New-York tribune., 1875-11-27
REVIVAL WORK.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.

I PHILADELPHIA, NOV ED.--,o nu'u bas orcn Sdiu
In praise of the revival efforts Of Moody and Ssnkoy
that there can be no improperly or unfairness in
presenting the other side Of the question Every one
whose daily walk brings him into contact with syea
a. small number a dozen intelligent people. WIN
admit that there is another SIDE and that il Is eL
| pressed with earncstness, and often with
acerbity, by professors OF religion ~ well
as By rationasts materiasts, Spiritual
ists, and Others whom the ministers
usually lump together under the common designa-
tion Of nfdes. SO far as the criticisms upon the
reviyalstS proceedings merely the cays OF peo-
pie who, having religious nature themselses,
make merit Of despising and ridieung its mani
fsstations in Others they unworthy of noticei
but where they express the convictions of thought
fuI, reverent, truth-oving mon and women whether
in OF ont Of the churches they entitled to TO
spectful consideration.
| One objection, and serious one, to Mr. Moodys
preaching IS that he constantly cheapens the iiea
Of God His conception of the Deity appears to be
essentially anthroponorphic. He pictures hun a.
personal sovereign sitting upon visible throne and
railing the world about the Gar governs Russia
but of course with more wisdom and love-ehanglng
His purposes compliance with the requests OF hs
subjects. altering and suspendiDg His laws, reward
ing generously those who please Him. and punishng
ihlessly such as incur Ills displcasnre. This il
and far behind the average enlightened Christian
idea when Mr. Moody imaglnes God talking to the
angels around the throne. in colloquial New-Ens-
land language or shouting Amen" to tho prayer of
Peter In prison. he conveys 10 his hearers tbe notion
of a magnfed man, and not of the alternating and
all-viylfying SpirC that preysdes the universe.
| Another objection urged is that Mr. Moody per-
haps unconscou5ly. assumes airs OF aqosteshp, and
places himself in quasi-coniidental relation with
God aud Christ. Whom, for instance he reads let
ter from a lady IN Ireland. asking his prayers, and
then prays for her in the great assembly, what arc
ye TO suppose If not that the lady imagined his
srpplicstlons would be especially eficacous, when
she sent 900 miles to obtain them, and that he is
willing to further that idea. such notion, carried
out to its results, would give us a priesthood
privileged to ntercede with the Almighty. Protest
antism Is protest against this very thing 1t holds
the PRAYER OF the unknown Brown. Jones, or Robin
son TO be lust rs powerful at the throne o. grace as
that Of the famous Mr.. Moody.
The lack of the moral element in the reyivalistS
sermons exhortations aud prayers, is also the sub
ieot of frequent remark. In Mr.. Sankey's hymns
this is not appLrent-On the contrary many ofthem
teach impressive lessons of the highest morality.
His coadutor however alw ays travels in the we'll
worn rut of salvation by faith. Accept Christ as
the Son of God" is the SUN total of mis- teaching.
But it will DO said that to accept Christ is to prac-
tice his preceps and initiate his life OF benevoence
and self-sacrlce. blr. Moody however employs
the phrase in its theological significance, ana means
to be updertood that tie essential thing accept
ance Of the formula of belief, which was slowly and
after much strife crystallized into orthodoxy by
the early councils of the church. He expects OK
course that an amended life will follow faith
but he seldom refers to it, Unitarian who
has been pretty constant attendant upon the min
IN, tba Churcb said TODAY: -
have heard five If Mo0dy's sermons, and several Of
his prayer-meeting talks, and have yet to hear
single moral precept mculcatcd." " II you should
make that remark TO the preacher HIMSELF" re-
plied abe would no doubt tell you that religion in-
cludes all MORALS" "Then he would mistake tho
meaning of the word morals" the Unitarian
! fesponded "it comes from morG, man.
ners. Good morals means the right man
! ners of men in all their relations with
each other Religions people may be immoral, aud
rice reysa. Statistics show that the Canton of Vaud
| in Switzerland is at the same time the most moral
and The least religious country in Europe and every
! body knows that the bandits of the AlrnzZl viii
| dcyoniy cut your throat between a Pater NOster
! and an Ave Naria. Tie religious teacher ought TO
! be Il moral teacher also, because the religious In"
puso rightly directed is the most powerful stay OF
morality. bat Nh Moody talks faith FIST, last aud
! all the time, and morals never"
! Mr. Moody never drgucs-he asserts. He frankly
| say, that he does not bclieya ia argument, and
advises Christians not TO reason with uubelieyerS,
bat to pray with them OF for thon. Faith an royei-
| ton does not come from the heal, bat from tho
! heart. no thinks. His method Of avoiding discus
siOn vigorously asserting the truth Of his belief rs
if it Were q matter that dill rot admit Of contro-
yeIsy and energecaly stimulating the faith Of those
who have already accepted the plan VI salvation, is
! effective with church members wEO need no further
arguments and with a certain class of persons who
are best approached with ready-made creed
pressed upon them with show of authority 1t is
open. however, to the criticism of all those who
insist that religious belief ought to be the result Of
| intellectual processes, and who claim that Chris
! tianity is in harmony with the most enlightened
reason.
| A common objection to the revival among old
fashioned church members is, that IL is advertised
| like a circus or theater. The dead walls are
| covered with pacards of the meetings large
play bills tho front of the revival building is deco
rated with huge ransparenceS and the street-caTs
| bear canvas signs informing the intending passcn-
ger that they run to Moody aud Sankey's meetings.
Just rs they used to proclaim Direct to Barnunis
uippodrome," or Though TO ths Centennial
Grounds These devices TO secure a large attend
! anoe are complained of rs detracting from the
sanctity of religious exercises. The reply that il is
right to all proper means 10 got people TO hear
the gospel preached is however, not without force.
| / may properly close this letter of criticisms and
objections with mention of grievance which tho
| newspaper reporters have against NeSsrs. Stuart,
Wannamaler and the other mana gers of the revival.
Last night they fox the second time locked out
of the meeting. On presenting themselves with
their tickets al the proper entrance nearly half an
IL. ~.