The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-05-13
American Revivalistg in England.

The English papers OF this month
come to US filed with attack and defense
Of the American revivaIists, Messrs.
Moody and Sankey, who are now hold
II 8 station" IN Exeter hall. Their
critics appear no better able to class
these preachers or TO account for the
fury of religious zeal which has followed
them over England, than if they were
dealing with a species Of spiritual
What is II" One journal ascribes
the immense concOurses which have as
sembled daily to greet them in London
to paltry curiosity, Sc which is rewarded
by commonplace arguments favored
with anecdotes and Americanisms-in
short, vulgarity." Another. reluctant
to credit these causes with the enthusi-
asna of audiences which, it asserts, are
largely composed of the higher classes,
declares that the phenomenal excite
ment is due solely to the singing. The
roll of rhythmical sound from several
thousand voices is quite sufficient, it
alleges, to produce the Fictitious fervor
mlscaIled conviction or conversion. The
Spectator, after admitting with a good
deaf OF chsgrln that the aristOcracy of
the West End crowd Exeter hall to hear
these men, scolds Moody and Sankey
roundly for presuming to instruct hear
ers accustomed to listen to men whom
they cannot approach in depth of man
illness of religious teaching, and advises
them to betake themselves to E st Lon
den or st. Giles, where the wretched
and criminal classes are accessible.
Other papers TEEN with accounts of the
increase of melancholia, or religious
mania, IN towns where the wave of ex-
element IS subsiding, while still others
assure US that the temporary agitation
once passed, no effect whatever is per-
ceptible.
The plain fact remains that Messrs.
Moody and Sankey still attract the Deo-
pie, and we cannot see for our part WHY
any heat of discussion need be prO-
voked by it. No doubt the audiences
are at first largely composed of church
going people, who wish to test the
value of this new religious force, and
of the inevitable shifting crowd that
from the days of the Athenians until
now have followed the thing that is
new. If people of culture are offended
by Americanisms and vulgaritv. their
culture doubtless will defend them from
serious harm. But the fact that such
people go to Exeter hall rather than
their own churches, certainly implies
JhaT MessIs. Moody and Sankey, vulgar
or otherwise, have something to give
them which they lack anddo not receive
from g better teachers" The London
Times perhaps reaches the solution of
the mystery when it says that their
power lies in certain home truths con-
corning our relation to God, and life
and its uses, spoken by very sincere
and earnest men. If these home truths |
are brought home to English titled or |
classes by ''BibIe stories told |
in Chicago dialect" or by American |
isms, or by "rhythmicai chants by |
thousands of voices we, with all |
other rational men, shall be heartily |
glad, and consider the good taste of the |
means by which it was done a verv |
small matter indeed. If a man is |
reused from sleep to be told that but a |
short day lies between him and death. |
and hastens to fill that day with neces-
5ary good work, it concerns him little
whether he was wakened by solemn
music or the growing of the barn-yard
,ock. We shall be glad if Messrs.
Moody and Sankcy come home as sin
ere and earnest men as they are now
aid to be, and waken us unto different
ives by any means they choose. -NeU
York Tribune