Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-22

| Siven their aidrgsses 10 what proved
To be- vacant lots, and others could not
be found for other reasons. on the one
hundred persons there was not one, he
says. likely to become church NOM
Der as result OF the revival.
On the further effects OF the Moody
meetings, tho author OF the letter
TO The Watchman asserts that they
did much to disorganizs ordi-
nary methods Of church work. They
interfered seriously with Bible elias ses
Young men attended the meetings as
ushers, and aome young men and
women an members Of the choir; and
they thus drifted away from their
church home, and 1t is very doubtful
whether all OF them can ever be
brought back again into the Sunday
school or into church work.
The cad experience OF come pastors
is related. Ono Of them expresses his
gindness that thess meetings had
closed. He affirmed that they cut his
evening congregation by one bali;
other pastors said that although their
CT ngregations were not so greatly re-
duceu. much encouragement was
given to many to hold their church
obligations, never held too tightly,
with very loose grasp, If not with
positive Indifference. Contributions
for local church WORK, and for various
forms of city mission work, were also
decreased ns the result Of these meet.
inga.
EditorialIy the Watchmsn endorses
th'se views. 1t aays:
Notwithstanding all ythal was said of
them, as held in Now York, the great
assemblies In Carnegie Hall, and Mr..
Moody's skilful management, the out
come does not justify the diversion from
tho ordinary methods OF winning souls,
the turning aside Of pastors and people
from their own particular congregations,
even though 1t may be that they receive
a special and personal inducement. 1t
docs not appear that the pastors are
made particularly more skilful, moro
efficient, or moro devout, by reason OF
what they experience or observe In the
great congregation and the preaching OF
Mr.. Moody The work does not gain
power and reain 1t after he is gone.
Soul-winning does not seem to be an art
to be learned as one learns books, or a
mechanical trade. Successful evaugeliz-
ing comes not OF manipulation, nor in the
mastering of assemblies. Some things
can be done that way; but all the manip-
ulation of men does not effect the regen-
GRAFTON and salvation OF the soul. A.
man may lead his fellow 10 the fountain
of living waters, and try TO convince
him OF It's vivifying value, but he can
not beget in the soul of the other thirs.
for the water, or cause him TO drink 1t
and live.
The conclusion seems TO be arrived
at at last that the sensational pulpit
work popularizsd by Messrs. Moody
and 5ankey 10 not VIVA. is needed.
But what can the churches do?
May we be allowed TO suggest
that the question of saving soula is not
alter all 30 much one OF methods as OF
power-1ivine powe | The wonderf u
results Of the Gospel message to the
world In the beginning OF cur era were
not due to the methods employed
but to the power With which. the mes
sengers were endowed anu which was
manifest through the special gifts they
had. With these proofs OF divine
authority gone, what is to bs expected
blu! "disappointmsnt and humilis-
tionY" II 1t be admitted that thu
truth of the Gospel message can be
established equally we'll by the ali of
reason, logic and eloquence, 1t must
also be evident that oil these means
must fall ia the encounter
with an age that is given to
deception and loves falsehood dearer
than truth. Reason is powerless
agains. mana selfish craving for sin.
full pleasures. Were the condition OF
man such that he naturally longed for
truth, logical discourse might en-
tighten him, but the case is the re-
verse; hence the disappointment OF
ministers without divine authority
anu the gifts OF tho Spirit OF God.
There is no remedy except
In the re- establishment OF
primitive Christianity. Christian
churches with their suxiIiaries
may do some good work, but rs TO coz.
queripg the world for the Savior, they
IRE in their present condition power
less. fact too plainly evident In the
flood of unrightoousness that is raging
on all sides. No ark hut that built nc.
cnrdinp To dlYlna inairnnilnna can ar .tn