The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-10
Better or Morscl

One Of the PHILADELPHIA papers pub
lish,s IA surpl1s.i- reVie,' -. -
from the operations Of MOoDY and SANKrv
i'm that city. 1t tells MS thlt these person.
ages failed utterly to accomplish anything
ut all commensurate with the expecta-
tons. Brother MOODY, according to this
Philadelphia observer. was captured by
the Pharisees of the city, and derencratcd
from the moment of his surrender to them.
He fell INTO the habit Of shaping his preich-
Ing to SUIT the prriutices Of ms supporters.
aud seemed, so IL l. sud. 20 be never tired
OF tickling the tastes or pred leciiOns of
the men who sat back and managed him.
The evidence given in support of these
Philadelphia statements has Il disagreeablc
look about IT, and sonr explanation is re-
quired from the responsible directors OF
the proceedings.
But by far the most amazing allegations
of the Philadelphia paper are made in re-
ply To its own questions: "What form OF
vice IL less prevalent in this city," and
"is here or was there q marked and Wis
ible elevation in the public morals, particu-
larly OF the criminal classesY' IL must
seem TO every fair-minded man that this
method OF investigation is perfectly
proper, and that the revelations made in
accordance with II ought To be such as to
gladden. the mind of every genuine reli
zionist. But behold the startling answer
which Is given:
"inscad - this, however the contrary wa. per-epl
bic II seemed A. though sue revival worked backward
lot oi s'1utts w snc" ta' crim1 as 1,el
w,re commenced than Tor years preyiou-ly. Rum
dnn nn R h. have run foi hcc S6yc@osr
LET, Wen Messrs. Moody end sANhtN nrst put m N
caught plying their trade right ~ ne depot at the ser
IN this city per DAY lave probably eHcreied tnos' ot
any eorrcsp1 pr.oG eur,9s several year JUICE
iior Of Affairs should have ensued."
We hardly know what 10 make out of
these amendments. But we ourselves are
fond OF precision in regard to such mat
tiers, ana we require that the proofs Of
fered shall be satisfactory aud fully au-
thenticated. There should 10 an exhibit
Of the criminal statistics of the city before
the time at which the revivalsts made
their appearance; and there should be de-
tails of the growth of evil during their
presence in Philadelphia. 1t would be in
terestng 10 know just what kinds of crime
increased. Then il should be shown how
these crimes were related. directly or indi-
rectly, to the revival. Then 1t should be
shown what proportion of the wrong doors
were attendants ut the revival, ana how it
stimulated them TO evil courses. IL any OF
the alleged converts were among the
indicators, that fact should be set forth,
the names given, and any other details
added. If such statistics ana data cannot
oh / a
ton OF things is not directly traceable. il
we should merely be told that the Phila-
delphia revival had u dcmorallzlng innu-
ence on general principles, then we mus
regret the absence Of ground for philo-
sophcal deductions. III tho Philadelphia
critic desires his assertions to be tlken ut
their fun weiqht, he must look after means
of support for them.
This is not the first time su h an accusa-
ton has been brought against revivals, nor
have these accusations always come from
wicked and irreligious people. Many cler-
gymen have, in past times, held aloof from
revival movements on the ground that
they were observation-disclosures to religion, had
an evil effect upon the community, aud
were apt to excite the emotions rather
than purify the lives OF those who felt
their power
If the statements published in philadcl-
phia are trustworthy, the position which
THE SUN has taken in regard to the mode
OF conducting the present revival is amply
justified. We have constantly urged
Brother Moody aud all the other revival
lists Of both sexes to direct their work 80
that It would produce a practic al revival
of practical religion. We have shown
them that 1t was not enough 10 work up
the feelings of their hearers, or get them
TO nuke professions OF their belief; but
that they must, without nonsense or pre-
tencc, lead men to turn from their evil
ways. We have cautioned them against
their peculiar temptations through sensa-