The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-10
The Modern Revival.
BY REV. JAMES GoRToN.


the grandson or the great-grandson.
Darwin tells US that there is sometimes
in the animal world tendency to rever-
sion to some peculiar physical type or
conformation which existed in some re-
mote ancestor. but has disappeared from
later types of the species
This return to an ancient type appears
as freak or deformity. Now, it is some
thing like this that occurs in the mod
ern revival.
A Methodist clergyman of ability and
Of broad minded and liberal tendencies.
not long since remarked to his liberal
neighbor that he did not believe in the
doctrine of vicarious atonement and end
less misery. but that they were obliged
to preach these doctrines on revival &C.
casions in order to bring people into the
church.
This illustrates widespread modern
tendency. On these revival occasions the
preachers and the professional revival
lists bring into the foreground, and
preach with odious emphasis. theology
which many of them have entirely out
grown and abandoned, or at least en-
tirely neglect in their ordinary preach
ing. They emphasize. and reiterate,
and use as staple terror on such occa-
sions the idea that mankind, the en-
tire human race. without one solitary
exception, is fallen, lost and ruined
through the sin of Adam, and that there
fore all will be eternally lost who are not
recovered and saved through the atom
ing blood and vicarious sacrifice of Jesus
Christ The real emphasis in these
meetings is put upon saving men from
future endless perdition. If occasional
ly one seems to lay stress on salvation
from sin, it is really in order that the
sinner might be saved from a greater
calamity than sin itself-from endless
torment in future world. Heaven and
hell are set forth as places in future
world which men are to gain or escape.
They are not set forth as inward states
OF life or character:-they are never set
forth as belonging to this life just as
really as to any other life. Nor are they
ever set forth, the one as being just as
desirable and the other just as undesir-
able in this world as in any other. The
revival movement is largely, il not en-.
tirely, another world movement. 1t has
little or no relation to the world that
now is. 1t is not set forth as having
any particular value or Importance in the
present life. 1t is not an effort to es-
tablish the kingdom of God on earth
in the hearts and lives of men; in the
laws, customs. institutions and relations
of human society, as kingdom of purity,
righteousness and love. 1t is rather an
effort to get men into heaven than to get
heaven into men-to keep men out of
hell than to keep hell out of men.
In all these regards it seems to us that
the modern revival is in vivid contrast
with the teachings of John the Baptist,
who said, Repent We. for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand;" and with the
teachings of Jesus. who said. "The King
dom of God is come unto you;" THE
kingdom of God is at hand;" Behold
the kingdom of God is within you;" and
with Paul. who declares that 1.-THE king
dom of God is mot will be) righteousness
and peace and Joy in the holy spirit" or
in the spirit of holiness.
There could have been no fault found
with men for presenting in a revival
meeting the sentiments and motives to
which we have alluded when they actu-
ally believed these things. But to con-
tinue to present them after they have
outgrown and abandoned them. and
have ceased to present them in their or
binary administration of truth, is NOR.
ally odious, and such presentation is
worse than impotent in their appeal to
thinking men who have entirely out
grown and abandoned these notions:-
they are morally debasing.
To all free thinking and rational minds
who have carefully studied the question
in the light of modern knowledge, it
can be abundantly demonstrated, both
on historical and scientific grounds,
that no such thing as 1.-THE fall of man."
in the usual sense in which that term is
used. ever happened; and therefore all
the dogmas and theories built upon that
notion are entirely without foundation.
Not few orthodox divines have come
substantially to this conclusion. The
human race did not begin in perfection,
but rather. low down in ignorance. ami
malism and savagery, and has been ris-
ing ever since. Adam was not the per-
feet angel. but the undeveloped baby of
the human race.
No Plato, or Shakespeare, or Milton.
or Emerson was possible at the begin
ming; and much less was Jesus Christ
possible then. Now, the simple fact is
that men, all men. are created in the i'm
age Of God. but they are finite and I'M
developed. inexperienced and ignorant,
and are therefore, in their onward and
upward struggle, subject to mistake. to
folly. to temptation. to sin. and conse-
quent degradation and misery.
For this world just as much as for any
other world. men need to be recovered
from this lapsed state through repent.
aLce, through such an intellectual, moral
Il, \