Introduction
The Second Great Awakening occurred from 1790 till 1840, affecting locations throughout the United States. This account focuses on the small town of Ithaca, New York, which was but one of many locations in the state of New York that was impacted by revivals during this time.

Revival Impacted Ithaca Churches
Most of the information in this revival account was obtained from the writings of Ithaca’s Presbyterian minister, William Wisner. Yet from Ithaca’s Methodist minister, Benjamin Sabin, we learn that the revival didn’t exclusively affect the Presbyterians, as the Methodist church was also deeply impacted by what the Holy Spirit was doing at this time. This leads us to assume that every church in this town came under the influences of the revival’s power.

For an overview of this period, these revival accounts can be studied:
► 1790-1840 2nd Great Awakening
► 1797 New England Revivals
► 1815-1840 New York Revivals
► 1826 Revivals in Oneida County, New York
► 1830 Prayer for Revival

The Revival in Ithaca, New York
As with most revivals, this one began with but a handful of people who grew concerned over souls who were slipping into eternity without Christ. The spark that ignited these individuals occurred during a June 1826 conference. One of the topics being discussed at that conference was Jonathan and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 14), and how victory does not depend on the number of people involved.

That teaching inspired a few ladies to resurrect a neglected prayer meeting, which for several years had laid dormant. As people began attending, it brought personal revival to those participating.

Extraordinary Prayer
Toward the end of June, plans were made to have a large prayer gathering at the church, in lieu of participating in the 4th of July Independence Day celebration. Some criticized the suggestion, indicating that it would be divisive for the town, and that it would be poorly attended.

The prayer gathering moved forward as planned, and to the surprise of many, the sanctuary of the church was overflowing, with standing room only. At the close of the service an offering was taken up, specifically to purchase Bibles for the poor people in Ithaca.

Prayer Transformed Ithaca
With such a moving and powerful Independence Day prayer gathering, the conversations from that time on–in homes, stores, and workplaces–became spiritual in nature.

Youth Prayer Meetings
In addition to the ongoing adult prayer gathering, there was another one that was initiated specifically for the youth. The renewed excitement was noticeable in the Sunday School and other Bible classes, with everybody coming under the influence of a supernatural stirring of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Gatherings Multiplied
Prayer gatherings increased during the months of August and September, as the spirit of prayer came upon the people, inciting and driving them to commit more time in prayer.

Conviction of Sin
By the end of September there were several unconverted individuals who began to feel the conviction of their sins, with one of them being converted on September 30. That conversion stoked the fires of intercession among the believers, and the following week another person surrendered their life to Christ.

As the prayers of the saints continued, so did the Holy Spirit’s conviction power, and by Sunday, November 5, there were 103 that were converted, with 38 of them being added to the church.

Temporary Decline in the Revival
Following November 5, there was a noticed decrease in the Holy Spirit’s influence, and the result was:
► Rejoicing among the enemies of the revival.
► Tears and mourning of God’s people, resulting in them scheduling a day for fasting, to humble themselves in prayer, pleading with God to revive His work.

God Responded and the Revival Continued
In response to the prayers of God’s people, several more were converted over the next few days.

This is the sequence of events beginning on Friday, December 1, and continuing, as the Holy Spirit blew upon the revival fires that had almost died out.
► Friday and Saturday: there was tremendous intensity of prayer on these two days, as people were pleading with God for a continuation of the reviving fires.
► Sunday: this day was very solemn, as the believers felt their dependence on God.
► Monday evening: a meeting was held specifically for those seeking salvation. The meeting was crowded with people, and 2 of them were converted.
► Tuesday morning: a meeting of 6 believers took place in a home. There were 4 present who were under severe conviction of sin and were seeking salvation. Word spread through the town and others came to join in prayer, and the home became filled to capacity. The power of the Holy Spirit was present, and 3 of the 4 unconverted people present gave their lives to Christ. With none of those assembled wanting to leave for lunch, they spent the entire day agonizing in prayer for more souls.
► Tuesday evening: the courtroom was the location of the evening service, and it was filled to capacity. Dismissal occurred at 9:00 p.m., but people had no interest in returning home to sleep.
► Wednesday morning: the congregation assembled again at the same home as they did on Tuesday, but with it being too small, they relocated to the courtroom, and like before, the room was filled to capacity with believers, as well as with those under severe conviction of sin. That meeting continued from that early hour until 9:00 p.m. After dismissal, some reconvened in homes for continued prayer.
► Thursday morning: the believers gathered at the church to give thanks and to praise God for what they were experiencing, and even though it was early in the morning, the church was crowded, with every seat taken and vacant spaces filled.

Never before Witnessed
Rev. William Wisner, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Ithaca, stated the following about what he witnessed on that Thursday morning:

An awful solemnity pervaded the whole assembly, which was only broken by occasional half suppressed sobs or anguish. Never before did I behold so solemn an assembly, and never before did I feel so sensibly the awfulness of the divine presence. When the hour of service had arrived, I preached to my people from the text “Rejoice with trembling;” and never in my life felt more like a dying man, preaching to dying men.

Prayer Continued
Following that Thursday service there was a short break for dinner, then the believers reassembled at the courtroom for prayer and discussion about what they saw God doing. For the next few days, the courtroom was filled from early morning till 9:00 at night, as people spent time in prayer and in receiving ministry from God’s word.

The following Sunday there were 86 people that became members of the church. From that day on, there was a lessening of the Holy Spirit’s power, but the lingering effect of God at work continued for several years.

Statement by Rev. William Wisner (minister of the Ithaca Presbyterian Church)

I have never seen or read of a revival in which the almighty power of God was so visible, since the days of the apostles.

Other Facts about Rev. William Wisner
► His church in Ithaca grew from 15 to 800 members, between 1816 and 1831.
► Another revival occurred at the Ithaca Presbyterian church in 1830.
► He was installed as the minister of the Second Presbyterian Church of Rochester, New York in May 1831.
► He participated in the revival conducted by Charles G. Finney in Rochester, New York, in the 1830s.

GROWTH OF DENOMINATIONS
During the Second Great Awakening

Results of the Revival
► In the Presbyterian church alone there were 300 conversions. That was from the last week of September 1826, till the last week of January 1827.
► The conversions were made up of people from all professions and economic positions. The oldest man converted was 80, and the youngest child was around 6.
► There were 220 that were added to the church’s membership.
► The Presbyterian church was greatly refreshed by this move of the Holy Spirit, with that refreshing being demonstrated by the fruits of the Holy Spirit being displayed in the lives of the people.
► The revival fires spread throughout the state of New York and beyond, until about the year 1840.

State of New York
The lines point to some of the towns where revivals took place during this era, earning this region the name of the
“Burned-Over District.” 

Sources
► A Narrative of the Revival of Religion in the County of Oneida by Presbyterian Church in the USA
► Fire from Heaven by Robert Evans
► Memoirs of Charles G. Finney by Charles G. Finney
► New England Revivals by Bennet Tyler
► Second Great Awakening by Wikipedia

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