Elmer Gantry · Chapter
Chapter XXII explained
Elmer Gantry's vice crusade in Sparta brings him statewide fame, culminating in his appointment to the Wellspring Methodist Church in Zenith.
What happens
Elmer Gantry's vice crusade in Sparta brings him statewide fame, culminating in his appointment to the Wellspring Methodist Church in Zenith. He campaigns against vice, supports a Jewish mayoral candidate, and after the election is offered the pastorate by Bishop Toomis, which he accepts after assessing the neighborhood's potential.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Elmer’s public vindication through Hettie’s confession and the immediate offers of prestigious positions mark…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Hypocrisy and Corruption in Religion
Elmer's crusade against vice is politically motivated; he supports a candidate with ties to brothels while publicly denouncing sin.
- Manipulation and Showmanship in Evangelism
Elmer uses sensational advertising, theatrical sermons, and media manipulation to attract crowds and gain fame.
- Ambition and the Pursuit of Power
Elmer's ambition drives him to accept the Wellspring pastorate, seeing it as a step toward a bishopric or college presidency.
- Class and Social Climbing
Elmer assesses the neighborhood's potential for upward mobility before accepting the church, showing his concern for social status.
Characters to notice
- Elmer Gantry
Conducts a vice crusade in Sparta, gains fame, supports a Jewish mayoral candidate, and is offered the pastorate of Wellspring Church in Zenith.
- Bishop Wesley R. Toomis
Sends for Elmer after the Sparta campaign and offers him the pastorate of Wellspring Church in Zenith.
- Bill Kingdom
Reporter from the Zenith Advocate-Times who covers Elmer's campaign and writes a favorable story.
- Jim Lefferts
Mentioned in Elmer's reflection on his past with Sharon Falconer.
- Sharon Falconer
Elmer mourns his lost relationship with her, wishing he could have been a decent fellow.
Key passages
“He was so strong on virtue and the purity of womanhood and the evils of liquor that to oppose him was to admit one's self a debauchee.”
Elmer's aggressive stance on morality made any criticism of him seem like an admission of immorality.
Illustrates Elmer's use of moral absolutism to silence opposition.
“The Jew won the campaign. And immediately after this—six months before the Annual Conference of 1920—Bishop Toomis sent for Elmer.”
After the Jewish candidate's victory, Bishop Toomis summoned Elmer to discuss his future.
Highlights the political calculation behind Elmer's support and the bishop's recognition of his success.
“A church in Zenith! Elmer would—almost—have taken it with no salary whatever. He could see his Doctor of Divinity degree at hand, his bishopric or college presidency or fabulous pulpit in New York.”
The prospect of a church in Zenith was so enticing that Elmer would have accepted it for free, envisioning future honors and advancement.
Reveals Elmer's overriding ambition and his view of the pastorate as a stepping stone.
