MOOD"K! ^mmMm ttwm i> — fpW Wmm 1,^ DWIGHI I MOOUY A. in TJ Hj Hi JB^ I S T WONDERFUL CAREE\^ '^ '^^5 MOODY AND SANKEY, IN GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA. EMBRACING, ALSO, THE BEST PORTIONS OF MR, MOODY S SERMONS, AS PREACHED IN THIS COUNTRY AND ABROAD, MR. SANKEY'S ADDRESSES AND SOME OF HIS SONGS, WITH EVERYTHING OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THE WORK. y V By Rev. E. J. GOODSPEED, D.D.. AUTHOR OF " THB UFB OF JESUS FOR YOUNG PEOPLB," ETC., ETC EDITOR OF " COBBIN'G COMMENTARY." ILLUSTRATED WITH STEEL PLATE PORTRAIT OF Mr. MOODY, TWELVE OTHER ENGRAVINGS FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS. F. ^iJOJPlI^T.Ty 4fc oo. 26 SOUTH SEVENTH STSEET, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 14 BARCLAY STREET. AND 287 VINE STREET, CINCINNATI, OHIO Entered, according to Act of Congress, In the year 1S76, by EdQAR J. GOODSPEED, In ibe Offlcc Of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. Re-entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by EdGAH J. GoODdPEED, In tbe Office of the Librarian of Cougress, at Washingtotu INTRODUCTION. CIRCUMSTANCES make men, and men shape circum- stances. There is a reciprocal influence between the times and the leaders. In the course of events certain con- ditions arise, of which persons take advantage to make them- selves useful and famous. There was a " fulness of the time " when Jesus Christ made His advent upon earth. The world was ripe for it. " No war nor battle's sound Was heard the world around." In the Lord's kingdom law prevails, and men know how to labor effectively ; but there are also set times to favor Zion, critical epochs, a combination of occurrences which the right men see and take advantage of, always under the guidance of Divine Providence and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and thus bring to pass notable results which fill the world with wonder, and extend the Redeemer's sway over human hearts. In the case of Mr. Moody there existed an opportunity in the new cit\^ of Chicago, and among the neglected foreigners and abandoned classes, where he began his mission enterprise ; a necessity for such service as he was able to render and procure. He saw and seized the opportunity, and achieved a magnificent triumph, and a preparation for higher and wider fields. Thus God emphasizes again the importance of doing well the duty that lies next to one's hand, if a call is expected to loftier heights and more conspicuous victories. When the Y. M. Christian Association's position began to be assured, and Moody linked his fortunes with it, and used all his energies in its promotion, there was in the churches and society a yearning after some common ground of action — some oppor- tunity to express the feeling of essential brotherhood that was growing. The^iron was hot, and the valiant young enthusiast IV INTRODUCTION. smote it with telling effect, and welded the hearts of thousands into an eifective instrument for the Lord's work. Again, when he and his singing co-laborer went abroad, there was a lack of such music as ]\Ir. Sankey furnished. The people were eager for the rich and soul-subduing melodies which he poured out upon them in floods. His soul inundated his words with pathos and fire, and these elements reached a multitude who were weary of the stupid, drawling hymns and tunes so common before the evangelists appeared on British soil. The formal style of preaching, and the neglect of the masses, made a sort of readiness for the zealous, business-like, soul-stirring, direct, and simple gospeling which has rolled a wave of salvation over England, Ireland, and Scotland. Even the educated shared in the gracious movement equally with the common masses. In our own land, the brethren found a depressed state of feel- ing, the result of commercial disaster and universal "hard times," together with a want of provision for the non-church-going multi- tude. They at once met with enthusiastic greetings, and felt themselves to be supplying a lack of that which is ever most vital to man as related to God and eternity. Accordingly, they have carried along a series of meetings more vast and effective than any ever before held in this country. They have apparently created little prejudice, have won the good wishes of all classes, and knit the sects into closer unity as brethren. The interest has increased the longer they have tarried in a town, and we may reasonably hope that still greater blessings are in store for our people through their gospel-preaching and singing. Wc cannot but record with gratitude and surprise the amazing unanimity of the secular press in favoring and promoting their evangelical labors. It is a good omen for our country when these organs publish such full and able reports of these monster-meet- ings, and spread broadcast the truths or germs of doctrine which are proclaimed in sermon and song. These we gather, arrange, and condense, that what otherwise may be ephemeral shall become the property of the people for use and reference, not only to-day, but when the evangelists are looking upon the unveiled glories of the Lord they love. TABLE OF CONTENTS. FAGB Introduction, 3 List of Illustrations, . . . . . . . 7 PART I. THE EARLY LIFE OF DWIGHT LYMAN MOODY. CHAPTER. I. Old Paths and New Converge, . . . .11 II, The Boy at Home, 13 ■ III. Out in the World, 18 IV. Mission Work, 22 V. The Field Widens, 28 VI. Daily Bread, 31 VII. Personal Growth, 34 THE EARLY LIFE OF IRA DAVID SANKEY. VIIL The Boy is Father tq the Man, .* . .45 IX. In Training for his Work, . . . . 49 X. Two ARE Better than One, .... 52 PART IL Messrs. MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. XI. Beginning Abroad, 60 XIL The Word in Edinburgh, 73 XIII. On to Glasgow, 100 XIV. The Evangelists in Ireland, . . • . .121 XV. The Glory of God in Dublin, .... 132 XVI. The Harvest in England 141 XVII. Times of Blessing in Sheffield, . . .153 XVIII. " The Toy Shop of the World " Welcomes them, 163 XIX. Liverpool's Month OF Mercy 172 XX. Mighty London is Blessed, . . . .182 XXI. Farewell in Liverpool, 214 CONTENTS. PART III. THE EVANGELISTS IN AMERICA. CHAPTER. PACE. XXII. Moody and Sankey in Brooklyn, . . 227 XXIII. The Work in Philadelphia, . . . 261 XXIV. The Princeton Revival, .... 377 XXV. The Work of Grace at the Hippodrome in New York, 386 XXVI. Mr. Moody in the South and West. Close OF the Campaign, 519 XXVII. The Gospel in Chicago, . . . -529 XXVIII. Boston at the Feet of Jesus, . 625 to 744 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Frontispiece. Steel Plate Portrait of Dwight L. Moody. The Moody Homestead at Northfield, Mass., . 12 Mr. Moody's New Church at Chicago, ... 32 Portrait of Ira D. Sankey, 44 Interior View of Farwell Hall at Chicago, . 120 The Opening Services at the Brooklyn Rink, . 240 Mr. Moody's First Sunday at the Depot Church, Philadelphia, 266 Mr. Moody Preaching to the People in the " Hip- podrome," 386 Mr. Moody Laboring in the Inquiry-Room at the "Hippodrome," 456 Interior of the Tabernacle for the Moody and Sankey Meetings, Chicago, . . . 529 Portrait of P. P. Bliss, 612 Exterior of the Boston Tabernacle, . . . 625 Interior of the Boston Tabernacle, . . . 672 PART I. MOODY AND SANKEY HISTORY OF THEIR EARLY LIFE. PART II. THE WONDERFUL CAREER ] MOODY AND SANKEY, GJiBA T BRITAIN. Part III A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THB 1 CAREER AND WORK OF i MOODY AND SANKEY, IN AMERICA- I THE WONDERFUL CAREER MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA. THE EAKLY LIFE OF D. L. MOODY. CHAPTER I. OLD PATHS AND NEW CONVERGE. The Lord Jesus, when He sent out the seventy to propagate the new faith, sent them two by two. There was in all His actions a Divine wisdom : and so in this arrangement there was some wise purpose which we do not now seek to fathom. We read that Paul the Great Apostle to the Gentiles associated a brother with him in his missionary journeys. At one time Barnabas was his companion, at another Mark attended him. We have no reason to believe that one cause for this lay in Paul's lack of ability to sing, or in his associates' musical talents. And yet we cannot be sure that some division of service may not have been secured by this habit of going out in pairs to evangelize. Doubtless there were some things which one could do better than the other, and a twofold evangelism was found advantageous. At all events, we find in our own time and under our eyes a repetition of this primitive order blessed with glorious success. They heralded Paul and his attendant as they enteied one of the ancient cities, with the extravagant remark " these fellows 12 MOODY 3 EARLY LIFE. that have turned the world upside down have come hither also." And subsequent events justified the alarm and excite- ment caused by their coming. Two Americans, now famous the world over as evangelists, have created a tremendous interest in behalf of religion, and the promise of their continued power is as fair as anything human can be. It is natural to ask who these men are, and how they came into this mighty work. Is their gift a genius, a rare marvellous talent, or are they common men with no special endowments? How then were they trained and prepared for the exercise of such influence for good ? We want to know somewhat of their early life, that we may learn the secret of their power. Did they grow into their present agency from humble beginnings, and by the use of common op- portunities, or is there a miracle about their history and career? What qualities have they in their constitution that have made them capable of extraordinary achievements and what advan- tages have they possessed superior to those of other men ? From the facts that have crept out here and there from the obscurity that envelopes their lives, we gather enough to show us all we need to know for the answer of our inquiries and the settlement of every problem presented by their wonderful career of evangelism. I' p^i ft 'y0^. m,r Moody's early life. 13 CHAPTER II. THE BOY AT HOME. DwiGHT Lyman Moody was born in Northfield, Massachu- setts, Feb. 5th, 1837. These rugged hills and plains have borne many noble men and nourished in them a vigorous life, whose forces have been given to the world in vast streams of useful* ness. And this lad, born in a lowly spot, of humble parentage, will rank as a harvester of souls, among the names that men will not let die, and God will wreathe with everlasting honor. It was apparently a misfortune that the father should die, and leave the widow to struggle against poverty with her brood of youngsters. But He who sitteth on the circle of the heavens ordered a great blessing to spring out of apparent ruin. It was needful for every member of the family to bear the yoke, and to feel the necessity of personal self-denial and exertion. I'hey were living on a farm which was mortgaged, and had to toil fof bread in a land where nature yields scanty nourishment even to hard workers. But on her rugged breast she nurtures strength and self-reliance. The boy Dwight there learned how to labor with his body, obtained physical vigor, and stored up nervous energy, which have served him well in the gigantic, labors he has since performed, and is now cheerfully sustaining in his evangelistic enterprises. He was not deprived of opportunities for schooling, but his intense activity of body led him to seek out-of-door employments and sports rather than the privileges and pleasures of study in the school-room. This was not an unmixed evil, because it assured his corporal vigor which makes his present work possi- ble. But it caused him bitter mortification and many poignant regrets, when he came upon the stage of life, and discovered his great deficiencies. These he has faithfully sought to remove 14 Moody's early life. by constant reading, observation, and self-improvement There is also an indirect advantage in this want of culture which is not to be overlooked. Many an educated man is timid by reason of his knowledge, while ignorance is bold. " They that know nothing fear nothing." *' Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." A mistake in grammar or rhetoric, in chronology or exegesis would crush a sensitive scholar ; while the ignorant man may go on over a thousand of " the king's English " slain and be confident and unconscious, and hence strong and vic- torious. Too much knowledge or education may be as fatal as too little. Self-made men often owe their success to their igno- rance, and reach their goal because they pay no attention to the old beaten paths, but mark out a course for themselves more direct and practical than that which others pursue because it is respectable and ancient. To Mr. Moody blunders are nothing, provided he gains the end of his ministry and wins souls. Efficiency is the only thing he cares about. Let others make fine finished sentences to tickle men's ears and satisfy the learned, he hurls plain truths in strong simple forms at men to hit them, casts his net to catch their souls, and stops not to amuse them, but with tears seeks to save the lost. His want of learning and culture has given him boldness and effectiveness, while his strong sense and native refinement save him from vul- garity or fatal mistakes. It sometimes happens that rich men's sons are put at a dis- advantage in the race of life by the clogs and fetters of riches. They are too heavily weighted to run well. One of these young men who feels this, wrote his mother earnestly as follows: ** How about those * friends ' I spoke of? they probably think themselves very kmd but the ones you name are the very * friends ' who would have seen me stagnate, or petrify, without doing a thing to prevent it. I was A. B. there with a fortune left me and therefore bound to go to the devil ; and if I had not determined to go west instead they would only have sighed over my sad fate and said, ' I told you so.' The most unfortunate man in the world is one whom everybody considers 'provided for.' A poor boy is encouraged, praised, helped. One who Moody's icarly life. 15 has money or a prospect of any must shift for himself, and al- though he needs assistance and encouragement as much as any- one, although he is exposed to temptations which the poorer fellow knows nothing about, although he is exposed above all to the temptation of idleness, he has nothing but his own manliness to pull him through. Lucky for him, if he has some manliness left. But this is not a sermon, though I should like to preach one from this text." Such a sigh from the depths of a boy's heart is a revelation of things unseen, which is full of instruction. It ought to stop the growling and murmuring of those who are born in poverty or amidst lowly conditions, and teach them that those whom they envy are by no means as happy and fortunate in their own eyes as they seem to be. The great principle of compensation appears in all the relations and situations of human life, bal- ancing circumstances that are not under our control and giving us all equal chances in the conflict. Now young Moody on the bleak hills of Northfield, in the farm-house of a widowed mother, and destitute of learning, seems not to have been, humanly speaking, well situated to carve out a useful and wide-reaching destiny. But the very meagreness of opportunities there, and the necessities of strug- gle urged him out of the home-nest, and made him stretch his wings for a higher flight. He has no reason to quarrel with the ways of