Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-26
For Sunday Reading
dill Sorts ofOpinions
Evangelism With God Left Out.

Our modern evangelism ought to be
purified of It's carnal elements, THINKS
DR.. Arthur L. Pierson. 1t has become
too much a matter organized on bus
mess principles and carried out by
modern advertising methods, accord
ing to his showing in The Record of
Christian Work (East Northiteld, Mass.
December). He notes with regret that
the "old evangelism is passing away,
saying that at may not be strange II,
to the taste of some, the old Wine is
better than the new" Speaking of the
simplicity OF the work as carried on by
Wesley and Whitetield, he declares 1t
"undeniable, that, so far as evangelism
since has approximated such power
as theirs, at has been In direct proper
ton to adherence to the essentials OF
this older type"
In these days. DR.. Pierson AYERS. "the
eyes Of men seem turned away from
the supernatural sources OF power,
and dependence is placed upon machtn-
cry Speaking specifically
1--WE have seen a confidential pamph-
let, sent in advance by a. modern evan
gelist to those inviting his labor, Civ
ing instructions how to placard his
coming, secure newspaper notices OF
his past success, and excite popular
expectation Of greaA results. 1t Is a
bold and unblushing self.advertisement
bordering on effrontery. Happily that
man is no longer a reproach to evan
gelical ranks, but he was for years G
popular evangelist, and his methods
are commentary on his success.
Modern evangelism Is increasing
costly. Sometimes it has fixed price
and does not hesitate to announce 1t,
and it runs into high figures. To In
vite campaign, with all its aids and
accessories, may involve an eXpendi-
ture of thousand dollars q week. In
some cases ten thousand month. SIM
gle churches can not assume such
burden and whole city must marshal
| its forces to lift the load. The worth OF
one soul outweighs millions of moneys;
but when average bats the hook, the
fisher may get caught rather than the
fish, and whenever money gets hold OF
an evangelist his spiritual power Is
gone.
I'm the Welsh revival. in which the
writer was permitted to have a share
little If any aid was sought from with
out; there were neither hired preach
ers nor singers, advertisements nor
Modern evangelism makes much OF
numbers, parading statistics, and often
with a reckless mode of reckoning. 1t
is easy to secure show OF numbers,
but such numerical estimates are Very
deceptive and misleading, If superficial
committees; and in some churches
| Hold 1oi1v ai0ltnpn
months, with no cost but for fuel and
lights. Yet, amid conditions so prlml-
tive, the fire of God swept thru the
Rhonndda Valley, burning up drink
and tobacco, transforming the profane
and obscene tongues of those GOLFERS
and subduing their quarrelsome tenn
pers until even the mules they drove In
the mines did not recognize the new
dialect Of their drivers. All of which
railways be attended with large outlay.
shows that great revival need not
means be adopted; If people are en-
couraged to think that some simple
outward act or step carries merit or
brings salvation; or If in any way there
| is a carnal appeal to the hope of some
disadvantage, there will be a ready
response. Sometimes an evangelist
promises to all who sign his converts
roll some helpful book of his own. Even
such promise, however unselfish on his
part, he has to guard carefully, lest
some give their names for what they
get. And the more spiritual mans
methods are, and the more exalted his
conception of his work, the less VIII ne
rely upon apparent results or make q
display of numerical success.