Touchstone  April 2004
 

By Yvonne Wilkie
Director of Archives

“Showers of Divine blessing began to fall upon us here” so reported the ‘Presbyterian News' in 1876 of an Evangelistic meeting in Oamaru.  Excited by the reports of the Moody and Sankey Revival taking place in Edinburgh in 1874, the two Presbyterian Assemblies in New Zealand began an even greater effort to encourage their ministers and members to consider what could be done at the local level ‘to promote true revival' and ‘refreshing among ourselves.'

The Churches had not overlooked evangelistic efforts prior to 1874.   From the beginning of Pakeha settlement the lethargy of settlers towards their religious life is regularly mentioned in Parish and Presbytery reports. By 1869 the Synod of Otago and Southland desired nothing more then a great revival.  As ‘no copious showers of Divine grace had rained down' upon them they expressed the need for the appearance of ‘Elijahs to be among them'.  Various attempts at evangelising were put into place, including the appointment of an evangelist but each year the Synod lamented that the success was local and among themselves.

In 1876 Dunedin Presbytery after ‘long discussion' and meeting in private for two hours', established the new model for religious revival set out by Moody and Sankey.  Other evangelical denominations were invited to attend weekly noon- time prayer meetings with a focus on preparing for a revival.  Regular reports of revivals taking place throughout the world were also published in the local newspapers and Church journals to tantalise the populous.

It was then, with high expectation that in 1878 the Presbyterians supported a visit of the renowned Scottish Revivalist, the Rev. Dr. Somerville and his son William.  Their revival trail through India and Canada had been reported for some months leading up to the visit.  The Somervilles having participated in the work of the Moody and Sankey revival in Scotland fulfilled many New Zealanders wish for a true revival.  In Dunedin an added fact no doubt, stirred many hearts as Dr. Somerville's first outing was to visit the grave of Captain Cargill whose wise counsel had led him into ministry some 40 years earlier.

Reports reflect a general satisfaction with the mission noting the large attendances, the introduction of Sankey hymns and the enthusiasm from those attending. With typical Presbyterian reserve, we are told that there ‘was an entire absence of excitement …'. ‘The spirit was present, not like a mighty rushing wind – not in Pentecostal effusion – but like the gentle rain or silently falling dew.'

Perhaps the greatest revival seen in New Zealand pre WW2 is that of the American revivalists Reuban Torrey and Charles Alexander in 1902.  Described as a modern Paul, Torrey with Alexander filled the halls to overflowing.  They spoke to crowds at train stations as they passed through, on street corners, in their work places, at daily Bible reading and prayer meetings,  young people's rallies, men's and women's meetings, from Wellington to Bluff.  Each meeting is fully described in newspapers with a verbatim of the sermon printed.  The south was on a roll of spiritual excitement.

Months of preparation for the visit of the evangelists took place.   Inter-church prayer meetings became central to the success of the mission, held in city churches as well as in private homes, described as ‘house church'.  After-meetings drew in the ministers of the districts to enable continuing backup at the closure of the mission and a number of ‘Alexander Choir's' formed to instruct congregations in the new hymns.

The merits and demerits of the new revivalist movement were keenly discussed.  Disappointment among many clergy lingered that few beyond the fringe church membership had been touched.  Their hope lay however, with the enriching of the faith of their members which would increase the ‘efficiency of the working force of the Church' in the future.

The last meetings in Dunedin were the largest gatherings the city had ever witnessed.  People crammed the Dunedin railway station as the team left on their last leg to Invercargill.  Women wept and all waved white handkerchiefs as they sang ‘God be with you till we meet again'. The Mission left New Zealand for Tasmania on September 30 1902.  ‘New Zealand's Glorious Revival' came to a close.