Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-11
OLD-TIlNE RELIGION
BY BISHOP w. A. Cal

On the continent OIL Europe Ln6F6 mas HOI
been revival of religion since the time Of
Luther, Melanchthon and Calvin. Rational
ism in some parts Of the continent and ritu
alism in other parts has suffocated what Mr..
Babson calls "honest-to-goodness religion"
Here and there have been local visitations of
grace under the leadership of such sanity
men Adolph Monod; but nothing like 1.-The
Wesleyan Revival in Great Britain and the
Great Awakening'' in the United States has
blessed any nation of Continental Europe for
four hundred years.
1t is a significant and instructive fact that
the nations in which such visitations have
prevailed during the last two hundred years
saved the world in the great crisis of the
World War.
vigorous and spiritual type Of Christian
ity not prevail without such great re-
vyals and in default of such a type Of
Christianity nations become impotent to save
themselves, to say nothing to saving others.
Hence, Continental Europe must choose be-
tween a revival of pure Christianity or ruin.
There is no other alternative, and our coun-
try has solemn duty with reference to this
matter.
We have tried feeding and clothing the
needy there, and the more We give for these
purposes the more voices cry "Gve! Give!"
1t is time now for us to begin to give what
Europe really needs"
Mr.. Babson speaks in most wise and
not only for Europe, but for ourselves also
that we may be honest and unselfsh, remem-
bering that we have responsibilities as we'll
as opportunities, and that no country can
permanently prosper through the misfortune
of another"
Our first duty in attempting to supply
what Europe really needs" is to seek a
great deep, widespread revival of religion in
our own country. Such a revival in the
United States would raise the spiritual tenn
perature of the whole world; but we can not
have it by aping the arid rationalsm of
northwestern Europe, or mimicking the je-
june ritualism of southern and eastern Eu-
rope. We must return to the courageous
Christianity preached by st. Peter at Jeru-
salem and Caesaria, and by st. Paul at
Corinth and Ephesus. We must revive reli-
gion as did John Knox in Scotland, John
Wesley in England and Jonathan Edwards
in America.
Not since the days of Moody and Sankey
has our country been blessed by revival of
religion of continental eXtensiveness.
We have had commercial evangelism and
clerical sensationalism ad nauseum, and we
have not been the better, but rather the
worse for them.
We have had more than enough of cheap
and shoddy rationalism in the pulpits of
many conspicuous churches, wherein pleas
ing performances paid for by rich men of the
have been exhibited Sunday by Sunday be-
tween pieces of music which neither the
singers nor the hearers understood.
Products of that kind can not meet the
awful needs of the world in these dreadful
times. Something more virile and virtuous
is required now, and that something is evan
gelical Christianity-"hO nest-to-g goodness re-
ligion." This alone has ever awaited any
thing in the crucial hours Of human history.
In such a serious situation as that which
now confronts us commercial evangelism is
the merest child's play, and puerile ration
alism, picking and choosing in the Holy
Scriptures Is worse than child's play. We
want, and we must Nave, for rescuing a world
rushing to ruin the robust religion of the
Apostles and the heroic piety of the primi-
tive church.
The times. call for monumental prophets
like Luther, Knox, and Wesley.
Perhaps some such God-sent prophet is
on the way already. May he reach us soon!
When he arrives he will drive out the traders
of commercial evangelism and the peddlers
Of the curious rationalism, and the hawkers
of the nosegays of pretty ritualism, and he
will give to men the healing balm of Christ's
great salvation.
This is what Europe needs. 1t Is what all
the world needs; our own country included.
Let every man search his own soul and
at once seek such revival Of religion in his
own heart.