The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-14

hhe simpson 'Nl1BS1On.
BY all accounts the summer session this
year OF the Rev. A. b SIMPSONS christian
Missionary Alliance" near Nyack was not
noticeable for the collection OF money. The
crowd OF believers and contributors was
not as large as usual. There was a nota-
bic absence Of Christian ministers. The
faith curists who gathered at their special
altar reported only improvement in physical
condition as the result Of their ceremonies,
instead Of the bone-settings, vanishing par
| alysis, recoveries Of sight and other miracu-
! lous feats OF surgery and healing accom-
plished by mental and moral processes in
former years. True, Mr.. SIMPSONS excellent
choir OF twenty voices which he maintains
permanently and puts next in importance to
his own appeals In loosening pursestrings
sang as well as ever and stirred the audi
ences to shouts and tears OF ecstasy. Mr.
SIMPSON was in his best form; and whatever
view may be taken of this singular man,
there cannot be the slightest doubt OF his
great psychic powers. He is psychologist
cal marvel Under the spell Of his eyes and
voice and magical beckonings great waves
OF emotion rolled over those who listened
to him. Nevertheless, at the final harvest
day OF the session, less than forty dollars
in cash was gathered In, aside from plen-
teous quantity OF unindorsed promises to
pay.
This would indicate that something new
was needed to make Mr.. s1MPsoNs charm
work as it used to do. A religious revival,
even when accompanied by the emotional
disturbances which PETER CARTWRIGHT and
Bishop AsBURY knew caused by the over
towering realization In the human heart or
In community Of souls Of the awful char
acter and consequences Of sin, OF Gods
grace repealed and His dread day OF wrath
and final Judgment. ls ono thing. A revival
having for it's professed purpose the trans
fer OF money into the pockets Of the revival
list and out Of those OF people in a species of
hypnotic or hysterioal trance lie another.
Mr.. SIMPSON will probably say that he Ia
not trying to convert people here, but to get
money to convert people elsewhere. He has
held his money-getting meetings this year
at Old Orchard, Me-, Binghamton, n. Y, At
lanta, Ga, and Beulah Park Ohio, and he is
to hold the grand and final meeting at his
permanent headquarters in this city in
October. The story OF the performances
at these places for years back is we'll
known. Mr.. SIMPSON says he has collected
1874, 900 since January; and there is little
doubt that he has thus procured during
the entire period Of his labors, in money,
watches, jewelry, horses and carriages,
houses and lots, and other valuables that
his frenzied subjects could give or promise,
the equivalent Of a very large gross sum
OF cash, undoubtedly in excess of a million
dollars. Formerly pastor in the great
Presbyterian fellowship. and still, we
believe, maintaining a formal membership
there, Mr.. SIMPSONS missionary organiza.
tion is personal, and almost a private one,
entirely disconnected with any church for
eign mission society While it's governing
board Is composed Of others beside Mr..
SIMPSON, the latter is the guiding spirit
and controlling genius. The few public
statements which have been made of the
receipts and expenditures Of the Christian
Alliance have been vague and unsatlsfac-
tory. They have been unverfed by public
accountants and manifested, as In the case
OF the regular mission boards Of the great
church associations, by the signatures of
prominent citizens
Recently our foremost religious publi-
cation, the Independent, expressing an
opinion which, we think, Ia generally held
concerning Mr.. SIMPSON by the leading
members here Of the Protestant denomina-
tions, directly charged Mr.. SIMPSON with
mixing up his personal bank account and
that OF his wife with that Of the Alliance
and otherwise conducting the financial
affairs Of the institution with irregularity.
Mr. SIMPSONS reply to these serious allega-
lions was evasive and would have been
considered ridiculous in any process OF
legal accounting
We do not desire the position which we
take concerning the Rev. Mr.. SIMPSON to
be misunderstood. We do not charge him
with malfeasance or dishonesty. He NAV
be the best OF men and as straight as a
string. His somewhat shadowy Christian
Alliance may be Of the most veritable sub
stance. and, instead OF a vile OF Satan. a
sturdy Christian warrior, which Is daily
putting down Satan under its foot. But
what we do say, and say emphatically, is
that Mr.. SIMPSONS conduct looks bad,
and that his methods are Of the Same which
in all ages have been used by sharpers to
play upon superstition and to victmize
credulity.
The Hon. JAMES G. DUDLEY. the Texas mem
Der of the Democratic National Committee,
estimates that 100000 persons will 60 to the