Sensationalism in the sense of stirring men to greater interest in
verities, seems wholly praiseworthy:
Old Peter Cartwright was a famous preacher and circuit-rider
many years ago.
The exhorter was holding a camp-meeting in Ohio. There was a
great number of campers on the field, and the eccentric speaker
addrest vast concourses at every service, but he thought too
few were being converted. He felt that something should be
done to stir the sinners to repentance, so he prepared a strong
sermon on the second coming of Christ. He told how the world
would go on in its sin and wickedness, and at last Gabriel would
sound his trumpet and time would come to an end. He described
the horrors of the lost and the joys of those who were saved.
The sermon grew in intensity, and he brought his people up to
a grand climax, when suddenly the sound of a trumpet smote the
ears of the anxious throng.
There was a great sensation, and many fell upon their knees in
terror and began to repent and pray. Women screamed and strong
men groaned. Pandemonium was let loose for a few minutes. After
the terror had somewhat ceased the preacher called to a man up
a tree, and he descended with a long tin horn in his hand. The
speaker then turned in fierce wrath and upbraided the people.
He cried out in stentorian tones that, if a man with a tin horn
up a tree could frighten them so, how would it be in the last
great end when Gabriel’s trumpet sounded the knell of the world!
The sermon had a great effect upon the vast audience, and many
hundreds flocked to the front and were converted.
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