The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-07-22
RELIGIOUS Revival NEAR2


RELIC Gus Revival NEAR2
One of the Worlds Great Spiritual
Movements Indicated.
From England and from all parts of
the United States come reports which
would seem to indicate the possibility
Of one of the great religious move
ments which have manifested them
selves at various times during the last
century. In many large cities, notably
in some of the Western States, the re-
vival of religious interest has led to
the occasional suspension Of business
in order to facilitate attendance upon
special meetings.
For some time, and particularly dur
ing the last twelve months, says the
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
prophets have not been lacking who
have predicted the revival wave, the
advance influence of which is indi-
Gated daily in the news dispatche and
the manifestations do not greatly sur
prise other thinkers who, without as
Stunning the gift of prophecy, base their
belief In coming revival upon the
precedents afforded by history.
AS a rule, with the usual exceptions
not greatly in evidence, all Of the great
manifestations of religious interest in
the nineteenth century were preceded
by aggressive assaults upon some one
or more of the fundamental principles
OF what is broadly denominated evan
gelism. In the earlier years of the
century these attacks were based upon
the writings and teachings of Paine,
Voltaire and others. It was subse-
quently realized that these writer's and
thinkers, while they attempted to cut
the underpinning of religious. faith, at
ford nothing tangible as a substitute.
In simply denying fundamental doc
trines they were destructionists, pure
and simple.
1t has never been considered sur
pr1sing, therefore, that the men. some
of them of gigantic intellect who diff
fered from the iconoclasts, rallied to
their standard and organized for de-
tense. This defense had the twofold
effect of arousing public interest in
theological questions not only but of
attracting the attention of people 9TH
erW1se conservative in religious mat
tiers. The result was such notable re-
vivals as that which swept the coun-
try in the time of Finney. Midway in
the century and again just before the
beginning Of its last quarter there were
special manifestations of religious in
terest, In each case following more or
less violent attacks upon cardinal doc
trines of faith.
While it would not be strictly accur-
ate to say that these attacks are ante
types OF the trend of thought in many
quarters on doctrinal lines in the first
four years Of the twentieth century. It
Is clear to every nonprejudiced obsery-
er that that there is certain tendency
to discredit authorities and beliefs
which have been understood to under
lie the entire evangelical structure. So
true Is this that many who have hith-
erto adhered to certain doctrines now
find themselves adrift on a sea which
is, to say the least, sufficiently tumul-
tuous to produce an undercurrent of
doubt in their minds. Many Of these
iconoclastc views, which just now find
such wide and rapid dissemination. are
no doubt at best founded upon specu-
lations which form as yet but hypothe-
SEES; yet they are none the less unset
Ting in their effect on the faith Of
mankind.
1t is not strange, then, that follow
ing the precedents Of the past There
should be reaction and that this re-
action should still follow presidents IN
taking on the form Of renewed relie.
ious activity.