276 PSYCHOLOGY AND PREACHING
about the adjustments, the masses of the people are ex tremely suggestible and yield readily to the appeal of a strong leader who comes proposing a definite principle and program. The great movements which have lifted the world to higher moral and spiritual levels have generally had their origin in and, in part certainly, owe their prevalence to such conditions. These movements are initiated by some great, dominating personality, or group of personalities; but master first the "common people" and through them finally prevail. Christianity itself thus arose and spread; and thus the great reforms of Christianity have been ac complished. The common people heard Jesus gladly. To the common people did Savonarola, Huss, Wyckliff, Lu ther, Wesley, and many others, make their appeal. Thus re forms in other religions have been achieved. Thus modern democracy won the day Hampden, Washington, Lincoln, as well as the great democratic leaders of this generation, found their support among the common people. Along this road the beneficent reforms of the present hour are march ing to victory. Upon the common people the mighty men who lead the way to better things must lean for support.
The everlasting tendency is for institutionalized culture to become unresponsive to the living needs of humanity. At the same time the interests of the dominant classes come to be identified with this institutionalized culture and so uncom promisingly opposed to all reforming or revolutionizing en thusiasms ; while the " lower classes " gradually come to a dim and inarticulate realization that the institutions of so ciety no longer serve their interests. Then some great spirit with deep ethical insight and prophetic vision arises and voices the dumb spiritual needs, the blind ethical hungers, of the populace, and from him emanates the mighty emotional tide which sweeps all before it. But every movement is always in danger, especially in its earlier stages, of falling into demoralizing excesses because of the low intelligence and high suggestibilty of the ignorant masses. And there is always danger lest the populace in its fickleness fall under
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