METHODIST REVIEW.

SEPTEMBER, 1899.

ART. I.-A CENTENNIAL FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE proposal made by Mr. R. M. Perks, M.P., to the English Methodists, to collect the sum of a million guineas as a thank offering for the blessings of the past century and a resource for coming years, has met with an extraordinary response. Although addressed in the first instance to only one section of English Methodism, the echo of the appeal has been heard around the entire globe, and the whole sisterhood of Methodist churches is responding with an alacrity which gives promise of a very large measure of financial success. It has been felt, however, by many, and the feeling seems to be growing deeper and more widespread daily, that a movement of this kind must be incomplete and fail to accomplish a full measure of success so long as it is limited to material interests. In other words, the effort to collect a worthy financial offering ought to be associated with a corresponding forward movement on spiritual lines. In all great religious movements which are healthy in tone and permanent in results this association of generous giving with earnest and practical working may be observed, and in the present case it will doubtless be found that a carefully organized effort to win disciples for our Master will not only result in an immense ingathering of converts and an uplifting of the spiritual tone, but also in a marked increase in the offerings of the people.

Aside from the influence of such a movement upon the financial enterprise which has been undertaken there are many special reasons why an effort of this kind should be made at the present time. While our Church is not in a state of deca45-FIFTH SERIES, VOL. XV.

dence, and while no immediate peril confronts us, yet the most optimistic observer can hardly regard the present situation as even moderately satisfactory. Some of the weak points in this situation may be indicated in a few words. In the first place, we are confronted, if not by a decline in membership, at least by an arrest of progress which is almost as significant as a positive decline would be. If an Atlantic liner, which for several years in succession has averaged twenty knots an hour, should suddenly slacken its speed and drop down to five or six knots, the owners of the vessel would hardly congratulate themselves on the general condition and working capacity of their steamer. Very much may be said in explanation of the present arrested growth of the Church, but in this discussion we have only to deal with the fact. Be the explanation what it may, the fact presents some ominous features and calls for immediate and careful attention.

For some years past, in common with all our sister churches, we have seemed unable to grapple successfully with the emergencies which God in his providence has set before us. This has been painfully apparent in our great cities, where too often we see Christian churches struggling desperately for mere existence, instead of contending resolutely with the powers of evil around them and moving forward in a career of victory. Nobler Christians have never lived than are many of those who are engaged in the struggle which is going on in our great cities, but up to date it must be confessed that they are barely holding their own. In the foreign field we see even a more depressing spectacle. Wide doors are open, error is giving way, and amazing possibilities are revealed; but the Church holds back and seems irresolute and almost despondent while in full sight of assured victory. Our missionary force is actually decreasing in the face of the most inviting opportunities which God has ever set before a people.

One singular feature of the present situation, which to some appears hopeful, although in reality deceptive, calls for special remark. We have before us the unusual spectacle of a plethora of preachers, and yet in every direction we see men running up and down in search of effective helpers to aid in what they call "revival efforts." The average Methodist preacher

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of the present day may be as good a man as at any past period, but it has for some time seemed as if he is a less effective worker than he formerly was. Nor does the evangelist whom he so gladly calls to his aid appear to be the man for the times. He is not at his best when fighting at the very gates of hell. He too often seeks and demands soft conditions, and has a persistent inclination to seek large audiences of sympathetic believers, rather than indifferent or hostile groups of uncongenial unbelievers. The present-day revival is also no longer like that of the last century, or that of a comparatively recent date in the present century. Very many exceptions. may be pointed out, but we cannot trust to exceptions. average revival is shallow, and its results unsatisfactory. A religious movement which does not get a grip on character, which does not revolutionize human lives and remodel and purify homes, may be good in its way, but it is not a revival in the proper sense of the word. A series of special meetings in which most of the Sunday school children between the ages of nine and fourteen are induced to come forward for prayers, with a slight sprinkling of older people, and near the close of which the pastor "opens the doors of the Church" by inviting those who have been forward to join on probation, may be a means of doing some good, but it is not a revival; and there is sad reason to fear that this kind of procedure has filled many of our church registers with the names of persons who have scarcely any realization of what is meant by membership in the Church. Be the cause what it may, it can hardly be doubted that an immense number of nominal Christians have their names inscribed on our Church rolls, very few of whom have any idea of personal obligation to the Church or of personal responsibility as workers in the vineyard.

