# Chapter XXVII explained — Elmer Gantry

> Chapter companion for Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis.

## What happens

Elmer Gantry's vice crusade in Zenith leads to convictions and public acclaim, boosting his church's attendance and salary. He joins the Rotary Club, delivers a Chautauqua lecture, and visits Reverend Andrew Pengilly, where he boasts of his church's innovations and success.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption in Religion

Elmer's crusade against vice is performative, as vice quickly returns; he uses religion for personal gain and social climbing.

### Manipulation and Showmanship in Evangelism

Elmer deliberately mixes vaudeville with hellfire sermons to maintain interest and dignity, manipulating his audience.

### Ambition and the Pursuit of Power

Elmer aspires to a bishopric, social status, and national influence, using his crusade and Chautauqua tour as stepping stones.

## Character check-ins

### Elmer Gantry

Leads a successful vice crusade in Zenith, joins Rotary, delivers a Chautauqua lecture, and visits Reverend Andrew Pengilly.

### Lulu Bains Naylor

Mentioned as conferring with Elmer on cooking classes late at night.

### Cleo Benham

Elmer considers her priggish and imagines her death; she remains at home while he travels.

### Frank Shallard

Mentioned as having left Andrew Pengilly, contributing to Pengilly's loneliness.

### Mr. Pengilly

Hosts Elmer in his cottage, feeling lonely since Frank Shallard left; idealizes Elmer as a St. Michael.

### Oscar Hochlauf

Receives extra six months for resisting arrest and abusive language during Elmer's crusade.

## Key lines

> Vice was ended in Zenith. It was thirty days before any of the gay ladies were really back at work⁠—though the gentlemanly jailers at the workhouse did let some of them out for an occasional night.

Elmer's crusade temporarily suppressed vice in Zenith, but within a month, prostitution resumed, with jailers allowing women out occasionally.

_Highlights the superficiality of Elmer's moral victory._

> The thing is sort of to have other people do the monkey-business, but me, I got to be upstage and not smile as much as I've been doing. And just when the poor chumps think my Sunday evening is nothing but a vaudeville show, I'll suddenly soak 'em with a regular old-time hellfire and damnation sermon, or be poetic and that stuff.

Elmer plans to let others provide entertainment while he maintains a dignified facade, then surprise the congregation with traditional fire-and-brimstone preaching.

_Reveals Elmer's calculated manipulation of his audience._

> Jesus Christ would be a Rotarian if he lived today⁠—Lincoln would be a Rotarian today⁠—William McKinley would be a Rotarian today. All these men preached the principles of Rotary: one for all and all for one; helpfulness towards one's community, and respect for God.

Elmer claims that Jesus, Lincoln, and McKinley would endorse Rotary's values of unity and service.

_Shows Elmer's self-serving alignment of religion with business culture._

## Links

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