Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-18

chicago papers tell Us that the Meth
odirts ~ the country are preparing for
~ grand revival. \ Twentieth Gem
fury Commission" has been appointed
and their battle cry. rc-cchoed by the
pulpitn an over the land. H. Two mill
lion converts a. Christianity and So.
10000 In money for the advancement
of religious work"
They ask FOR. within the next three
years. that immense sum In addition to
the customary annual contributions.
and propose 10 give half ~ that amount
a. their Institutes NJ learning and the
other half 10 charitable purposes Hut.
~ stated. they ask not only for money
but for revival by which two million
souls shall be- added 10 the dcnomna-
ton. ~ ffnt fruit Offering ~ the com.
lnR century. How this II To be- done
IL .lntimatcd by bishop Fowler In the
following oShortRiion.
Hack a. your knees and a. your al
tnrA. Oh. MothodHm. Bend M the nrun-
iEing cry from every church nnd from
every family altar Two million COM
vcrta In the twn remaining years before
wv f'HAhiN ''t'Hi
A comparison h irrcalatlbly suggest.
"a. when nineteen centuries back the
commission was given according In
which tho world WINS 10 be- evangelical,
no such appeal ~ this was made. Il In
almost impossible to think of the cruel
lied and rcaurf"ried Lord standing In
the midst NJ His earnest followers and
charging them Ia Eo ana COLI
lect t2oOoo.0oo aud max" two
million converts, a. commence with.
There N In the divine COM
mission u ring entirely different from
this metallic sound. Preach the dos.
pei 30 every creature" behold I send
,uu forth an sheep among wolves" 10
l am with YOU" Such was tho nature
~ the words and the work given 20
them. such was tho source NJ their In
yinclhlr strength. How different from
the golden appeal Of lhttcr-day Mctho-
dism,
n ~ doubtless true that the Methodist
denomination. like other similar organ.
ifatluus. needs revival. or rather re-
generation. Honest prayer ana will
inE sacrifice are sure In result IN
good. McthudiHm needs to be-
saved from error and from
the spirit NJ persecution that seems 60
have seized some N H. standard bear
crH. II needs the Divine light To en-
lishirn M theology and the Divine
power tn lift II NJ nom lcthnrEy. Il is
the universal need N dead Christian
ity'
Perhaps this truth viii be- more viii.
ingly conceded II put In the words ~ q
Sew York pastor Charles = jefferson.
who recently said
% have no objection 10 telling YOU
what I conceive a. be- tho radical defect
iu much nf tho preaching M our time.
o. R lack of spiritual passion. The
tone NJ authority ~ faint Ton much NJ
th preaching h. like that ~ thr Hcrihes
'lDrgvmen are numerous but Prophets
ur, fnw"
That seems 10 be- o. true diagnosis NJ
the seclarinn ease at present Mosaen-
rous ~ modern denominations arc With
out the force NJ authority They are
NOT Prophets. but scholars. more COM
crrnod about elnoutiou and oratory
than about truth. Unless this radical
defect br4rmoyod and modern churches
hr placed In the same relation 10 the
Founder m christianity ns that enjoyed
hy Tho primitive church, artificial rc-
viyals Wi'i be OF hut little avail Gold
may be- gathered by business schemes
ana converts" to tho rrciz that resort
60 them may be- made" but
tho world viii not b. saved by such
methods and tho cause uf true rcllg.
lon viii NOT be- advanced.