Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-01-22
THE NEW EVANGELISM.
,,o EFFORT to Secure Larger Co-opera-
ton From the Pews.

rbe Effort to Secure Larger o-opera-
ton From the Pews.
Mention was made in this column last
geek of the gradual change that has come
- the methods OF evangelism, especially
,r;,b regard to the matter OF the appeal
chat is made to men to align themselves
with the Gospel movement and to declare
their allegiance to Him who is its Founder
and Leader. There are other features,
,oweyer. that one is likely to observe in
the later campaigns as being somewhat
of departure from the old way of doing
,bines. and while it is true that these feat
nres have always had some recognition, it
IA more true that they are being emphs-
sized to-day as they never were before.
One OF these features is the effort to Sc
cure greater cooperation from the MEM
hers Of the churches in an evangelistic
effort John Wesley used to give as a
motto for churches, "All at it and always
at IT," A pastor who was gifted with the
evspgelic talent used to say that "evan-
celism in the pulpit is not OF much ac-
count unless it is backed up by evangel-
ism in the pew", and attributed his sue
cess along that line largely to the helpful
ness that he inspired among his church
neople for that particular service.
Formerly the evangelist was secured by
a church to .'get up'n a revival, and before
he eatne the people OF the community be-
gan to frame a conception OF him and
thought of him as man OF sensational
mien, with message sobful and severe,
and methods that savored OF religious
pyrotechnics. He was the whole show,
and in some instances became holy
show. And when he came, il he did not
fill the above bill OF particulars, some of
the good people thought that he had
missed his calling.
Now, there were men Of that type and,
undoubtedly, there are some to-day.
There were enough OF then, anyway, to
lead people to believe that such features
we're characteristics to be expected OF
revival campaign. But there were many
men who had given themselves to this
important service who deplored the
spectacular effects OF their brethren along
this line, and their number has increased
while the other has diminished.
Reyiyals are not "gotten up; they
come down, for 1t is "not by might nor
by power but by my Spirit, saith the
Lord OF hosts, and the moving impulse
eel i'm, nf bp
gelism is to get as many helpers to CO.
operate in such services in some definite
way SO that they will know what is ex-
pected OF them and the leaders will know
what they can depend upon.
la the series OF services which began
leadership OF Rev. William G. Mann, this
keynote was struck at the first service and
is being emphasized at every meeting,
and yet the matter is put in such way
that each one is left wholly free to decide
for himself or herself which line OF ser
purely.
THIS end is secured by the use OF cards
on v hich is indicated three distinct lines
Of effort to which Christian may pledge
himself The first is SIM that the
signer covenants with Christ that he will
try to bring someone else to the meetings;
simple matter, but how often neglected,
more "by want OF thought than by want
OF heart". The second is that the signer
will try to speak to someone personally
ahont m courage To
do this, because, for some mysterious rea-
son, most people are ditfident in this mat
ter of supreme Importance. In one OF
his sermons last week Bro. Mann re-
ferred to the fact that while ne went 10
Sunday school for years, nobody ever
SAID word to him personally about the
matter OF salvation. The third service is
most important, for it pledges the signer
TO do MS best to win someone to Christ
The whole thing, however, is regarded as
covenant with the Master, making every
effort a services that depends on His guild
ance and grace. ~ fa5l auss
The response to this effort OF the pastors
to enlist fellow helpers has been gratify-
ing, some members "voting the whole
ticket, to use the apt expression OF Pas
tor Guptill. The results are already
manifested in the growing attendance and
deepening interest in the meeting. A
large number have in this way indicated
their desire and purpose to help, and II
The meetings result in new attitude on
the part of many to this vital matter
OF personal evangelism, it may mean much
In coming days to the Kingdom OF God IN
Ellsworth.
THE CREDIT OF FAITH.