Smyrna times., 1876-01-26
The Philadelphia Revival.

Inc result OF the work of Messrs. Mood,
and Sankey in Philadelphia ought to prov,
10 the religious public who have been anx
lously regarding it, two things: First. thai
the mass of the people are not only ready
out willing to receive instruction as to the
salvation OF their souls and, secondly, that
the method adopted by these preachers oi
giving such instruction has in it same
element of success not always to be found
In ordinary church ministrations. As in
brooklyn, curiosity doubtless drew multi.
tudes to their meetings, and other multitu.
des were church members, who went partlv
Tor new excitement and partly from the
purest OF motives. After the first three
weeks the attendance in PHILADELPHIA. we
are told, fell off for few days perceptiblv.
curiosity of church members and others
having been gratified. After that deeper
interest was quickened, and the building.
seating 1000, has been steadily filled
twice each day, and on some occasions
thousands were turned away. All classes
were represented in these crowds. There
can be no doubt that the revivalists in some
way managed to reach those lower strata of
human beings who in great CITY will not
be tempted to enter an ordinary church
very nearly million of people, it is cal.
culated, received the message which these
men had to tell.
Now the main point in this statement. in
our view, is that no otherSsubjeet would
have drawn in any city an average daily at.
tendance of $4,000 people for six weeks.
1t proves what we have often asserted, that
below politics, money-making, or domestic
affection, the most careless man has an up
gent care for his soul and its chances of q
future life. 1t proves that when a CLERGY.
man in his comfortable or costly church
looks down from his pulpit on empty news
ana laments the GOODNESS of human beings
on the subject of their salvation, the fault
lies somewhere in himself or his church or
their way of offering that salvation.
II this wealthy church member has
bought farm, or that one has married
wife and therefore cannot come, does the
clergyman, like his Master, 90 out into the
highways and compel the poor and lame
and blind to fill the luxurious pewsP Doc.
trines and church government. ecclesiast;.
cal architecture, decoration, and forms of
services have their uses, and may serve as
mediums to convey an idea of Christ and
Ills teaching. But when the mediums
become the important object and the idea
IS obscured, it is time that they should be
swept out of sight. There has been for
years, as we all know, more or less discon. |
tent with the ordinary presentation of the
Christian religion by its teachers. Out.
slders cannot reconcile the magnificent
church with its wealth of carved stone and
stained glass offered as homage to the lowlv
Jesus, with the miserable, vicious horles Of
his forgotten brethren in the slums of the
back street. The mere contribution of
money to missions by the refined and dainty |
worshippers does not seem to impartial |
eyes to acquit them of all their dutv to |
their poorer brethren or to fulfill the com. !
mand "Go preach my gospel to every crea.
ture."
We believe that much of the success of
the two men who are coming to New-YOrk
in week or two arises from the fact that
they set Christians to work, systematically
ana with energy, Rich and poor, ignorant
and cultured, men and women are made TO
see that their duty lies not only in a mas.
slvely Christian life at home, but in the
leading of Others to that higher life. In
the cities where these revivalists have
worked there has probably been better
system of Christian effort-direct.
simple, zealous-than ever bofore. Mr.
Moody possesses that most potent of all
forces, sound common sense, in high
degree. He has vivid emotional nature.
does not lack logical perception, is an ac-
curate and constant student of the Bible.
and possesses largely that personal magnet
ism which is essential to public speaker,
But above and beyond all these, the power
Of the man and his cpmrade lies in their
sincerity and directness of appeal. We
have spoken of this before; but we repeat
it for the benefit of those clergymen who
are perhaps puzzled to account for the force
Of their appeals. The Christian teacher
who gives to his congregation every Sunday
the fruit of years of study, discourses which
are full Of devout feeling, of wit, pathos,
and fancy, and finds no effect produced by
them other than admiration for fine lit.
erary effort, cannot understand why man
with neither good education, exceptional
elocuenee, poF any grace Of eratory, should ,
sway thousands like children and leave
with every man at least lasting conviction
Of the strength and efficacy Of Christ as a
Helper. The man who should come to the
crew of sinking ship with a logical and
carefully prepared address upon the diff
culties Of their situation or the advantages
Of a residence on shore would receive but
scant attention for his literary effort hut &
when the rough fellow, breathless with
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