New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-02-18
THE LONDON REVIV
Opening of a Remarkable CAMPAIGN
By American Missioners.
london. February @,

~ Damascus, better than ell the waters Of
Israeli II London is TO be reformed. let the
work he done by native Eng!lshmen. who under
stand the conservatism OF the people, and not by
foreigners speaking with a strong American ac-
cent and neglecting to take into account how
much work is done by faithful parish priests
hox much money is raised for hospitals, how
honest IS the conduct Of municipal affairs how
pure is the tone OF the newspapers and how
much better are the great English towns than
wicked Chicagoi CensoriOus critics pretend to
be shocked by the vuIgarity of American meth
ods and assume. as Mr.. Harold Begbie does
that Lead. Kindly Light" must always be
more 20 Shakespeares England than Mr. Alex
andeT's Tell Mother I'll be There" The re-
rivsl music is condemned by these discontinued
eersors as catchy tunes" just as the WESLEYAN
HYMNS were ridiculed in the eighteenth century
revival the Salvation Army's marching
strains have been despised IN more recent times:
and DR.. Torrey is warned that a revival under
American leadership is not likely to meet with
tie same measure OF success as the spontaneous
movement in Wales, because the religion of
England must always be strong and digniied"
A euiekening Of the spiritual life of the rletrop-
Oils may be essential even If science be coming
70 the help Of religion; but there are the waters
Of the Thames-nay not Londoners wash in
them and be clean.
Structures Of this III natured sort are in the
rress but there is not an echo of them at Albert
Hal, where the revival has been in progress for
toar days. Dr.. Torrey may say "Amurrika"
and speak with nasal tone, and Mr.. Alexander
may have racy way Of keeping the singers up
70 their work, but the energy and force of or
ganlzation of the New World are in their meth
ods. and their sincerity. earnestness and faith
command respect. The first night audience
without doubt was looking for entertainment
end novelty rather than for evidences of relig-
tous fervoT, and IL had what ii wanted in the
new revival music. which was easily learned
when choir of several thousands of singers
had been already trained for the work. Mr.
Alexander, alert, self-possessed and resourceful
flung himself into the labor Of popularizing the
hymns, and succeeded in interesting the audi
enee IN the details of practice by his unexpected
salLes ard interpretations. Everybody sing the
chorus. whether he knows it or not" vas one of
his coaching cues; and if you don't know it.
sing something else-but sing" The Glory
Song" and oh. it IS wonderful" were speedily
learned when there was conductor OF such
extraordinary vivacity and energy. While the
big organ was sometimes used as In a really
hne rendering Of When 1 survey the woudrous
Cross the accompaniments were mainly played
On grand piano By young Australian. Mr..
Aexander's own voice, a barytone of pleasant
quality, was heard to the best advantage in a
highly emotional hymn at the close of DR.. Tor
rey's first address. the refrain being taken up
with dramatic effect by another sweet voiced
soloist at the back OF the hall It was rot the
choirmaster's fault if the proceedings dragged
On the opening night, for he succeeded in
counteracting the dulness Of the addresses of
welcome. The subsequent audiences have been
r1ore sympathetic; the hymns have been sung
with heartiness, and the addresses have been
short. incisive and deeply impressive. Dogma is
vigorously excluded religion is presented with
simplicity ana fervor as a direct personal issue
Of oyermastering Importance. and there is no
lack OF interest even If the galleries are not !
crowded at every service.
Few voices can be distinctly heard in the re-
hottest reaches Of Albert Hall The late Lord
Salisbury when in vigorous health could hold
ar audience OF ten thousand easily, but he had
learned how 10 pitch his voice so TO throw
It into the tier Of boxes opposite the platform.
The orators OF the Primrose League ordinarily
fail 10 reach more than half way, and even Lord
Rosebery and MIR. Chamberlain, with their clear.
neodious tones, are inaudible in the back tiers
Of seats and in the upper galleries. Lord Kin
naird, the conventional fgurehead of all evangeI-
istic and Protestant movements. as Lord Hall
fax is the lay shepherd Of the advanced church.
men, could not complain Of lack of experience
IN speaking in Albert Hall; but he could not be
heard TO any advantage when he welcomed the
missioners from Chicago. Prebendary Webb
PepIoe and the Rev. Mr.. Cough, vicar OF Bromp-
ton. accustomed as they were to addressing
large bodies, were indstinct and uncertain in
utterance when they Joined il the welcome, and
50 also were Bishop Taylor-Snlit and those
representative Free Church ministers, the Rev.
F. 3. Meyer and DR.. Campbell Morgan Of West
minister Chapel ar. Alexander. with his high
treble. was more successful than the English.
men IN sending out his voice to the top galleries
but he spoke SO rapidly that his running
rnentary Of admonition and anecdote in leading
the choir and forcing the audience to sing was
inperfectiy heard. DR.. Torreys opening SEN
fences at the first meeting indicated that he did
not have the pitch required for the hall; but he
was more successful the next night and at SUBJ
seQuent meetings in using his powerful rather
than resonant voice.
DR.. Torrey created favorable impression by
his energy. directness and earnestness even
when his voice was too hoarse TO be easily heard
al distance. AS soon his was called
By the chairman he walked brishy forward.
held Up his hand and said: Let US prayP He
had been welcomed by churchmen and noncon-
tornsts as another Moody. revivalist OF ex-
oeptionaI power and IAN expert in leading men
10 Cod; but he had no time for exchanging
compliments with ministers or audience. but
settled down 20 his work with the confident pre-
oiction that 1905 and the years following would
be the greatest years for saving power the world
had ever seen. and the humble confession that
any man in wonderful revival was too
small TO be seen. The leader OF the revival was
disclosed a of medium height, with
strong, determined forehead and short white
beard; and as he proceeded with soiemnity Of