The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-15

The winter is the season which most Of
the Protestant churches improve to forci-
bly, and especially bring home to the peo-
pie who attend upon their services the
need of religious faith. During the sum-
mer the Methodists, ana to lesser extent
the Baptists, hold camp meetings. But of
late years these outdoor assemblies have
partaken III great measure of the charac-
ter of festive gatherings. The religious
camps have become summer resorts and
the sound of the croquet mallet succeeds
the music OF the spiritual songs. The old
time fervor has largely departed from
these camp meetings. which in the earlier
days of the history of the country were
the scenes of "a contagious religious enthu-
sasm, by means OF which many converts
were brought into the fold OF the faith.
But now, when every village has it's
churches, the winter is the chosen season
for active revivalistic efforts. From this
time forth the religious papers will record
the holding of protracted meetings. and
the machinery of revIvalism will be set in
motion all over the country. The aim and
hope OF the preachers is to recruit their
focks largely in the season when the
farmer is at leisure, and the young people
are at liberty to attend the frequent meet
ings. In the cities. too, the winter affords
more time for thought in ITS long even
ings than the depressing summer, and the
churches utilize tho period for special
efforts for the conversion of those not
already in their membership.
We trust that these revivalistic labors
this winter Will be successful in drawing
men from the error Of their ways, and in
leading them into the path illumined by
truth aud righteousness. But to accom-
plish so de.irable a result those people who
are enrolled in the membership of churches
must look TO II that they manifest in their
own lives the reality of the conversion
they profess to have experienced-exhibi
it down town and at home As well rs in the
church. If they fail to do so, those who
remain outside their ranks will be likely
TO regard them rs religious frauds, and to
question the advantage OF joining them.
Ii Is probable too, that under an evan
escent impulse OF religious emotion
many sinners will be brought in
who will not he steadfast in the
faith They will take conversion easily,
and easily get over IL. a true con-
version means more thann sudden feeling
II must include not only short turning
from the evil of the past but the straight-
forward pursuit in the future of better
ways To lead the way ward sinner to pur-
sue these paths, those who profess to be al
ready converted and who stand rs exam
pies to the out.iders, must go order their
own walk and conversation that they shall
be proofs Of the triumphs of religious faith
aud practice over the temptations with
which the devil seeks to ensnare the foot
steps Of men, There is no use of fighting
the devil in prayer meeting and then bar
gaining with him outside. They must
show that religion is a very vital and prac-
teal thing, not mere transtory state OF
feeling, rs so many who fancy themselves
OF the very elect seem to think IT, and who
feel secure because they have gone
through the routine of becoming pious.
Unless this winters revivals shall make
both those within and those without
the membership of churches actually
better men, more scrupulously honest in
their dealings, more charitable and more
self-denying for others benefit than they
are now, the rcvvals will be spurious
awakenine,, and tie prayers and eXhorta-
lions of the supposittiously converted as
sounding brass and a tlnkling cymbal.
We encourage all efforts that look to the
practical lettering of mems condition,
bplh spiritual and material, but we warn
all pea ohels against taking feeling for
c9h'Iotlon religious emotion for deep
seated religious purpose, The only test
ffff
'!.S' -. 9vemept Of the subject of il,
E"etybouy who Gvnls with him must sec
thar he has changed for the better. Tn
less the drunkard abandons his cups, the
extortioner his cheating, the cruel his
harshness, the dishonest dealer his false
weights, the clork his eye service, the
banker his uDtrustworthiness, the brok r
his sharp practices, and the hypoorto his
pretenoe, the alleged conversion is spuri-
Gus. and works evil rather than good