To no man in any walk of life, whether politician, editor or author, has the opportunity of impressing his thoughts on his generation that Dr. Talmage enjoys been given in such fulness.  Next in extent of influence, and with a like faculty of reaching immense and widely scattered masses of people, was the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a preacher of singularly homely power, Calvinistic in theology, epigrammatic in style, and with an earnest evangelical spirit which had a powerful influence on both hearers and readers.  His sermons, like those of Dr. Talmage, were read in every land and were instrumental in conversions wherever they went.  Strongly resembling Mr. Spurgeon in his strong evangelicalism, as well as in homely eloquence, is Mr. D.L.  Moody.  During this century probably no man has addressed so large a number of people.  In this country and in England such audiences have thronged the buildings in which he preached as no other orator has ever addressed on religious subjects, and the influence of his words is demonstrated by the thousands who through his appeals have been led to Christ.

We are nearing the end of the century.  Looking back over the events in the religious world which have marked its history, one characteristic is prominent above all others.  It is the operation of the force to which an eminent writer has given the name of “spiritual dynamics.”  The world does not need a dogma, or a creed, so much as it needs power.  It needs power to live right, to do right, to love God and man, to pity the fallen, to relieve the needy, the power of being good, of leading a spiritual life.  This power it finds in Christ and the whole tendency of the religious life of the century is to get back to him.  Conduct rather than creed, love rather than theology, have been the watchwords of the church.  The spirit of Christ, His teachings, His character, His example, are the centre of attraction which holds His church together and endues it with the power which shall yet subdue the world.