Manchurian revival

Goforth notes a fellow missionary's initial observations of the Manchurian Revival in his book, By My Spirit: Hitherto I have had a horror of hysterics and emotionalism in religion, and the first outbursts of grief from some men who prayed displeased me exceedingly.

"[5] Goforth held a series of special meetings at Shenyang (Mukden), with some initial opposition from church leaders, there.

After Goforth's address the first morning an elder stood up before all the people and confessed to having embezzled church funds.

One person gave a “piercing cry" then many, now in tears, began spontaneous prayer and confession.

Immediately a man left his seat and, with bowed head and tears streaming down his cheeks, came up to the front of the church and stood facing the congregation.

Whereupon he tore off the golden bracelets on his wrist and the gold ring from his finger and placed them on the collection plate, saying: "What have I, an elder of the Church, to do with these baubles?"

The cry was taken up until it seemed as if every one was endeavouring to tell the broken man standing there on the platform that their faith and confidence in him had been completely restored.

During the meetings that were held by one of the revival bands at his village, the young man quite broken up, confessed his sins and came out strongly for Christ.

"Goforth proceeded to Guangning (Kwangning) (near Beizhen, Liaoning) where it was told him by another missionary that, "Reports have come to us of the meetings at Mukden and Liaoyang.

But if the Spirit of God so moves you that you feel you simply must give utterance to what is in your heart, then do not hesitate.

Goforth wrote:[6] After the meetings, bands of revived Christians toured the surrounding country.

Intense prayer and anxiety to get rid of sin characterized the effect on these believer as it had done at the other mission stations.

[6] Dr. Walter Phillips, who was present at two of the meetings in Jinzhou, wrote:[6] It was at Chinchow that I first came into contact with the Revival.

Meetings had been going on there for a week, hence, I was ushered into the heart of things unprepared, and in candour, I must add, with a strong temperamental prejudice against 'revival hysterics' in every form, so that mine is at least an unbiased witness.

The voices grew and gathered volume and blended into a great wave of united supplication that swelled till it was almost a roar, and died down again into an undertone of weeping.

Then above the sobbing, in strained, choking tones, a man began to make public confession.

It was the agony of the penitent, his groans and cries, and voice shaken with sobs; it was the sight of men forced to their feet, and, in spite of their struggles, impelled, as it seemed, to lay bare their hearts that moved one and brought the smarting tears to one's own eyes.

Never have I experienced anything more heart breaking, more nerve racking than the spectacle of those souls stripped naked before their fellows.

Now it was a big, strong farmer groveling on the floor, smiting his head on the bare boards as he wailed unceasingly, 'Lord!

Now a shrinking woman in a voice scarce above a whisper, now a wee laddie from the school, with the tears streaking his piteous grimy little face, as he sobbed out: 'I cannot love my enemies.

And ever as the prayer sank again the ear caught a dull undertone of quiet sobbing, of desperate entreaty from men and women, who, lost to their surroundings, were wrestling for peace.The Christians in Xinmin (Shinminfu) had suffered persecution during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900.

However, after the revival meetings, the list of names was brought up to the front of the church and torn into pieces and the fragments were trampled under foot.

[6] Goforth ministered at Yingkou (Niuzhuang or Newchwang), the final resting-place of Scottish missionary William Chalmers Burns.