Second Great Awakening Overview

  • Context of the Meeting:

    • New England, fall of 1794: 23 ministers from various denominations (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian) hold a meeting to discuss a revival of religion in America.

    • Common desire: all agreed on the need for a religious revival focused on increased prayer.

  • The Call to Prayer:

    • Proposed a collective prayer at a specific time: the first Tuesday of every quarter of the year at 2 PM.

    • Despite lack of technology to coordinate, the aim was for congregations across America to join in prayer simultaneously.

    • The first prayer event took place in January 1795, marking a significant moment for communal spirituality.

  • Reasons for the Revival:

    • Religious Decline:

    • By 1790, only 5% of white Americans attended church services regularly.

    • Cultural upheaval due to the American Revolution led to a decline in religious observance.

    • Signs of moral decline: 300,000 out of 5,000,000 Americans identified as alcoholics, prevalent sexual assaults, and increased profanity.

  • Timothy Dwight:

    • Key figure in the Second Great Awakening, born 1752, died 1817.

    • Grandson of Jonathan Edwards, influential minister from the First Great Awakening.

    • Entered Yale College at age 13 and became a chaplain during the Revolution, providing spiritual guidance to soldiers.

    • Became president of Yale in 1795 at a time when the institution had low religious participation (only 12 out of 25 students believed in Jesus).

  • Impact of the Enlightenment:

    • Considered an anti-religious movement emphasizing reason over faith, it gained traction in the 1790s, largely influenced by Thomas Paine's writings, particularly "The Age of Reason," which undermined biblical authority and promoted secularism.

  • Response to Enlightenment:

    • Dwight held debates with students opposing the Bible and conducted sermons to defend Christianity.

    • He successfully established the Yale Moral Society, reviving religious interest amongst students. By 1802, one-third of Yale students identified as believers, largely due to Dwight's influence.

  • Second Great Awakening in Kentucky:

    • Identified with the migration of Scots-Irish Presbyterians, who settled in Kentucky and held multiple day worship events known as holy fairs.

    • James McGrady, a Scots-Irish minister, began revivals in Kentucky starting in 1798. The first holy fair saw emotional responses including crying for salvation and physical manifestations like falling down.

    • At the Gasper River meeting, 12,000 attended, leading to a new tradition of camp meetings, which featured communal living and worship for several days.

    • Barton W. Stone, another significant Presbyterian minister at Cain Ridge, hosted a meeting in 1801 that attracted 25,000 people, generating massive spiritual enthusiasm and participation.

  • Transformational Outcomes:

    • Events like those at Cain Ridge created a vibrant religious society in Kentucky, shifting it from a lawless environment to a moral society as conversions increased.

    • By 1820, Kentucky was recognized for its transformation into a more civilized and safe place due to this revival movement.

  • The Key Figures and the Broader Movement:

    • Important churches were established, and societal values shifted. Key players included Timothy Dwight in New England and James McGrady, Barton W. Stone in Kentucky.

    • Grandison Finney emerged as a prominent preacher in New York, further influencing the Second Great Awakening and its spread across the nation.