Evening journal., 1916-03-17
Rector WRITES OF
THE LYON REVIVAL
EvangeliSt'S Reward "Mod-
est Honorarum," Says
Trinity Church Annals
COMPARES 1T WITH
PASTORAL SUPPORT


lished by the Rev. Frederick NJ.
Kirkus, rector of Trinity p. L.
Church. in its current issue contains
the following article entitled, "The
Recent Evangelical Revival"
For seven weeks the Rev. DR.. Lyon
conducted revival services on Wash
ington Heights in a large tent erect
ed for the purpose. The reports of
his ministrations encourage the ex-
pectations that much permanent good
will result therefrom. Several thous-
and have been reported as convert
ed (or hitting the trail which seems
to be its modern equiyalenO, and the
churches which participated have
since reported large accessions to
their membership. The meetings
were attended by many thousands of
people each day, and the Sunday meet.
ings especially, attracted vast audi
ences.
"The cost Of this campaign was In
the neighborhood of fifteen thousand
dollars, plus the modest honorarium
which was paid to the evangelist,
which amounted 10 S1O.1SS.S1. This
is equivalent TO a stipend Of about
$4,000 a year-the salary received
by the President OF the United States.
That sum would probably pay the
salaries OF three-fourths of the
Protestant ministers in Wilmington
The personal compensation for seven
weeks work by Dr. Lyon is about
equivalent to the combined salaries
for an entire year of the four lead
ing Episcopal clergymen in VIII
mington. These comparisons makes
certain enquiries seem pertinent on
the pare Of those ministers Of Christ
themselves associated i'm this cam
paign and outside OF the Episcopal
church,, who are doing team-hOrse
work on the level of ordinary con-
ditions, year in and year out. for a
community which gives a great many
signs that il really does appreciate
their services.
"Whv Is II that il takes an outsider
not apparently more gifted or more con
secreted than many of the workers a.
home to attract these multitudcs within
hearing of the Gospolg
"Why not give the churches the saml
opportunity that has been afforded thi
temporary visitorg There arc many loca
pastors doing thcir level hest, for tn
very same cause which he championed.
"What would be the result Of givinl
for Christian work through the rcgu
/ larly organized channels, on the sam
/ generous scale which prevailed at th
| Tabernacle services? Not that any IN
/ dividual clergyman ccvets such eXtray
agant compensation; but If such sum
were available for the support of man
workers. think how many times ou
! present efficiency might lse multiplied!
: "And many other similar question
might he raised.
"This emphasis upon money IN con
nection with such subject tends to
very decided dis-illVsionment It can
not altogether be avoided, but it nigh
be kept in due subordination.
IAN interesting comparison be-
tween the recent campaign and some
meetings held by Dwight l. Moody
in Wilmington about thirty years ago
was made by one OF our newspapers,
The article contained the following
No record of Mr.. Moody's compensa-
ton and the cost OF his campaign is
obtainable Business men. led by
Mr. Job II. Jackson. contributed ia
the expense. Two thank offerings
were received, but beyond that moth
ing was said or done about expense
Mr.. Moody was invited here by the
ministers before the laymen were
consulted. but the latter stood by
nobly. Mr. Moody's interest in Chris
tian work induced him to come to
Wilmington
"The work of Dwight L. Moody still
endures, and nobody who heard him
ever doubted his intense and disin-
terested devotion to the cause he so
ardently served. He never became
rich. but devoted a large share Of his
receipts 10 the establishment OF the
NOrthfield School. which still sur
wives, and is doing continual good
work on the lines Mr.. Moody estab-
lished. IL is unthinkable that he
should ever have berated his congre-
cations for their stinginess towards
himself, or reckOned his success by
the average contribution per capita Of
the communities where he went 70
preach the Gospel
Gle took no thought concerning
what he should eat or what he should
drink or what he should put on but
gave full heed to the injunction and
promise OF His Master Seek ye first
the Kingdom OF God and His right
eousness. and all these things shall be
added unto YOU "