New Methods in Religion.
By Editor
THE papers both religious and secular are of late sounding the praises of a new revivalist who is familiarly known as Sam Jones. We have read some excellent sayings of his, and are convinced that he tells the people some plain and wholesome truths. But the more we have read of his work, the more we have been strengthened in the conviction that it is not a healthy religious interest that is awakened by him. In a recent number of the Congregationalist a St. Louis pastor gives a very flattering account of Mr. Jones's work in that city. In describing him this pastor says:— “He is not restrained by rules of speech, but goes straight to his point either along or across the lines of grammar, as best suits his convenience. His drawing power is his wit, and all his reported sermons are full of ‘(laughter).’” “His hardest hits at dishonest people, and his loftiest expressions in praise of honesty, were greeted with hearty response. When he said, ‘God would stand by the honest man if he had to put the angels on half rations,’ the hall rang with applause. It seemed to those who were there like a great triumph for truth in the heart of a wicked city.” These statements are enough to show that it is not the pricks of conscience, but “itching ears,” that cause the crowds to go to hear Mr. Jones; that they assemble, not to learn the way of righteousness, but to have a good time. The spirit which prompts them to attend his meetings is the same spirit that leads the multitudes to visit the theater or any other place of amusement; and of the two places of amusement we candidly believe that the theater does less real harm than do so-called revival meetings to which the audiences are drawn by the wit of the speaker, and where they are all the time convulsed with laughter. The theater makes little, if any, pretensions to good, and its evil tendencies are well known, and it may be shown by serious-minded persons that such revival services as we have mentioned dissipate serious thought on religious matters, and lower the standard of religion to the level of common things. We cannot see anything like a “triumph for truth” in the fact that “hearty applause” was given to a speech whose wittiness consisted only in its irreverence. Indeed, it will be noticed in all such reports of “revival” services that the more nearly the speaker approaches to absolute irreverence, the more hearty the applause. We are not especially concerned with Mr. Jones and his methods; but we mention this subject because there is a growing tendency toward sensationalism in religious matters. Too many ministers depend more upon startling assertions and striking forms of speech that border upon the profane, than they do upon the power of the simple word. All the interest that is aroused by such methods is worse than no interest at all. Christ spake as never man spake; yet we have not the record of a single witty speech, and the reports of his sermons are not filled with the word “(laughter).” When Peter preached, his hearers were pricked in their hearts, and cried out, “What shall we do?” When Paul stood in the judgment hall, and “reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,” Felix trembled. There was nothing in his sermons to bring forth “hearty applause.” The man who preaches the truth simply and earnestly, with no desire to exhibit his own wit or learning, cannot draw immense crowds nor receive rounds of applause from those who listen. Indeed, many persons may become offended and turn away even as they did from Christ; but his work will not be in vain, and the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” will be more grateful to his ear than the applause of tens of thousands of people.