The Brooklyn Plague: A Satirical Warning Against the 'Fanaticism' of Moody and Sankey

The Associated Press papers and others let us know what is going on in that queer world of cities, and I am glad to make the fact that far off land and taken up my abode in Washington Territory. What it is drilling in disguise is annulled if only the 'Gospel' would sweep our Long Island and clean out some of the non-creatures that have gone down like an Egyptian plague upon the famous city of churches. They not only have in their finery the vainglorious 'curd preacher,' the man who has kept Plymouth Church on the 'Eggshell' of a tormenting standard for half a dozen years, in spite of past hymns and Wall Street mauling threats, who have put and called 'in mind to banish from sight this grim ghost which can constantly pervade upon the Plymouth altar, shaking its hideous skull in the face of all the worshiping who are tried to sing and pray it back into purgatory; but they have also the Rev. Dr. Talbridge, who has deluged the city with his wonderful pamphlets and sermons, covered chock full of their smelling tombs, chronicles and ante-diluvian prehistoric myths; so full indeed, that there is no more left on the outside corners, for the doctrine of grave, mercy and power, hope, charity and brotherly love.

And now like an elephant, the Rev. Mr. Moody, the brilliant oratorist, the great city-citizen-national-revivalist, aided by a flat plan of lettering Mr. R.A. Sankey, the musical harpist, gone as an aid to turning on the light and flood at will, whoever his great master gives him the nod, in rolling his titanic waves of bitter dry sentiments out the city, driving people away from other houses of worship, to attend his performance they call night, (see newspaper gain attention bills.) In the rink, where few children and young men and women not yet reached the year of discretion, with occasionally a hardened old reprobate, are straightened up to the mourners bench, through fear of his word 'preliminary poster' of the second coming,' not the torments of a future state. I have looked in Mr. Moody's sermons, for any argument, or any reason, or any difference for men to do right, only the fear of future retribution. The Men of a God moral, high and physical love or obligation, everything with its own punishment, never seems to have penetrated Brother Moody's brain. He leaves the impression, that no matter how wicked men and women may be, law breakers all, law breakers by inheritance, they can go along through life free, if they only attend a few moments at the altar before the close of life, in which to repent, then they are all right anyhow. If a view of life it is narrow, gloomy, deficient, unscientific and absurd.

The dark side of all nature is till he appears to see. He attracts to the apostle ceremony, and yet the religion he proclaims, is nothing but ceremony and emotion. What manner of man he really is, it would be impossible to say—he is the best representative of emotional excitement. He mentally, intellectually we can judge him only by his acts. He is, I thank, 'the connecting link' between unioned passions and emotions and a higher order of intellectual development. Now, I am really sorry that a city so elegantly situated otherwise, Brooklyn, should have so much triflation.

Sodom and Gomorrah were terribly punished for their wickedness. Can it be that the combined pestilence, Rev. Dr. Talbridge and Moody and Sankey, located in Brooklyn in a visitation in a moral form, similar to that of the two ancient cities of the plain? Also, until I was a resident of Brooklyn, I should any, take any Beecher, Talbridge, Moody, Sankey, etc., all bring on the fire. 'Shes, bishops and hats of the two great rule I think the least named for the least.' Would it not be a good idea, for some of our lumber vessels, the next time they take a cargo to any of the South Sea Islands, to take on board some of the missionaries down there, proceed home by way of New York and turn them loose in Brooklyn. If their zeal has not been burned out of them, they can find plenty to do. The vessel could then take on board a cargo of emigrants, and when she reaches Cape Flattery, if allowed to quarantine for three or four months, there would be little risk of any of the escaped Brooklynite spreading the mild fanaticism among the inhabitants of Washington Territory. I have the honor to ask any of my neighbors to volunteer for this new field of labor. But still, Mr. Editor, should you hear of any one willing to sacrifice the comforts of a quiet home on the banks of the peaceful Snohomish, take their lives in their hands and venture among the fanatics of this much afflicted city I will contribute anything toward sustaining them in their praiseworthy, self-sacrificing labor of love.

One Sunday.