The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-13

denominations. hold what are usually termed
revival meetings in the winter season. anu their
results are measured by the numbers who pledge
themselves to CHRIST and the Church to lead plous
and cody lives. Now, during the past eccleslas-
tica year the additions TO the Methodist Episcopal
church by conversions, the fruit OF revivals
mainly, have aggregated about 100000. The Bap-
lists have ADDED about 100000 ana the Presoy-
tsrlans about equal NUMBER. The Episcopa-
llans nave increased some 10000 or rs, O00 and
minor denominations have increased In like
ratio according to their extent and numbers.
RELIGIOUS REyIvALs FOLLOW FINANCIAL DEPREs-
SioSs.
1t has been observed by many thoughtful per-
sons that revivals ebb and now like the waves OF
the sea- Hence periods OF dryness and deafness
In the churches are succeeded by periods or re
vival In religion. But the latter have been noticed
TO follow seasons of disaster financial depres-
sion. This the after 1887 after 1857 ana after
1873. Tue religious wave following the latter has
seemed to increase year alter year until the
present time, when taking Inspiration 1t were
from the greater religious awakening in Europe,
the revival wave here gathers strength and force
1t breaks over the churches Of the land IN the
year or years TO come. This emulation or spirit
ual force IS indicated IN various ways-oy the
adoption OF the same general class OF hymns to
be sung IN the prayer meetings IN the churches OF
all Denominations: ny the simplicity and earnest
ness OF the sermons ana addresses o. the clerical
and lay helpers; by the adoption OF direct methods
TO get unchrlstlan persons 10 place themselves on
the side ol religion and the church, ana by the
Closer union and more general co-opera ton ana
sympathy OF different denominations III the COM
mon work oil all. Hence lind Wesleyls hymns
sung as frequent ly and as heartily In Presbyterian
Baptist Epscopalian prayer and social meet ings
g. IN Methodist gatherings. We ma also, the
ministers OF these denomna lions mingling and
commnglng Freely IN the same pulplts or on the
same platforms DenomIna tional lines are mar
rowed obIterated altogether, and men work
not for par ticular iSsln, but Tor the Church or
CHRIST DUNG the past year UNION revival meet
general throughout
they had ever been before, and hence the success
greater than ever, Notwithstanding financial de-
presSions and local scandals Here in New York
city and yiclnity the revival interest OF the past
winter instead OF diminishing mas Increased IN
some OF the local churches TINS has been the case
Church or the Holy Trinity, where continuous or
pro.racted meetings have been neld
Our American pulpit Is too much given 10
position. Hence Tue people go to church as they
would go TO hear lecture. Tney know the suO-
TO be treated, or they like to see The style and
manner OF the preacher or lecturer in the pulpit.
And this accounts III part for tile lack OF STABILITY
in ordinary congregations. So that IL IS I'M
common thing to find PresbyterIans, Baptists and
all minglng together IN one congregation wnere
some eloquent pastor or preacher Is holding forth
the truth. There Is not now that
STABILITY IN CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS
that was known nIty or one hundred years ago,
wnen man or family Thought nothing OF walk
ing "a SABBATH days journeyn rather Lnan miss
attendance at his or their own church service or
church people VIII scarcely 90 hall q oozen blocks
TO hear their own minister preach, except indeed,
that he may be more popular IMAM tue minister
nearer by. And this habit OF running about nom
church To church mas led TO q very reprehenslDle
habit on the part OF ministers oil trying 10 increase
their church membership by stealing or coaxing
from other churches rather tLan by legitimate
captures from the world OF sinners outside the
church. And this, In time, LEADS TO the local and
denominatcnal chickering's between churches and
ministers Of which we sometimes see and hear SO
much
However great has been the success or our own
local evangeLsts and pastors generously aided as
some OF them nave been by English anselists,
their success mas been dwaried by the greater
work and the more important results accom-
pllshed by our American eyangelsts, Messrs.
