The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-02
REVIYAI.s ANALYzED.

/ The experience of the local revivals
! with the light attendance they have
attracted, except Sunday evenings when
churches generally closed for the meet
ing, and so advertised it and gave the
meeting audiences that had no other
place to go; and the pancity of conver-
sfons that have been incident to them.
would seem to substantiate the state
ment made in a recent number of The
Literary Digest.
| This statement was to the effect that
conviction is growing among thought
| full men that the typical religious re-
vival has had it's day. This statement
is made in conjunction by The Digest
with an extended review of a study of
this subject by the Rev. H. NJ. j.
Klein which appeared in the January
issue of The Reformed Church Review.
The Rev. Mr. Klein asserts that the
striking psychic manifestations of re-
vivals, are frequently simply of a
hypnotic kind and of this type he
instances the manifestations of pow
err under Wesley when men and wo-
scious. He takes the modern revival
as an example of the Suggestion" COM
ing from the revivalist:
1.-The expectation of people is wrought
up by weeks of elaborate preparation.
The attention is fixed on some one sub
ject, hymns that do not call forth any
thought are sung and resung, an ap-
peal from a leader or undoubted mag
netism follows, an appeal filed with
vivid imagination and strong feeling,
and the result is that the unstable ele-
nent is at once in a state of mind IA
vorable to suggestion. Then they are
asked to do the very last thing that
emotionally inclined persons ought to
do. viz, to lay aside their viii. Perfect
self-surrender is asked for. Then the
suggestion is made. Raise the hand!
Rise! Rise!' Repetitious phrases are
used. There's another One more
saved See them coming Do we
realize to what extent this whole meth !
cd is a hypnotization of weak and re-
calcitrant wills? There are only too
many passive suggestibles in the world
with whom any implanted idea leads at
once to impulsive fulfllment. This ac-
counts for the large number of lapses
among converts, and for the proper
tionateIy meager permanent results of
revival effort. There are victims OF
suggestion who are converted and re-
at every revival. There is !
much so-called conversion, which is
really hypnotic process that never |
touches ethical or spiritual life at ALL |
When the temporary stimulation is re- |
moved the reaction comes. I wish space |
would permit me to quote the concrete |
confessions as given by Starbuck or |
hose who were brought for the time
Under the sway of the excitement and /
he hypnotic influence of revival and
lfterward when reaction and reflection
came looked back on their experience
With shame and repugnance. This
principle of hypnotic suggestion ex-
plains why often men of superficial !,
character and ability have such mySter-
Gus influence over the revival crowd.
DR.. Buckley wrote a few years ago an
account of a noted criminal who by
his same method caused almost an en-
ire revival audience to be struck down
lnder the influence of his sermon as
hough by the power of God, and later
confessed himself to have been mes
neric fraud.
1.-THE employment of fear as the su-
,reme motive has largely passed from
he modern revival. The hypnotic fea-
ure has not passed away. The sug-
highly wrought upon by the
remains. Now, suggestion
nd the hypnotic process are not bad in
themselves. But they are not In any
ense a spiritual power. The phe-
omena produced by them are not
pecial evidences of the immediate pres
nee of God. They are functions of the
uman mind The hypnotic process IS
ot one of the highest functions of the
mind, either. 1t is primarily an animal
neans of fascination. Davenport COM
ares if to the power the feline en-
Joys upon the helpless bird, and the
ndian medicine man upon the ghost-
ance votary' To use it upon sus-
eptible women and little children is
aentally, morally, and spiritually in
urious Suggestion will bless mankind
MY as it comes under the calm domi-
alton of reason and Will.
with the passing away of the re-
ival will evangelism disappear? By
% means. A new type of evangelism
ill come. 1t will be the evangelism
+ Jesus There will be less effort to
ather immense crowds. 1t will know
othing of emotional stampeding. There
-ilI be no overriding of the Will ana
he reason. There will be no obtrusive
ressing of the sacred matter of mans
elation to God under the spell of ex-
itement or contagion. Its message
ill appeal not to fear. but TO love,
we that is ethical and spiritual and ]
hat will inspire men to action. 1t Will
N.z.o1 = x,a11 &c ipdividual" I