Editing Elmer Gantry (section)

==Synopsis==
{{More plot|1=Section|2=plot summary (detailed and descriptive, without reintroducing interpretation and editorialising)|date=October 2024}}
The novel tells the story of the young, <!--[[Narcissism|narcissistic]], -->womanizing college athlete, Elmer Gantry, who abandons an early ambition to become a lawyer. <!--The legal profession does not suit the unethical Gantry.{{editorialising|date = October 2024}}
--> After college,{{clarify|date = October 2024}}<!--In re: {{what}} and {{who}}: Plot summaries generally state details from the fictional work.--> he attends a [[Baptists|Baptist]] seminary,{{clarify|date = October 2024}} and is ordained as a minister. He successfully hides sexual involvements that are prohibited,{{clarify|date = October 2024}} but is thrown out of the seminary before completing his bachelor of divinity because he is too drunk to appear at a church where he is supposed to preach.

After several years as a traveling salesman of farm equipment, Gantry becomes a confidante of Sharon Falconer, a popular evangelist and [[motivational speaker]]{{clarify|date = October 2024}} who has her own traveling "road church". Gantry becomes her lover, but she and scores of individuals attending one of her meetings<!--NOT "attendants"--> are killed in a catastrophic fire in her tent tabernacle, and so Gantry loses both relationship and position. After the tragedy, he briefly acts as a "[[New Thought]]" evangelist,{{clarify|date = October 2024}} and eventually becomes a [[Methodism|Methodist]] minister.

Gantry marries a local parishioner. Although he is unhappy with her sexual frigidity, he remains with her for sake of appearances. Years later, Methodist leaders award him a larger congregation in the city of Zenith. With his career and power at their peak, Gantry manipulates local, state and national political figures, resulting in police raids against bootleggers and bar patrons.

Gantry's corruption and power hunger{{clarify|date = October 2024}}<!--Conclusive / synthetic, not descriptive.--> contribute to the downfall, physical injury, and even death of key people around him, including a former associate, Frank Shallard, a sincere minister who questions the moral purpose of his church. Shallard is nearly beaten to death by Gantry loyalists who are angered by perceived "[[Atheism|atheistic]]" divergences from Christian teachings.

Gantry's career comes close to a major scandal when one of his affairs turns out to involve a husband and wife blackmail team. Gantry is helped in avoiding potential downfall by a close friend, and via political alliances with Deacon Eversley, a powerful lawyer; and a private detective agency. A thoroughly repentant Gantry swears to abstain from his sinful proclivities. As the book closes, Gantry notices a younger woman during a closing sermon scene.