The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-12-23
Relation at Sixty DaYs.


meeting, is, it seems, being subjected
to variations in this age of mutation AND
dissolution. For ages the camp-meeting
or revival, idea has been simply q tempo.
rary religious mania which was expected
to throw people into some sort of fte. The
edervescence was to work itself off in q
week or two and leave whatever residuum
Of solid piety might be found precipitsted
at the bottom, be the same more or less.
Nobody ever dreamed of innovating on the
standard old scheme or varying from its
established usages.
Nov comes along, however, this imper-
tfnent era of the XIX. century in its last
quarter and incontinentiy suggests a new
application or adaptation of tie venerable
principle. Instead of wasting all that
efervescence which has been usually per-
mitted to eTaporate upon the idle air, it is
to be instausly bottled up and saved. Mr..
Kimball is the apostle of this novelty. He
works up a congregation to the usual
shouting" heat and then takee their
shouts down on paper duly signed by the
utterers. This is new; formerly a man
could "shout" freely, fearlessly and with
out sense of subsequent responsibility,
but now be must expec. to make it good
at 30 or 90 days.
Mr.. Kimball is q master of his art he
understands all the appliances of IN excite.
ment, and, having successfully put them in
operation, he calls upon the half-raviug
crowd to give tangible evidence of sinceri-
ty. He will himself head the list of ten
thousand dollar subscribers, also the Eve
thousand, the one thousand, and the one
hundred dollar lists. The enth hasiasm grows
lnto rivalry, the rolls swell Immediately to
the required figure and vast church debt
s virtually paid. Every subscriber signs
his name to a note or a list equally as bind
ng, and, though he may repent next morn
ng, viii! have to pay when the time comes
ound.
This is frst-rate plan for the churches,
'ut We doubt if it is good for religion.
Every man who in q moment of folly binds
himself 70 heavy burden, will eventual
y curse both the burden and the folly.
These enthusiasts who have given their
PAPER for q great deal more money than
hey could really afford will, of course,
lever be caught sgain, but, in the mean
ime, their sentiments towards the occa-
ions and means aud object of their frs.
will not be of pleasant nature
Religion will in come way be associated in
heir minds with the fraud and its conse-
luent soreness.
II may be said that the same dodge is
escorted to for secular purposes and that
n moments of excitement men are entieed
o take stock in popular enterprises, sub
cribe to public works and lend their in
- afterwards condemnaA I
luepce 70 proyu~". :. -
y their con!!esf judgement. Bat ali this
Ices not initiate against religion, and
hough the victim learns to be more eau
ious in listening to the persuasions of his
elbow men, there is no shcck given to his
in the good faith of his relations
With the Creator. God is not compromised
hrough his supposed ministers, as ia too apt
o be the case when the swindle is in favor
# religious object.
All fevers leave a weak ness, aud Protestant
organization will not fnd itself stronger by
eason of this spasm of Fictitious energy.