Providence. God was girding him when he knew it not. An elder son left home, and was not heard of for many years. Perhaps this made the lad at home restless and un- easy. Did it not nourish the pathetic element, so strong in his na- ture, to see his mother suffering under the double bereavement, and mourning over her dead husband and her absent boy.? How tenderly he tells the sad story of his brother's de- parture, long silence, and final return in manhood. He stands at his mother's door unknown, and is invited to come in by her while he says, " No, not till my mother forgives me." When she hears these words, she melts and with tears and ca- resses foi gives and welcomes the prodigal. And thus, he tells l6 MOODY'S EARLY LIFE. the sinner, does God forgive and receive those who seek Him. The domestic affections are strong and susceptible in him, and they afford him powerful sources of appeal. He was a kind and loving son, and amidst all his wild boisterous plays, and his passionate outbreaks, his fondness for his mother acted as a conservative influence. She was a Unitarian in doctrine, and reared her children to fear the Lord. Dwight was not specially religious in his youth. He had a will that did not easily yield, and a nature that did not express dependence. In a hard place at one time, he used every means in his power to extricate himself, and when no one would hear, he thought of asking God, and no sooner had he made one prayer, something like Peter's *'Lord save or I perish," than he felt new energy throbbing in his whole frame and he lifted the burden and was free. How often since has he been pressed almost to death, and obtained help from God by prayer ! Take a single example. In the great convention at the Hippodrome in New York, where several thousand ministers were present, *' the topic," says a leading editor, "was how to reach the non-churchgoers. Heart-stirring words had been spoken by several ministers and laymen, when Mr. Moody felt constrained, against all his habits, to communicate a personal experience he had passed through about four years before. He had been preaching day after day, and the fruits were small and few. In his distress he walked the streets of a great city by night, and the cry of his soul was for the anointing of the Sjjirit. God heard his cry, and gave him then and there what he had begged for. Words could not express its influence upon him. He had been trying to pump water out of a well that seemed dry. He had pumped with all his might, and little water came. Now it seemed that God had made his soul like an artesian well, that could never fail of water. He preached again. The power of the Spirit was upon him and tJie people. Many were converted. He then, with a tenderness begotten of God, urged upon every Christian the present duty of being himself as a never-failing artesian well — always filled with the Spirit. Those who earnestly desired to be thus filled were re- Moody's early life. 17 quested to arise. The whole vast congregation seemed to do so. Now stand, said Mr. Moody, while we pray. He prayed, but his feelings were too profound for anything but broken ut- terances. Every heart was deeply moved, and when the prayer ended, the Hippodrome was literally a place of tears. It was an hour never to be forgotten." His prayers are always the pleadings of a man in earnest, and while he prays for himself and others as if he were engaged in no make-believe performance, he also loves to enlist others in prayer for him and his work. It was the grand hero of faith and works, the chief champion of Christianity, Paul the great apostle, who said, " Brethren, pray for us." And so Mr. Moody feels strong only when he knows that the prayers of godly people are sustaining his labors. He has the boldness of simplicity, sincerity, and conscious need. When he called on the Roman Catholic bishop of Chicago to request him to prevent the children from breaking the windows of his mission school, he asked the aged prelate to pray for him. And when he had done so, Mr. Moody, before they rose, prayed for the bishop. There was friendship between them and no more damage was done nor hindrance to his work from that quarter. MOODY'S EARLY LIFE. CHAPTER III. OUT IN THE WORLD. The vitality that wrought in the boy's being and made him sturdy, eager, and a leader in his little circle, pushed him out into the great world where he might win fortune like other men. He had uncles in Boston who were merchants, and who could help him make a start if they would. Hither unheralded he went with a settled purpose to become connected with some house where he might learn business and acquire the means of success. Too proud to ask his relatives to aid him at first, he soon however availed himself of their kind offices, and entered into his uncle's employ. This man was an orthodox christian, a member of the Mt. Vernon church, of the Congregationalist order, and his pastor was Rev. E. N. Kirk, D. D., a man after God's own heart. To this place of worship young Moody was, as it were, indentured, by his employer, and its services he was obligated to attend — a circumstance of great importance and value to the country boy. It was remarked, at a meeting in New York held in honor of one of its leading merchants, by the gentleman thus compli- mented, that when he came to the city he at once was offered a seat in church by a wealthy man, which he accepted. He also made it a rule from the beginning not to have any associate who would do him any harm, or of whom he would be likely to be ashamed. The two points thus established were cardinal — • they determined his course and gave him standing and influence as a young man. The church was a source of cultivation, and its associations were ennobling, while he allowed no evil com- panion to undo the good work there wrought in him or drag hmi down to infamy. At the age of seventeen this new force began to operate upon the intellect and conscience, and MOODY S EARLY LIFE. 1 9 to form the character of young Moody. It was a hard trial for him to mingle with persons more refined and better educated than himself, but he bravely persisted in his attendance at church and the Bible Class. His teacher, Mr. Kimball, labored for him assiduously and patiently, and lodged the truth so ef- fectually in his heart that he became a believer ; but such was his dulness and ignorance of truth that the church felt con- strained to keep him as a learner outside the fold for many months, till he could give an intelligent account of his new life of faith. There was no precocity of any sort, nothing startling or promising in his early course. He had a courage that car- ried him forward in spite of his defects, and an aspiration that led him to rise above circumstances and strive after excellence. He seldom spoke in the meetings, and his zeal lay as a smoul- dering fire within him. The revival-spirit of this church and its earnest pastor was infused into his veins ; and he was receiv- ing an education that influenced his whole career. No work was laid out for him into which he could throw his rugged en- ergies, and he was not contented. Meanwhile he had con- tinued his business life with characteristic spirit, and he sighed for a broader field and grander opportunities. Chicago was the star in the West which led thousands of aspiring and ambitious youth to forsake the old fields overcrowded and less promising, for the broad and boundless land of the setting sun. Eager for work, and ready for anything that off'ered honorable success, the Yankee boy, now nearly twenty years old, in September, 1856,^ lands in the metropolis of the Northwest. That city, like all large towns, has absorbed vast numbers of young men, some of whom have found a short road to ruin, and others have gallantly earned victory and its rewards. The majority thus cast into the whirlpool are drawn into its fatal depths beyond the reach of light and hope. Our hero had two safeguards, a recommen- dation to an honorable house where he was employed for sev- eral years, and a church letter which at once opened to him an acquaintance with christian people and opportunities for doing good. In his secular business he proved himself " a workman that needeth not to be ashamed," and in religious work he con- 2D MOODY S EARLY LIFE. secrated his energies, doing with his might whatsoever his hand found to do. When he could not be and do what he desired in one church, he allied his fortunes with another ; and reaching forth with the cry of Xavier, " Yet more, oh my God ! yet more,'' he plunged into the dark places, heathenish regions such as all cities contain, and there literally fought his way through with all-conquering persistence, till he saw them renovated by the Gospel of the grace of God. There were others doing the same kind of work, and gradu- ally these congenial spirits clustered under Moody in a mission in the North Market Hall, which proved a vast power for good. To this mighty undertaking he pushed, through countless ob- stacles, with no church to back him. The ignorant rude boy had developed into manhood and found use for every idea he had ever got, and every pound of physical strength he had ac- cumuL'Aed ; because the audiences he addressed, whether small or large, were in great need of enlightenment, and some of them resisted instruction even unto blood. In other words he had literally to subdue with blows the precious pupils who came un- der his tuition, and he seemed to enjoy it. He was pleased with the results of his efforts ; for these conquered boys often proved his true friends and helpers, and were sometimes led thus to submit to a higher will and become servants of God. What he underwent can never be fitly told except by him, and he only now and then ventures on the narration of his exploits. The following incident is characteristic. Mr. Moody was illus- trating the way to get people to work for the souls of others when he said : The most precious hours I ever spent were em- ployed going from house to house preaching Christ. There is plenty of work, the fields are already white for the harvest. I re- member one time in Chicago I was asked to take an interest in the children of a saloon-keeper who was a notorious infidel. I took liie man's address. I went down and found the old fellow behind the bar. I told him my errand, but I had to get out a good deal quicker than I got in. I thought I would try him the second time, when he would be a little less under the influence of drink, but he made me get out again. I went back then the MOODY'S EARLY LIFE. 21 third time. " Well," said he, " look here, young man, you were talking about the Bible : I will read the New Testament if you will read Paine's "Age of Reason." " Agreed," said I, but he had the best of the bargain. (Laughter.) I had a hard job to read it through. I went down to the saloon to find out how he was getting on. All the time he would talk about Paine's " Age of Reason." One Saturday I tried to get him to go to church Sunday. " Now," he says, " if you want church, you must have it in my saloon. This is as good a church as any in Chicago. You can have preaching here if you want to." " Well," says I, " to-morrow morning at ii o'clock I'll be here." "Look here, young man, I want to do part of it myself." I said, "Now let us distinctly understand how much you and I will have. Now suppose you and your friends take the first forty-five minutes and I take the last fifteen." He agreed to this. That Sunday morning I took a little boy with me that God had taught how to pray. That is some years ago and I remember how weak I felt as I went down to that infidel saloon. I found when I got around he had gone to a neighbor- ing saloon where he engaged two rooms with folding doors, and had them filled with infidels and deists and all shades of belief. They first began to ask me questions, but I said : " Now you go on for your forty-five minutes and I shall listen." So they got to wrangling among themselves. (Laughter.) Some thought there was a Jesus and some not. When the time was up, I said : " Now look here, my friends, your time is up ; we always open our meetings with prayer." After I had prayed, the little boy cried to God to have mercy on these men. They got up one by one, one going out by this door and one by an- other. They were all gone very soon. The old infidel put his hand on my shoulder, and said I might have his children. He has since been one of the best friands I had in Chicago. So you see it must be personal work with us all 2 2 Moody's early lifb. CHAPTER IV. MISSION WORK. His work for Christ, special religious duty and service, after he came to Chicago, was begun almost simultaneously with his secular business. He had to gain a foothold for personal sup- port, and then he struck out for work for the Master. Says one of his biographers : " On Sunday he sought out a Mission Sunday-school, and offered his services as a teacher. He was informed that the school had a full supply of teachers, but if he would gather a class, he might occupy a seat in the school-room. The next Sabbath he appeared with eighteen boys, and a place was as- signed him for his new and rough recruits. This was the beginning of his mission to 'the masses.' On that day he unfolded his theory of how * to reach the masses' — ' Go for them.' " Soon after, he commenced the ' North Market Hall Mis- sion-school.' I'he old market hall was used on Saturday nights for dancing ; and after the motley crowd had dispersed, Mr. Moody and his associates spent the late hours of Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday morning in removing the sawdust and filth, cleansing the floor, and putting the room in order for their Christian work. The repetition of this kind of labor week after week was obviously not very agreeable j but it was cheerfully rendered by a youngs man who lived for one object — the salvation of souls. In this hall the school was held for six years, and increased to over one thousand mem- bers. Many were brought to Jesus ; and the work was carried forward amidst marked encouragements and discouragements. "Finding it extremely difficult to hold piayer-meelings or Sabbath-eveuiijg services in this hall, Mr. Moody rented a MOODY S EARLY LIFE. 23 Baloon that would accommodate about two hundred persons. He boarded up the side windows, and furnished it with un- painted pine-board seats. It was a dismal, unventilated place, and during service it was necessary to have policemen to guard the door and building. Here he collected the poor and the vicious ; and sought, by melting appeals and fervent prayers, to lead hardened sinners to abandon their evil courses, and accept the offers of salvation." Says another: "The man who maybe Q.2\\^Ay par excelleticc^ the Lightning Christian of the Lightning City is Mr. Moody, the President of the Young Men's Christian Association, and a man whose name is a household word in connection with mis- sionary work. I went to one of his mission schools, and have rarely beheld such a scene of high-pressure evangelization. It made me think irresistibly of those breathing steamboats on the Mississippi, that must either go fast or burst. Mr. Moody himself moved energetically about the school most of the time, seeing that every body was at work, throwing in a word where he thought it necessary, and inspiring every one with his own enthusiasm. *' As soon as the classes had been going on for a specific number of minutes, he mounted a platform, rang