The Penn's Grove record., 1912-05-10
EVANGELISM

Methodlsm was meant to be an itin-
Grant revIval-a moving Pentecost.
Into its wheels was brealhed The Mast
er's word, Col IL is not geared for
standing still. Its equilibrium depends
upon forward motion. 1t W0tbleS only
when speed IS slackened. 1t will top
pie over into the ecclesiastical scrap
heap if it stops, Therefore it must not
stop.
Our Commission on Evangelism has
been aggressive and persistent III is APP
peals TO the preachers and people,
though without other funds than those
secured by its w efforts. There have
been many gracious IeVivalS under the
leadership of pastors and their Confer
eIlce helperS-quIte enough 10 prove the
efficacy of the old methods and the
abiding blessing of God upon he Cos
pei message faithfully delivered. The
Influences elsewhere mentioned as al
feeling ChuIch growth { Il first upon
lAe feryor and courage OF The paStor III
his eYangul!slic oil e. lie has neither
the leverage nor the audience That made
the opportunity of the evangelist OF
fifty Years ago. The mnurrl, demands
upOH lIlc liulC VI tiC HNOPiC NV ~
multiplied, so many 0I our active mem-
bers are engaged III speclaltleS OF seal
religious OF missionary character; 50
many more taken up with social and
other distractions, young people are 50
severely taxed with the eXactlOnS OF
school life, that II is very difficult either
TO gather audiences Oh secure workers.
Except III occasional Instances, the plo-
lIacte efforts OF former days appear
Impossible. The SITUATION Is, doubtless,
aggravated 10y the experience Of tiIe
Churches, duIIng The last decades OF
the PIeyIOuS century, with Une lrie-
SpOuSlDle army OF leuenLldled evan
geliStS who followed III The wake 0t
Mi. MOOdy'S phenomenal ctreer-men
who, 10y tlIelr crudItleS OF Sp :eCh, go
IesqueueSs OF Illustration, Ii cOuISe
abuse OF The Churches, attracted cur
IouS crowds, but made evangelism ridi-
CulouS III tile eyes OF thinking people.
That woe is past, but Ii lett Churches
demoIaIlZed and pastoral leadership III
Jrue revival Work at d fearful ulSad-
vantage. The professional evangelist
OF more recent years is oil a much high
Ell type. All things considered, every
quaItied evangelist Ill MethOdlSln would
40 more lasting good NOrKlng Ill his
WI Conference under regular appoint
ment, even though he moved every
year, than i'll prOnIscuUus campaigning.
The man who Wis d soul owes ~ It's
infancy III experience his Snepherding
care lOr ii longer period Than TWO weeks
OF a month. He should see IL fairy
Used " The fold before lie leaves IL 10
another. Moreover, by Conference as
sociatlOn and contact these eYangeiiStIc
leaders would communicate 10 many
young pastors Tie split OF Conquest
liz confidence !. leadership. a score
Oi successful eyangellSlic pastors could
do much 10 restore 10 IL great Confer
ence The lost crown OF our itInerauU.
ministry.
1t is al impeachment Of our pastoral
fidelity That 81 macy OF The children OF
our home and Sunday SCHOOLS are lost
TO God ana the Church. When home
religion IS lacking, HE ptstOr-eYange-
IlSt Is The only hope OIL childhood. We
lear that there Is widespread neglect OF
The disciplinary Requirements CUucern-
ING The training oil the baptized children
OF the Church. 10 sum up Tie sILua-
tlon III a sentence, the pastor and Sun
day school teacher III Their personal
contact with individual lie mold III
their keeping The tuLule OF the CuuIclI.
One by II must souls be sought, anu
by faithful Sheplerdlng saved " Tie
nOck. IL has been amply proved tia
S"pectacularly organized REVEALS DO not
enrich The SPIRITUAL lie Of Tie Churches,
eVen granting Jhat genuine reyIyals
could be carried III stock ana delivered
10y contract. Artificial Incubation
may produce numerouoly, but it matches
mulherless chicks, llaDie 10 die loI
Want Of parental sOlicltude.