Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-02
CONVERT THE CHTRHu

the 1ospel or CnrlSC, That whether come and
see you. or else be absent, I may hear of your
affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit with
one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel.-PhiEppian :27.
The long-talked-of revival-or, rather,
the services that it is hoped will lead to q re-
yival of religion-has commenced. The con-
tract has been awarded to Messrs. White
and McGranahan, the city clergymen having
acknowledged their utter inability to make
the necessary impression upon the public
mind. It is their intention, however, to as
sist the professional revivalists in the capa-
city of day laborers. In such work they
may prove of service and convince portion
OF the people that they are not guilty Of pro-
curing their salaries under false pretenses
They must feel Inundated, nevertheless, at
tie necessity of confessing that they have all
along been decei7iDg tho people-deluding
them with the idea that they were able to
care for the spiritual wants Of those under
their care, and to lead the ungodly from the
error Of their ways.
But, though tho SUNDAY GLOBE regrets to
admit that the city clergy have Eelt called
upon to ask others to perform tho work
which they had agreed to do, it has no dis
position to interfere in the slightest respect
with the labors Of the so-called vangeIists.
1t confesses to grave doubts as to their
ability to do any permanent good, for ex-
perienco teaches us that great religious ex-
element often results in undisguised injury
to the morals Of a community. The fervor
begotten of the oft-repeated appeals to
awake to rig hteousness is almost invariably
succeeded by an apathy that is greater than
that existing, while many impossible
people arc SO greatly affected as to lose their
mental balance and become ever after a bur-
den to their friends and a standing reproach
to the mountebank system of religion now
so much in vogue.
The greatest need of the churches in St.
Paul to-day is an internal awakening. From
the pulpit to the rear pew there is an all
pervading lethargy. The minister breaches
simply because he has contracted to do it,
and must fulfill his contract in order to draw
his salary. The members attend the scr
vices from custom; or because they regard
it as highly respectable or fashionable; or
because they want to see Brown or Jones or
Mrs. Brown Or Mrs. Jones, to note if they
are wearing their last winters cloaks or
hats; or because it is too stupid to lounge
about the house all day with nothing to do.
We would suggest to Major Whittle that be-
fore he devotes his attention to sinners, he
give the saints lively stirring up, for they
need it greatly. There is lack Of brotherly
love in every flock. Few of the church
members have learned the full meaning of
the first and greatest commandment: "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.'' They
have not learned to exercise charity in the
sense Of liberation for others opin-
ions, regard for others feelings, respect3for
others interest. They cling with great to-
nacity to the old adage, "Charity begins at
home," and refuse to Inconvenience them
selves that others may be benefited. They
pattern too much after the Pharisees of old,
and while making long prayers that may be
heard of men, their hearts are full of un-
cleanness. While some hold up their hands
in holy horror at immortality, they rent their
houses for immoral purposes. They are il
liberal, vain and bigoted in large. degree,
and while protesting religion, have really
none of that genuine Christianity which ia
taught by the master.
The church, more than those outside of its
pale, needs reformation. It is necessary, in
order to be able to approach "the worlds
people," that those who acknowledge the
dominion of Christ, should live in accord
ance with his precepts than they now do.
Until it is demonstrated that Christi.
anity makes men and women bet
ter-makes them all charitable,
honest, tolerant, pure, unselfsh-in
q word, genuinely Christian-the revivalists
need not hope to induce men and women
leading good moral lives outside Of it's infu-
ence to sunder their old associations for
those less congenial. If man is true
Christian he ought to be all that Christ COM
mands him to be. If he is anything less he
disgraces his profession.
We trust that the evangel:sts will devote
their first efforts toward bringing about a
reform in the church. It's members should
be urged to testify by their works that there
is something more than mere outward dis
play in religion; that it is something that
touches the heart and impels to noble deeds,