# Chapter XXX explained — Elmer Gantry

> Chapter companion for Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis.

## What happens

Elmer Gantry, now pastor of Wellspring Church, enjoys his success and manipulates a visit from Dr. Loren Larimer Dodd to secure a Doctor of Divinity degree from Abernathy College. He later travels to Europe, preaches in London, and meets J. E. North, a vice-slayer. He also encounters his old friend Jim Lefferts, now a tired lawyer, and feels superior. Elmer's hypocrisy and ambition are on full display as he navigates church politics, personal vanity, and moral posturing.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption in Religion

Elmer manipulates Dr. Dodd for a D.D. degree, lies about his frontier ministry, and secretly enjoys obscene postcards while posing as a moral crusader.

### Ambition and the Pursuit of Power

Elmer schemes to raise his salary, gain honorary degrees, and expand his influence through connections like J. E. North.

### Manipulation and Showmanship in Evangelism

Elmer uses fabricated stories and theatrical preaching to impress audiences, and he skillfully negotiates with Dr. Dodd for personal gain.

## Character check-ins

### Elmer Gantry

Now pastor of Wellspring Church, Elmer manipulates Dr. Dodd into offering him a D.D. degree, enjoys his success, and feels superior to Jim Lefferts.

### Cleo Benham

Elmer's wife, who accompanies him to Europe and admires his preaching, though she is unaware of his inner thoughts.

### Jim Lefferts

Elmer's old friend, now a tired lawyer in Topeka, briefly reconnects with Elmer but does not follow up.

### J. E. North

Executive secretary of the National Association for the Purification of Art and the Press, who befriends Elmer on the steamer and invites him to lecture.

### Miss Bundle

Elmer's dowdy secretary, whom he plans to get rid of after her brother's death.

### Emmanuel Navitsky

Professional church money-raiser employed by Elmer to attack the church debt.

### Dr. Dodd

President of Abernathy College, who visits Elmer to solicit funds and ends up offering him a D.D. degree.

### Barney Bains

Pioneer mentioned in Elmer's fabricated sermon story about his frontier ministry.

## Key lines

> I don't know why the people of Wellspring should contribute to a college which hasn't thought enough of Wellspring's pastor to give him a Doctor of Divinity degree!

Elmer hints that he wants a D.D. degree from Abernathy College before he will help raise funds.

_Elmer uses his position to leverage a personal honor._

> Because Jesus has been with me all the time!

In a fabricated sermon story, a pioneer claims he was never lonely because Jesus was with him.

_Elmer invents a dramatic anecdote to impress his audience._

> You get out of here or I'll call a cop! Trying to sell obscene pictures—and to a minister of the gospel!

Elmer angrily rejects a postcard seller when his wife approaches, pretending to be morally outraged.

_Elmer's hypocrisy is exposed as he had been eagerly looking at the cards moments before._

## Links

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