The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-03-27
.Rel Griisso's
Con : ! on
OF Reuiuals
EVANGELIST AT CHRIsTIA;N
CHURCH MAKES SOME PLAIN
CTAsEMENTS.
HE RECOGNIZES THE WORTH OF
PERSONAL WORK IN RE.
LIGI0US ACTIVITY.

Pastor Grisso who is here con-
Quoting Church Efficiency Revival,
thinks his church, The Disciples Of
Christ, has been and is yet relying
too. much upon the professional re-
yiyal meeting for conversions, and
has built up system Of professional
evangelism, which in many instances,
flourishes on noise. buffoonery, clap
trap methods, sensationalism and
morbid excitement, and takes pride
in publishing long list Of so styled
converts, who have not died unto
sin, but art put through our bap-
tistrfes and come but wet sinners In
to our CONGREGATIONS. ''tf
Facts indicate that many methods
used and results obtained are not
such as to advance the cause OF real
religion. These methods do much
harm to the Kingdom.
Rev: Grisso states that he has no
quarrel to pick with men and women
who make evangelism profession.
He thinks that III II, were notsfor the
tanned eyangelists in4iis church, as a
people the Disciples of CHRISTI Bquld
be far.in the rear sfbB rei gieds .froi
:essipn in the matter of converts.
We gather from hissta tepispts what
he means to say Il; that the sprineisS'
Pile bf professional evangelism as an
exclusive soul-winni6 Z I ,prepa g8d6a
Is wrong, and that his people along
with many of the great denomina-
tons, are using improperly these
trained specialists with their god
working plans and methods.
Pastor Grisso believes that 1t was
nevcr intended that the church
should have conversions only during
professional eyangclstic rallies, but
these rallies and tile evangelists
should be used as means for teach
ing the members of the churches how
TO do effective personal work. He
feels that with congregations filled
with professeds christians and presid-
ID over by ministers who preach the
Gospel of repentance, that the
preacher and the people should con-
iert the unconverted.
That the personal method will
win, declared the minister, has long
since been demonstrated by whole
.ale merchants in selling their goods.
Time was when manufacturers stared
heir product in immense ware
houses and waited for. the retail
lealer to journey to the city to pur-
chase what was, needed. This con-.
lition no longer Obtains. Competi-
ion demands that salesmen be sent
'ut on the road to personally press
he claims Of their goods upon each
merchant. At certain seasons of the
year one can hardly get a seat on the
steamer or inter-urban cars but for
.he presence of these statesmen GO
ng about soliciting orders for their
respective houses. They go out into
he by-way and hedges constaining
hem to buy. 1t. is we'll known that
politicians are not far behind whole
sale merchants. They supplement
publie meetings and the public press
with the element of personal work
During a heated campaign there is
I;aot doubtful voter who is not seen
n person, speech and letter and writ
en- documents are not sufficient. 1t
rs personal work by every christian
hat will bring sinners in Fairmont
IS everywhere, to repentance.
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