# Chapter XXVI explained — Elmer Gantry

> Chapter companion for Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis.

## What happens

Elmer Gantry launches his 'Lively Sunday Evenings' at Wellspring Methodist Church in Zenith, blending entertainment with moral lessons to boost attendance and collections. He cultivates press relationships, securing regular publicity, and proposes a vice-crusading coalition to local clergy, who reject it as too extreme. Undeterred, Elmer plans to use their refusal to his advantage.

## Themes in this chapter

### Manipulation and Showmanship in Evangelism

Elmer uses entertainment, contests, and stunts like a wrecked car to attract crowds and moralize, demonstrating his showmanship.

### Hypocrisy and Corruption in Religion

Elmer's pursuit of publicity and money, his manipulation of Lulu, and his cynical use of vice-crusading for attention highlight hypocrisy.

### Ambition and the Pursuit of Power

Elmer's drive to increase his salary, build his church, and dominate the local religious scene through publicity and coalitions.

## Character check-ins

### Elmer Gantry

Initiates Lively Sunday Evenings, cultivates press relationships, and proposes a vice-crusade to local clergy.

### Lulu Bains

Jealous of Elmer's attention to Sister Coey, but is placated by his explanation of needing publicity.

### Sister Coey

Sob-sister reporter for the Evening Gazette and enthusiastic church member, provides Elmer with weekly publicity.

### Bill Kingdom

Hard-boiled veteran reporter who remains unimpressed by Elmer's attempts at friendship.

### T. J. Rigg

Elmer's friend and pillar, supports his vice-crusading ideas and is proud of building up Wellspring Church.

### Father Matthew Smeesby

Catholic priest who declines Elmer's vice-crusade proposal, noting the church can live with sinners.

## Key lines

> Christianity was a Glad Religion, and he was going to make it a lot gladder.

Elmer declared Christianity a joyful faith and promised to enhance its appeal.

_Elmer's rationale for his Lively Sunday Evenings, blending entertainment with religion._

> the best way to get money was to ask for it, hard enough and often enough.

Elmer's fundraising strategy was simply to demand money persistently.

_Elmer's pragmatic approach to church finances, emphasizing direct appeals._

> I can preach against 'em! And I will! You watch me! Oh, not mention any names—no comeback—but tell 'em how I pleaded with a gang of preachers to take practical methods to end immorality, and they were all scared!

Elmer plans to criticize the other clergy publicly without naming them, framing their refusal as cowardice.

_Elmer's strategic response to the clergy's rejection of his vice-crusade proposal._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-xxvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/elmer_gantry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters