Modern Revivals by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 25, 1875

Modern Revivals.

By James White

Mr. Hammond, the revivalist, is now, March 1875, operating in San Francisco. His efforts thus far seem to have been confined to the children, from four to fourteen years of age. So far as we can judge, the religion aimed at in these revivals is emotional, or rather sensational. A more thorough work is needed to reform sinners of this degenerate age.

The following from the Chronicle's report of one of the meetings is one of the many of the same sort which Mr. Hammond relates for the amusement of the young:—

“THE STORY OF THE LITTLE DUCK.

“And there was a little wee bit of a duck, only two days old, and its mother was a hen. As soon as the little duck saw some water, it began to toddle along to it just like this. [Here the reverend speaker imitated the waddling of a duck across the stage, amid loud laughter.] Now, children, the little duck knew what was good for him; and now, my dear children, you should take to Jesus like ducks to water.”

This may appear all right to some, but to us it looks rather like trifling with sacred things.

J. H. W.