REVIVALS IN LONDON.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 351, 5 March 1861, Page 3

REVIVALS IN LONDON.

On Sunday evening, December 2, a meeting of an extraordinary character was helo in Exeter-ha!l. It had been announcer) by advertisements and placards that Exeter hall would be opened <m that night for a service, to be conducted by three laymen, Mr. Reginald Radcliffe, Mr. Iticha d Weaver (formerly a prizefighter), and Mr. William Carter. The promise was kept, and at six o'clock the doors were thrown open. In less than a quarter of an fyour the spacious building was densely packed, and it was deemed advisable at once to close the outer gates. The proceedings were opened by prayer, in the the course of which the Almighty was earnestly implored to stretch down His arm from Heaven over London for the purpose of converting it, and especially for the purpose of checking Popery, priestcraft, Pusevism, and devclism.

Mr. Carter read portions of the 6th chapter of St. Mark's Gospel, and in the course of a very energetic description of the efficacy of redemption assured his hearers that it was not to be secured by lifting up a poor rotten cross or miserable crucifixes— nor in going to church with fine steeples, or listening to a lot of fellows with white nightgowns on. All these were miserable delusions What was wanted was real conver-

.siorii'the two c|a^es,in London who wanted it most being woikinTr men, 93 out. of every 100 of whom never went to a place of worship at a!', and the unconverted nobility, many of whom were canting humbugs. Mr. Weaver followed, and from the excitement which prevailed immediately he arose it was evident that he was the principal object of attraction. He commenced by singing a hymu to the tune of "The King of the Cannibal Islands," in a very loud tone,.the auditory taking up rhe chorus; the words being, " Still I have no 111110117' He then took for his text the words, " Herein is love," &c, from St. John's First Epistle. H.e called upon his hearers not to believe that the great scheme of human redemption was moonshine and humbug; but, on the contrary, it was able to encircle and convert the greatest blackguard in London. There were many ungodly persons in that hall who wanted shaking over hell for five or six minutes, and if that would not convert them nothing would. As the speaker warmed with his subject he danced up and down the platform and shouted hell and damnation with a vigor which was.perfectly appalling. Every now and then he denounced the unconverted, then appealed to them to come to Christ, and in the roughest language, and with the most violent gesticulation, called upon those who believed that Christ had power to save to hold up their hands. About three-fourths of the audience did so; the "contrary" was not put. -During the proceedings, several young women, .whose feelings were operated upon, fainted and were carried out. Mr. Weaver afterwards sang another hymn, " I've a father in a promised land," to a lively air.- Throughout the evening the audience was kept in the highest possible state of excitement, and as the close of the public service a meeting of a quieter kind was held for ,fhe reception of the unconverted;— Home Neivs.