Revival Campaign

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 518, 15 September 1902, Page 2

Revival Campaign

THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF MAN

(Free Lance.) If only tho Wellington clergymen had tho knack of filling their churches ns tho Skating Rink has been lately filled by tho American Evangelists, Dr. Toney and Mr Alexander 1 Does tho fact of theso revival meetings being crowded to excess show that tho clergymen of Wellington are uot “ tho right men in tho right placo 2 " Not to any appreciable extent. Tho peoplo expect something .stirring when they read that a groat revivalist is coming along. Most peoplo are more easily approached through tho emotions than through tho head, and it may bo that tho formor is a near cut to the latter. All tho elergyraon in Wellington in many years cannot lay claim to having made the same numbor of “ converts ” us noted revivalists mako in a few days. Why ? Their doctrine is as sound. Thoy preach tho samo religion, l’erhaps it is that there is nothing startling or novel enough about tho modern clergyman’s stylo tc excito tho emotions of tho people, and it iH left ro one man hero and thoro to do what a crowd has not been nblo to accomplish. How powerfully tho feelings can bo moved at times is instanced] by tho easo of tho Australian Salvatiou Army soldier, who recently confessed to having committed threo murders—crimes that existed only in his imagination, and were probably conceived through an overmastering desire to exhibit a violent contrast betwoen [_his past caroor and his presont lifo. Noto tho onormous power wieldod by Dr. Dowio, whoso personal influence is so great that tons of thousands of peoplo in America flock to hoar if ho is in truth tho "Elijah.” Thoro aro, alas, no means of testing the gonuinoness of tho results of revivals. Mon who are ablo to control and electrify a huge mass mooting have great magnetic powor, and a power that is frequently productive of tho finest results, It is, however, a peculiar commentary on changeable human nature that truths which peoplo aro convinced about should have to bo hammered homo in tho revival fashion in order to ovoko a spirit of enthusiasm about them.

If through revivals the emotions of tho pooplo were stirred lastingly, and thoy wero induced to listen to their own regular ministers in larger numbers as a result, it is likely that the benefits of thoso periodical visits would bo more easily discernible. Tho Wellington clorgy should tost tho value of the revivals by calling on tho pooplo to gather as thoy aro at presont gathering in a year's time. It may bo that the peoplo think more of tho toaching than the teacher. They should bo asked to demonstrate this.