Missouri Valley times., 1901-11-07
DO Local Conditions Present
Greater or More Complex Diff
fieulties for Successful Revi-
val Work than Formerly?"

Kellctdl dtlu So Wlucly HteNdlcuI % az
the present. What formerly was con
fined to the few for the most part has
to the many. The slm-
PIE, hnmelv, unostentatious hos
pit .li,y and good fellowship that
once prevailed or was sun
moned on short notice. may indeed,
and frequently is practical in
these good times of prosperity, but
there is more besides; namely. the
formal, elaborate, more stately func-
ton that must be conducted with
strict reference to conventional pro
priety, and this requires time, thought
and care, commensurate with its dig
nifty. 1t also involves sets and circles
in which people are to move and lines
of social distinction are easily drawn.
There are times when these lines are
crossed and there is general ming
ling together. But this is for the nom
ment only and the several heterogene-
Gus elements promptly fall apart and
segregate themselves into their origi-
nal groups.
But have there not always been hard
and fast lines Of social difference and
is there any new development of mod
ern times? 1t is true that distinct
ions of more marked and severe
character have existed and do occur in
older countries and in older sections of
our own land, but it Is our Immediate
communities that we treat, where our
work is accomplished and this tenden-
cy is certainly discernable 1t is mem
toned not because it is q new thing
under the sun, but in our localities is
part of the drift of things that must
be taken into account.
.. The mass of literature with which
the country is flooded is poured forth
in greater profusion and variety than
ever before Every we'll established
branch of business has its particular
literary organ and every society and
organization is provided with similar
means of ntercommunication. Again
the medium of literature is the high
way over which every belief, philoso-
ply, theory, fad. vagary. moves into a
community in royal state. And there
are always some people to welcome it
and give 1t their credence. In all prob
ability they become propogators of the
new faiths or new doubts as the case
may be, which are after all, old con-
ceits and ancient unbeliefs in q change
of raiment.
But if these things are old why are
they classed among the new conditions
with which the church must contend :?
Because they exist and flourish in so
many forms and have called into requi-
sition 80 many different thought-en-
crossing and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. &C
tivities.
This is time of widespread circu-
lation of the daily newspaper. The
merchant, mechanic, professional man,
laborer, hastens to his morning duties
after looking hurriedly over the col
umns of the paper that has tluttered at
his door with the break of day or that
has been procured from news stand
or office, that he may obtain an inkling
of what has trsnspired in the past
twelve or twenty-four hours; or in lieu
of the foregoing or frequently in ad-
dltion thereto he more leisurly pores
over the evening news at close of day
with like purpose This is in the inter
est of intelligence and to be commend
ed to certain degree. But 1t seems
not to be sufficient. The greater leis.
ure of the Sabbath has been anticipat-
ed by the publisher by issuing three
fold, four-fold, tive-fold the quantity
of printed matter with which the
reader may beguile the slow hours OF
the Sacred day that has not already
been consumed BY the extended morn-
Ing sleep and the tardy breakfast.
| Now this kind of Sunday reading be-
comes habit and habits are very
tangible conditions that must be reck-
oned on in any course calculated to ap.
psal to the attention of the reader.
The church must wage it's warfare
against sin in the revival campaign ir
the face of this preoccupation of the
Sunday newspaper reader who is mul-
tiplying himself into legion, and dis
lodge him if possible from his security
In utter indifference to the hours OF
public worship.
8. There possibly was never tim,
when 80 many civic organizations
pressed for recognition and exploit
alton. They form an alodgment in oul
communities and require the time ant
attention of many people. They mus
be fostered and their maintenance re.
quires patronage that Is time consum.
Ing. There are orders, lodges, brother,
hoods, sisterhoods, clubs, and then O
q social, literary or CONNER cisl nature
or all combined, They maintain prin,