Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-24
REVIVAL METHODS.

We have already referred In these
columns to so-called religious revival
which has been In progress in Brook
lyn, n. Y. We notice Il again because
Of remarks reported in the papers to
have been made at that revival" by
Rev. L. d. Broughton Of Atlanta,
Georgia These are the sentences al
legged TO have been uttered BY that
clergyman;
Religion Is going backward. The
power Il once had IL diminishing. The
people Of less intelligent ages were
guided by God In all their actions. Now
the church has no power
III is the fault OF the church. too
Ministers are at standstill. They are
slowly losing their power As draw
ing card the church ranks only sixth
in the list OF public attractions IL
should be made 10 rank first
How do | rank public attractions?
FIRST theaters second. prize-Aghtsi
third, cake walks; fourth kissing par
ties; fifth. dances; sixth, churches
seventh, funerals.
THAT list shows that the church
must be made as attractive as the
theater and the cake-walk Something
must be done 10 bring the people into
churches. not on Sundays, but every
day Of the week. To do this we must
make the church both a business prop
ositIon and a place OF attraction.
''Too little stress Is placed on the
word business The saving OF souls
for the Lord Is Just as much OF a
business as manipulating the markets
OF Wall Street
"There are 10000 people who will pay
900 for theaters before they viii en-
ter a church and give five cents to
God. There are $4,000 men who would
pay 100000 10 see a prize-Gght and
would insult any one who would ask
them TO give 20 cents apiece for rell-
glon
There are 10000 women who would
pay $40 100000 FOR dresses for fashion
who would not take the trouble 10 get
UP early enough on Sunday to attend
church.
Iwant TO see the man who can doubt
that statement.
First Of ALL II behooves every min
lister to make his church as attractive
rs possible II cannot be called sensa-
tionaliem. II Is merely putting God
at the head OF all things. where He
belongs.
II IL is necessary to bring people TO
church We ministers might even go so
far as 20 have service where the
biograph could be introduced with BIB.
Heal pictures and with other pictures,
too.
For the men who put prize fighting
ahead of God, We might go 50 far as to
have q few rounds OF boxing before
each service.
Perhaps a one-act comedy might In
duce the Electrically inclined 20 stay
until the sermon was over.
Then, 20 attract many others, we
might turn the church into a temper
airy cafe, whore we might serve soft
drinks between prayers.
III this were done how quickly the
sinners would see the difference be-
tween the paths that lead TO God and
the paths that lead to worldly de-
lights.
II used TO like TO dance. liked to 20
10 theaters and / liked many other
thlngs-eNcept church; but once there
came power into my heart and saw
that no man could indulge in the fiji
yoiiies OF life and be a power with
God
"And never danced or went to the
theater again.
"Theaters, cards. kissing parties.
prlze-hgh,s, cakewalks, and fashion. all
mingled into one unharmonious whole,
engage the people They engage the
people so strongly that they do not
feel the power OF God-not until their
dissipated lives are waning and they
are dying.
IF God is good enough 10 save the
diving man. what wouldn't he do for the
man In the prime OF life. n that man
would only appeal to him?
Just tell the people 7 am serious.
My one object Is 10 combine the church
with business and pleasure, so that sin
ners may be saved"
The mlngling OF pleasure" with re-
lglon, using the former term in the
sense conveyed by the remarks we have
quoted would, no. doubt. suit a great
many persons whose notions or religion
are no higher than those OF the preach
er who recommended the mixture. The
end and aim OF the whole business"
with reyivalists. and indeed with other
sensational exhorters, Is simply to
bring people to church and a devotion
al feeling. The methods resorted 90 for
this purpose have received illustration
In the grotesque work OF one Of that
fraternity recently, IN this city and In
Ogden.
Excitement, cxtravagant calculations
devotional exercises. rhspsodies, psalm
singing and sentiment, are not religion
In its proper sense. Obedience to the
Supreme Being In all things is the es-
sense Of true religion. That governs the
votary IN all the walks OF life. The re.
lglous feeling finds vent in the ser.
Vices OF the church. Religious action is
exhibited IN tie practice OF the eter-
nal principles Of right. as revealed
from a divine source.
There Is often more real religion In
the lives Of persons who are not so wor-
shipful as others, than in the doings
OF people who imagine they are serving
God by simply saying prayers and at
tending meetings. The object and pur.
pose Of religion is 10 bring men and
women into perfect harmony with God
This cannot be effected by church-go.
ing. sentimental expressions. emotional
feelings ana ceremonial services, with
out something more practical and en-
during. Right action. such as Is re-
qured BY Deity and prompted and
aided by The Divine Spirit, Is abso-
iuieiy necessary 10 constitute the re.
ligion Of Jesus Christ.
The spiritual lntoxieation that urges