New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-10
WILBUR FISK. .
A BIOGRAPHY BY DIR. PRENTICE.


The second volume Of the American Religious
Leaders" series deals with that significant plant
inr Of Methodsm in the United States for which
the ground had been prepared by the harsher
teachings of Puritanism. To distinguish with
nrecsion the relative weight of all the influences
which were at work during this period is doubtless
unavoidable. but it may confidently be asserted
that the success the Methodist missionaries attained
was attributable in an important degree TO long
growing discomfort with a scheme Of religion which
seemed 10 shut love ont of the account between
God and man, and to make fear and wrath the
dominant agencies in the divine government. The
MethOdists came bringing a new gospel, In Whlcis
the love of God for His creatures was made con-
spicuOus. 1t proved as welcome rs n spring OF
cold water in thirsty land. The clfsacrlhce'
courage and perseverance of the Methodist ltlne-
rants was another factor of consequence. only
in the records Of the Roman Church shall we lihu
close parallels to the zeal, humility and deVo'loh
of these pious men, of whom DR. Prentice gives TINS
graphic sketch: First, they were men OF good
personal appearance, whose dress was unique
whose manners were familiar and accessible, whose
outdoor habits of life made them at ease with all
sorts and conditions of men. The fact that Ike
Henry Clay, George Washington and Aoraham
Lincoln they were not college-bred. but self-made
men, made it easier for them to comprehend
and take advantage of currents OF ieehng among
the plain people, whom only such men can
fully comprehend and readily influence. linen
they were men of extraordinary spirituality ana
devotion. whose everyday life was denial OF
the world the flesh and the devll. 10 1orsaKe
home and kindred and all worldly ambitions and
selfish modes of living, to be always IN the saddle'
always on the march like soldiers, TO go among
pyramids which wOul0 bring
them into collision with the settled convictions
of all things for Christ's sake, was a spiritual
discipline, compared with which those of Jesuit
and Trappist were slight and Intellectual. And
they did all that on an allowance of sixty dollars
n wear. subject TO every appeal which the greater
moods of some men always make 10 generous
minds.
The work of the Methodist itinerants was well
Gone. and proved fruitful The new Church in
creased, at first slowly, but with acceeratlng I'M
petus They employed the means which expert
ence showed 10 be effective-sweet and melodious
HYMNS, stirring appeals, the kind of preaching
that reused strong emotion Jonathan Edwards
had experimental in the same direction, nut his
creed was an obstacle TO permanent success. he
vivalsm, however, seemed natural III connection
with early MethOdism, and ASbury's new evan
celists encouraged even the more violent and
bvstericaI outbursts Controversy inevitably
arose The Augustinians locked horns with the
Arminians and the debate was carried on with
heat and intemperateness, though the organs of
nubic opinion were nearly all in the hands of
the Calvinists so that their adversarles were
driven TO reply by pamphlet, or, as many pre-
ferred to do, in their regular sermons and as
courses What may fairly be called the romantic
and picturesque period of American Methodlsm
had passed away and given place 10 sober prose
cution of the religious interests OF a steadily
growing Church when Wilbur Fisk came on the
scene Dr. Prentice evidently found it no easy
matter TO write an attractive biography OF one
who, whatever the Importance and extent OF his
life-work carried it forward under conditions OF
the most practical everyday character, ana whose
career presents scarcely anything exceptional and
nothing in the least degree exciting But for
the necessity of setting forth the controversial
features of Fisk's labors, indeed, we hardly see
how a volume of the requisite size could have
been got out of the subject Polemics, however
occupv an important place in the monograph, and
the reader will often be reminded by its argu-
ments ,of those which have So recently been adj
yanced by the advocates of Presbyterian revision.
The mission of Wilbur Fisk was not that of a
controversialst, though he was strong and keen
disputant and could lead the way for his Church
with excellent Judgment when occasion demanded
IL was as an organizer of educational appliances
that be was TO make his mark and to exhibit
special fitness The history Of all that KIND oil
work is apt TO be rather mOnOtOnOus when the
field is a new and poor country There IS ire
mendoas exertiOn, and often Disappointing re-
turns Much has to be undertaken with Scah'
means at first, and, while there may be certain
interest in following the methods OF the organizers
and watching their treatment OF diihcultcs' III
the main such narratives are commonly SOhcWhau
drv The account of Fisk's baptism of the
HOLY Spirit" as Dr. Prentice terms II, will, how
ever be found particularly interesting by the
student of psychology. The description OF the
spiritual excitement and oxidation, menifcstY
fomented by contact with numbers OF strongly
moved men and women, the whole OF them belhS
under true epidemical Influences is, OF course
picture Of phenomena which are familiar 10 nearly
all, and which are more and more dls'rus'ed rs
reliable signs of genuine and permaLet spliitnaI
change. though they are as yet by no means
generally condemned or abandoned In the ease
of Wilbur Fisk the change seems 70 have been
lasting, though it may appear TO some readers 10
have involved only an intensfcaton OF feelings
which were strong in him previously
His principal work was done at Wesleyan Acad.
pmy and Wesleyan University, and here his prac-
teal successes were won. There was plenty OF
theological controversy in the air, and there was
also controversy over another subject, his attl-
tude toward which has always been felt by many
as a blot upon the memory of this religious leader
Dr. Prentice appears to have done his tes' 10 re-
,tate the case Of Fsk's position on slavery IN
such manner as 10 vindicate him, but we are
compelled TO say that we do not think he has
succeeded The evidence is too clear and
cumulative. II appears to render inevitable the
conclusion that Fisk played fast and loose with
the issue that he denounced Aboitionsm that lac
even went far as TO justify slavery upon Script
ural grounds; that, in short, whatever he said
or wrote upon the question was calculated to rivet
the letters of the slave, and not 70 loosen them.