a bell, and addressed the children. He is a keen, dark-eyed man, with a somewhat shrill voice, but with thorough earnestness of manner and delivery. His remarks w'ere few, but pointed and full of interrogation, keeping the children on their mettle. It is one of his first principles, never, in any of the religious exercises, to allow the interest or attention of the audience to flag for an instant. At a great religious convention held at Chicago to which five hundred delegates came from all parts of the United States, he got a resolution passed that no one should be al- lowed more than three minutes for his speech. The result was that an immense number got an opportunity for speaking, and an admirable check was put on the American tendency to co- pious flowery oratory. Every man had to dash in mcdias rcs^ at once, say what he had to say without loss of words, and leave out all minor points to get time for the points of most im- 24 MOODY S EARLY LIFE. portance. One or two of Moody's remarks were, * Services are not made interesting enough, so as to get unconverted people to come. They are not expected to come, and people would be mortified if they did come. Don't get into a rut. I abomi- nate ruts. There are few things that I dread more.' " Though earnest in his piety, and full of religious conversa- tion, Moody has no patience with mere cant, and wants every body to prove his sincerity by his acts. At a meeting in behalf of a struggling charity, a wealthy layman, loud in his religious professions, offered up a prayer that the Lord would move the hearts of the people to contribute the sum required. Mr. Moody rose, and said that all the charity wanted was only two thousand dollars, and that he considered it absurd for a marl with half a million to get up and ask the Lord to do any thing in the matter, when he could himself, with a mere stroke of his pen, do all that was needed, and ten times more, and never feel the difference. "The first thing Mr. Moody does with those whom he suc- ceeds in bringing under Christian influences is, to turn them to account in pushing on the good work. He considers no place too bad, no class too hardened, to be despaired of. He some- times takes a choir of young people, well trained in singing, to the low drinking saloons, to help him in wooing the drunkards and gamblers away to the meetings. On one such occasion, which was described to me, he entered one of these dens with his choir, and said, 'Would you like to have a song, gentle- men?' No objection was offered, and the children sung a pa- triotic song in fine style, eliciting great applause. Mr. Moody then had a hymn sung by them, and meanwhile went round giving tracts to those present. When the hymn was over he said, 'We shall now have a word of prayer.' 'No, no,' cried several in alarm, 'no prayer here.' * Oh yes, we'll have a few words of prayer. Quiet for a minute, gentlemen,' he said, and proceeded to offer up a few earnest petitions. Some of the men were touched ; and when he invited them to go with him to his meeting and hear more about salvation, half of them rose and went. It is believed that if Pandemonium were accessible, MOODY'S EARLY LIFE. 2$ Mr. Moody would have a mission started there within a week." Mr. Reynolds of Peoria said recently, as if in illustration of this last remark : "The first meeting I ever saw him at was in a little old shanty that had been abandoned by a saloon-keeper. Mr. Moody had got the place to hold the meeting in at night. I went there a little late ; an4 the first thing I saw was a man standing up, with a few tallow candles around him. holding a negro boy, and trying to read to him the story of the Prodigal Son ; and a great many of the words he could not make out, and had to skip. I thought, If the Lord can ever use such an instrument as that for his honor and glory, it will astonish me. After that meeting was over Mr. Moody said to me, ' Reynolds, I have got only one talent : I have no education, but I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I want to do something for Him : and I want you to pray for me.' I have never ceased from that day to this, morning and night, to pray for that devoted Christian soldier. I have watched him since then, have had counsel with him, and know him thoroughly ; and, for consistent walk and conversation, I have never met a man to equal him. It as- tounds me when I look back and see what Mi. Moody was thirteen years ago, and then what he is under God to-day — shaking Scotland to its very centre, and reaching now over to Ireland. "The last time I heard from him, his injunction was, ' Pray for me every day ; pray now that God will keep me humble.' " " I shall always remember Mr. Moody," says one ; " for he was the means of leading me to Christ. I was in a railway train one day, when a stout, cheery-looking stranger came in and sat down in the seat beside me. We were passing through a beautiful country, to which he called my attention saying, — • " * Did you ever think what a good Heavenly Father we have, to give us such a pleasant world to live in ? ' " I made some indifferent answer ; upon which he earnestly inquired, — "' Are you a Christian ?' " I answered, * No.' a6 Moody's early life. " * Then,' said he, * you ought to be one at once. I am to get off at the next station, but if you will kneel down, right here, I will pray to the Lord to make you a Christian.' " Scarcely knowing what I did, I knelt down beside him there, in the car filled with passengers, and he prayed for me with all his heart. Just then the train drew up at the station, and he had only time to get off before it started again. " Suddenly coming to myself out of what seemed more like a dream than a reality, I rushed out on the car platform, and shouted after him, * Tell me who you are ! ' " He replied, * My name is Moody.' " I never could shake off the conviction which then took hold upon me, until the strange man was answered, and I had become a Christian man." Thus he wrought with men wherever he could find open ears to hear the message of salvation, whether in the saloon, the railway car, the mission building or the sanctuary. His soul being intent on saving men, he knew that by join- ing others in his Christian enterprises he would thus vastly multiply his usefulness. He accordingly made himself a re- cruiting agent for his school, and brought the neglected multi- tudes of the North side into classes taught by such helpers as he could yoke up with himself. The population of his district was largely made up of Germans and other foreigners, who are accustomed to a Sabbath not of the Puritanic but rather the Satanic sort. With wonted shrewdness, he took advantage of the love of music, and got a singer to entertain those who gathered. His great object was never for a moment forgotten, and soon there were converts, and prayer meetings, and all the materials for a church, vshich was duly formed and folded and shepherded by *' Deacon Moody " as he is familiarly called by the young peo- ple, who are very fond of him. This was the natural order of extraordinary devotion and ability on the part of him who was the soul of the enterprise. For years he let no day pass with- out speaking to some one personally about the welfare of his soul. He also addressed large numbers of people, old and MOODYS EARLY LIFE. 2^ young, and always pressed them with Bible truth. He could not but see fruit from such whole-hearted consecration and scriptural methods. Fruit he would have. The same eager- ness throbbed in his soul, which John Knox felt, when he said: " Give me Scotland or I die." He had a mission, and it was no dreamer's idle wish, but God's call to the salvation of lost men. So he toiled on with his Bible, with inquirers, with the hardened, desperate and wretched, whom he followed to theii dens, garrets, cellars, homes, places of amusement and labor, ever holding forth the word of life as a light in a dark place. 28 Moody's early lifb. CHAPTER V. THE FIELD WIDENS. Mr. Moody early became a member of the Young Men's Christian Association of Chicago, and punctually attended the daily noon meetings. Nor did he feel it to be his duty to come alone or keep silent. He worked valiantly to engage others in the labors of the association, to draw in people to the meetings, and to give attractiveness to the exercises. His zeal flamed up and was fanned into a consuming fire, which burned the cords that bound him to business and made him a holocaust on God's altar. He gave himself wholly to work for the Lord Jesus Christ, and was greatly honored by Him. For he was chosen president of the association after holding other offices, and obtained the means necessary to build a hall, which was named from the chief contributor to the building fund " Farwell Hall." This became the centre of attraction for public gather- ings, but was burned, not in the great fire that desolated the city in October 187 1, but in the winter of 1868. A second edifice was projected and completed under the practical leader- ship of Moody, which stood longer than the first, and was a glorious arena for the servants of Christ. These were triumphs of sagacity and perseverance which might well have exacted the whole time and care of the young apostle. But he was car- rying on during these years his own vast mission and church work, besides giving much time to conventions and evangeliz- ing tours, and to the service of the Chris'iian Commission. Such was the largeness of his heart, and his evident sincerity, that he could share with any true Christian in the work of the Lord, and not provoke jealousy or create a breach of confidence. Men of all sects and churches honored and trusted him, and were ready to do his bidding. He had one controlling purpose MOODYS EARLY LIFE. 29 In common with all believers who were aggressive, and he was so thoroughly independent that nobody claimed him. He labored for the benefit of the church universal, and men gave him credit for unselfishness, and a single eye. In all these dark days of war, he threw himself into the camps near home, and there preached the Gospel and won souls. He was president of the Chicago branch of the Chris- tian Commission of which George H. Stuart, of Philadelphia, was president in chief, and whose name is fragrant in all lands. He went out half a score of times to the front, with supplies and with the healing mercies of the blessed Gospel. When the confed^ate prisoners were in Camp Douglas, near Chicago, Mr. Moody visited them with all the tender love of a brother, and under his preaching large numbers were converted and confirmed in the faith, and they hailed his coming to cheer and comfort, to instruct and evangelize them, with unspeakable delight. Afterward when he had opportunities to minister to them as they lay on the gory and stricken fields, where their bodies were commingled with the federal soldiers, he showed himself the friend of all alike as men having souls equally dear to Jesus, and suffering pains that the friend of humanity should strive to assuage. In his sermons he occasionally draws on his army experi- ence for illustrations. On one occasion, describing the office of Jesus as a Deliverer of captives, he said : It was my privilege to go into Richmond with General Grant's army. There I saw the captives who were in Libby prison. Many a time I wept for hours to hear what they en- dured. Sometimes they got letters or messages that loved ones were dying, and of course they could not go home to see them in their dying hour. There they were in the prison one beauti- ful day in spring ; the news had been kept from them ; they hadn't heard what was going on around Richmond. One says while they were listening, " I hear a band of music ; they are playing the old battle tune of the Republic ; I think I hear the * Star Spangled Banner.' I say, boys, I believe Richmond is taken." By-and-by they all listen and say, " It is so." Soon $0 Moody's early life. the Northern army unlocked the gates and these thousand men are set free. Was not that good news ? they were free men and could now go to their wives and their children and their homes. Oh, my friends, you could not find happier men than these were. They had liberty ; then the captives were set free. That is what Christ has come to do. Such was not his usual experience on the trips he made among the soldiers. There were darker days, and sadder hours, when his heart was torn, and his eyes were weary, and his hands heavy, and his whole frame worn out with the vast and terrible labors incident to the hospital, the battle-field, and the camp. All this time he was not in the pay of any person, nor supported by any society. He was fed by ravens. Many hardships he endured in his lonely situation, but God gave him friends who apprehended his needs, and supplied them as the Spirit moved. Railroad men furnished passes for free travel, merchants quietly paid his board, friends saw that his ward- robe was kept intact, although he never solicited a dollar for himself. It was Mliller's Life of Trust over again. Moody's early life. 31 CHAPTER VI. DAILY BREAD. When Mr. Moody threw up his situation as a salesman, he had a little means which his economical habits had enabled him to accumulate. He was exceedingly temperate and puri- tanical in his ideas of a mode of life suited to a Christian. The vain and frivolous pleasures, as well as the more costly and extravagant amusements, which absorb the energies and funds of multitudes of young men, he conscientiously avoided. He knew not the name of a card, drank no spirits or beer, visited no theatres or operas, nor smoked away his money and health. He thus kept health, piety, and his earnings, except what was given to the Lord's work. Soon after he left all secular pursuits, he became really needy, and almost suffered. Certain events in God's providence confirmed his waning con- fidence, and help came through various friends ; and he has always been made comfortable, though he has had no salary in any department of his service. He has maintained a conscience ^'oid of offence towards God and man as respects money. He has no itching palm. Nobody ever made any accusation stick to him respecting the love of money. He is an honest man. He has been peculiarly favored by reason of the friendship of able men and large-hearted associates. In all his stupen- dous labors in the army work he received no pay. It was as free as air. His services he lavishly gave to his fellow men in camp, and hospital, by flood and field. All his convention work has been unpaid, except by the unsolicited gifts of any who felt disposed to private liberality. He uses no artifices to get money for himself, although he knows well how to raise funds for great public enterprises. After his marriage, he was made the occupant of an elegant home near the scenes of his 33 MOODY'S EARLY LIFE. hard efforts to get dominion over ignorance and wickedness. It was a surprise to liimself and his excellent wife to be led in- to this home all furnished and prepared for their use and shown a perpetual lease conveyed to them by appreciative friends. It was a noble deed kindly done, and the worthy couple were only made stronger for their holy mission. Mr. Moody's confidence in God led him to seek alliance with the amiable lady to whom he was married on the 28th of August, 1862. He believed they would be provided for, and she shared his faith. Miss Emma C. Revell is of a sterling Baptist family of English extraction. She is