The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-17
The Moody and sankey Crusade Against
Sin.

Messrs. MOODY and SANKEY have opened
their assault against sin in their native
land by evangelstic work at Northneld,
the home OF the former, quiet New Eng
land town not easily stirred out OF its Gus
tomary composure We are told that il is
hard field for the revivalist. The Unita-
rian influence is dominant in the region,
and the disciples of CLAIMING are not so
smenable TO the peculiar style of religious
Influence exerted by the famous exhorters,
n persons brought up under "a creed found
cd ON the old orthodox base of faith. Still,
though 40 hampered, they seem 10 be max
mig an impression on that comparatively
sterile region, spiritually considered.
Mr.. MOoDY's addresses have tho ring Of
earnest conviction. They are plainly the
utterances OF man deeply concerned for
the spiritual welfare Of men, and who be-
heves that he offers them the only road of
escape from the sins which so easily beset
them. He charges the castle OF wicked
ness without flourish Of trumpets or regard
for scientific warfare. He sees the enemy
and goes for him in dead earnest. The only
way he knows to raise men out of the
baneful disease Of iniquity, is to stir up in
them so high and holy a faith in the Divine
power and will to save that they shall, in
contemplating the bliss Of heaven and the
light OF GODS favor secured throughout
eternity, turn back to survey the aban-
doned delights of temporal existence, and
discover them to be husks and empty
shells instead Of luscious fruits and satisfy
Ing food.
man so char eed with enthusiasm for
bis work as Mr.. MOODY manifestly is, 80
thoroughly convinced that he proclaims
not earthly but heavenly wisdom. to
whom the men he addresses are in truth
wanderers from the path which leads to
eternal joy, such a man must always find
hearers and arouse sympathetic fervors.
We therefore foresee for him progress
through the country along which will
burn flame of religious enthusiasm. How
lasting the effect OF the excitement will be,
is another matter. There are men who
Rllege that SATAN delights in these heated
revivals, and finds an abundant crop in
the aftermath; or rather that he counts
on the sure reaction to send the now
lowered souls into his ready arms I'm
doubtedly there is truth in this. But ever
nnce Christianity was founded. there have
been periods Of religious inspiration, times
wherein the original impulse of enthusiasm
takes possession of mems souls, and they
20 forth TO convert the world. PETER the
Hermit breaches crusade to-day as In the
Middle Ages, and men forget their own
homes and ambitions in that absorbing
effort TO reach and regain the Holy Land.
We must not forget that our religion is
an ideal one-not merely body of moral
maxims, but an aspiration poetic frenzy
for an ideal excellence. The strongest
charge the inndel can bring against Chris
tianity Is that II is idealism-a religion that
IL practically unrealzable, call upon
men 10 which they can never respond and
still maintain their multipleX relations to
society. But even the coolest skeptic can
not fail 10 feel a glow of warmth when he
sees his fellows fastening their affections
on faith which lifts them above the earth
and lands them in the skies. He may say
they dream a dream from which they will
soon awake, and return with strengthened
appetite to their selfish advancement; but
he caunot deny that TO the mass of men
Struggling in the dust of life, and other
wise unable to catch CLEANS of an ideal
existence, their religion is the most beauti-
ful rs 1t Is the most elevating influence Of
their careers.
Mr. SANKEY's hymns have certain lyrl-
cal quality They almost sing themselves;
and we can readily understand that when
he pours them forth from a heart single in
Its devout belief that they utter the truths
Of eternity, his congregations are stirred
70 the utmost by the strains. As examples
OF popular and effective religious songs we
know of few which can claim advantage
over Hold the Fort" " Ninety and Nine"
and JESUS OF Nazareth Passes by" They
puSt have powerful influence ON a