Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-28
EvANenLIcAL va THEOLOGICAL
PREACHING.

which seems 70 regard the pulpit IN
much the sane light ss . professors !
chair in a theological seminary; or
which by well rounded periods and
captivating phrase, attempts TO simply
tickle the ear and entertain the intellect
Of an audience, and thus draw them to-
gether from sabbath to Sabbath by the
sane inducements which are held out
BY the lecture platform.
BY evangelical preaching We mean to
designate that smaller class who make
their appeal to the heart rather than TO
the intellect; Who have hearts them
selves which are burning with zeal for
the salvation Of humanity; who carry
about with them 'the burden OF souls;
who recognize that it is the soul saliva
ton rather than intellectual education,
that constitutes the FIRST mission OF the
gospel; who are not troubled with theo-
logical sDstrations or church doctrines,
bat regard all mankind a. one common
brotherhood, tending TO the same DIS
,inction and with one common Savior,
and one paramount necessity Of being
eleansed IRON sin.
The theological style has gained the
ascendancy IN the last few years to such
an extent as to almost take possession oil
the more influential churches. An or
nate, intellectual preacher commands
high salary, and is given q good, soft
place in the midst of q congregation
composed of the wealthy and influential
citizens forming a large circle OF CON-
munity. And with the iustallment OF
the pulpit lecturer in almost all the
larger city churches, the congregations
are falling OFF; religious enthusiasm has
died out; a cold morality is all OF relig-
ious life that is left; and from one end
Of the country 10 the other, the problem
is presented for solution: "Why Is It
that our churches are so poorly at
tendedf'
Ii seems to US that the answer to this
important question Is gwen with great
force Of practical illustration in the re
suits attending the work Of q few So
called "Eyangelists" Of the times, who
have adopted what We term the evan
gelical style Of preaching.
II there we're but the single example
now furnished by Mr.. MOoDY, 1t would
seen sufficient to open the eyes Of all
christendOm. Mr.. MOOR is not man
OF very high intellectual attainments,
or Of brilliant oratOry, or any other con-
spicuous talent or attainment, other
than is found in his eminent spiritual
ity and the directness OF his appeal TO
the religious element-the hesrt-side OF
humanity. Yet he has stirred two con-
tinents to their foundations by this sim
plieity and singleness Of aim. His
methods carry with them power that
no community in this country or Europe
where he has labored, has been able 10
resist. Men and women Of all classes OF
society. flock TO hear the simple story OF
the gospel a. il comes from his lips day
after day, through successive weeks
and months. There ia no public
exhibition or performance OF the stage
or platform that has ever stirred and
held humanity as DO the meetings over
which Mr.. VI CODY presides. Men never
tire of them. Whole communities at
tend them. Interest and eagerness only
/ increase with those most frequent in at
tendance. He has done more in the
short period Of his lAbors toward evan
gelizing the world than any other man
since the days Of the apostles. And
what contrast to the sleepy, aristocra-
tic methods OF the theologiansl
But the success OF Mr.. MOoDr's meth
DDS is not confined TO Mr.. MooDY. Men
aud women, inspired with the same
spirit and imbued with the same neal
and sanctity Of purpose, are accomplish
ing wonders all over the world. Over
in Europe, Just noe, singulariy earn
est man has sprung up, who
has Organized what is called
a salvation army" that is travelling
much like IAN army with banners
throughout Great Britain, waging war
fare against incompetence and oil nan
ner Of evil and preaching the unadul-
terated gospel to the masses. South
Wales, especially, says a newspaper
report, has been 70 flooded with holy
influence that the character OF the
whole population has been changed.
The chargs-sheets Of police-court have
been greatly reduced. the liquor traffic
has almost suspended, and whole coun-
ties have been reused to spiritual con-
Germ" The repor, further states that
there are l2j corps and stations and
ITg officers wholly employed In the
work. There were 1000 voluntary
speakers and 100, 0p services were held.
The contributions received amounted
TO SIS, 495, while the collections from
the oongregatiOrs reached $50, 900. Some
$4,000 year isrequired 10 pay rents.
A weekly paper, called the Var Cry, is
issued. which rivss ''the latest news
oithe war from oil parts Of the country."
Within the pat lew weeks the people
Of Wheeling hsve had an example al
the evangelical ayle in the power OF q
little, unpretendhg woman, who knows
how 10 appeal TO the heart Her work
IS purely q heart work. 1t IL heart
appealing 10 heart And there was not
an auditor OF any church denomination,
or one entirely outside the pale OF
church influences. Who has listened TO
her public efforts, who did not teel and
in some sense respond to that peculiar
power which makes all mankind akin.
Comparing. therefore, the results
which follow the labors Of the evangelist
with those OF the theologisn, il cannot
be long until the methods which pre-
vail in the majority Of the pulpits Of the
present day shall DC 80 modified as to
reach the psspos &ndb be productive OF
some ostsps11s rselis. This may
nseessitats - s>jsv~spt Of many min
ssssns VIE ~ nsv enesus>ining fashion
"a n. = - - Iey pnsea N
y ss-s ssa-I - - y m s.sss
~ MS truis - & kobabsy hass-u
the event to~nich chrissianisy h Iool.
Ing iorwsrd-the conversion Of the vo,a
TIMELY ToPIcA
TBE Manchester Miro wants 20
know "whAt Is Lentr' Our umbrena.