The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-31

poOple TO bne observatory. Wnlle
that which makes visible is unavoid-
ably in itself an attraction of un-
usual power, and its merits are dis
tinguishing, the all-absorbing inter
est in what it opens to view is what
constitutes the principal occasion Of
the massing before it.
1t is the qualification, by gift and
study and discipline to gather from
the sacred pages and arrange the great
side lights, turning them on and re-
vealing the face of the worlds only
Redeemer, that gives the preacher
the power with the people. Therein
much more than in any other consid-
Grafton lays the great evangelist's
power. He stands out with his we'll
worn Bible open in his hand or con-
veniently lying on the desk, and with
consummate tact and ability mar
shalls its observations, incidents, and
illustrations to what he wishes to en-
force.
There he stands, the great Gospel
commoner, with no smack of college
upon him, of which he gives frequent
proof, as familiar as with his fingers
ends with every fact and turn of the
book, and draws there from by sort
of spontaneity what is to lis pur-
pose, combines and delivers it upon
his audience with matchless force.
The effect upon the whole mass at
once is electrical. The we'll delivered
shot found the common heart, and
believer and unbeliever alike evince
the telling stroke. These Bible ap-
peals are unparalleled, and because
they are Bible. Illustrations from
any other source are chaff and not
in comparison. Nobody ever arose
for prayers or was moved out of his
spiritual inertia by any thing that
Emerson, Tennyson, or any of the
similar literary eminences ever said
or did. These minister delightfully."-
to the church in quest of 'litera-
ture," and to aesthetic residents of
somnolent couches.
But few whose regular diet has
been Emerson in place of Jesus
and Paul are out sacrificing their
ease, foregoing pleasures, drudging
and wearing away their lives to bring
the Gospel abroad haysad the pale
of civilized life or doing like work for
the unaffiliated classes at home.
And in any meeting whose purpose
is to move the people to Gospel work
the name Emerson, like that of any
mere philosopher of whatever merit,
is unbefting and inimical. It serves
to divert and retard rather than to
warm and inspire. He honorably be-
fits his place as magnate in specu-
lative philosophy. Himself classed
himself no higher, and would have
been among the first to resist the
canonization sought to be forced
upon him.
There is but one name capable of
arousing the common religious
heart and to procure the following of
the multitude. And whoever essays
by any other must be content with
small results or failure, and failure
in the end.
Mr. Moody, whatever his errors, has
made no mistake here.
And in this is the lesson of this
great evangelist open to all, and is
one which every one having ministe-
rial work in hand should study
faithfully and lay to his heart. A
Universalist as we'll as many another
would find views inculcated by Mr..
Moody not in harmony with his own.
But these, however serious, would
not be in conflict with, or render in
consistent, the theory that the work,
preaching and all, must be done by
appealing to Jesus of Nazareth, and
SIN his Name"
DAUPHIN PARK, Ill.