G.B.S. AT 18

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 147, 19 March 1934, Page 3

G.B.S. AT 18

First Burst Into Print ON MOODY AND SANKEY In his book “Mr. Bernard Shaw: A Chronicle and an Introduction Dr. R. F. Rattray quotes a letter which Btruard Shaw wrote to “Public Opinion tn 1875, when he was eighteen years of ti"e. It is a strong criticism of Messrs. Aloody and Sankey, and is believed to be the first writing of Shaw to get into print. Keen admirers of the two evangelists. owing to the lapse of the years, although they will -still disagree, wid read his spirited outburst with intereS“ln 1575, when Shaw was eighteen.” says Dr. Rattray. "Moody and Sankey, the. famous evangelists, visited Dublin and made a great impression. Ln ‘Public Opinion’ appeared the following letter written by Shaw from Dublin “ ‘Sir. ( _ “‘ln reply to your correspondent .1. R. D.,” as to the effect, of tile “wave ot evangelism,” I beg to oft er the follovving observations on the late “revival in Dublin, of which I was a witness. “ ‘As the enormous audiences drawn to the evangelistic services have been referred to as a proof of their efficacy. I will enumerate some of the motives wbic'h induced people to go. It. will bo seen that they were not of a religions, but a secular, not to say profane, character.

“‘Predominant was Ihe curiosity excited by the great, reputation of the evangejists. and the stories, widely circulated. of the summary annihilation of epilepsy and otherwise of sceptics who lind openly proclaimed their doubts of Mr. Moody’s divine mission. “‘Another motive exhibits a peculiar side of human nature. The services took place in the Exhibition Building, tlie entry to which was connected in the public mind with I lie expenditure of a certain sum of money. But Messrs. Moody and Sankey opened the building "for nothing,” and the novelty, combined with the curiosity, made the attraction irresistible.

“ ’I mention these inlluence.s particularly as I believe they have been hitherto almost ignored. . The audiences were, as a rule, respectable; and as Mr. Moody’s orations were characterised by an excess of vehement assertion and a total absence of logic, respectable audiences were precisely those which were least likely to derive any benefit from them.

‘“lf is to the rough, to the outcasts of the streets, that such “awakenings” should be addressed; and those mein- 1 hers of the aristocracy who by their

presence tend to raise the meetings above the sphere of-such outcasts, are merely diverting the evangelistic vein into channels where it is wasted, its place being already supplied, and as. in tlie dull routine of hard work, novelty has a special attraction for the poor, I think it would be well for clergymen, who are nothing if not conspicuous, to render themselves so in this instance by their absence. “ ‘The unreasoning mind of tlie people is too apt to connect a white tie with a dreary church service, capped by a sermon of platitudes, and is more likely to appreciate the gift of tlie gab”—the possession of which by Mr. Moodv nobody will deny —than that of the Apostolic Succession, which he lacks.

“ ‘Respecting I lie effect of the revival on individuals 1 may mention that it has a tendency to make them highly objectionable members of society, and induces their unconverted friends to desire a speedy reliction, which cither soon takes place or flic revived one relapses slowly' into his previous benighted condition as the effect fades: and although ninny young men have been snatched from careers of dissipation by Mr. Moody’s exhortations, it remains doubtful whether the change is not merely in the nature of tlie excitmcnt rather than in the moral nature of the individual. Hoping that these remarks may elucidate further opinions on Ihe subject. “‘I remain. Sir. yours, S.’”