The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-13
''The Revival of RsIigIon"-MoOdy and
sankey.

contemporary PIe5ehbo quo7OAoA -
connection with the revival movement of
Moody and Sankey that is not without in
terest. 1t asks whether the marvellous
results that have been achieved by the evan
gelists, so far as crowds and manifestations
of emotion are concerned, leave any per-
manent result in the moral culture of the
people. Do those who, under the nervous
preaching of Moody and the sweet singing
of Sankey, feel that they are called by the
Holy Spirit to lead better life, go out into
the world strengthened for its duties and
temptationsP Do they become better
Christians, better citizens, better fitted for
daily cares and struggles Do they have
higher sense of what they owe to the State
and to one another? Does the singing OF
hymn or the application of the Holy Scrip
lures bring about suddenly that elevation
and reformation of the soul necessary to the
development of our moral nature? Is re-
igion q sudden influence that comes like
stroke of lightning, or is it what the poets
tell us about falling in love at sight2 One
newspaper claims to have information to the
effect that the revival in Philadelphia has
not been lasting; that there are no evidences
of general reformation in morals But on
the other hand, we find in the same journal
a news paragraph to the effect that six or
seven thousand Of those who had been con-
verified in Glasgow by the revivalists have
remained true to the faith
We have never believed that men fall into
ral;x;on az tho frot bIuch. thot the trua de-
velopment of moral life comes in an hour;
that soul can really be saved by song or
sermon. So many conditions enter into
such life that it must come, like all other
growths, by development This is at the
basis of our whole Christian life, of all that
is taught by Protestant and Catholic. The
influences of Moody and Sankey are apt to
be ephemeral A nearer may receive noble
influence which leads to better thoughts and
a purer life One who has lived for years in
the contemplation of wholly worldly things,
who has given to the devil and his works the
time and the energy that would have made
him much better citizen, may have sud-
denly called to his mind the memories of a
childhood of faith, of mothers prayers,
awakening in his mind all the latent re-
ligious feeling for there are tens of thou
sands with deep and truly reverent nature
whose lives are in themselves q religion and
who never go within a church. These are
among those who may be reached by the
teaching of the evangelists. 1t is in that
direction if at all, the true extent Of the work
will be done.
More than all. there are many who may re-
ceive from the preaching of the evangelists
what the Scriptures call the word of quick
ening-the lighting of the torch which may,
if duly nursed, burn into the fame If the
depths of society can be stirred up; if the
poor and the forlorn, the wretched and the
sinful can only be turned from intemperance
and lust and hypocrisy and false pretence; if
they can be taught the purer blessings of
tranquil, honest life. even when compared
with all the pomp and success of the world,
then we shall feel the true spirit of revival
Certainly the evangelists are men who believe
in their work. We are told they live by
faith in deed as well as in word; that neither
Moody nor Sankey accept penny for their
labors; that they have no interest in
the sale of the books and pictures which
have had such an enormous circulation.
They do not raise collections. They have
no means They trust to the Lord for their
daily bread, and we are told that it always
comes-sometimes in one form and some
times in another-but never by begging or
borrowing or by direct payments or by any
business interest in any enterprise. They
make no plans ahead They go from place
to place as they are 'called by the Holy
Spirit" and take no care for the future
Altogether, the whole movement is one of
the most extraordinary in modern times, and
worthy of interest and study. AS to the re-