These remarks will probably be challenged by some readers, but they are not written in a spirit of either hostility or discouragement. The writer has never been accused of pessimism in any of its phases, and does not believe that the present situation furnishes any ground for either despair or discouragement; but when a great aggressive movement is proposed in the name of the Church, and is intended to embrace the whole Church, it is of the first importance that we get an intelligent

view of the actual situation. If we would build securely we must be willing to dig down through all manner of débris until we find a solid foundation for the superstructure which we propose to erect. The ancient psalmist was distressed by the inclination of the people around him to make void the law of God; but it only inspired him to cry out, in the confidence of his heart, "It is time for thee, Lord, to work."

If it becomes apparent that a general movement should be inaugurated on spiritual lines, as the complement to the financial movement now in progress, it becomes a question of supreme importance as to what measures are to be adopted to make it successful. It need hardly be said that no great result can be expected without careful organization and systematic work. The first, and perhaps the greatest, danger to be anticipated is that of trusting to an official proclamation of a general revival effort, followed by a series of exhortations iL the Church papers. A score of failures in the past ought to suffice to convince everyone that no general movement can be either set in motion or carried forward in that way. Nor is it desirable that the movement should be defined by the single word "revival," a term which unfortunately has become some what equivocal in recent years. The practical value of a gereral revival movement throughout the Church would depend on its depth. It might possibly happen that, like some rivers, it would grow more and more shallow as it increased in width. If we wish to achieve the largest amount of possible good we must determine just what we would do and how our task is to be accomplished. The task to be attempted will be a gigantic one, and to achieve success the movement must be organized thoroughly organized-and wisely directed by leaders who understand clearly the work to be done.

A successful church should be composed of persons who are living witnesses to a personal Saviour, who give freely of their substance to promote that Saviour's interests, and who personally engage in such forms of service as opportunity offers in their Master's name. How many Methodists in our present day can be classed in the above category? Very many, it is to be feared, are unable to stand forth as living witnesses for Christ; very many are unable to say, "I know;" very many

give little or nothing of their substance; and very few engage in any form of personal service for Christ's sake, unless it be in the way of ordinary routine. The great work of recruiting disciples for the Master is left almost wholly to men in the pulpit, and these in turn trust to long-range methods in which personal effort almost wholly disappears. A church which trusts to professional workers alone, or chiefly, is undone; but it is just at this point that modern Methodism has grown weak. The revival which we need is one which will stir into activity a million idlers in the market place, unloose a million purse strings, unseal a million lips, put songs of joy into a million hearts, and make a million feet swift to run in the way of the Lord's commandments.

"But how," it will be asked by the present reader, "can such results be attained? What standard of piety or of grace do you propose to set up? Is a new Gospel to be preached? And, if so, in what respect is it to differ from the truth which is proclaimed from ten thousand Methodist pulpits every Sunday?" No new Gospel is proposed, but only a revival of that with which universal Methodism was intrusted at the beginning. Everyone has heard the story of how John Wesley's heart was "strangely warmed" one evening while attending a little meeting in Aldersgate Street, London. Whole volumes have been written to prove that the change wrought in his heart, or the gift imparted to him on that occasion, was or was not distinct from a later work of grace. But, while critics are settling this point, let us note one most important fact concerning which there is no conflict of evidence. The heart-warming process, whatever it may have been, resulted in making John Wesley an earnest witness for a living Christ, and from that point forward, like the early disciples, "with great power" he bore testimony to the grace and glory of the risen and exalted Man of Nazareth. Peter's initial sermon was unique because the occasion was exceptional-the inauguration of a new dispensation-and he was aided, moreover, by the united faith of a hundred and twenty believers of rare faith and devotion. But if we compare man with man throughout months and years, John Wesley will appear quite as successful in witnessing for Christ, if not, indeed, more so, than