Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-24

~ n
and quoted BY the Boston Herald. The
pastor OF the Plymouth church said
"Tbe leaders OF the great denomlna.
lions have come together and organized
what is called national simultaneous
mission. an assault upon Indifference.
The movement IN London begins on
Jan. &c. and ends on Feb. g. at which
time the greatest scholars and preach
ers I'm England are to concentrate their
work I'm the nations capital, preaching
I'm the churches In the great haus OF
the guilds and theaters, and upon the
streets. And the hold that the move
ment has upon the English people is
indicated by the fact that the mer-
chants " the stock exchange have
asked the lord mayor 70 open the
Guildhall for the opening sermon by
Dr. Joseph Parker
"Then from Feb. 16 to Feb. 90, these
great luymen and shcolars and preach
ers are 20 20 20 the interior cities Dr.
Campbell. the successor, IN spirit az
least. OF Robertson OF Brighton, goes 70
oxford; Sylvester Horne 10 Cambridge
Dr. Maclsren 10 Manchester. while IN
the list OF appointments made 70 me
various cities OF England ! find the
names OF the most distinguished men
Of that country. Then In March comes
a movement for the villages and the
country districts, In which a committee
Of 600 has planned FOR house 20 house
visitation that shall bring this call 10
the higher religious lie home 20 the
hearts and condolences Of every indiyid-
ual In England. In this national
movement 500 men representing the
various churches. have united as
guiding committee Men hitherto known
for extreme conservatism have thrown
themselves with entire abandon into
this assault upon the Indifference OF a
nation 10 the higher religious life. For
at bottom these men realize that all the
sorrows and woes and problems OF So
ciety are In reality religious problems"
concerted movement Of this kind is
certainly worthy Of notice, 1t proves
that the leaders OF the religious world
are not satisfied with present condi-
lions. and that they are anxious for a
change What the results will be de-
ponds entirely on whether they are
capable Of grasplng the real needs OF
the age and OF looking for the remedy
IN the right direction.
Both IN England and in this country,
there Is an abundance Of religion. n we
are to Judge by the number Of cathe-
drals, churches and chapels, missionary
societies, Bible societies. and holidays.
But there Is also a spirit OF speculation
"a desire FOR worldly gain. that often
prompts It's deyotees to concentrate
their thoughts around objects and pur-
suits OF a different character They
find II impossible to serve mammon
six days and the Almighty one day, and
yet. they are unwilling TO give up
either. The more they risk for perish
able wealth. and the more intense their
desire for gain is. the greater is their
anxiety for divine assistance IN the
pursuit OF II. and for that reason they
build places OF worship. even II they
find no time to worship they contribute
funds for the conversion OF pagans and
the distribution OF Bibles, with the idea
that the Lord cannot refuse TO bless"
them with that which Is their sole de-
sire. We do not say that this is the
case, with all religious professors but
is 1t not true Of a great many? Is It
not the tendency Of our age2 outside
the Mormon Church, how many are
there that make religion a personal
matter between them and God? How
many have arrived at religious conyic-
lions through a prayerful consideration
OF the message brought, and a conflict
similar 70 that IN which the Patriarch
OF old was overcome by Him, who met
him at PenielY A revival" is certainly
needed, but It should be one by which
the world is turned away from empty
ceremonies and meaningless devotion,
to the living God, and morality that
enters into every act OF the daily life.
Nothing less Is worth the trouble,
The history Of "revlvals" shows, We
believe, that they very often occur on
the eve OF great national calamities,
The Walls OF wrath are never poured
out, except preceded by the warning
voice Of the angels" The thought is
one that suggests itself in this connec-
ton, II the Almighty calls, with an
unusually loud voice, His children in
Great Britain TO repentance, the con-
cluslon is near at hand that momentous
events viii follow. We believe the
period before the Civil War In this
country was one OF unusual religious
activity. And so was II we are not
mistaken, IN Europe, the years preced-
ing the Crimean war. Similar instances,
or colncidents, II the term Is preferred,
are abundant In the history OF the
world.