Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-31
THE TRUE REVIVAL

According TO a contributor 10 The
Christian World and Evangelist. Rev
DR., Hamlin, there Is now def
mite revival Of the evangelistic
spirit In The religious world. The
writer admits that there are no spec
tacular results. but he claims that the
movement is none the less influential.
In order to make himself more clear
ly understood he refers to the work Of
the late Mr.. Moody and others. That,
he says. was marked by great union
meetings, covering entire cities, for
which the largest halls were scarcely
adequate, Dr. Fnney preached in the
churches, but 10 vast crowds, and amid
deep excitement that stirred COMMUNE
ties 10 their depths. SO did Whlteheld
and Wesley The present movement is
within the local congregations There
Is no special change IN preaching. un-
less IT be an excess OF JUNCTION and d.
rectness There is little demand for
professional evangeists, especially in
the larger cities There Is some con-
certed action IN presbyterIes. but chief
~ by way Of mutual assistance among
neighboring pastors The whole move
ment IS without observation" tine
churches have simply awakened to find,
In some fresh and unusual sense, "the
kingdom OF God among them"
Dr. Ilamlin thinks that this "revlv-
ar Is less dangerous than some other
eyangellstic awakenngs have been.
sim, there are perls connected with IT,
Pastors, he says are urging their peo-
pie to be eyangellsts Within their own
congregations and their circles Of bus.
mess and social life. They are ex-
horting TO commend Christ to indiyid-
uos This work Is no doubt important,
but Il Is also extremely delicate, requir-
ing the best sanctifed tact "There is
ANNt NNltetA NiHA HNHi may NNN w
knowledge. In pastors, who realize
what might be done. and want to set
all their people at work, In the people,
who feel the cali TO be Of God. can not
wait to ascertain their fitness, or to get
the requisite training; but imagine
that they have only to accost the first
man or woman that they meet"
Missionary zeal Is feature OF
modern religious work and II Is one that
has been largely suggested to other de-
nominations by the self-sacrinclng, per-
sonal labors OF men and women belong
ing 20 the Church Of Jesus Christ OF
Latter.doy Saints, who for years have
gone out without pay and without tenn
poral rewards, placing the testimony Of
Jesus before people Of all conditions, In
this country and abroad II IS this ideal
Of missionary life that has been taken
up by the other denominations. II has
commended itself to those interested in
the advancement OF the kingdom OF
God,
But Is that in Itself sign Of "re-
VNal' among the churches? A 're-
vival' IN the New Testament sense OF
the word is an occurrence such as that
on the day Of Pentecost when the
Spirit was poured out upon the people,
both speakers and audience. 1t was
marked by that power. Of which the
tongues Of fire were but an outward
symbol and under the influence Of
which thousands felt the necessity OF
salvation from sin, as really as the
drowning feels the necessity Of rescue
from the deep, That IS revival" 1t
presupposes a special message from
God 10 man. through specially author.
tied messengers Il presupposes faith
In this message Without this. there
can be no true revival" The histor-
ical recital OF tho delivery OF such mes.
s0ges IN The past viii not result IN re-.
vipals. To illustrate. 4 message De.
liyered to this nation from. say the
German emperor, might create a won.
dcrful stir and activity from coast TO
coast u might create a revival" In
every branch n our government. as
well as among the people. u It were
delivered au,horatiyely and q Il were
Of sufficient importance. But the
story Of message sent a hundred
years aso from the same country
would never cause any such stir. And
II is not even necessary to point out
why.
The case Is not different in the re-
llgious domain "Mormonism." as the
Gospel " Jesus las been called In these
days. has a special message to this gem
GRAFTON. and this age, II is trying to
deliver inst ana as II is believed. 1t
causes revival Ii liberatss the
-'rta from bondage 1t saves from sin