Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-09
WHAT CHURCHES Can
Do FOR Wilmington
Rev. Aquilla Webb Says Rsllg.
lous Revival Of Right Sort
In Needed.

A'conlplcte revival. conducted along
unca III humility. prayer and a desire
Tor erlf-pcrfs elton was declared 10 oe
the thing most needed by Wilmington
Christians at the present time. by Eev.
AQuiila Webb. -. d.. pastor or First
and Central Presbyterian Church, IN
sermon to his congregation yesterday
morning The necessary conditions, to
be considered by both the evsngvlists
and the people. should he preparation
BY prayer. the desire 10 do better. alb
eence of pride and critlcissnn. and true
humility. he said.
Af,cr citing many Instances In the
Bible where the revival. which Is sim
ply a qulckcning OF the lie that IL In
ua. IL recommended. DR.. Webb ex-
planned what IL necessary on the part
OF the people and leaders 60 make II
successful. human cooperation Is the
most important factor. While the re-
>ival is at the disposal OF God alone.
cooperation on the part OF mankind
Anust be complete.
"nsvivals do not happen" DIR. Webb
aaid. They como after preparation on
tho part OF those who see the need of
n religious awakening and a forward
movement ON the strongholds of SUI
pcrstrion and sin. Tho modern method
~ bringing about a revival IL TO take
stock OF our resources. while the old
way. mentioned In the Bible is Just
the reverse. There was, indeed. a taxi
ing of stock. hut II was taken on the
knees Of penitent people. The object
was not % collect material riches. but
20 experience their spiritual poverty. To
do this the people recognized humility
as essential.
why Is there so much modern day
opposition 90 rcvivalss May II not be
because Gods profcsssd followers are
so concerned about the fruits and
have 80 little concern FOR the roots Of
re,ivalr God does honor plans and
men. but svanvelists themselves win
tell YOU that there is no work on earth
50 trying as the work OF an evangelist.
and for tho very reason that Gods
people. and especially his ministers,
are too often concerned more about
their plans and praise than about the
presence and power ~ the Holy Spirit.
Too Much Church Pride.
"Ah. truly. pride Is a great obstacle
20 the revival we need in ilmington.
We have too much church pride. We
look upon our numbers. our wealth.
eur social position. our deeds OF bene-
ncence. and we say 10 ourselves: Let
us have a revival and b. a little more
40 than we are now An we have to
do is 20 bring from a distlnce a mag
netic pcrsonalt~ with a national rep
u'ation and then back him up with
our persons and purses. How such
consummaio se'f-sui'iciency must
make the very angels weepl How this
must gr'sve the Spirit OF God, No. the
revival OF religion viii never come that
way. The sure way means bend your
hacks. down on your knees. aye. fall
fiat on your faces and sob out the
confession OF sinful and senseless
pride
Tho next step in preparation FOR
revival. the step that follows humility.
10 prayer. | do not have in mind the
public prayers on the Lords Day I'm
our churches, but rather the secret.
individual prayer on the part OF men
and women whose hearts are break
ina on account Of the wickedness OF
the city We love So well. And so my
concern right now is not for more
preaching. whether on the part or our
Wilmington ministers. or OF any one
who may come 10 us from a distance.
NV concern IL that the professed
Christians shah be before God on sheir
knees until the night OF sin is ban
ish,d by the day of holiness.
There IL third step. Those Of YOU
who have passed through cvangelsstic
campaigns WI remember how large
part OF the preaching Is merciless
criticism or the ministry and men,
bers OF the churches. IL is thought 10
be psycholosically and theolorically OF
prime Importance TO fsgellate Gods
people before calling on the impenltent
Ia turn 20 The Lord. | have no doubt
that the lost sheep in Wilmington
nrc quite numerous and need a N urgent
invitation. II II not n plea SAINT thing
Tor a minister 10 arraign thoec whom
he loves. md yet II ne would be n
faithful and true witness he must ask
Have we no wicked ways II we
were 10 pass In review our church and
home life. our business and social life.
many heads would be bowed in shame.
When We conform TO conditions for
q genuine revival of religion, God be-
slows the dosircd results Our prayers
: are answered and we know with abso-
Tut. certainty that the revival we need
IN Wilmington VIII come Just as soon
as Gods people humble themselves.
pray, seek HIS face. and turn from
their wicked ways
"Other results win be the forrive-
ness OF sin md the healing OF tho
land. Indeed. Oar city Is sick and
there IL great ueed for the healing
hand. But let no one imagine that
closing the red light district. elimina-
TIN. the selae~ and locking up law
v'oiators VIII heal the open sore The
hurt In deeper than the dead Unless
We change the heart Of the people. all
reformation would bo but upon the
surface and the latter end would be
worse than the FIRST. Gods word is
very pain, ths; personal healing must