Moody anu Sankey, In Great Britain and ireland.
the prospect OF their return 70 this country pos
slbly in a few months, ana the expectation that
they Will make u tour through the United states,
visiting and laboring for Longer shorter periods
In our large cities before setting down to their
local work Chicago, has induced many oil our
ministers here TO proong their revival meetings,
those now famous missionaries return. Their
work In Great Britain and Ireland has been truly
marvellous. Invited to England in 1873 by two
liberal CHRISTIAN genilemen-Mr. Pennefatner or
Lonoon, ana MIR. cambridge, OF Newcastle-our
their hosts had, in the interim, been buried.
Stripped thus OF their earthly supports Moody and
Sankey were In sense compelled to rely wholly
and solely on God, anc as consequence, their
success mas been unprecedented since tue days
OF the apostles On tue ed OF June, 1873, they
they remained several days. Early In July they
went TO Sunderland, thence 10 Newcastle-on-
Lonuon, &C., &c. In every successive city and
tOwu meeting Win increased success. In New
castle ana some other places thlrty-four meetings
were held in differsnt locations in one week,
nearly ave day. AS early as october, 1873 Mr..
Moody, In presence OF O congregation OF 900 per-
sons, declared his CONSEQUENCES OF oeing on the
eve OF revival greater than any known since the
Apostolic times. Ana his prediction has been full
niled in part and Is still IN process OF iulnmenL
MOODY AND sANKEY Thrown TOGETHER
Is Is little remsrkaole now those two men
work. Dwight L. Moody IS a New Highlander born
In 1887, and brought up IN the Unitarian faith, and
until ne WAS seventeen years ~ age ne had not
heard what the orthodox cali an evangelical
sermon. But ABOUT tnat time ne went TO Boston,
attracted one Sabbath evening TO DIR. KlrKs
cnurcn, the sermon that he heard made him feel
very uncomfortable, and he resolved never 10 10
there nor 10 any other like church. But his mental
anxiety increased during the week, so that to o.
tain relief II possible he went thither the next
SaDbatn evening also, and soon afterward VAS
converted. shortly thereafter be went TO Chicago,
10 enter into business, and oeng DESTROYS OF an
gagIng in Sunday scnool work he went one SAP
batn afternoon TO mission sunday school and
asked the superintendent N he could have q class
10 teach. There were twelve teachers and only
sixteen scholars In the school, and he told
that u ne eouldgaiaer IN class from the streets
ana soon nad score OF boys under mis- care,
waom, alter = little training ne delivered over to
other teachers and went out again for q second
and third class And this experience he repeated
until the school was iull ana overlooking with
pupIs. His success here encouraged him to 90 TO
a neglected part OF that mushroom city. where ne
nired and opened hall, winch he soon filled with
intendence OF it himself he made lt as attractive
a possible by pictures, Illuminated notices aud
scripture texts ana cheerful music 10 was suen
q pleasant innovation on the Sabbath customs or
that section that the parents followed
their children 10 the Sunday school
room and remained lingering even
alter the close or the ordinary school session.
Then 1t was that moody conceived the idea OF IN
structlng this motley gathering OF Germans, lrish
swiss and other foreigners from the BIble ana
before was aware ne WAS q pastor and mad
gathered . church ABOUT him. HIS work so multi
ped on his nanos that ne was mpelled to give
up mis- secular business and devote himself wholly
10 this ministry. When the rebellion broke out
in 1850, and Chicago, ike New York, was converted
into military camp, Mr.. Moody interested MINI
sell Ia the spiritual welfare OF the recruits, and
wen: daily 70 the encampment TO preach and TO
distribute tracts and Bibles and Testaments.
When, Ia the early period OF the war the Chris.
tian Commission was organized he was made
President OF the western branch, in which posi-
tion he was very active. He made several visits
TO the seat OF war anu brought back tnriling
counts OF military operations ana oy mis- reclta-