Domestic Manners of the Americans

While living in Cincinnati, Trollope frequents many social events and worship services. She notes that religion and the clergy have a powerful influence on Americans, especially women. Although most Christian denominations are represented, the most prominent form of religion is evangelical Protestantism. The church service is the main social event, and “revivals,” prayer meetings in homes, and camp meetings in the open air are also common.

In this chapter, Trollope attends a revival in Cincinnati. Some revival meetings are held in citizens’ homes and led by an itinerant minister; these meetings consist of extempore prayer, “confessions,” shared meals, and hymn singing. While Trollope is not invited to these house prayer meetings—and thus must offer her description on the basis of hearsay—she does attend a revival event in a Presbyterian church and offers an extensive description. The effect of this ceremony makes her “shudder” with its combination of “extravagantly vehement” fire-and-brimstone sermons and frighteningly emotional conversion experiences. In particular, Trollope is horrified by the effect of the revival on young women, whom she feels are being preyed upon by the male ministers.