Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-03-05
Evangelism.

Kansas. Several evangelists o.
national fame and many Of lesser re
pute have been engaged in Kansa.
towns and the results have been o.
such consequence as to engros,
the public attention. In many
of these towns, a series of evangelical
services extending over a period of 8
few weeks time have led to vasl
number of conversions the number
often being little short of the marve.
louS. Each series of this kind has ex
cited much comment both favorable
and unfavorable, by the newspapers
of the state.
Especially prominent among the
evangeliStS who have been at work in
this state are f. Il. Oliver, who has
just completed protracted service in
north Topeka, and NJ. B. Williams
who will conduct another on the south
side. Each of these Reverend gentle.
men is generally considered by the
newspaper fraternity as being very
sensational and though their renumer.
alton is always determined by free.
will Offering of the community which
they are serving they sometimes re-.
ceiye very large compensation.
Their work is usually followed by a
very large number of conversions.
Their freedom of expression and the
large salaries paid these gentlemen
have caused many to raise these ques-
lions; Are they not merely profess
SIGNALS engaged for what they can get
out of the work % docs the end
justify the means?" "And does it
pay?
Now, since every reading and think
Ing person forms opinions of his own,
1t would be useless for any one, to
attempt to answer these questions
satisfactorily to all. But an exchange
of ideas even about religious topics
may be beneficial, Therefore, the
Herald may venture to give Its opln.
ion.
AS for the first, grant that they are
merely professional men and are en-
gagged In their work for the profits. 1t
noble profession, worthy of the best
talent and their labors are followed
by good results. AS for their pay, it
may be said that the "laborer
Is worthy of his hire" If those who
pay are satisfied every one else ought
to be.
In considering the second, seusa-
tional features Of the sermons
against the worst OF human vices
are always quoted. There ought to be,
and S a limit to which these
sermons should be confined. Perhaps
an evangelist sometimes does over p
the bounds. He may err. But ito
err Is human" and he is only human.
ITO forgive is divine" and human
beings sometimes forget this virtue.
AS applied to an evangelist many
seem to be more than willing to for
get 1t and to remember only the
faults which may be disclosed. Vice
is universal. Exposure must come be-
fore it is conquered. The papers
which condemn an evangelist for CIV
ing utterance to sermon depicting
evil conditions at the same time give
more than necessary space to describe
a horrible crime even to its minuteSt
details. The fact is such things exist.
The evangelist breaches against them
and the press exposes them. II one is
bad, so is the other. But neither con-
fined Within the proper limits is
wrong and both properly done are pro.
ductive of good.
The third one is merely the tinan-
cial side of the question and one Of
little import In such a momentOus
issue. No truly repentant sinner
ever regrets any cost which may at.
tach and pp truly missionary spirit
every regrets any benevolent gift
which 1t may make.
The question with all really interest
ed In evangelizatiOn is to find the
most certain methods of accomplish.
ing that work. The injunction, "Go
ye into all the world" is as binding to
day as when spoken. Foreign lands
may prove more fruitful fields to the
missionary than their own country.
But before the evangellzation OF the
world can be completed, the home
missionaries must perform their work.
And evangelists are home mission
aries. They meet with trials and
fluctuations as do their foreign
brothers and the greatest obstacle in
their pathway comes through the UNI
favorable comments by the press or
even from the pulpit itself.