Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-07-24
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RELIGIOUS REVIVAL NEAR2
One of the Worlds Great Spiritua
Movements Indicated.

Ono 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 dispa tches, and
the manifestations do not greatly sur
prise other thinkers who. without as
suming the gift Of prophecy, base their
belief in a coming revival upon the
precedents afforded by history.
AS 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
gellsm. In the earlier years Of the
| century these attacks We're based upon
the writings and teachings Of Paine,
Noltalre and others. 1t was subse-
| quently realized that these writer's and
thinkers. while they attempted to cut
| the underpinning Of religious faith, af-
ford nothing tangible as substitute.
In simply denying fundamental doc
trlnes they were destructionists. pure
and simple.
1t has never been considered sur
prlsing. therefore, that the men, some
OF them of gigantic intellect, who diff
fered from the 1conOclasts, 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
erwlse conservative in religious mat.
ters The result was such notable re-
vlvals 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 manifestation 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 doctrlnal lines in the first
-FOUR years of the twentieth century. II
Is clear to every nonprejudiced obsery-
er that that there is a 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 hlth-
erto adhered to certain doctrines now
lind themselves adrift on sen 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 vet but hypothe.
SEES: yet they are none the less unset
thing 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 precedents in
taking on the form Of renewed rel,o.
ious activity.