Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-01-15
OLD FASHIONED REVEALS.
Modern Methods Compared.-Reason the
Basis of Action.-The Pews Must Co

Basis Of Action.-The Pews Must Co
operate.
Having attended revival services
in the Method Episcopal Church at
Layton during the past week we
could notsbut note that the progress
of the age extends to and influences
the methods of the revivalist even
as it has influenced the constituting
of Bible texts. The first revival
meetings of which we have a clear
recollection were held in the same
church here nearly thirty years ago.
Then the staid old deacons and
stauneh members added their earn
est prayers, and active cooperation
to the endeavors of the Pastors and
besieged the sinner with advice and
exhortation to turn from the error
of their ways. The preacher with
his assistants from other charges ex-
pounded the scripture, and portray
ed the dangers of delay in accepting
the offer contained therein; that
this the appointed time might pass
unimproved and beseeching the sin
ner personally not to longer resist
the importunings of the spirit. Then
came the portrayal of the sinner in
full health to-day perhaps tonight
summoned by death and ere morn
ing the sinful spirit writhing in the
agony of hell. There were vivid
pictures drawn of that terrible state
of torment, the fiery flames and ever
ascending smoke of the pit fed with
birthstone in which the lost soul
eked out an eternity of the most ex-
quisite torture, suffering the thirst
that might not be quenched. To
the certainty that the duration of
torment was endless might be added
perhaps the tantalizing solace of
witnessing. the joy of kindred spirits
in Paradises We recall that amid
the prayers, entreaties, and exhorta-
tions of the ministers and active
members the cries and sobs of the
sympatheticin the congregation rose
and fell and the nervous excitement
became intense Perhaps at this
stage there would be a procession of
penitents to the alter and then would
rise glad hymns of praise and re-
| joicing to almost raise the roof. From
many such services have we re-
turned to home and to bed wrought
up to nervous tension that after
prolonged wakefulness would bring
in dreams the portrayal of scenes
and events which during the servi-
ces had been so vividly pictured or
acted. But tonight how different.
A simple, plain and in the main
straight forward presentmento of the
benefits of christianity, and the per-
sonal need of each one to obtain
their part therein, with all the vari-
GUS reasons argued at length, quiet
ly yet persuasively, and with much
evident earnestness. 1t is change
from crude, to refined methods. A
step from back nearer to the intoler-
ant and barbario past to the COM
paratively intellectual and refined
present. AS there has been inn
provement in the past so is there a
vast deal of room for more in the
future. To what is the improve
ment due2 This would open a wide
field for conjecture and speculation,
but in brief, it is not from Priest nor
Academy, but from the people from
the pews. Where is there in history
any evidence that reforms in church
policy ever eloriginated elsewhere
than among the people, and began
in the pews. The broadening edu-
cation of the masses call for new
foundations of doctrine or revision
of texts and the scholars of the
church hasten to do the peoples will
Thus from the early ages it has ever
been and to the end of time will con-
tinue. 1t is evident the pulpit does
not lead the pews, and the foremost
scholars of the age readily concede
the fact. Whatever doctrines th e
masses will receive and support are
the only ones possible in this survi-
val of the fittest. How far these
ideas may influence the thinking
mind as to the immutability of the
scriptures is mainly owing to how
far the person may be inclined to
investigate, and in how far they may
allow their reason, their God given
reason to influence their decision.
Truly may it be said "That to ar
que with him who renounces the use
and authority of reason, is like ad-
ministering medicine to the dead. -
AS to the work taking place in this
comm unity at the present time it is
only too evident that the greatest
stumbling block to successful church
extension and revival work is the
coldness of the members themselves.
Their seeming unWillingness to en-