lovely in person and manners and decidedly christian. Her influence over Mr. Moody has been of the most helpful kind, and a happier family than this father and mother, son and daughter, can no- where be found. She is a capital worker in the inquiry meet- ing, and hardly inferior to the evangelist himself. It is proba- bly owing to her English relationships that he was early in- clined to visit the mother country, where he has gained so much power and left so great a blessing. They were happy in their lowly cottage, but gracefully assumed the proprietorship of their beautiful house where they entertained strangers from abroad with true western hospitality. But as the terrible fire which devastated Chicago burned thousands of homes, it also swept away their nest, and drove them out into the company of the homeless. This occurred October 9th, 187 1. The ruin was complete, scarcely anything was saved. Mr. Moody's financial condition after the Great Fire was well shown by an incident that occurred the following Sunday night. He had been invited by Mr. Goodspeed, the pastor of the Second Baptist church, to preach for him. This invitation was conveyed to him by his brother-in-law, W. H. Holden Esq., Superintendent of the S. S. of the Second church, and accepted. After sermon, the pastor offered him ten dollars, with the re- ifiark, " this is all I have." " Then," said Mr. Moody, " I w^on't take but half of it, though I have not one cent." An immense congregation greeted the preacher, and Dr. Robert Moody's early life. 33 Patterson, who was present, remarked that there was more Gospel in that sermon than in half a dozen ordinary ones. His Bible, which he had snatched from the flames, he left on the desk, and the pastor finding it there, examined it with care, and observed with wonder how thoroughly and faithfully it had been studied, as was shown by the ink marks it bore on almost every page. He had been wont to rise before day, and give himself with absolute devotion to the prayerful, conscientious study of that Divine Manual of instruction for the preacher's work. Going forth clad in the panoply of God, he has filled the world with his fame as a herald of Christ, who has honored him with power over men for salvation such as few of the world's heroes and saints have ever had. In all his evangelizing abroad he has not sought filthy lucre, but repelled every suggestion of money-making. Nor has he used the splendid gifts pressed upon him as others have done. He has requested the donors to apply them to other uses, lest they might become a snare to him. His hands must be clean, and his motives seem as pure as they really are. His mighty work he will not defile nor belittle by selfishness and greed. When about to go to England the last time, he knew not where he should get money to pay his passage, but trusted in God and made ready. The evening before his departure, a princely supporter and fellow-laborer, hearing of his journey, placed in his hands the sum of five hundred dollars, saying that he would probably need something after he got to England. Thus he has been fed and nourished by God's people in mar- vellous ways. In this country no collections are ever taken for him or his associate, Mr. Sankey, and they discourage public presentations. Their object is not to get gain. In this respect they follow Paul, the great apostle, as he followed the Divine Exemplar. They know they are serving for One who is rich. 34 MOODY*S EARLY LIFE. CHAPTER VII, PERSONAL GROWTH. The Scriptures frequently employ the charming figure of a growing tree to represent the progress of the servant of God. " Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green ; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." The grace of God in the heart usually creates mental hunger and intellectual thirst It stimulates the whole man to newness of life. A youth converted at sixteen, an apprentice to a shoemaker, very poor and ignorant, felt the stimulus of re- generation in a desire to know more. He was not content with the ignorance he had groped in so long, and began a course of private study in connection with his work. Among other means of self-culture he used a spelling book and dictionary in the following manner, — When men came into the shop and uttered words he did not know the meaning of, he noted them in his memory, and after they had gone out he drew forth his books and studied them till he had mastered their orthography and significance. He became a leading merchant in a large city and the founder of a seminary for the education of ministers. And when he died thousands mourned and followed him to his burial. Mr. Moody, as we have seen, early felt the aspiration for knowledge that he might serve Christ better ; but his intense activity led him out of the seclusion of schools and libraries, and compelled him to depend on his powers of observation as a man among men. He was rough, unskilful, and ignorant, and naturally gathered the same class about him. But he would MOODY S EARLY LIFE. 35 mingle with the best workers and draw from them all the material he could. Spurgeon once said to a friend who apolo- gized for calling and taking up his time ; "Never mind, I shall suck a sermon out of you before you get away." This sponge process was exceedingly useful to Mr. Moody, and Mr. Spur- geon's sermons were a great delight and arsenal to the young preacher, who needed ideas and illustrations. He appropriated and adopted from every side, and so frequently employed cer- tain powerful truths and anecdotes, that he could launch them with ease and effectiveness. His friends often suggested courses of study, and certain books, which he might profitably read, but before he could really get at it, he was hurried away by the urgency of work in his own field, by Association business, by conventions, by evangelizing trips into the country or to distant cities, or by the necessities and horrors of the war. He could not do his work in which he was yoked up, and be a student of many books. His position and wide-spread service gave him the acquaintance of men highly educated, and this he made the utmost possible use of to store and cultivate his mind. But as his outside cares increased it became needful to study the Bible alone. This he could carry with him everywhere and read at any time, and it was really the source of his doctrine. He h?wever was taught to value the Book by a young English- man, Harry Moorhouse, of Manchester, who had been a prize- fighter till God conquered his rebellious heart by love. He came to Chicago, preached for Moody, of whom he had heard in England, and led the American evangelist to adopt his methods of Bible study, to carry on Bible readings, and espe- cially to dwell greatly on the love of Christ. The Great Fire that made two hundred thousand people homeless was itself a school for Mr. Moody, because he reared a humble shed or tabernacle on the ruins of his mission, and there gathered the scattered flock, fed and clothed and com- forted them and all who came, and held constant religious services in connection with his benevolent work. He and Mr. Sankey were there trained and educated for their future suc- cess. He had previously discovered the sweet singer's power 36 Moody's early life. and drawn him into their holy partnership which has proved under God so great a blessing to the world. It was heaven and hell side by side in that tabernacle, among the ruins. The cries and sighs of the hungry and wretched were only curtained off from the prayers and songs of those godly men, who made • many souls taste of Jesus' love and clothed them with sacred ■ garments. His school and church needed permanent premises, and these were provided for in part when Mr. Moody resolved on his third visit to England. He had gone the last time to learn more of the Bible from men who had made its study the one business of their lives. Henry Varley, the butcher preach- er, a power in London, and Harry Moorhouse, were chosen friends, and they welcomed him to their own country with hearty enthusiasm. Mr. Varley relates that : " On visiting at a friend's house with Mr. Moody in England some years ago, I said to him, ' It remains for the world to see what the Lord can do with a man wholly consecrated to Christ. Mr. Moody soon returned to America, but those words clung to him with such power that he was induced to return to England, and commenced that wonderful series of labors in Scotland and England in which he is still engaged. Mr. Moody said to me, on returning to England, ' Those were the words of the Lord, through your lips, to my soul.' " Mr. Moody also passed through some marvellous religious experiences that roused him to attempt great things for God, so that when asked why he was going to England a third time, he answered " to win ten thousand souls for Christ." Thus his whole nature was constantly expanding under a variety of influences, and the incessant study of One Book en- larged his views and fortified his will. He was eager to do tlie Lord's will and to be greatly useful at any cost of personal effort and sacrifice. Thus he grew under all circumstances, extracted sources of power from all experiences and associa- tions, till the boy that could only bring in mission scholars came to be in demand in the best circles in America, and was able to gain unequaled ascendency among the best people in Europe. This personal growth is one of the most interesting MOODY S EARLY LIFE. 37 and charming of all phenomena, and thus invests life with per- petual fascination. His whole manhood has risen up into symmetrical propor- tions, and grace has permeated the character with sweetness and light. His marvellous success hereafter to be related does not seem to have puffed him up with vanity and pride. He has acquired a habit of trusting God, but he does not fail in any case to prepare the way of the Lord just as carefully as if all depended on himself and his co-laborer. The grand organ- izing faculty he possesses has been developed into a tremen- dous force, and by means of this he unites the sects and combines the energies of all the live christians he can enlist in every church. Men bow humbly and cheerfully to his leadership, and throw the whole weight of their influence and personal strength into his movement. This was not like Jonah in Nineveh, who stood alone for God with a terrible message that set the king and all his subjects trembling before him. Paul had no such resource at first, because he had to build his own foundation and make a foot- hold for himself. Those were days of miracle. But now the freshness is gone, and all the organized energies of the churches can scarcely rouse slumbering sinners or dead professors. Hence the wisdom of Mr. Moody. It is not necessary for him to bear the exhausting labors of preparing new discourses, since he has new hearers all the time, to whom his old utterances are fresh as a new-blown rose. There is also something in what has been written about his ability to work : It has pleased God to give Mr. Moody a grand body ; and he has been wise enough to take good care of it. He is a standing protest against those ministers who knock their nerves into a cocked hat by smoking and chewing, who sit up half the night, «nd all of Saturday night, who are Mondayish and Tues- day ish, who have neither stomach nor liver, and who are old at fifty No less he is a protest against those men who, without a vice or a fiult, yet from mistaken notions of duty, allow the body to be run down by want of exercise, want of recreation, want of sleep, want of suitable, nourishing, digestible, palatable 38 Moody's early life. food. A large heart, a generous soul, a gigantic mind in a frai! body, is like a powerful engine in a crank, shattered hull. The body is not to be despised or ignored. Mr. Moody owes every- thing to the grace of God ; but that grace was shown in part in giving him a broad chest, sound lungs, a good digestion. Nor must we forget that he speaks in a ?iatural tone. He has no holy tone. True, he has to speak loud, and strain his voice, in order to reach so large a number. But apart from this, his voice is natural. He talks about religion as he would talk about temperance, or politics, or railroads. And as the result he speaks twice a day on five days in a week, and three times on the Sabbath, with less fatigue than many of our ministers experience from a couple of sermons and a prayer-meeting weekly. If the voice is kept all the time on one key, and that an unnatural one, it must give way like a violin played cease- lessly on one string. Nor must we lose sight of an humble, often ignored, quality, that uncommon thing, common sense. His common sense amounts to genius. It is shown in a thousand ways ; it appears in the uniform brevity of his sermons and prayers ; in the free- dom from all bombast or pretence ; in the avoidance of need- less offence to those from whom he most differs in doctrine ; he says nothing that would close the heart of Catholic or Unitarian against him. It appears no less in the absence of all peculiar- ities of doctrine. He preaches the gospel, clearly, broadly, pointedly ; but there is no Moody type of doctrine, except in so far as the attentive and loving study of the Bible is a Moodyism. We earnestly pray, and we are sure that thousands will unite in the prayer, that the good Master will continue richly to en- dow Brother Moody with bodily health, with common sense, and with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The following brief mention of some of his points 4s also practical : It is evident that Brother Moody is a shrewd and practical man ; that he is an extraordinary worker ; that he is a skilful organizer; that he knows how to control and affect multitudes of people ; that he is very much in earnest ; that he confines himself to a few of the leading ideas of Christianity ; MOODY S EARLY LIFE. 59 that he understands the art of putting his religion into plain language for the common mind ; and that he fully appreciates the value of his co-laborer Brother Sankey. Again : Nothing is more remarkable in Moody's discourses than the simple di- rectness with which 'he brings his hearers face to face with the central truths. Being without any noticeable peculiarities of manner, making nothing of the way in which to say what needs to be said, he gives no one chance to regard anything but the truth spoken. As an object of the hearer's attention his per- sonality is out of view. He might be " a wandering voice " for any appearance of himself between his audience and the truth he wishes them to look at. But as a force to be felt, the speaker's personality is not absent. The words that are heard are the utterance of an earnest, praying, believing soul, intent on one object. In proportion as Christians generally can gain for themselves that undistracted view of the gospel, and with a self-emptying earnestness pray for and labor with their fellow- men, they will find themselves blessed, and a blessing to others. Rev. John A. Broadus, D. D., one of the first of living theolo- gians and preachers, thus describes him : I. Mr. Moody sweeps away the conventionalities which have cobwebbed themselves around our public worship and our preaching. Some of us have long been striving to do this, to bring eternal things and gospel truths right home to people as naked reality, but we could not go beyond a certain point with- out shocking the sense of propriety in many hearers. But here comes one from whom the fastidious cannot demand " ministe- rial dignity," for he is a layman, a business man, and he can tell about religion right straight along, can modernize the Scrip- ture narratives, and speak of things unseen as real and near, and mightily wake up the people from that slumberous decorum with which they usually attend upon preaching. No daintiness here. A spade is a spade. You are going to hell, but Jesus Christ can save you right now. Cut loose from your sins, and come to him tlrs very night. For this directness, and homeli- ness, and realness, we are heartily thankful. What though Mr. Moody sometimes mispronounces a word, or gets a singulai 40 Moody's early life. verb for a plural nominative, if he makes men feel that religion is business ? 