Revivals of religion in the town: "A solemn, sweet, and glorious season," that "many of God's people were filled with the joy of the Lord, Religion. and that many were brought to see their need of that Saviour whom they had shamefully neglected, and wickedly crucified." It is not surprising that this work of grace extended into the adjoining towns. The revivals of religion, during the latter part of the eighteenth century, were very wonderful. I have read of a work of grace in Harpswell, Maine, in 1756, which brought sixty-seven persons into the church, in that small community; of another, in North Yarmouth, in 1791, which pervaded the whole town, and brought one hundred and fifty into the church; of another in New Gloucester, in 1791, which was exceedingly powerful. These revivals were all in the vicinity of Brunswick. It is well known that the last years of the last century, and the earliest years in this, were marked by very thorough and extended revivals of religion in all parts of New England. The establishment of Bowdoin College at Brunswick has had a great influence upon the church. The first building for the College was erected in 1798. It was ready for use in 1802, at which time a house was erected for the President. The first class was graduated in 1806. 1 Greenleaf's Sketches, 69-70, 66-67, 119-120. President McKeen (elected 1801) used to preach on Sunday, either in the meeting-house of the First Parish, or in the College chapel. From that time to the present, there has been a close connection between the College and the church. This connection has given to the church a great increase of influence and of usefulness. X. Religious Life IF I were asked to state the essential and permanent qualities in the religious life of New England, during the eighteenth century, I should answer: To-day is the child of yesterday, this century is the child of the last century. New England owes its spe- The Permanent cial characteristics to the Pilgrims and Qualities of the the Puritans. The religious life into of that Century. which we have entered is a continuation of that of our fathers. They planted the seed, and we are reaping the harvests. If we have made some improvements in theology, so did they. If we have entered into the work of reform, so did they. If we have been favored with revivals of religion, so were they. Our Bible and Tract Societies, our societies for Home, and Foreign Missions, which grew up in New England in the earlier decades of this century, are the results of their religious training and example. That which we are doing, with our more abundant means, and our more fortunate environment, to make human life sweeter, and purer, and to make the world freer and happier, and to enlarge the kingdom of Christ among men,— much of this is the flowering and fruitage from the planting of our fathers, who in the great straitness of their lives, with much self-denial, and with devout prayer laid the foundations of our free Christian Commonwealths. The Pilgrims and the Puritans did not live in vain. Their influence has gone out into all the earth. We are drinking at the fountains which they opened. We walk in their light, and we are to pass on the torch to other generations. |