The following report about the revival in the Khasi hills in 1905 was retrieved from the archive (through a reel) of the United Theological College Library. The reporter/contributor is not mentioned in the article. The article is quoted as it is in this blog. Thanks to Rev. Dr. B. L. Nongbri for referring me to this article.
The Revival in the Khassia Hills
(Christian Patriot, 29th April 1905, p. 3)
The Revival is spreading and
deepening also in the Khassia and Jaintia Hills, and as the excitement passes
away, the true work of the Spirit can be better judged. There is a deep feeling
of devotion, a warmer love towards God and man manifested, a longing desire for
a holier life and a striving after holiness, and above all an intense passion
for souls and untiring efforts made to bring outsiders to the Saviour. In some
parts, the Services are not so powerful as they were, but they are
sweeter and perhaps more enjoyable—the joy of salvation is felt.
Some wonderful
incidents have taken place the last few days; some one has said that no workman
has ever succeeded in his work unless he dreamt about it and it is natural for
men to dream of the work of the Saviour when he has become so real to them. One
little boy in a meeting got up with a frightened look and said that the night
before, he had seen hell fire and that he was so terrified that he ran away to
Jesus Christ. It was all very real to the little fellow, for he prayed so
earnestly afterwards and other little ones followed him in prayer, with much
feeling, sobbing and praying so that their words could scarcely be heard. Even
children who are not Christians attend the Services and some of them are under
deep conviction—weeping bitterly because of their sin. The young people feel
now begin to feel that it is their duty to speak to others. In one place where a very large market is held
about forty children went to the chapel to pray at noon, others soon joined
them, and the Spirit of God was among them. Some went out of the meeting to
speak to people in the market and a great crowd from the bazaar ran to the
chapel and filled it and the service which the children held with them was a
very powerful one. When these return to their work others took their place and
thus it went on for hours. One writes, “at 10 o’clock at night we only seemed
to be just beginning, and I do not know when our meeting come to an end, but it
was some time in the morning.” These children’s meetings are becoming more
general, the women and the children seem to be taking the leading part in many
places. Many men volunteer to go around the villages where the power of God has
not been felt, they are anxious for every village to be reached.
One Khasi Christian writes: “Since
the Spirit of God has been felt among us we feel that everything has been
changed—the hymns and the prayers are sweeter, we cannot help loving our
brethren, and oh! What a change in the lives of some who did not know Christ
previously, we have heard the despairing sighs and groans of men who felt that
they were at the mouth of hell, and oh! How delightful it was to see the
joy—the ecstasy—when they realized what Christ had done for them and they had
passed from death from death unto life. Scoffers there may be who bring forward
their ‘new wine theories,’ &c., but we know these things to be the
wonderful working of the Spirit of God, we have seen and felt the power. We
thank God for what he had done and watch and pray for still more mercies.”
In one of the villages in the Shella
District where the Spirit of God is working very powerfully at one of the
Services recently, the people heard a great noise, they thought it was a severe
hailstorm falling on the corrugated iron roof, when the building began to
shake, and they thought another earthquake had come. They look towards the
ceiling and saw a brilliant light and immediately some of the people saw two
shining persons standing near the pulpit. The men who saw them tried to go to
them but they could not. The people of the place have no doubt that God gave
them this vision. Some of them think that there was much joy in the service
that the Angels came down to witness it. Some may not believe in such visions,
but God has promised them in His word and why should he not fulfil these
promises? Another person writes “we are constantly hearing that God is working
in new places in Khassia, and though the Services are quieter a new power is
felt. In one of the villages a very sacred Communion Service was held, all—men
and women—silently weeping and Christ was very near. In another place a kind of
Praise Service was held, one hymn after another was sung, and such singing,
men’s hearts were praising God.”
The Cross of Christ is the great
means used by the Spirit of God to show men their sin and to bring them to
realize what God has done for them. It is so delightful to hear some who used
to say that it was the example of Christ that would change India, now crying
out that the Cross, the blood is what India wants. It is wonderful how ignorant
men—men who cannot even read have grasped the truth of Christ’s
sacrifice—Christ’s atonement. No amount of human teaching could have made these
truths clear to such dull minds, but the Spirit’s illuminating power has made
it very real to them.
We are glad to think that a great desire has taken possession of many of the Churches in Bengal to see the Spirit working mightily among them also and we believe that God will answer their prayers.
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