2. He preaches the doctrines of grace, the old-fashioned gospel, square, without rounding the corners. In salvation by grace there is real power, and nowhere else. And we rejoice to see a man who can gather vast thousands to hear this old, old story. A few years ago we remember to have come home from New York and Brooklyn with the painful impression that some young ministers of various denominations there were being led by the specious plausibilities and apparent success of a celebrated Brooklyn pastor, to think that the old gospel is antiquated, and that the men of to-day must needs preach hu- manitarianism, semi-universalism, rose-water doctrine in every respect. All the world knows the strange and sad way in which the hurtful influence of that preacher has been checked ; for if he be deemed a man innocent of grave crimes, he can no longer be reckoned an example of that manhood which had be- come the central idea of his ministry. But the Providence that so often and wonderfully brings good out of evil, has not stopped with the destruction of his supremacy. Here comes a man who gives the prestige of immense attendance and great success to the old gospel. This will affect the minds of thou- sands, restraining them from the notion that new doctrine is ne- cessary for our age. Not generals alone, as poor Sidney John- son remarked, are popularly judged by their success ; but preachers and doctrines are so judged by the unreflecting masseroocly's gospel is clear, earnest, distinct^ and well illustrated— telling of death and resurrection — the *' Gospel of God." He is a first-rate workman, and very prac- lical, and God has been blessing his preaching. Every evening there have been a number of souls coming into the inquiry rooms ; but last night, when preaching on *' the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost," the Spirit seemed to be working in special power, and old Formal- ity got his neck broken, and the wounded and weeping souls came into the inquiry meeting in droves. I had to speak at one time to seven all at once, because there was more corn than reapers ; and others were similarly circumstanced. I saw Mr. Moody all the evening with generally more than one. Three rooms were open for inquirers, and I don't know what they had in the others, but we had about forty names on the paper at the close, of those we conversed with in our room. Mr. Moody keeps with us in the elders' vestry. Others, who are less sus- ceptible and can stand at doors, do so, and lay hold of the peo- ple as they retire. About one hundred, I should think, were .spoken with privately last night, and numbers of them decided for Christ. About ten did so (or professed to do so), in con- versation with myself. May the Divine Spirit make it a grand reality to their souls that Christ is theirs! On Tuesday night J had seven who professed conversion. On Wednesday I fought away with two only, both chronic cases, deep in the mire of their own thoughts, and feelings, and reasonings, and I left them very much the same as I found them. (One of them has been saved.) This was, I suppose, to teach me this lesson, that it is al ogether God's work to save, and man is powerless. This experience made me go out next night with Jesus' word on my lips, "This kind gocth not out but by prayer and fast- ing;''^ prayer is the symbol of our dependence upon God, and fasting is the symbol of "no confidence in the flesh " — or self- renunciation. No devil has so powerful a hold of an anxious soul but that prayer and fasting will cast him out in the name of Jcsu5. THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. 77 Our noon prayer-meeting is well attended ; about 700 are out daily, and there is a remarkable quickening and earnestness among ministers and Christians generally. I know Edinburgh well, and I am safe to say that I never knew a time when there was a greater appearance of harmony among Christians ; unity among the Lord's workers ; and humble, prayerful waiting upon God for blessing. On Friday there was much blessing to Christians, and num- bers of souls were also brought in. On that evening we had delightful work in the inquiry meeting, and, I think, I had about half-a-dozen I had good hope of. One was specially interest- ing, a stranger from beyond Stirling. She was passing through, came to the meeting, heard, was awakened, came into the inquiry meeting, and into my hands, along with a girl of twelve, and both professed to see the way of salvation. This woman was astonished to hear that she had just to believe what she read there to be saved. She said, " Is that all? have I only to believe.?" "Just to believe that forgiveness is yours as a gift from God." "Then I do believe." "Then God says you are justified from all things." Large numbers were out again last night, and we had a meeting for inquirers at the Free Assembly Hall. About forty confessed that they were new converts, and about forty stood up as anxious to be saved, and were asked to go to the other side of the hall, where they were conversed with. I got down beside a young lady whom I saw anxious in the inquiry meeting, but did not have the opportunity of speaking to her, and kept at work for an hour with her over the Word of God. I could not tell you at length the deep interest of this case ; but at the close I had some hope that she has divine life and will yet get liberty. A beautiful incident happened as I was speaking to her. A young girl bounded up to us and said, with an overflowing joy " I am the girl you spoke to at the Barclay Church and gave the book to ; now I am just going, but could not leave without coming to tell you that I have found Jesus.^' We had a ver)' sweet meeting at noon to-day. J^Ir. Moody 98 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. gave us the prayers that God does not answer — Moses, Elijah, Paul. I poinled out to him afterward, to his great delight, that Moses' prayer was answered, to see the land 1483 years after- ward, but not as in the midst of Israel, but in better company, with Jesus in the midst, on the mount of transfiguration ; and he saw the land in the light of the glory of Christ. And when he returned he did not care a bit for the land. He was all taken up with Christ, and instead of speaking of it or the goodly mountain and Lebanon, he and Elias spake to Him of His decease that he should accomplish at. Jerusalem, the thing nearest his heart. That is the sight we, too, shall get of it (if we do not see it now) when He comes in his glory, and all his saints with Him. We have had a most impressive address from Mr. Moody this evening on the text, " JV/icr^ art thou ? " He spoke very solemnly to Christians, and said if they were to wake up, Edin- burgh would be filled with awakening from one end to the other, mside of forty-eight hours. Then he spoke to sinners, and it was most alarming. The three steps to hell, he said, were — I. Ne:^lcct ; 2. Refuse ; 3. Despise. He told them, even weeping, of their danger, and besought them to get the question settled now. Ah, it is that tender, weeping power in dear Mr. Moody, that is so overwhelming to sinners. He is now preaching in one of the best and largest churches of the New Town, and yet he has been quite as faith- ful as when among the poor last week in the Old Town ; and there have been some marked cases of awakening. Mr. San- key's singing of ''Jesus of Nazareth" had a fine effect upon Ihera. I saw it striking in upon the hearts of many ; and many weeping eyes told of its power. A widow in front of me, with her little boy by her side, was moved deeply, and publ'cly addressed by Mr. Moody, listened with very wistful eyes; and both of them came to the second meeting. I was anxious about the result of the inquiry meeting in that church, and they were rather long in coming in, but it turned out nearly as good as before. About fifty were conversed with this first night, and Uicre seemed to be quite a number that believed. THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. Jg The first I got hold of was a working man ; and after show- ing him in the Word the way of life and peace, and getting him to decide, he said : " My wife's here." " Where ? " " Sitting there by herself." *' Please bring her here." She, too, professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they went home together believing. Then I got a youth about eighteen in a terrible state of anxiety, and wrought with him a long time, and though hopeful, I do not know that he sees clearly ; but he lives near me, and I hope to see him again to-morrow. The life is in, I believe, but he wants liberty. Then I got a word with about a dozen besides, and gave them books. I saw three all at once profess Christ in Mr. Moody's hands. But there were chronic cases that baffled the whole of us, and after ten o'clock there was a man in a corner to whom Mr. Gall had spoken all night, who was all but desperate with con- viction, Mr. Moody prayed with him, and he was bowed down and weeping, but he had to leave him still in bondage, showing how entirely it is God's work to set a soul free. Mr. Sankey ssmg " ^esus of Nazareth passeth by."" There was a power in it ; many wept. At the close I had three or four anxious sinners, and about as many anxious saints. Mr. Moody had a goodly number professing faith in his hands. Others also were busy. I had some interesting cases of saints in darkness who again got light. Just as I was leaving, Mr. Moody put into my hands a young lady who had been conversed with by one and another all the evening ; and just as I spoke the very last word I mtended to speak to her, her face was lighted up with joy, and she said, " I now trust in the Lord Jesus." Dr. Thomson remarked as we were coming out, that he thoupht it had been a night of more solid work than any we have yet had. One good thing in being in one of the New Town churches is, that "the poor rich," as a noble worker calls them. 8o MOODY AXD SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. have got a chance for their souls. The most respectable men and women have been plentiful in the meeting, and not absent from the inquiry rooms. The poor have far more privileges and opportunities of being saved than the better classes. But they, too, are getting a chance now ; and we have seen some marked instances of salvation among them. We returned home, praising God for his grace and blessing. I have observed that Mr. Moody speaks to inquirers with an open Bible in his hands, fixing them down to the Word of God, and anchoring their souls on the living rock of the Holy Scriptures. He also gets them to their knees in prayer ; and I have seen them rising from his side by twos and threes, wiping their eyes, and smiling through their tears, confessing Christ. Dr. Thomson said, " I think there could- not have been fewer .than one hundred inquirers here to-night, and I think more have professed faith in Christ than any night." It was very cheering to see the great heartiness with which Dr. Thom- son entered into the work of the inquirers' meeting ; and also to see other ministers there, in considerable force, from his own church and other churches engaged in pointing sinners to Christ. Having been every night at work for an hour and a half in the inquiry meeting, and judging of the work from seeing about forty come to Christ in my own hands, I judge that the I,ord is doing marvellous things among us, whereof we are glad. Seven professed faith in Christ all at one time in one com- pany, and we had a conviction that it was reality in at least four of them. On Friday night, after Mr. Moody's solemn word, there seemed to be a great smashing up of souls (as Mr. Radcliffe used to call it), and among others, a lady came into my hands from San Francisco, California, here for the healing of her body ; and her trouble was that the Spirit, she thought brul left her. We showed that her anxiety to be saved and her clinging to Christ were evidences to the contrary; and she left after ten minutes' conversation in a state of blessed eman- cipation and comfort. She was brought to me by one who got out of bondag*.' the night before ; and I said, " Perhaps you will be bringing two each on Sunday night." ^ THE REVIVAL IN 3C0TLA^fD. gl Tlie last case we dealt with on Friday night was the most solemn we have seen, except that man who was specially prayed for in the noon-day meeting the other day, and saved that night. This was a young woman weeping floods of tears. She com plained of a hard heart, and feared the scorn of the ungodly when she went home ; she faintly professed faith in Christ. I felt such an interest in this girl that I could not sleep without sending her a line by post, inviting her to come next day that my wife might read the Scriptures with her, and tell her more about the Lord Jesus. She came : I was at a meet- ing I have on Saturday evening. We made special prayer for her, and the person who led us seemed to get near to God, and we had a conviction that we were heard. It was so ; for on my return home, I was met with the cheering intelligence, *'The girl has been here : I have read with her for nearly two hours ; and she has just left, saved and happy. She said she faintly believed last night, as you said, but she is now at liberty, and says she never saw the fullness and freeness of salvation as she sees it now. Her eyes were red and swollen with weeping last night ; but she was looking bright and smi- ling ; and the only tears she wept were tears of expressed gratitude that Jesus had received her, and that we had been so interested in her as to care for her for Jesus' sake as we had done." We have seen her since, and she is looking unto Jesus; but her demeanor is quiet and subdued, and she looks as one would do who had just escaped from drowning, or from a terri- ble railway collision. We have had a meeting to-day for parents and children. It assembled — about 2,000 were present ; the parents got a good word. Our dear brother Sankey's singing happily gave the Gospel to the children in a number of gospel hymns. Mr. Moody addressed parents from Deut. iv. 5-1 1 ; v. 29 ; vi. 7. Some young people think they hear too much about Christ and salvation from their parents, but here they have authority from God to speak of them, morning, noon, and night J when lying down and rising up ; when sitting in the house and walking by the way. There should be the most 82 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. diligent in«;tniction of the young by parents, storing theii minds with ihc Word of God. Then from Mark x. 13-17 he addressed the children, and said that this is the only time when Christ was said to be muc!i displeased. He told of the daughter of an infidel dying in peace, after being only five weeks at the Sunday school. Also, of a boy of twelve, who heard Dr. Chalmers preach, and came, at the close of the service, and said he had nothing to give, but he would give himself to Christ. He did so, and has been the means in our country of establishing many Sabbath- schools, with tens of thousands of scholars, and out of them have grown as many as thirty-eight churches, in which are many precious souls saved and happy, all through this boy coming to Christ and giving himself to Him. Dr. Thomson said : I should consider it a very superflu- ous work to say anything of the trustworthiness of these excel- lent men. They have come among us not as unknown adven- turers without " letters of commendation," but as long-tried and honored laborers in the fields of evangelism in their own country, and more recently in Newcastle and other towns in the north of England, where there appears to have been a pente- costal blessing in which every denomination of Christians has shared. And the ministers, and ciders, and deacons of our different churches that have gathered around ihem every even- ing, and shared with them in their blessed work, prove the confidence in which they are held by those in whom the Christian people of Edinburgh are accustomed to place confidence. The service of song conducted by Mr. Sankey, in which music is used as the handmaid of a Gospel ministry, has already been described in your columns. I have never found it objected to except by those who have not witnessed it. Those who have come and heard, have departed with their prejudices vanquished and their hearts impressed. We might ijuoic, in commendation of this somewhat novel manner of preaching the Gospel, the words of good George Herbert : " A verse may win him who the Gospel flies, And luru dtlii^ht into a sacrifice." THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLANT>. 