People under that arrangement came one night, and did not come a second time. He did not think a special time could be set apart over the whole of the country within the bounds of the Presbytery, as what would be convenient for one place might not be for another.” By those, or some other remarks, Dr. Stuart seems to have subjected himself to some criticism, and he became more emphatic by slating that ‘‘his experience of former prayer meetings was not satisfactory—they were poorly attended. He also found there ■were denominations who would not join them. They had been asked and asked, and they positively refused. He thought the wiser course would bo to stir up a livelier interest in their own hearts, and in the hearts of the people with whom they were associated'.”. So far as this practical divine’s dictum goes, we may not, therefore, expect to hear of Dunedin becoming the scene of a revival in its highest sense, though a reaction from the late excitement on the subject of spiritualism was not to be wondered at. Still, the Presbytery are as diligent in the business as they are fervent in spirit, for after two hours’ private conference, they concluded to adopt the following resolution: — “That this Presbytery has heard with great pleasure the tidings from Scotland and England of the -work of revival going on there, and after conference on the matter, it was resolved to invite its members and the membership of the Church generally within its bounds, to consider what each congregation should do within its own borders to promote a true revival of religion, and that earnest prayer be made in the public congregational services, and also in the family and in private, that God would grant to us a time of refreshing.”