The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-12-18
Religious Revival methods.

From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat
The task Of determining what methods
are best In the work Of religious re-
vivals Is n difficult and uncertain one.
There are experiments continually In
progress, and now and then the true
secret seems to be caught, and pro-
nounced success follows. But the same
plan tried again few months later, or
In another locality, not unfrequently
ends In a marked and dismal failure.
Something II due to time and ciroum-
stances, no doubt, In this rs In other en-
terprises which appeal to popular sym
pathy and support. Religion should be
acceptable at all seasons. and the sinner
be as readily moved to repentance to-
day as tomorrow, under this sky as I'M
der that; but In reality such Is not the
case. Tie evangelist, however forclble
or adroit, can not be sure that his efforts
will prove fruitful. even when the har-
vest seems to him to stand specially
ready for reaping, and all the conditions
look to be most promising. Appear
ances may as easily be deceptive In this
matter as In any other; aud 1t Is only by
practical trial. In given place, at par
iicular time. that definite opinion can
be formed.
Internationally. 1t is useless to try to
arouse religious enthusiasm In any COM
munlty when the people do not happen
to be In the mood for mn experience OF
that kind. This does not Imply that the
community Is hopelessly stifi-necked
and careless Of the great advantage OF
salvation. IL Is simply so engrossed
with other things. or so situated In point
OF general feeling, that Its emotions can
not be turned Into that channel "A
month sooner. 1t might have welcomed
such an opportunity; month later, II
might do the same. The fault does not
necessarily lie with the preacher that
where he had counted upon shining
success he has to confess n serious dlsap-
pointment; nor are the people to blame
for their lukewatmness when by the
laws Of nature they are prevented from
acting differently. IL II idle to say that
religion being the most important thing
in life, men are In duty bound to become
inflAmed with excitement over Ii when
ever a revivalist comes along, anu that
failing to de so. they deserve scOrn and
reprobation for their negligence. They
are not masters of themselves to that ex-
tent; and they had much better be silent
to be hypocrite'.
1t Is equally true, however, that In
most cases the degree Of interest aroused
and benefit conferred Is matter OF
method alone. The man who knows how
to attract the public attention by some
novel form of operations Will draw
crowd and make conversions where an
ADLER but less enterprlslng man would
make no Impression. II has come to
pass that people demand OF the church
certain compliance with the facts that
rule in the secular institutions of the
time. We have made great progress In
our systems Of influencing popular opin-
ion on other subjects, and religion must
be presented In new ways and with add
ed attractions. or the average citizen
will treat 1t with Indifference, no matter
how firmly he may believe In 1t, or how
anxious he may be to ace It's sanitary
influence conserved and enlarged. lie
simply will not listen to preaching that
IL not Interesting, and will not go TO
church unless he can lie satisfied that
the exercises will have quality Of pro-
gress in them. and not be n mere repeti-
IiGn of things that long ago became mo-
notonous TO him. Perhaps 1t Is his duty
to 20 and TO listen whether he enjoys II
or NOT, but that does not alter the fact
he stays away.
The main thing. certainly, Is TO induce
people to go where they eau have the
| controlling factor In the problem OF sus-
| tanning and promoting the cause Of
| Christianity, whether by revivals or by
| the ordinary church agencies. In this
| connection. the work now being done
| BY the Episcopal churches In New
| York is worth noting. Meetings are
| held at noon each day, the whole service
| occupying only forty-1ve minutes. AID
again at night In twenty different
churches. There lie no pretense and no
| excitement. but systematic Industry and
| earnestness, particularly In the respect
OF persuading people TO ats nd the meet
| ings. To personal solicitation. there is
added liberal use of printers ink, in
| newspaper notices, hand-bills and bold
placards-the first time, we believe, that
the philosophy Of advertising has ever
been distinctly and methodically em-
ployed In furthering an undertaking
of this sort. The success OF the en-
terprise Is said to be unprecedented. 1t
is found that advertising pays In re-
ligious venture the same MS in COM
mon business transaction. The public
is offered old and vital truths In new and
striking forms, and IL accepts them
eagerly and gladly. In thousands of
| pulpits throughout the land these same
truths are preached every Sunday ac-
cording TO tradition and precedent, and
the effect upon society Is practically i'm
pcroeptible. The time has come for n
general change In this matter. The old
processes have outlived their useful
ness, and modern methods are required,
not In revivals merely, but in all the
operations Of the Church. Christianity
Ia as strong as II ever was, and Its oppor-
tunitles were never greater; but II Ian
guishes for want Of proper energy and a
due recognition OF circumstances on the
part Of those who have its interests pro-
| fashionable In charoa