Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-29
ity," goes on the Standard, that is not

the worst of it."
''The substitute may carry on his
work in an unobjectionable manner, or
he may conduct his operations in a
way which awakens serious suspicious
of his underlying motives. If we have
decided that professional evangelism
is the proper agency thru which to dis
charge the obligation that rests upon
the church, then that professional evan
gelism must be such as to command
the confidence of all men. Otherwise,
whatever may be the seeming results
in conversions, we shall be retarding
instead of helping the progress of the
kingdom of God.
mo evangelist can afford to rest
under the suspicion that his controlling
purpose is to enrich himself. That such
suspicion exists concerning more than
one man prominent in evangelistic en-
deavor is absolutely certain. This dis
trust is not confined to that class which
is ever on the lookout for something to
criticize. but is shared by a great body
of fair minded men and women. They
do not wish to believe that men who
assume to be filled with special enxiety
on behalf of the unsaved and who are
devoting all their time and energy to
the work of soul winning are actu-
ated by anything less than the most I'M
selfish motives; but certain facts must
be faced and explained, and the only
rational explanation leaves some evan
gelists in a very unpleasant light"
The Times Republican has held that
to organize and conduct revival with
methodical purpose, and to pay the
cost of its operation, is a sensible and
christian thing to do. Revivals do not
depend upon the revivalist entirely. No
without the assistance and active sup
port of the community wherein it was
developed. 1t also believes that the
laborer is worthy of his hire and that
it is as legitimate and as sensible to
go about the business of religion with
methodical purpose as about any other
1t does not object to large sums being
paid the revivalists but it believes with
the Standard that the cause of religion
can not afford the suspicion that it is
being capitalized for large pri-
waite pecuniary profit and that
the public which freely pays
large sums to revivalists should
pays large sums to revivalists should
receive some accounting of the revival
| lists stewardship. There is something
I that Jars about the undenied charge
tunes 1t is out of line with the pur-
poses of those who contribute and of
the purpose of REVEALS. The accumu-
lation of a large private fortune by an
evangelist, if such are being accumu-
lated fails to coincide with our concep-
ton of disciple as we gain it from the
history of the Master and His immed-
late disciples.
It is time that the great revivalists
come forward with some sort of a
statement SO much is their duty to
the cause they represent and to their
own usefulness. 1t is extremely good
to know that Gypsy Smith labors for
"a modest salary paid him by the Free
Church council of Great Britain" that
half the offerings received in his meet
ings so to the council and half are
turned over to local committees of the
churches where his meetings are held
However much we may hold to the
right of the man who does the work to
receive a free Offering of any size that
may be given. and he has that right
beyond any suggestion of graft, in the
minds and hearts of all people the con-
viction is deep seated that mission
ana a million are scarcely compatible
Nth one another.
Evangelism is a high calling. One
that indicates sacrifice abnegation
holiness. Ii is in the common mind
ard its historical light far removed
from conmercialisn If. as the Stand
ard esserts, there is suspicion of com
lmercialism extant against more thar
one man prominent in exangelistic en-.
, deavor" let the evangelists clear thei1
) skirts. If they have grown rich lie
them if need be sell all they have anc
give to the DOOR,