The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-03
KINGDOM OF GOD
NOT HYSTERIA
WHAT THE MODERATOR OF THE
CoNGREGATioNALfsT COUNCIL,
RECENTLY HELD IN KANSAS
CITY, THINKS or EVANGELISM
-MADE GREAT ADDRESS.

The following is an extract from the
address of DR.. Boynton of Brooklyn,
moderator Of the National Council of
Congregational Churches at Kansas
City:
Evangelism.
We r confronted with the prob
lem of evangelism and our co-opera-
ton is continually asked for all forms
and kinds of religious activity. There
Is the mechanical evangelism, relying
upon pious tricks as worthy conserv-
ators of the works of God. There is
blatant evangelism, relying upon
coarseness of speech, vulgarity of man
ner, horseplay and the c~aricaturing Of
religious lives, as methods Of collecting
crowds and opening to immortal souls
the gates Of the kingdom Of God. These
are extensively advertised and often
ones personal allegiance to Christ, is
IN the esteem Of some, conditional upon
mis- fellowshiping and pushing these
religious undertakings.
1t is a patent fact that the good sense
OF the world turns today from that So
called evangelism which works from
the outside in. from the spectacular to
the supposedly spiritual, which begins
III LIE pISSSuCG u IIlS d&GnL
announcing financial terms upon which
spiritual blessings may be ~vouchsafed,
and continues by. opening executive Of
ices, advertising in most f1amboyant
manner, supplying energetic press
agents to regale the public with melo-
dramatic stories which too often give
the simple truth an attack Of chills
and fever. This evangelism includes
leaders Of the ministry of song, who
IRA o. tho 90 nrnG N 81 .NF tho rYNrrhio 80
praise into the slum of vulgar, vaude-
Vile emotionalisin; who make horse
play a modern synonym for hosanna,
and who regard the presence Of a
crowd as the demonstration Of a Nigh
ty o~Verturning Of a community in the
interests Of righteousness. For this
type Of evangelism, Congregationalism
less participation. prolonged ap-
plause).
Do we hen a to have sympathy
with eager earnestness and with de-
voted conservation for the salvation Of
the world? A thousand times mo"
Ours Is the evangelism based on the
principle Of length of days Of Ieaven
hidden in the meal. Of the first BLADE,
then the ear, her the full corn in the
ear; of laboring faithfully and wait
ing patiently; of finding the whole
man.; of relying IN a long hard fought
campaign, rather than upon a brill
liant skirmish, or a spectacular battle;
OF. announcing the truth. the whole
truth, as it is in Jesus; of ~cultivating
reverence and Cody fear; of preach
ing as living men to living men; of
organizing the church; Of winning the
confidence Of society by our sympathy,
sincerity and service; of signifying
evangelism till it be recognized as the
great. and abiding business Of the
church and her ministry, rather than
the occasional eruption of a passing
enthusiasm stimulated and exploited
by clever tricks and pious persihage. The
chance for brave, decisive leadership
in this. which Henry Drummond called
.felicitously, the new evangelism, is to-
day enlisting the discriminating and
devoted loyalty of many of our own
Congregationalists who know and
teach that the kingdom Of God is not
.hysteria, or cheapness OF any kind, but
righteousness, JOY and peace in the
Holy Ghost.