Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-17
AWAKENING OF A CITY TO THE
NEED OF 4 FORWARD MOVEMENT
Tried Methods of Evangelism and Other Ways New and
NoveI-Demand for Spiritual ouiokenng

taken by the forelock and the old New
York joke about the slowness of the
Quaker City is once more shown its
falsity. What William Penn and other
Friends who laid the foundations OF
the city, religious and otherwise
might say to modern methods for
spreading Christian faith and convic-
ton, can only be conJectured.
Changes in Terms.
1t must be clear that evangelistic
work of the Sunday type is making
changes in the nomenclature of re-
vival seasons. ''Trailhitter' can
hardly be regarded as an improve
ment to "a convert" or a disciple
OF Christ" Formerly those who
were moved by the spirit OF a meet
ing to manifest 1t were said to go to
the altar, or mercy seat-now they
hit the sawdust trail" Why there
should be need of such terms does
not appear.
The age is not demanding a series
of new terms to express an awaken
ing of religious convictions in the
soul of man or a change to new
life. New terms seem novel, snappy.
and for a time n drawing card; but
when the novelty wears away an
abnormal religious appetite is whet-
ted for something even more snappy.
and true religion becomes belittied
by the general process What the
age Is in need of is a revival OF
spiritual religion. A new and strik-
ing religious nomenclature does not
necessarily carry with II deepen
ing of a reverential spiritual life
The emotions of large gathering
may be shaken unanimously by a
correctly calculated psychological
appeal, but unless conviction goes
so deeply in the consciousness OF a
man as TO become a settled religious
principle or action dominating the
entire life, the emotions become
temporary effervescence.
There Is feeling, or an intuition.
that the European war will drive
thoughtful men closer to God, and
reassert the fundamental relation of
the soul Of man to his Maker. The
sense OF dependence on God is in
need OF revival. Man is naturally
rebelious," is a statement often re-
peated, and is so familiar as to lose
somewhat its force. But the age de-
mands a displacement of conven-
tional religion by a vital spiritual
religion. There has always been In
every denomination of Christendom
and among other religious peoples
an inner body of spiritual persons,
| ment, but the tone and temper of
| the masses OF religious people have
been too formal and conventional.
| There Is an expectation of change
| in this that will cause O. reconsid-
| GRAFTON of mems relation to God.
| Spiritual Awakening.
| Something of this view was ex-
pressed by Rev. DIR. William III. Rob
erts. secretary of the Presbyterian
General Assembly, speaking of the
| tensive revival:
| "Of course there is much genuine
religion in all the countries that are
| engaged in the conflict" said Dr.
Roberts, but there has been much
that Is merely conventional In the
mental attitudes of men and women
to the things of religion. In France
there has been a growing antag0nism
to the Christian Church on the part
Of many persons. But the war haa
largely reversed this situation"
When awakening comes to any city
and land 1t may be expected to be
one of greater religious intelligence.
one that penetrates and transforms
every range of human interest and
activity and emphasizes the reality OF
religion. An awakening that is In the
nature of furry or q whirlwind, is
not enough and does not go deeply
and like furry or whirlwind, sweeps
destructively. Steady persistent and
consistent spiritual building Of Chris
| tian men and institutions counts
strongest in the long run. A religious
awakening includes this.
CLERICUS.