Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker volume 3.djvu/239

226 would chill a whole garden of cucumbers in dog days. Strike two flints together, and you get sparks of fire; from lumps of ice, yon get nothing but cold splinters. Nothing came of that. Their vanity in the beginning of winter turned into vexation of spirit in spring.

The stricter sects have often tried this experiment. It is in consistency with their theological idea. You remember the efforts made last year—the prayer meetings, conference meetings, the preaching, and the talk in the newspapers. Not much came of it. Now circumstances are different. The commercial crisis last autumn broke great fortunes to fragments, ground little ones to powder, turned men out of business by thousands. Then some religious men, of all denominations, full of Christian charity, set themselves to looking after the poor. The work was well done—never better. Then to prevent the expected increase of crime, by an increased attention to justice and charity. That, too, was well done—greatly to Boston's honour. But other men would improve the opportunity to make church members, and enforce belief in the ecclesiastic theology; so they set the revival machinery in motion. That is as well known as McCormick's reaper, and need not be described. Soon as an effect is produced in New Bedford, or elsewhere, the fact is telegraphed to Boston, and other places, and the spark from one fire lights a thousand more. Men like to follow the multitude. You remember the effects of the election in Pennsylvania, in October, 1856; it turned the vote of thousands of men in the Northern States. If one company runs in battle, a whole regiment runs; if a regiment, then an army. Nay, a file of soldiers, with fife and drum, will draw a whole crowd of men and boys in the streets any day. All men are social, rude men gregarious. The means of getting up a revival are as well known as the means for getting up a mechanics' fair, a country muster, a cattle show, or a political convention. They have only to advertise in the newspapers, and say, "The Rev. Mr Great-talk is to be here to-day. He is exceedingly interesting, and has already converted men by the score or the hundred/' Then they hang out their placards at the corners of the streets. It is a business operation. It reminds me of the placards of the rival clothing dealers in North-street, formerly Ann: and Park-