The New Revival by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 3, 1905

The New Revival

By L. A. S.

The English revivalist, Rev. W. J. Dawson, who has recently been doing evangelistic work in the United States, notices a new attitude on the part of the churches in this country. He is quoted as saying that he detects a marked breaking away, on the part of the church, from its position of non-interference in the larger affairs of politics. He believes this to be a very hopeful sign.

The same view is taken by a Philadelphia clergyman, Rev. James H. Ecob, who is quoted as saying: “The revival for which the people and the world are waiting and perishing, is not a revival to greater pietistic fervor, but to simple, practical righteousness in all the affairs of common life.”

To join in the movement to purify politics, “turn the rascals out,” make people obey the laws of the land, promote “civic righteousness,” etc., is not a thing that requires pietistic fervor, or any of the essentials of the old-time revival, such as repentance, confession of sin, faith in the divine Sacrifice, etc., but is a proceeding in which the atheist can join as readily as the professor of religion. This is truly a new type of Christian revival. If the energies of the church are to be directed into this channel, and prominent revivalists of the day look upon the tendency in this direction as a hopeful sign, we may fairly conclude that the era of the old-time revival, marked by pietistic fervor, is in the past, so far as the prominent churches of the country are concerned.

This, though sad, is not a strange proceeding on their part at this time. For as they pay decreasing attention to the laws and the government of heaven, it is natural that they should more and more turn their attention to the laws and the governments of earth. “Can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

L. A. S.