The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-09
Let Brooklyn Prepare.

seems 10 Dc now fnnllN scttleu lnht meSSTt.
MOODY and SANKEY will begin their war
fare against sin in Brooklyn. When 1t
vas incorrectly announced that New York
had been selected as the point OF attack.
We rejoiced that the wickedness of this
great city was TO meet a concerted assault.
We rejoice still more to know that Brook
lyns deep depravity is to be first charged
upon with weapons brought from the ar
senal Of pety.
Though called the City OF Churches, that
unruly child Of New York which has set
tied on the opposite shore Of the East river
l. in many respects the wickedest city III
the country. IL Moopy and SANKEY sue
Decd in driving the devil from his haunts
on Brooklyn Heights, they will have given
that angel of darkness so fearful a blow
that he will scarcely get over it's effects
during the whole of the general revival
his discontinue there will assuredly start.
II is because Brooklyn has SO many
churches that 1t especially needs spiritual
turning up. The plough, hare OF righteous
ness on that account needs TO he run ruth
lessly through the arid soil aud the fresh
and prolific subsoil Of goodness and ear
nestness brought to the surface to bring
forth rich crop of reli gious virtues from
the seed sown by the two famed husband
men of the spiritual farm. The multitude
nous churches, cold and 70 maj III their re-
hgious life. or simply e1ervescent with
soou vanishing bubbles of spiritual emo
ton, can, if once warmed into Jealous ac-
tvity aud strengthened with the pure
%
tort 10 the two reVivalists.
The fact is, the revival in Brooklyn
needs to begin in the churches, to Gnd its
root in the aroused couscieuccs OF the re-
spectable sinners who fancy they have
made their calling and election sure. The
name of religion has received blot in the
minds Of thoughtful people all over the
world by Ihe occurrences of the last few
years in that derelict city. Behind its
spotless cloak, adultery and perjury, lying
and defamation of character, have long
hidden. Voices that should have called
the sinner TO repentance have been either
utfering The seductive words which lead
away from the paths OF virtue the weaker
vessels Of the flock, or lying in order TO
cover dp their siren tones of vice, or
threatening in order to silence the OPP
posing voices of protest. When Plymouth
Church resolved itself into Al mob and
drove out of its temple the aveuging
hoULroN because he refused to absolve
the iuculpafcd pastor, it exhibited feelings
far removed from those inculcated IN the
precepts OF Christianity When Mr..
BEECHER employed attorneys TO blacken
the character OF rILToN with the veriest
frenzy of vituperation, and hi: adherents
and parishioners applauded the violent
language, then it was evdont that the
spirit of our religion was wanting in both
pastor and people. When Plymouth
Church, under pretence OF conducting an
Investigation of Mr.. BEEcHER's conduct,
undertook rather ~ hide than to bring out
the facts, il was clear that they cared less
for truth, morality, virtue, and religion,
than TO save their hard-presscd pastor.
Throughout the whole BEECuER scanda |
both he aud his church sought rather to
ave the glory of a man than to keep un-
contaminated the sacred calling which the
preachers conduct had blacken ed. If
MOODY and SANKEY can stir up genuine
revival Of religion in Plymouth Church
and hearty repentance for the past, we
shall have great hopes for Brooklyn.
But we regret to have to assure the evan
gelists that they will plant their gospel
seed in stony ground when on the 3lst OF
October they begin 10 cultivate the
spiritual soil of Brooklyn. The trouble
with our neighbors is that they have SC
many churches and are SO accustomed u
have their ears tickled by eloquent pulpit
discourse', that they fancy themselves in q
vast number of cases good enough already
The Plymouth people, for instance, would
feel insuted IL the idea was preached thal
they first OF all need conversion But thai
Il precisely the fact. From pulpit TO fur.
thest pew the ploughshare Of the reviva
should run and turn under the noxioui
weeds OF sin and up the healthy soil o.
righteousness, wherein may be fresh plant
ID the germs of spiritual life. They hav,
too long fed on sweets; their appetites ar,
morbid. Give them the strong meat o
tho gospel Brothers MOODY and SANKEY
~Hold the Fort is a better song for then
10 sing than "Beecher."
To make the revival in Brooklyn sue
oessful the churches generally must lend t
hand in the good work. But first ever,
individual member must set about cleans
ting his ways. Three weeks now remain
before the coming OF the revivalists. l
the Brooklyn church members improv,
the time rs they may, they can meantime
get themselves in admirable trim for
fervent revival. First LET them from high
est TO lowest confess their sins. Let HENRI
WARD BEECHER at once relieve his over
charged soul by confession, beg THEODORE
THROWS forgiveness, throw about HENR'
C. Bowen the arms OF his Christian love
clasp again in mutual friendship the han'
OF FRANCIS ID. MoULrON, and relieve Mrs
ELIzADErH II. TILroN of the need OF longe
carrying on her conscience the burden o
the lies which now rest there with sue
crushing weight. Then let the brethren
publicly ask the pardon Of those peopl
they have browbeaten because the,
doubted Mr.. BEECuER's innocence. lie
preachers like TAIMAGE cease celebrating
themselves and render only praise to thei
Master. And lot everybody, including tn
Brooklyn Ring, see to it that for thre
weeks, at least, he lives righteously.
a.. II