The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-04-26
MODERN RELIGIOUS REVIVAL.

For several weeks there have been
In progress in Philadelphia a series
OF religious services seeking to bring
about great religious revival. These
services are under the leadership
and direction OF DIR. Chapman, are
union and non-sectarian. They are
conducted by the well known revival.
list. with the assistance of all the
Protestant ministers of the city and
some twenty or more ministers of
various denominations and a number
OF professional singers. the non-resi-
dent ministers and singers consutu-
ting staff or working corps which
travels with DR. Chapman.
Philadelphia has not given DIR. ]
Chapman unqualified approval In |
fact many good and pious people /
critcise in pivate conversations and |
u the press the methods by which /.
DR. Chapman, who has been for sew.
/ eral years a famous reyivalist, achiev- /
cs results. These methods are az
| least unique and interesting For
weeks before he cutters a city there
announcements and prayer services,
but plain. straightforward, business.
/ like use of printers ink. To be sure,
there are preparatory prayer meet
ings attended by the still remaining
few godly and righteous souls whose
childlke faith even a modern evan
gelist cannot shake But one who has
watched one of these reviyals Is inn
pressed with rhe fact that while pray
er Is quite feeling and proper, the
benefits of judicious advertising meth.
DDS not unlike those employed by
popular coined an or musical celebrity
are not TO be decred.
Choruses of hundreds Of voices are
trained for weeks. rough platforms
are built In beautiful churches for
their accommodation and tickets from
{ the choir leader are necessary 10 en-
title one to place on the platform
5 When all Is in state of eXpectant
readiness Or. Chapman, assistants,
2 and singers arrive with a great blast
of trumpets. In the old days of re-
Z vivals the repentant sinner must need
J. leave the seats of the unbelievng
II and advance to the chancel rail where
: by the powerful aid OF some godly
J. man or woman he must wrestie with
II Satan until he shall rise christeneG
I" ard triumphant The new method Is
y to make salvation easy OF acquire
y ment. There are printed cards which
I read My name is -, | live at --,
3 attend - church. which may b'
as filled in with "No" or the denomina
le tional name. 81 desire your prayer
Id for my salvation" These cards ar
ne duly collected, counted ana the nun
IL ber Of "pentinents" announced. al
OF ter meetings are held which resen
III BILE more than any part of the Di
he scheme real old-fashioned religion
~ earnestness. This quiet method /
1- pursued for some ten days or Sc
Si then the thing gets sensational an
ia spectacular. Meetings are held /
" mems clubs and in factories, at tn
h noon hour, and in the streets, pr,
)l- cessions of little children march fo
lS miles through the streets singn
al hymns and carrying banners bea
rs ing The Kings Business Nee
ly ings are even held in saloons, whic
DIX have prOfited tremendously by the a,
'r- vertising, and midnight torchligf
RI professions make invasion into III
heart of the unspeakable corrupuo
of modern city life.
And what results? Perhaps a la!
M man should not Judge. but some ole
ou fashioned folks think that reverenc
90 is stripped from godly things, tn
a' hearts of the people are not touche
re to pious meditation and regeneration
n. and if, perchanCh, they are mental
's. moved to moral reform it is too o
- ten but temporary,
The ambition of the average pr,
fessional reviyallst of the day is tina
he may have a fame like that of tn
X. sainted Moody, who with his swee
singer, Sankey, moved not only a.
m America, but the whole English-speal
mt ing world to religious regeneration
IS, But the modern evangelist forget
m. that Mr.. Moody's work was not prC
sh fessional. In the depths of his grea
mt heart there was such faith in Go
he and such godly love for his fellowt
ID, that before his simple, pious speal