St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-23
TWO SIDES OF REVIyALS.
Rev. j. w. COnley Analyses Their
Good and Evil.


"Reyivals. Their Advantages and
Dangers" was the subject of Rev. j.
w. ConIey's sermon at the First Bap-
tist church yesterday morning.
The preacher said that there was a
great variety of opinion in reference
to revival meetings, and even among
Christian people there were those to
be found who considered them insult
ed to the present condition Of things
Therefore he proposed to take a some
what comprehensive view of the sub
Ject, and see what was to be said for
and against them.
One matter for consideration was
the practice during Bible times. Among
the Jews the three great feasts of the
year were not only times of rejoicing,
but seasons of deep religious interest.
Then the revival under King Josiah,
and those under Ezra and Nehemiah
were noteworthy. John the Baptist,
too, was an evangelist, and Jesus
Christ conducted one series of revival
meetings after another. 1t was from
protracted meeting of ten days in
the upper chamber at Jerusalem that
the apostles went forth to the great
revival of Pentecost. Samaria wit
messed a great revival under the
preaching of Philip, the evangelist, and
wherever Paul could find a place to
Il
the course of Christianity down
through the ages, we find constant re-
Vivals until under Constantine, church
and state became united. In the re-
formers of the sixteenth century a
fresh race of revivalists was met,
Then, after the deadness which set
tied down upon the churches in con-
sequence of the magnifying of doctrin-
al discussions, came the Soul-stirring
rRViUQIG
field. The wonderful growth of Meth
odism was to be very largely attribut-
ed to their belief in revivals, and the
same could be said of his own denomi-
nation. The Salvation Army, by it's
constant daily appeals to the people.
had achieved great results. Mr.. Con-
ley contended that very large pro-
portion of those in the Christian church
today were there as the result of spe-
cial efforts, and asked those who had
been converted in such gatherings, or
had first made a profession of their
faith in such meetings, to stand up,
In response to which about half the
congregation arose.
1t was rational that such religious
gatherings should be held with bene-
f1cial results. Political campaigns were
but political revivals. Had it not been
for the special meetings to awaken an
ti-slavery sentiment, the blot of slavery
would never have been removed from
this country. Any similar movement
must depend largely. upon the arousing
of sentiment by the living voice fall
ing upon responsive ears. The trouble
with many was that they did not give
spiritual matters sufficient attention,
and If they could be led to think of
them constantly, night after night. un-
til they reached a decision, in most
cases the decision would be for God.
That there were dangers connected
with revivals, he did not deny. One
Of these was the undue prominence
sometimes given to the emotional side
of religion, which might be followed
by a corresponding reaction. Not that
emotion was to be undervalued, but
when 1t was played on almost exclus-
lively, without being balanced by a
proper degree of instruction in truth.
there was likely to be harm wrought
rather than good Another danger was
that spiritual pride might be endan-
gered in some of those who were act
i've in the work, and who might be led
to think uncharitably of those who did
not see with them in these matters.
Despite these dangers, Mr.. Conley
urged that special revival meetings
were times of great opportunity and
great responsibility, and he earnestly
invited all his hearers to enter most
heartily into the meetings of the com
ing week, which will probably be the
last of the present series.
Tonight and tomorrow night the
services will be held in the chapel,
while Wednesday, Thursday and Fri
day, the main auditorium will be used.
Mr. Conley will preach every evening
except Tuesday, when Rev. C. c. Mark
ham will be the speaker. The church
choir will be present on Wednesday.
the young peoples chorus on Thurs
day, and the junior chorus on Friday.