83 There is nothing of novelty in the doctrine which Mr. Moody prochim?;. It is the old Gospel — old, yet always fresh and young, (00, as the living fountain or the morning sun — in which the substitution of Christ is placed in the centre and pre- sented with admirable distinctness and decision. It is spoken with impressive directness, not as by a man half convinced and who seems always to feel that a skeptic is looking over his shoulder, but with a deep conviction of the truth of what he says, as if, like our own Andrew Fuller, he could '' venture his eternity on it," and with a tremendous earnestness, as if he felt that " if he did not speak the very stones would cry out.'' The illustrations and anecdotes, drawn principally from his strangely- raricd life, are so wisely chosen, so graphically told, and so well applied as never to fail in hiiting the mark. I wish once more to call attention to one essential feature in the action of these good men — the daily noon-day meeting for prayer. It began some weeks ago in an upper room in Queen Street Hall. That was filled after a few days. Next it was transferred to Queen Street Hall, which is capable of hold- ing 1,200 persons. It was not long ere this became over- crowded, and now there are full meetings every day in the Free Assembly Hall, which is capable of holding some hundreds more. It is a fact with a meaning in it, that simultaneously with the increase in the noon-day meeting for prayer has been the increase in attendance in Broughton Place Church at the evening addresses, and also in the number of inquirers after- wards. Before the end of last week every inch of standing- ground in our large place of worship was occupied with eager listeners, and hundreds were obliged to depart without being able to obtain so much as a sight of the speaker. The number of inquirers gradually rose from fifty to a hundred per night, iand on Monday evening this week, when the awakened and those who professed to have undergone the " great change " were gathered together in our church hall, to be addressed by Mr. Moody no other persons being admitted, there were nearly three hundred present, and even these were only a part of the fruits of one week. I wish to give promi nonce to the state- 8^ MOODV AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. menl llirit the persons who conversed with the perplexed and in- quiring were ministers, elders, and deacons, and qualified pri- vate members of our various churches ; and also Christian matrons and Bible-women, as far as their valuable services could be secured. And now, at the close of the week of special services in Broughton Place Church, I wish to repeat the statement in your paper which I made on Monday in the Assembly Hall, that there is no week in my lengthened ministry upon which I look back with such grateful joy. I would not for the wealth of a world have the recollection of what I have seen and heard during the past week blotted out from my memory. When Howe was Chaplain to Cromwell at Whitehall, he became weary of th^^*. turmoil and pomp of the palace, and wrote to his " dear and honored brother," Richard Baxter, telling him how much he longed to be back again to his beloved work at Torrington. ** [ have devoted myself," he said, " to serve God in the work of the ministry, and how can I want the pleasure of hearing their cryings and complaints who have come to me under con- victions." I have shared with many beloved brethren during the past week in this sacred pleasure, and it is like eating of angels' bread, first to hear the cry of conviction, and yet more to hear at length the utterance of the joy of reconciliation and peace ! I was much struck by the variety among the inquirers. There were present from the old man of seventy-five to the youth of eleven, soldiers from the Castle, students from the Uni- versity, the backsliding, the intemperate, the skeptical, the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated ; and in how many instances were the wounded healed and the burdened released 1 It may be encouraging to Christian parents and teachers to be told that very much of this marvellous blessing, when once "begun in a house, has spread through the whole family, and those who already had the knowledge of divine truth in their minds by early Christian education, formed by far the largest proportion of llie converts. The seed was there sleeping in the soil, which the influence from above quickened into life. THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. 85 There was a considerable number of skeptics amonj; the inquirers, but their speculative doubts and difficulties very soon became of no account when they came to have a propjT view of their sins. Some have already come to tell me of their renunciation of unbelief, and their discipleship to Christ. One has publicly announced that he can no longer live in the ice-house of cold negations, and has asked Mr. Moody to pub- lish the address which brought light to his heart, and to circu- late it far and wide over the land. I witnessed no excesses in the inquiry rooms, but there was often deep and melting solemnity, sometimes the sob of sorrow, and the whispered prayer of contrition or gratitude. There must, however, occur at times imprudent things and excesses in connection with even the best works that have imperfect though good men employed about them. But cold criticism that is in search of faults, or ultra-prudence that attempts noth- ing from fear of making mistakes, is not the temper in which 10 regard such events. I would not dare to take either of these positions, " lest haply I should be found to be fighting against God." I have already expressed my high appreciation of Mr. Moody's manner of addressing. If some think that it wants the polished elegance of certain of our home orators, it has qualities that are far more valuable ; and even were it otherwise, the great thing is to have the gospel of the grace of God clearly and earnestly preached to the multitudes who are crowding every night to listen to him. When the year of jubilee came in ancient times among the Jews, I suspect the weary bond-slave or the poor debtor cared little whether it was proclaimed to him with silver trumpets or rams' horns, if he could only be assured that he was free. The following paper was issued, and sent to every denomi- nation in Scotland : "Edinburgh is now enjoying signal manifestations of grace. Many of the Lord's people are not surprised at this. In October and November last, they met from time to time to pray for it. They hoped that they might hav£ a visit from S6 MOOrV AND SANKEY IX GREAT BRITAIN. Messrs. Moody and Sankey of America, but they very earnestly besought the Lord that He would deliver them from depending upon them, or on any instrumentality, and that He himself would come with them, or come before them. He has gra- ciously answered that prayer, and His own presence is now wonderfully manifested, and is felt to be among them. God is so alTecling the hearts of men, that the Free Church Assembly Hall, the largest public building in Edinburgh, is crowded every day at noon with a meeting for prayer ; and that building, along with the Established Church Assembly Hall, overflows every evening when the Gospel is preached. But the numbers that attend are not the most remarkable feature. It is the presence and the power of the Holy Ghost, the solemn awe, the prayer- ful, believing, expectant spirit, the anxious inquiry of unsaved souls, and the longing of believers to grow more like Christ, — their hungering and thirsting after holiness. The hall of the Tolbooth Church, and the Free High Church are nightly attended by anxious inquirers. All denominational and social distinctions are entirely merged. All this is of the God of Grace. " Another proof of the Holy Spirit's presence is, that a desire has been felt and expressed in these meetings, that all Scotland should share the blessing that the capital is now enjoying. "It is iriipossible that our beloved friends from America should visit every place, or even all those to which they have been urged to go. But this is not necessary. The Lord is willing Himself to go wherever He is truly invited. He is wailing. The Lord's people in Edinburgh, therefore, would affectionately entreat all their brethren throughout the land to be importunate in invoking Him to come to them, and dismiss all doubt as to His being willing to do so. "I'he week of prayer, from 4th to iilh January next, atTords a favorable opportunity for combined action. In every town and liauilet let there be a daily meeting for prayer during that week, and also as often as may be before it. In Edinburgh the hour is from 12 to i, and where the same hour suits other places, it would be pleasing to meet together in faith at the THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. 87 tl)r()ne of grace. But let the prayers not be formal, unbelieving, uncxpecting, but short, fervent, earnest entreaties, mingled with abounding praise and frequent short exhortations ; and let them embrace the whole world, that God's way may be known upon earth. His saving health among all nations. If the country will thus fall on their knees, the God who has filled our national history with the wonders of His love, will come again and sur- prise even the strongest believers by the unprecedented tokens of His grace. * Call unto me and I will answer thee and sliow thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.' " This was signed by thirty-eight ministers of all denom- inations. Mr. Moody addressed some special meetings in Free Assembly Hall. On Sabbath morning, December 14, he addressed the young men of the Sabbath-morning Fellowship Union. On Friday, December 19, he preached to young men on being born again. On Sabbath morning, December 21, he addressed Sabbath- school teachers. The same evening he preached to the students of Edinburgh University and the New College, on " There is no dilTcrence." This was one of the most magnificent sights I have ever wit- nessed. On the platform with him were numbers of professors of both colleges, and I believe, the majority of the students. The hall was densely crowded, and I question whether he ever addressed a more intelligent audience, or one that gave him more profouna >rd riveted attention. Had they not had confidence in him, and felt his power, and, we trust, the higher power of God's Spirit and truth, they would not have sat for more than two hours with such quietness. He commanded that immense meeting of about two thousand men, as no man on that plat- form, save Dr. Duff, could have done. The living power of God's Holy Spirit was felt giving the word, and laying convic- tion on the conscience. The Gospel given at the end was most touchingly illustrated, and the very appropriate hymn sung by Mr. SaDkey, " I am sweeping through the gates,* gave a spirit- 88 MOODY AND SAN KEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. ual finish to the whole that had been spoken. It was nn oppor- tunity such as no man ever before enjoyed here ; and we can- not doubt but that God has given and used it for the conversion of souls and the glory of Christ. At half-past eight o'clock, December 29, there was a meet- ing held in the Corn Exchange, Grassmarket, which was at tended by about 3,000 persons belonging to the poorer classes The Rev. Mr. Morgan opened this meeting with prayer. Mr. Moody began his address by telling the well-known story about Rowland Hill and Lady Erskine. Her ladyship was driving past a crowd of people to whom Hill was preachmg. She asked who the preacher was, and, on being informed, told her coachman to drive nearer. Rowland Hill, seeing her ap- proach, asked who she was, and when he was told, he said there was a soul there for sale. Who would bid, he asked, for Lady Erskine's soul? There was Satan's offer. He would give pleasure, honor, position, and, in fact, the whole world. There was also, he said, the offer of the Lord Jesus, who would give pardon, peace, joy, rest, and at last heaven and glory. He then asked Lady Erskine which of these bids she would accept. Ordering her coachman to open her carriage-door, she pressed her way through the crowd to where the preacher was, and said, •Lord Jesus, I give my soul to Thee ; accept of it." Mr. Moody went on to urge on his hearers to give them- selves there and then to the same Saviour who was that day preached in the hearing of Lady Erskine, and accepted by her. He brought out the freeness of the gospel offer, and the im- portance of immediately closing with it. He mentioned several instances of conversion — one of them concerning a soldier, who had been at the meeting of the previous night in that same hall, and who had afterward gone up to the Assembly Hall, had received Christ there, and was now professing himself a Chris- tian man. Mr. Sankey sang several of his hymns — " The Lifeboat," "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by," and " The Prodigal Child,'' being among ihcm. The mecfing on Sunday night, Dec. 2S, se^ms to have been THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. 