Year: 1876

these gentlemen is among the phenomena of
modern religion. We are disposed to view
their work with respect and to wish them all
success. Whatever comes y US in the holy
name of religion-so long as it is not profa-
nation of all faith, like the Oneida people,
or midsummer madness, like the Millerites,
orindecency, like Mormonism-we are bound
to respect And if these evangelists can res
cue one soul from sin, one perishing human
| life from eternal damnation, far be it from
us to throw one straw in their path.
At the same time, now that the
movement has become q fixed winter
sensation, and holds its place with the opera,
the Centennial and the campaign for the
Presidency, let us look into it for a mo-
ment from mere worldly point of view


These gentlemen appeared at the Hippo
drome last evening crowned with triumphant
garlands, and opened their campaign against
the devil and his works. 1t was wonderful
success Thousands were in attendance, and
thousands were turned away. There has
been every preparation for vigorous cam
paign. George H. Stuart, of Philadelphia I;
Morris K Jesup, William e. Dodge, j.
Pierpont Morgan and other eminent busi-
ness men were the quartermasters and COM
missaries of the army. Our best citizens
were ON the platform. Clergymen of many
denominations were ranged under the Moody
and Sankey banner. Some metaphysical
divines, like rockingham, who do not be-
| lieve in an orthodox devil, held of, feeling
that the revival would be neither an earth
quake nor volcano, but Yellowstone gey-
ser, throwing out mud and stones and leaving
true religion in worse condition than be-
fore. The Cardinal was not present, nor
were any of his subalterns; and as we have
no expression of opinion from His Eminence
the inference is that he prefers to continue
his war upon the armies of Satan with the
batteries which have come down to him
from st. Peter We confess if there were
only religious aspect to this movement we
might wish to see the hosts of religion and
virtue fighting the hosts of Satan in a genuine
alliance The main trouble in striving with
the devil is that he is one while his oppo-
nents are many. They waste on intestine
quarrels the energy needed to overcome the
common enemy of mankind; for the time
must come as it is written, when this enemy
will be bound in chains for thousand years.
To do this will require the aid of all Chris
tians, without distinction of creed. Mr..
Moody is said to feel convinced that the
period of the Messiah's coming is at hand;
that He may come to-day or tomorrow. in
obedience to the promise; and this hope
gives his words their sincerity and fire.


Ordinary divines, those who hold the
highest rank in their denominations
Beecher, Storrs, Hall, rockingham, Father
Preston, Hepworth and their companions in
the ministry-have only achieved a moderate
success compared with Moody and Sankey.
Their culture, their years of labor their
study of the mysteries of faith have resulted
in churches which are poor and thin when
compared with the multitudes that have fol-
lowed Moody and Sankey in Europe and
America and which swarmed around the
Hippodrome. And yet we would not COM
pare the evangelists with the clergymen we
have named. They are comparatively
speaking, rude, unlettered men. They
have not been trained for the ministry or
ordained to its holy Office. Mr. Moody is a
tradesman who was led to teach Sunday
schools, and from thence to the pulpit. We
| do not read that he ever read a volume of
general theology. Mr.. Sankey's career is
| somewhat similar. These two gentlemen,
poorly equipped in all that goes to make
competent divine, began in England less
than three years ago. They soon drew null
titudes. They were new to England. There
was something of prairie freshness about
them. We knew it, for in our religious life
the camp meeting takes a prominent part.
The exhorter, the colporteur, the travelling
preacher are common here and we have no
doubt there is not a summer when pious
men as eloquent as Moody and as musical as
Sankey may be heard at dozen camp meet
ings of the Methodist Church.


But this was all quaint and new to the
English. The evangelists were democratic
and free and easy. They were not under the
rule of the Catholic or the Episcopal disci-
! pline. They were liberal. Nor was it tho
stern spirit of Calvin and Luther preaching
against established churches and carrying
their lives in their hands whenever they
aScenueu tnelr pulpltS lnelr tneoloBy was
easy, winning, comprehensive. 1t was
always the glory of heaven, the splendor of
the great white throne, the streets of jasper
and the gates of gold. 1t was always the
Jesus of love and mercy and tenderness,
mourning for His sheep, and not the terrible
Jehovah, with vengeance for all who did not
fall down and worship. When this came
in the telling epigrammatic, common sense
rhetoric of Moody and the tender notes of
sankey, it fell upon the hearts 9f the people
as something new, and so all London rang
with the praises of the American exhorters.