New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-16
DARE SOMETHING!
IS HOMEMADE
REVIVAL SLOGAN
No Imported Assistance
Needed, Says N. R. Best,
Presbyterian Editor.
BIDS PASTORS SEEK
UNITY AND ACTION
DR.. Eckman Doubts Ability OF
Evangelist to Give New York
Religious Shake.

Why not have a homemade revi al
in New York?
Nolan r. Best. editor of "The Cont
nent." official organ Of the Presbyterian
Church and author Of this query, be-
lieves that the clergymen can conduct
an evangelistic campaign without VS.
iting evangelist.
"Get unity, action and concentra-
ton! Then dare something! Crisp
and terse is the programme Mr.. Best
suggests to the ministers, but he thinks
it ia big enough and broad enough to
make an impression on New York.
Desire among the churches for re-
ligious revivals in their respective COM
munities is growing universal said
Mr.. Best. "The number Of men pro-
fessionally devoted to this sort of min
istry is small entirely inadequate to
answer the calls made on them. To
demonstrate, therefore, that the same
kind of work can be done by home
forces without imported leadership is
the only way to extend the movement
adequately. Moreover and this is
particularly important if this means
or any other can enable a city TO de-
velop a real revival without the aid Of
outsiders il will deliver the churches
from the sneer constantly cast at them
that they have made failure of their
own job and must import help to save
themselves from defeat"
Difficulties of Revival.
"Here is the crucial difficulty. The
common fact is that without an out
slider. who takes the lead because he
has been engaged to lead, differing
ideas of the right way TO do the work
develop so fast that every hand is
hindered. Honest Christian co-work-
ers mean 10 respect one another's view
points, and so they debate and argue
and try TO accommodate themselves to
one another until the moment passes
when the iron is hot.
80, if home made revival does not
equal one conducted by an evangelist of
renown il probably is not for lack of
such preaching as the evangelist could
supply, nor for the lack of the means
which ne uses to capture popular at
tention, but solely because of the lack
of superlativc command over the situa-
ton. But this by no means signifies
that a locally managed and manned
evangelistic campaign has TO be Of
minor effectiveness.
The most evident requirement for a
religious revival carried out with home
forces only is a sincere compact at the
outset that all who begin in the enter
prise will follow it through with undi-
vided loyalty TO the end. The best
strategy is to choose from local lead
ers some man of individuality and eX-
ecutive force and make him general of
the campaign, with just as much power
in his hands as visiting evangelist
would have. Unworthy jealousies aside,
it should be as easy for a group Of
neighbor ministers to yield supreme
command to one of their own number
as TO a stranger"
The Rev. George P. Eckman. editor Of
"The Christian Advocate" organ of
the Methodist Church, has his doubts
whether any evangelist, imported or
otherwise, can really give New York a
religious shake. In the past evangelists
have come 10 New York and gone, and.
in Mr.. Eckman's opinion, the entire
community felt not a single revival
SILVER.
Says Evangelists Fail.
when Moody was here" he added,
81 remember that | saw large delega-
tons from Yonkers and Plainfield in
the congregations; hundreds of people
came in from the suburbs. while New
Workers paid no attention to the cam
palgn. This is such a big city that it
takes a tremendous event to arouse
community interest. For this reason I
am wondering whether a revival such
as is planned by local clergymen could
sweep the city. have often wondered
whether Billy Sunday could shake New
York as he shook Philadelphia and
other cities. Personally, | am in favor
o. either the clergymen or Mr.. Sun
gay. Any influence that can awaken
religious life here has my support"
The Rev. Dr.. William p. Merrill.
pastor of the Brick Presbyterian
Church, who has been invited TO be-
come a member of the steering COM
nittee. sees many hopeful signs in the
preliminaries. "Various branches of
the Church are working together for
the revival" he said Then the plan
Of having no machinery or organiza-
ton in this stage of the campaign APP
pea!s TO me strongly. We ministers are
quite likely 10 get together, talk about