89 the most extraordinary ot all these meetings. Though there were about 5,000 persons presenf, the most perfect order was observed, and the deepest interest manifested in the proceedings. After this meeting was over, hundreds pressed up to the Free Assembly Hall, and when the question was put if there were any there anxious about their souls and desiring to be saved, the whole body rose to their feet in answer to the question. The interest shown was such as many of those present had never before seen in the course of a long ministry among the people. Mr. Moody expressed himself as more impressed by it than he had been by anything he had ever before seen. Mr. Moody preached on Sabbath forenoon in Free St. George's Church, his subject being, " What Christ has done for man." This he treated very generally. In the afternoon Messrs. Moody and Sankey conducted evangelistic services in the Free Assembly Hall and the Free High Church at five o'clock, and in the Established Assembly Hall and Free St. John's Church at six o'clock — these meetings being for females only. The Jubilee Singers sang at each of these meetings. There was an immense meeting in the Corn Exchange, Grass- market, at seven o'clock. The great hall was filled with people, who stood closely packed together in every part of it. There must have been between 6,000 and 7,000 persons present. Short addresses were delivered by several ministers and laymen, frequent prayer engaged in, and a great number of hymns sung by Mr. Sankey and the Jubilee Singers. These hymns had each of them a bearing on the thoughts or sentiments that formed the themes of the addresses by which they were pre- ceded. There was the most perfect quiet observed by the vast assemblage, and both addresses and hymns were listened to with the utmost attention. In his address Mr. Moody pointed out that though it was because of Adam's sin man was condemned, it was not because of it that any one would be lost, but because they neglected to lay hold of the remedy. Mr. Moody preached to about fifteen ihousafid this first Lord's-day of 1874, at se\en different times. His passion for 90 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. snving souls is self-consuming. Let all Christians pray that he may be upheld by God, in body and soul, and blessed more and more. Tens of thousands of men, women, and children of all classes of the community have crowded the halls and churches where they have preached and sung of Christ and the Gospel. Multitudes of men assembled in the Corn Exchange, and multitudes of women in the Assembly Halls and adjoining churches on the Lord's day to hear words whereby they might be saved ; and on the week days the daily prayer-meeting, noon, and night, was crowded with eager anxious throngs of Christians or anxious ones ; while in the Newington U. P. Church and the Canongate Parish Church, fully three thousand came together nightly to listen to the singing and preaching of the glorious Gospel of Christ. Bible lectures have been held in the Free Assembly Hall, Viewforth Church, West Coates Church, and Free St. Mary's, and thereby have received clearer light on the Gospel, more stable standing on the sure foundation, and blessed freedom from bondage. Mr. Moody's excellent plan of making the Bible speak for itself by quoting text after text and commenting on them, and enforcing them by striking illustrations, has been of eminent use among Christians who had life but no liberty. Christ has said through him to many a young and groaning one, " Loose him, and let him go." Mr. Moody's clear preaching of grace reigning through righteousness and salvation by grace without the works of the law, and the believer's place in Christ where there is now no condemnation, and sin shall not have dominion over us, because we are not under law, but under grace, is fitted to give imme- diate relief to burdened, unclear, and legal Christians, of whom rre have crowds. His mind has evidently been in contact with clear Scrip- ture teachings, such as one seldom meets with in our day : for he has learned to draw his words of grace and truth from the clear crystal river of divine Revelation, and not from the THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. 9I muddy streams of human theology ; and if we, ministers of Christ, are still to get a hearing from the people who have hung as if spell-bound on the ministry of Mr. Moody, we must preach in the same simple, scriptural, loving, and direct manner. He has lifted up a crucified and glorified Christ, honored the Holy Ghost by believing in His constant presence and grace, and his Gospel has been made the power of God unto salvation to unnumbered souls. We calculate that as many as 30,000 have listened to his beseeching voice. The work of grace is no doubt deep, wide-spread, and ex- traordinary, as compared with the state of things spiritually previous to the coming of those earnest men ; but it is only the ordinary and normal result of prayer and preaching, which the model of the Acts of the Apostles warrants us in expecting when all the disciples of Christ are continuing with one accord in prayer and supplications, and in dependence in the Holy Ghost are bending all their energies to the one work of getting the Christ of God magnified by the conversion of perishing souls. When we consider that the great bulk of the ministers and Christian people of Edinburgh have been doing almost nothing else for nearly two months but giving themselves to receive blessing, and to co-operate with our excellent friends to make the Gospel triumphant in the city ; and when we consider that there has been this concerted, continued, and concentrated effort towards this one thing, we have hardly seen so much fruit as we might reasonably have expected ; and we are very sure if there had not been much grieving and quenching of the Holy Spirit of God among us in connection with this work, both se- cretly and openly, He would have wrought with mightier power, and the harvest of souls would have been much more abundant. There has never been, as in other days, thousands pentecos- tally smitten simultaneously: whole meetings arrested as in the years of the right hand of the Most High '*n times past, and made to stand still and see the salvation of God. Might the Lord ro^ have given such power as would have left hundreds, instead of tens, anxiously mquiring what must we do, if there had been an entire exclusion of " the flesh " and a total self- f)2 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. surrender on the part of Christians, more regard for the glory of Christ, less grieving and quenching and more lionoring of the Holy Ghost ? We do not quite sympathize with some things which have been said about Mr. Moody's preaching, and especially that he is not eloquent. What, we would ask, makes the meetings flat when he is absent but the want of a quality he possesses ? and what makes them full of life and spiritual emotion when he is present, but just the superior divine eloquence which flows in his burning words, as if an electric current were passing through every heart } He is the most powerful speaker — the most eloquent preacher — who most fully carries an audience with him and produces the greatest results ; and if Mr. Moody is judged by such a rule, he is one of the most eloquent of living men, for none of us here who are ministers feel the least desire to speak if he is present, for with all our university training we acknowl- edge his superior power as a heaven-commissioned evangelist. He has the all-powerful eloquence of a man full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and fired with indomitable zeal for the glory of Christ and the salvation of souls. He may be devoid of rhet- oric (and that, we suppose, is meant), and he may use his free- dom in extemporizing grammar to suit himself, but withal Moocly is the most eloquent, as he is the most successful preacher among us. The Lord be praised for giving such gifts to men, and for the thousands of souls He has converted by him in this city, or set into the liberty of grace by a fuller knowledge of Christ and His finished work. What masses of young people from the schools crowded the n)eetings during the holidays ! And so great has been the at- traction of the singing of the one and the eloquence of the other, that hundreds of young persons, especially of the higher classes, who were formerly accustomed to go to the theatre, opera, and pantomime, gave them up deliberately, and from choice and the force of conviction attended the gospel and prayer-meetings. Men who can draw away our educated chil- dren by the hundred in this city that boasts of iti; education, from THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLANTX g^ these haunts of pleasure and amusement, to hear of Clirist in preaching and songs, and embrace Him as their Saviour, and cUng to them as their friends, have that spiritual education which ennobles the character, implants delicate feelings, gener- ous sentiments, tender emotions, and gracious affections, which the young very quickly discover and reciprocate. But we have no doubt that a very great part of Mr. Moody's superiority over most ministers as a preacher of the gospel, arises from his superior knowledge and grasp of the Holy Scriptures. Messrs. Moody and Sankey's principle for gospel work is the recognition of the divine unity of the one body of Christ ; and accordingly wherever they go they say, in effect, A truce to all sectarianism that the Lord alone may be exalted : let all denominations for the time being be obliterated and forgotten, and let us bring our united Christian effort to bear upon the one .great w^ork of saving perishing souls. It is a charming sight to look back over the past eight weeks and think of men who, it appeared, were for all time to come in religious antag- onism because of their controversial differences on the Union question, sitting side by side on the same platform lovingly co-operating with those American brethren and with one another for the conversion of souls. All old things seemed to have passed away, and all things had become new, and all rejoiced together in the blessing which has been so richly vouchsafed by the God of all grace. There has been such a commingling of ministers and Chris- tians of all the churches — all sectarian thoughts and feelings being buried — as has never been witnessed in this city since the first breaking up of the Church of Scotland, more than 140 years ago. What all the ministers and people of Scotland were unable to achieve — a union of Christians on a doctrinal basis — God has effected, as it were at once, on the basis of the inner life by the singing of a few simple hymns and the simple preach- ing of tne gospel : — for as the unity of the nation was secured by the one purpose to make David king over all Israel : "All these 'nen of war that could keep rank came with a perfect 94 BIOODY AND SAN'KEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel ; and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king, and there was great joy in Israel '"(i Chron. xii. 38) ; so the one purpose to have the Lord Jesus exalted and made supreme, and His glory in the triumph of His gospel and the salvation of sinners made manifest, has united the ministers and Christian people of every name in the metropolis of Scotland : " and there was great joy in that city" (Acts viii. 8). "Be it known unto you all, that by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom ye cru- cified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him " hath been " shed forth this which ye now see and hear." " This was the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the Corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts iv. 10-12). *'This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This IS THE DAY WHICH THE LORD HATH MADE. We Will bc glad and rejoice in it" (Ps. viii. 23, 24). Mr. Moody is overpoweringly in earnest, and he brings in the direct, straightforward, decided methods of a thorough -going, energetic man of business into his addresses, in conducting meetings, and his dealing with souls, and, as a preacher gene- rally stamps his own image upon his converts, we may hope to see a brood of decided Christian witnesses and testifiers arising out of this time of awakening, that will let it be known that the glory of the Lord Jesus is the uppermost purpose in their hearts. This witness-bearing has already begun in colleges and schools, in families and work-rooms, in drawing-rooms and kitchens. Thcr»are discussions going on everywhere regarding both the men and the movement. In ladies' schools there are young converts testifying for Jesus, and boldly confessing Him as their Saviour ; evening parties, through the influence of the young believers in the household, are being converted into Christian assemblies to talk over the preaching of Mr. Moody, and to sing in concerted worship the hymns and solos which have been introduced by the inimitable singing of Mr. Sankcy. THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. 95 These two quiet and humble Americans have all but turned society in Edinburgh upside down, and by the grace of God, have given its citizens the merriest Christmas and the happiest New Year that they have ever enjoyed, by gathering them around the Lord Jesus. It seems as if a voice from heaven had been saying, " O clap your hands, all ye people : shout unto God with the voice of triumph. God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises ; sing praises to our King, sing praises ; sing ye praises with understanding." WHAT GOOD HAVE MESSRS. MOODY AND SANKEY DONE IN EDINBURGH ? This is a question which, in its inward aspect, can be answered only by Rim who knows the hearts of men ; but that which is visible and apparent can be set down in writing. For one thing, Mr. Moody has given the Bible its duo place of prominence, and has made it to be looked upon as the most interesting book in the world. This is honoring the Holy Ghost more than all the prayers for His outpouring that have been offered ; for it is getting into the mind of God as the Psalmist got, when he said, "Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name." His addresses on such themes as " How to study the Holy Scriptures," and " The Scriptures cannot be broken ; " his own Bible lectures, which were so full of Scripture, and helpful to hundreds of Christians ; his con- stant reference to the Bible, and quotations from it in his preaching; his moving about among the anxious with the open Bible in his hands, that he might get them to rest their souls on the " true sayings of God ; " and his earnest exhortations to young Christians to read the Word, and to older and well- taught Christians to get up " Bible readings," and invite young Christians to come to them, that they might be made ac- quainted with the mind of Christ, all showed how much in earnest he is to f;ive due prominence to the Holy Scriptures. Mr. Moody has also given us a thorough specimen of good 96 MOODY AXD SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Gospel preaching, both as to matter and manner of communica- tion. It is not a mixture of law and Gospel : his Gospel is " the Gcspel of the grace of God," " without the works of the law," the " Gospel of God " coming in righteously and saving the lost, not by a mere judicial manipulation and theoretically, but by grace, power, and life coming in when men were dead, so that we have not only sins blotted out by the blood of Christ, but deliv- erance from sin in the nature by death and resurrection, and life beyond death, so that a risen Christ is before us, and we in Him, when it is said, " There is therefore, now no condemna- tion to them which are in Christ Jesus." There is "justifica- tion of life ^' in his preaching, immediately that we are "justified by His blood:' He has also distinguished with much decision and precision between the Adam nature and the new creation in Christ, and made it as clear as noon-day that salvation is not the mere set- ting right of man's existing faculties, but the impartation of new life in Christ, a new nature, a new creation, so that there exist two utterly opposed natures in the one responsible Christian man, and that " these are contrary the one to the other : " and the knowledge of this gives young Christians immense relief, and a solid foundation for holiness at the very commencement of their Christian course. New creation in Christ — not the mending of the old creation — is Mr. Moody's idea of Chris- lianity: and it is the divine reality which many are now en- joying. This also leads to the Pauline theory of holiness, as preach- ed by him. He has imbibed very fully the theology of the Epistle to the Romans on this point, and insisted with much earnestness that Scripture has it that Christians are not under the law in any shape or form, and that this is essential to holi- ness : — " For sin shall not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under law, but under grace " (Rom. vi. 14) ; " But now we are delivered from the law, that we should serve in newness of spirit " (Rom. vii.). His doctrine is that the law never made a bad man good or a good man better, and that we are under grace for sanctification as well as for justification ; and yet the THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. 