The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-02
Now York Versus Babylon.

NO" IOrI VOfeub DAUyAoAs
Brother MOODY, the revivalist preacher,
speaks moro kindly Of this city than no
formerly spoke of it. A year g his Ian
guage about New York was so severe as TO
seem harsh; whereas, at this time' ne
makes a important admission In the
city's favor. He referred to the subject
In a sermon which he delivered ut North
field last week, and we take pleasure In
giving his words a place in THE Sun. He
said: "When 1 went to New York last
fall I was told that New York was the
hardest field in this country, but New York
Is not as bad as Babylon was"
We are grateful to Brother MOODY for
this gracious concession in New York's
behalf. 1t helps US out at Q timo whom the
enemy's hand falls heavily upon our city,
and when we hear from our Kansas contem-
poraries so many expressions Of a different
kind. We fling Brother MooDY's glcam-
Ing remark at the head Of all detractors:
New York is not as bad as Babylon was"
We doubt whether Brother MOODY would
say as much for Chicago or for Boston; 1t
is in favor of our own city that he makes
the comparison.
Babylon was indeed q very wicked city.
The ancient historians told Of It's wicked
ness, and so did the Hebrew prophets; and
30 do the records of the place itself. But
New York, Us Brother MOODY admits, Is
not such a city. 1t is q different kind of a
city. 1t stands out in contrast with Baby
Ion. 1t is far bigger and far moro populous
than Babylon was; and we are much
obliged to Brother MOODY for reminding
us of its moral superiority to Babylon.
1t is possible that Brother MOODY has
been led to entertain o better opinion of
this city than he formerly entertained by
his own experiences here not long ago.
During the long period Of his s~ojourn in
New York last winter he was honored as
few lay preachers have ever been honored.
So great were the crowd Of people hat
went to his meetings day after day, even
during the business hours of the day, that
neithe' Cooper Union nor Carnegie Hall
could hold them and his m made an
extraordinary impression upon his hearers.
By means Of those discourses multitudes of
sinners, numbered by the thousand, we be-
lieve, were brought to religion. Men and
women flocked from all parts Of the city to
hear him preach and pray. Many ministers
helped his cause. Many wealthy citizens
sent checks to cover his expenses. When
the hat was passed it never came back
empty. 1t was a time Of rejoicing and of
triumph for Brother MOODY. who was al
ways in the best Of spirits. Brother
SANKKr sang, Brother MOODY preached,
and the listeners gave expression to their
happiness. 1t was natural that Brother
Nnnnv ebon1d forrp n fovor,hl> an;,t1. -
New York after that.
Is it likely that he would have had such
experiences in Babylon II he had lived in
the days of NEBUcHADNEzzAR, for example.
and had gone thither7 We trow not. 1t is
probable that, as soon he got within the
city's walls, the bad men would lave set
upon him, and perhaps Jailed him. or taken
his life. We doubt il he would have been
permitted in Babylon to preach his first
sermon; and It is our opinion that he
would nave been driven forth as soon as
the Babylonians caught sight of him, to
say nothing of SANkEY.
So it is easy for Brother MOODY to see
the difference between New York and
Babylon. Under the circumstances, we
cannot exalt him very highly for saying
s-NS ONh wv ~ " oo DUsA 40 tho Iuo
was. He might rather have said that there
could hardly be any two places more widely
different from each other.
All the great cities of the world have
been described as bad. We read OF the bad.
ness or the wickedness of Rome in the
times Of the C!EsARs, and much Is said in
modern times of the ~iniquity that exists in
Paris, London, Vienna, Berlin, and other
European capitals, not to speak of the popu.
lous Asiatic cities. from Calcutta to Can.
ton, and even to Yokohama. No doubt
there is a very great deal of evil In all OF
them, as we'll as in lesser places but there
is also a great deal of living and robust
Righteousness. Looking at human nature
all over the world, we cannot say that it is
as good as it ought to be but we are happy
to be able to say that 1t is very far from
being as bad as it might be-.