The term _Evangelist_ literally means “publisher of glad tidings.” It
is met in the book of the Acts of the Apostles and in the writings of
Paul, and though from the meager accounts we have of the organization
and practical workings of the church in Paul’s time it is difficult to
determine the precise functions of those to whom it was applied, yet
there is general accord in the notion that the Evangelists of the early
church were a sort of under-missionaries working under direction of the
apostles and preceding the pastors whose business it was to watch over
and minister to the local organizations. The position of Evangelist was
of great importance and usefulness. The name is bestowed in praise and
honor by Paul on one of his most esteemed co-workers.
Although in the literal and best sense every man called to preach the
Gospel is an Evangelist in that he is called to proclaim the “glad
tidings,” yet even in this nineteenth century as well as in the first,
there is room and work for the Evangelist as he is conceived in the
mind of Paul when he delivers his exhortation to Timothy. So long as
there remain, whether within or without the pale of civilization,
districts or localities whither the proclamation of “good news” has not
come, there is a glorious sphere and mission for the Evangelist.
But not such is our latter-day, nineteenth century Evangelist, as he
is commonly seen and known. He is not sent out by and under direction
of the apostles, nor does he, as a rule, go in the name of any branch
of the organized church. Not unto the heathen or pagan, not even unto
the “waste places” where souls are in ignorance, perishing for lack of
opportunity to hear the Gospel. No, the “Evangelist” in this age and
country is an individual whose call has come in such a way that the
organized church is often ignored. He does not precede civilization,
but follows it on the railway train—not to the frontier, but to the
goodly town or city. Once there, if his preference is consulted, it
is not the “ragged portion,” with its sin and neglect, but the most
popular church with all its auxiliaries of organ, choir, comfortable
inquiry room, and the pastor as first subordinate. For gathering a
crowd he calls to his aid that valuable assistant, the press. He
is a “magnetic” man. He usually brings along with him some marked
improvements in methods and theology. The latter sometimes consist in a
new and improved definition of conversion, and a short-cut path through
the old-fashioned wilderness of repentance. A few weeks of “work,”
“hundreds of souls,” a goodly number of collections for the Evangelist
interlarded, and he moves on to the next engagement.
Now that he is gone let us look around and see what he has left
behind him. He has made his impression, men say. Yes, and he has left
impressions, also. Here is one of them: It is that the regular pastor,
to whose zeal and faithfulness the whole work must be indebted if it is
to abide and amount to anything, as a servant and workman of the Lord,
is very inferior to the stranger who made such a stir during the few
weeks of his sojourn. The impression obtains in the church that they
need not expect conversions under the regular ministry, but must await
the coming of another Evangelist. The result is the lessening of the
pastor’s influence in his church and community, and the education of
the people to expect no more than a “tiding over” of the church till
the time of another effort under similar leadership.
But not alone the church is educated to so think and expect, but the
education reaches the minister also, and when this is so the result
is simply deplorable. Bishop R. S. Foster in a recent address to a
conference class has so well and truthfully expressed this result
that we give his words: “It has become common in these days to say of
preachers, ‘this is a revival preacher, and this is not.’ There is
great harmfulness in the suggestion, for we tend to arrange ourselves
around this point: We will be of the revival class, or not of the
revival; as if any ministry dare to be anything but a revival ministry;
as if a man could be a minister without this power of the Holy Ghost.
We must set out to make ourselves revival preachers, working preachers,
that will make sinners feel the power of the truth. And perhaps at this
point I may say that it will be well for us to take time and consider
the field, for it has become a popular idea for us to supplement our
ministry by calling in other people to help us out, by employing
evangelists, irresponsibles, running over the land, and burning it to
a cinder in many places, asking them to come in and do the work God
expects us to do.” If any one offers as an objection or protest against
the above views the question, “What of Mr. Moody and others of signal
success in this field of work?” we answer that when to the name of
Moody is added a _few_ others the list of their kind is exhausted. So
we cite the proverb, “The exception proves the rule.”