Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-01
REVIVAL IS NEEDED.
Washington Preacher Wants to Shake
 Up the Capitol City.


 Up the Capitol City.
 Washington, Feb 1-"Whvs cannot we have glorious revival. of religion that will shake the pillars of the capi- tol and make this seat of government tremble before the power of fervent prayer?"
 The preacher is one of the most eloquent and earnest of the clergy men who use their best endeavors in this city to increase their church membership and enhance the general morality of the community. He re- peated his question again and again, and then announced that an effort would be made at the next Thursday evening prayer meeting to start re- vival
 On the following Monday morning there was a preachers meeting and our enthusiastic clergyman declared that if the 200 preachers in this city were imbued with the true spirit they could start fire which would burn out all evil in our midst; and he cited the Pentecostal work of the twelve apostles, who were so successful as soul winners.
 The other preachers were not awakened by his zeal. They were more conservative and did not believe that such a revival as was desired could be brought about One of the elders said: This is a peculiar city for revival work It is an intellectual center. especially when congress is in session, and these intellectual men are all extremely conservative about religion. The majority of them do not believe in revivals anyway, but regard them as periods of nervous excitement rather than periods of souls saving.' -
 Nevertheless their souls can be saved," persisted the worker for a revival. land for one I am going to insist upon an effort"
 The old elder said: "There has been no revival here since 1876, when Hammond. the evangelist, aroused the District of Columbia and accom- plished great deal of good. some evidences of which still remain appar- ent to those of us who knew of the steady and perfect conversions of that time, but where arc you going to get your Hammond? When will there come another?'
 We'll, the revival will be attempted, anyway. There is determination in the manner and voice of the preach CT; kind of determinatio which al- ways produces results, but not always such great results as are desired. One of the veteran members of his church to-day said: 'I shall try to e{o orl 1o oil hot I can. just as I have done in all re- vival efforts for more than 40 years. But religion is not now what it was Even the religion of Wesley is not what it once was.
 ''In the old days every member of the church considered it his duty to seek converts and point out the way of salvation. No stranger could come into the church without having his hand clasped and listening to some words of welcome. Nowadays it is different. People are dignifedly es- corted to seats, but dignity exceeds cordia1ity. 'ssi'.
 "When I was young church work CT, 40 years ago, everybody took part ,n the singing, but to-day the choir does it all, or most of it. The pastors used to call on old men and wo1n en n to lead in prayer in the churches. But the modern pastors do all of the praying, and they pray too long. When members were called on to help out they felt that they were fac tors in the work; and, feeling the re- sponsibility, they sought converts un- der all circumstances. The choirs sing new hymn tunes, even when old hymns are used. This takes the best part of the worship away from the people. I am reminded of couple of verses on old tunes that used to be recited here in our churches by a little girl who was born in Washing [ ton:
 'We didn't have hymn books then, the congregation knew
 Each song. each verse, each line and tune, the dear old hymn book through. i We didn't have no trumpets then. no
 organs built for show,
 We only sang to praise the Lord. from whom all blessings 1ow.'
 "An' so I love the old hymns. an when my time shall come, Before the light has left me an my sing ing lips are dumb;
 If l can only hear 'em then, I'll pass without a sigh TO canaan s fa1r and happy land, where my possessions lie.''' s.t-H .-
 You see l am nigh onto 75 years old," continued the old man. rt'and I know all of the old hymns and tunes. just as well as I did 40 years ago. But the young people who now be- long to our churches do not know the hymns; and when they grow up there will be no old hymns for them, because the choirs are taking all of l the church music out of their mouths and out of their hearts.
 T was a clerk in store here when I got religion, and l simply went to work like the men who were old meE then, and l began talking my reli- | zion to all of the young men about me. asking and begging them to come 1 to church with me. 1 could sing, and induced number of young men to cone with me and join in the singing. Very soon they were sing ing the songs of Zion as earnestly as Twas. So you see Moody was not the 1 dfSoorarnr nf thu nf sohaSr