New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-10
By the REV. DR.. WILLIAM J. DAW-
son

By the REV. DR.. WILLIAM }. DAN-
Nv fundamental objection to the
type Of evangelism represented oy
Billy Sunday is that ! have always
stood, and an still standing, for what
have called Normal Evangelism, as
set forth in my book, THE kvangel-
istic Note" By this ! mean that the
evangelistic note should be found IN
sllpreaching, that the Church should
be consistently and continuously
svangelistic, that it is IN the power
Of the regular ministries, pastors and
Law forces Of the Church TO maintain
an attitude of ardent evangelism
toward the world outside the churches
The greatest modern ministries have
b.en characterized by this spirit, and
the result has been the solid growth
Of the Church.
Mr.. Surgeons long ministry at the
METROPOLITAN Tabernacle is con-
spicuous example. From the smallest
beginnings he built up a membership
of 5000, and this great result was
achieved by the continuous evangelism
in his normal ministry.
Objects TO Methods
But even if we grant that special
concerted evange,istic movements are
called for by the conditions Of our
dav. I have strong objections TO the
methods employed and to the spirit
which is frequently created. | can
not reconcile myself to the millionaire
evangelist. To say, as | have often
heard il said, that an active, popular
evangelist gets paid no more than an
opera singer is to reduce the whole
function of the evangelist TO the basis
Of the popular entertainer. To say
that what ne gets he earns is also to
beg the question, and to plead thar
what he receives is a "freewill offer
ing" is not an accurate statement.
Every one knows by this time that
the so-called free-will Offering IS care
fully engineered, thoroughly organized
ano is pushed TO success by a very
astute use Of motives which have little
relation to religion. believe that the
free-will offering system is radically
bad and degrading. The only respecta-
Bile financial basis is the provision Of an
ADEQUATE salary for the evangelist
apart from the unusual financial re-
turns Of the campaign.
This was the plan adopted by the
Free Church Council.in England in its
employment Of Gypsy Smith. He was
paid by the council and the money
contributed in the course Of one Of his
missions was paid over to the council
and used for the general work Of evan
gelism; and he could conduct his WORK
with entire freedom from any personal
financial results Let the evangelist
be paid on the most generous scale;
he works hard and deserves generously.
i
twice the salary of the highest paid
minister in the country, for his work
makes demand upon his vitality largely
In excess of the demand in the ordinary
ministry. But whatever he receives, let
il he a fixed salary, that Is free from
the degrading necessity Of organized
free-will offerings. Here is the worst
element Of campaign evangelism. The
money faint is on it. And very often
the spiritual aim is lost sight Of in the
financial. q,
The methods adopted in the actual
carving on Of the latest forms OF
evangelism are also open 70 serious
criticism. There is. for instance, no
inquiry room, and hence no actual deal
ing with those who may be moved by
the appeals of the evangelist. Inc m
ouiry room was the very heart OF Mr.:
Mocdv's evangelism. | have worked
with Gvpsy Smith. can testify that
ali the permanent results OF his work
were due 70 a wise ana tactful use or
the after-meeting and the inquiry
room in dealing with individuals
Invitation Poor Substitute
An invitation 10 shake the hand Of
the evangelist at the close OF an ex-
citing service is poor substitute Tor
the searching and sympathetic dealing
with the difficulties of seekers after
truth and a changed life. As 20 meth
3D. IL is cheap and superficial. no
doubt IL succeeds in many cases, bu;
in many it does not. After two recent