El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-02-09
Do ReviyaIs IntOXicate.


On Monday was printed the opinion
of the scientific president of Stanford
University on the subject of revivals as
an intoxicant. Below are replies from
the clergy.
Evangelist Moody: 81 do not think
such talk is worthy reply. The presi-
dent of Stanford University has set up
a man OF straw, and [ see no necessity
for knocking it down. If there is a
spot on earth where revival is needed
| 1t is in California. | suppose Mr.. Jor-
dan would say that Paul was beside
| himself, but the letters of Paul will be
read long after the works of college
presidents are forgotten. If men and
women were losing their reason and
their self-cOntrol during the revival
season in the city of Boston, 1 rather
guess the newspapers would have made
1t known to the general public long be-
| before this. | can criticise my work
better than Mr.. Jordan can. l know
the faults and the shOrtcoming better
| than be, bat repeat that [ do not think
| that any such statement as comes from
the Pacific coast-if it be correctly re-
ported-is worthy of serious comment"
Rev. w. w. Case: The honesty of
revivals is not question of opinion.
| Nothing is more certain of demOnstra-
ton than that the working of the
spirit in the salvation of men is an
Instantaneous change by which they
are said to pass from death to Life. |,
myself have seen thousands who have
experienced this change, and ever after
have exhibited the faith and the spirit
in the new life"
Rev. John Hemphill: DIR. Jordan,s
statement is wild and cratic Reyiyals
are simply an excitement of interest,
which Is as essential in religion as in
politics. The deadliest blight that can
fall upon church is the death of en-
thusiasm. For enthusiasts to be called
names is nothing new They called
the apostles DRINKS on the Day of Pen
tecost. They called Paul a mailman
They called Christ a devil Yet [ |
agree with Professor Jordan to the
extent that the best work in a church
is not done during temporary excite
ments, but when the pastor
keeps the fire burning all the year
round"
Rev. Robert McKenzie: at is so
extreme that it answers itself. Men of
the world who do not favor revivaIs,
and yet think intelligently, admit that
there is some good in them"
Rev. j. d. Phelps: Mr.. Moody
is authority for the statement
that nine persons out of ten con-
verified to Christianity are converted
by revivals. The progress of the
Methodist church has always been
commensurate with her aggressiveuess
IN revival work. His statement is
simply that of an uncOnverted man"
Rev. j. n. Beard: IF he meant a
revival that would supersede reason, !
then his promises would be correct, but |
in all my experience [ have never seen |
a case where reason was subordinated. " |
Rev. E. r. Ollie: eve are all quite |
prepared to agree with DR.. Jordan in |
deprecating excuses and inordinate |
appeals to the emotions, but the great |
revlvals OF modern times, the move !
ments under the Wesleys, and Jona- |
than Edwards, under Moody, Mills, !
Munhall, have been free, so far as nv
reading and observation goes, from |
these reprehensible vagaries and wild !
fire.
These revivals have borne fruit in |
indlsputable conversions from vice to |
virtue, from drunkenness to sobriety. |
from sin to holiness, from irreligion to |
religious and spiritual lives AS to
DR.. Jordan's statement that a mans |
character cannot be changed from bad |
to good in five minutes 4 do not quote
his exact words | must take as square
issue with him as he does with Jesus
Christ upon that point. The new birth
means that man is by an act of di-
vine grace restored to the innocence of |
childhood in moment, though he may
be hoary and stepped in sin. | respect
fully refer my friend to such witnesses
to this miraculous and supernatural
transformation as St. Paul. Augustine,
Martin Luther, John Newton, the |
slave dealer, who became a saint by
such change wrought in his heart
and life; Jerry McAuley. the river
thief, who was declared by Dr. John
Hall to have done more good in his
lie after his instantaneous conversion
than any other man IN New York. | D
5u bmit that every transformed life is
witness to this truth that cannot be
impeached."