The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-01
THE MOODY CONVENTION.


indianapolis, upon spiritual as well as material
matters, must be noted by the most cursory
observers. While in the great throngs that
crowded Roberts Park Church the past week,
during the Moody convention, there were
many hundreds moved only by curiosity, and
many hundreds Of others to whom the series
of meetings was religious debauch, in
dulged in for much the same set Of reasons,
morally, that impels man to enter upon a
prolonged physical dissipation, there were deep
and sincere evidences of spiritual revival
among the Christian people Of our community
that must be gratifying to those who have
not completely evolved" out of the old Bible
faiths, and that promises the best results in
stimulating and strengthening church life and
influence. And yet these crowded meetings
were rather an effect than a cause
A revival Of religion cannot come to town
a special train, like circus; it is not in the
power of any one man to make or control it.
The great revivalists have, after all, only been
the mouth pieces of language and sentiment
that is in the hearts and minds of the masses,
and this feeling, naturally and properly, voices
itself in the churches and through the stated
means of grace. If there is not among the
people a sublime sense of the need of 'tre-
vival," it is useless to look for any great work
of grace and moral reform in city. In the
spring of 1881 the churches here, almost
universally, were active; 10000 school chill
dren were ripe from the homes of the 80 900
people of the city-5,000 were estimated to
have been under Conviction" over 1000
were converted" and half as many joined
one or other of the churches. For three
months the movement continued. Men,
women, and children, moved by common
impulse, focked to the churches. The reVi-
val was a common topic on the streets, in the
homes of the children, in the schools,
and of the. daily press. Mr.. Harrison's
relations to it as ''boy preacher"
and leader in one of the churches was only in
cidentaland momentary. A company of preach
ers in New York city called it ''animal magnet
ISM" There was much emotion and crying,
but heads were broken as we'll as hearts The
intellect was convinced while the feelings were
and thoughtless ones put to serious thinking.
There is certainly something commendable in
movement which led 5000 people to give pub
lie expression of their quiokened relations to
their fellows and their future, and we do not
hesitate to acknowledge it, anomalous and ex-
traorduary as many of its features unques
tionably were. Whatever arouses con-
science and elevates purpose should
be fostered and assisted. The cru
sades missed their object of wrestling the
sacred sepulcher from its deflers, but their re-
suit to southern Europe was worth their cost.
A national conflict like our late war will trans
form tramps and trifers, haunters of saloons
and city bummers, into men of principle and
courageous soldiers. The majority of people
In every age and city are shallow in character
and brittle in purpose. They lead careless
and unhallowed and almost worthless lives,
and any movement or man which supplants
purpose and principle for gossip and pastime,
and the mere qualification Of self and
ense should be welcomed and encour-
aged. But to accomplish great moral
good in community, its people must
need and desire it; something cannot
come out of nothing, and invoiution precedes
evolution in the order of nature, and there
fore, we have referred to the profound interest
shown during the recent Moody convention
as sequence, rather than an initiative, and
that is why we look for permanent and bene-
fetal results from it. Long before the Moody
convention was thought of or heard of there
had been a growing and deepening spiritual
power in the churches, and perceptible out
flow Of influence upon the people. Our col
umns were daily bearing testimony of special
meetings and of large accessions of member
ship, while pulpit topics, as announced,
showed remarkable turning to gospel
themes-as they are understood-upon the
plrt of the preachers. The ground was rea-
sonably well prepared; there was seriousness
a tho churches and hunger in the minds