97 righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh (that is, under law) "but after the Spirit " (Rom. viii. 4). His clearness in distin^^uishing between law and grace has been the lever of life to many souls. Our American brethren have also been of great use in show- ing us what may be accomplished in the conversion of souls, if the heart is only fully set upon it, and there is a determination to have it. They came to us with that distinct aim and object iu view ; and the Lord gave them the desires of their hearts ; and as the result hundreds of souls have professed salvation. They gave themselves to " this one thing," and they stuck to it, brushing aside all other things : even the conventional courte- sies of life were made short work of by Mr. Moody if he spied an anxious soul likely to escape. His friends might introduce some notable stranger at the close of a meeting, and feel rather annoyed that, instead of conversing with him or her, he darted off in a moment to awakened souls ; but he made that his work, and everything else had to be subordinate to it. " This one thing I do," seems to be his life-molto ; and in sticking to this all-absorbing object, he has read us a noble lesson of holy resoluteness and decision. If we who are ministers have similar faith and expectancy, and work like our American friends for the conversion of souls, the conversion of souls we shall have. Our Lord said to those who were to be the first preachers of His Gospel, " I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain " (John xv. i6) ; and when they were endued with the Holy Ghost and with power, they did "bring forth fruit" in the conversion of souls (Acts ii. 41 ; iv. 4) ; and their fruit remained (Acts ii. 42), and has done so, in the millions of souls saved in all ages down to the present day. Our friends have been the means of rescuing hundreds of souls in this city from impending and everlasting damnation. Their labors have been especially fruitful in the conversion of young women and girls, who in course of time will be in the important position of wives and mothers ; and if the thousand of them that appear at the young converts' meeting, to receive f)S MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Mr. Moody's Hirewell address, should all hold out, it will be an unspeakable blessing that has been conferred by God on this community through their instrumentality. Persons at a distance have wondered at us having so many ladies among the anxious, and the question has repeatedly come to us, " Where are the men ? Your anxious inquirers are nearly all women, as we read of them in your reports." If such persons had been present on Friday, Jan. i6, and run their eyes over the young converts in the Free Assembly Hall, bet^'een eight and nine o'clock, and counted, as was done, the 1,150 that were present, and failed to find 150 of them men, they would no longer have been at a loss to see why the greater proportion of the cases of awakening mentioned are women. But we believe also that any one who would affirm, from the excessive preponderance of women over men on Friday at the young converts' meeting, that the movement had only laid hold of women, would be very wide of the truth ; for although the meetings went on for three weeks almost without men, towards the close there were many young men who were brought under the power of the truth. It is however, well known that most young Scotsmen, from a variety of influences and motives, even though converted, would rather be excluded from the meeting than face the ordeal through which those had to pass who received tickets ; and had there been a converts' meeting for men to come to without any examination or receiv- ing of tickets, hundreds would have attended it. In a time of awakening it is also well known that women who are religiously impressed will go through fire and water to comply with the wishes of those who have been made useful to their souls. They will do anything they are asked to do ; hence the mass-meeting of women on Friday, the i6th. But not so with men — especially Scotsmen — hence the absence, notwithstanding that many are known to have been converted. Before that meeting was held, we had given it as our calcu- lation, based on the facts that had come under our own obser- vation daily in the inquiry-meeting, that there might be 1,500 souls converted, or who had professed to be converted, believ THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. W ing themselves to be so. We are still of the same judginent. and that very many more of them are men than that converts' farewell meeting revealed. Twelve hundred women and thiee hundred men and boys seem to be the proportion and sum total who have professed conversion. Hundreds of them may go on flourishingly, and bring forth thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold. Hundreds may go back, die out, or be choked with the world, and many who have divine life in their souls may col- lapse, and the work may have to be done over again, and they revived and set at liberty, because of the lack of teaching. This has been our observation of the results of past revivals, having been in nearly all that have taken place in this country for the last six-and-twenty years. But we see no necessity for this sad outcome of a blessed work of grace, if the professed converts were fully taught in all the precious truth of God with regard to their place in a risen and glorified Christ, as Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians, spiritually and competently ex- pounded, would teach them. Good milk, and plenty of it, makes an infant thrive and grow. " As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The only way not to fall is to grow, and growth and strength are by the truth. lOO MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. CHAPTER XIII. ON TO GLASGOW. Five meetings in one day, at Berwick-on-Twced, drew thou- Bands together, and the arrows from God's quiver pierced hundreds of hearts. A few days in Dundee awakened such interest that the evangelists returned five months later, when the enthusiasm far exceeded that of the previous visit. Every evening for a week from 10,000 to 16,000 people assembled in the open air to listen to the Gospel. Hundreds yielded to Christ, and a mighty impulse was given to religion. On their leaving Dundee, evangelistic services were held in various churches, with many tokens of blessing. The number of inquirers was very considerable. Many cases were charac- terized by deep conviction of sin, and there were several remark- able conversions. Of the many hundreds, doubtless some were only slightly impressed, while others are bearing about their trouble to this day. For, whatever may be the explanation, there are always some who very gradually arrive at settled trust and peace in Christ. As the result of the awakening, there have been large additions to the membership of the churches — in some congregations as many as one hundred and upward. Great care has been taken in watching over the young Chris- tians, and we do not know of any who have gone back. On the occasion of the second visit of the evangelists to Dundee, in June, when great open-air meetings were held in the Jarrack Park, Mr. Moody organized and set going special means and eflbrlsfor reaching young men. With the aid of a large staf? of earnest Christian men, who volunteered their services at the call of Mr Moody, the Young Men's Association carried out the scheme with energy and success. In the course of two THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. lOI weeks, upward of one hundred and thirty young men were indi- vidually conversed with, almost the whole of whom ultimately professed faith in Christ. The work has been carried on throughout the year by the Association, as well as by the direct instrumentality of the churches, with much prayer and pains, and many have been added to the Lord. In the Post and Tele- graph offices alone there are some twenty young men and lads who have come over to the Lord's side, and are zealous in his service. As Andrew found his brother Simon, and brought him to Jesus, so in many a pleasing instance, brothers have been bringing brothers, and young men have been bringing their com- panions, to the Saviour. The seal of God's blessing has been clearly stamped on the efforts of the Christian young men. And although, to the eye of an observer looking only on the surface, nothing may be apparent save the ordinary ripple of Christian work, to those who look more closely, a powerful under-current of spiritual influence is plainly seen to be at work among the youth of our town. In many quarters the tide is fairly turned and is setting in steadily in the right direction ; and we expect still greater and better things. In regard to the work among the children, we have never before seen so much precious fruit in the same space of time. All the year round there has been great joy in many a family, and in many a Sabbath-school. Nor has this joy proved to be evanescent or fruitless. To this fact parents and teachers bear decided testimony. Running parallel with the work of the Holy Ghost, there has been a remarkable dispensation of Prov- idence in the removal of many Httle ones to the spirit-world. Beautiful and instructive in many instances have been the last solemn scenes of life. To the clear eye of a child's faith there is almost no darkness in the valley. To the ear of the little Christian, quick to catch the voices from above, the solemn sound of Jordan's waters has no terrors. With marvellous wisdom and force, these dying children gave forth their testi- mony to Jesus and his grace. While the immediate results of the work are exceedingly precious, the value of its full outcome can scarcely be ovdr- 102 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. estimated : believers are refreshed and lifted higher — Christian workers of every class having renewed their strength, and are filled with fresh hope and zeal. The whole body of the living Chuich has made an advance ; her forces are increased, hei meihods are improved. So mighty an impulse cannot fail of great and lasting results. But there remains much land to be possessed, and from the recent movement there comes to us a loud and stirring call to go forward. Thanking God for the past, and taking courage, we look into the future with heart of good cheer ; for we feel assured, '* 'Tis better on before 1 *' But the great meeting in Scotland was in Glasgow. On Sunday morning, February 8, 1874, at nine o'clock, Mr. Moody addressed 3000 Sabbath-school teachers and Christian workers in the City Hall. At half-past five in the evening, an hour before the time for services to begin, the hall was crowded in every corner. The crowds became so great that it was neces- sary to hold separate meetings for men and women, and even then no building in Glasgow could be found large enough to hold the congregations. The interest among the impenitent was beyond precedent. It was another Pentecost. Again and again 1000 inquirers remained after the sermon to be pointed to Chris^ During the six days beginning with Tuesday of Jast week, the suburb of Hillhead was nine times flooded with crowds hur- rying to the Crystal Palace. This unique glass house is the lar- gest place of public assembly in Scotland, and can seat about four thousand, while a thousand or two more may be crowded into it. Tuesday evening was for the young women. Hun- dreds appealed in vain for tickets after seven thousand five hundred had been distributed, and hundreds who had them struggled in vain for admission. The building was crowded jp to the fainting point, and the meeting was partly spoiled by its numerical success. On Wednesday the young men who were ticket-holders darkened the Great Western road more than an hour before the time of meeting. All comers were welcome on Tiiursday, so long as there was any room. In spite of the rain the Palace was filled by seven o'clock, and about one-half THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. 103 of the audience seemed to be young men of the middle classes. On Friday the noon prayer-meeting was transferred to the Pal- ace, which was comfortably filled with the better, or better-off, classes. Friday evening's meeting was the most significant of the series. Tickets for it were given only to those who, on applying for them in person, declared that they believed them- selves to have been converted since January ist, and gave their names, addresses, and church connection, which information, we are told, is to be forwarded to their several pastors. It was publicly stated that about three thousand five hundred had received tickets on these conditions. As the Americans did not arrive till six weeks after New Years, and as the tickets were not exclusively for the frequenters of their meetings, it was hardly fair in one of our contemporaries to insinuate that the object was to number and ticket Moody's converts. The children had their turn on Saturday at noon, and the working- people at night. On Sunday morning the young women were admitted by ticket, and at six o'clock p. m. the Palace was filled both inside and outside, as an Irishman would say. While several ministers, along with Mr. Sankey, conducted the service inside, Mr. Moody addressed a crowd in the open air that filled the whole space between the Palace and the gate of the Botanic Gardens. Many hundreds did not even get the length of the garden gate. The estimates of the vast throng — mere guess- work, of course — range from fifteen to thirty thousand. A month ago, in the same place and under the same auspices, another meeting was held for six and a half hours. We refer to the ** Christian Convention," which Dr. Cairns declared to be "un- paralleled in the history of the Scotch, perhaps of British Christianity." It was reported that about five thousand were present, of whom some two thousand were ministers and ofiice- bcarers from Scotland and the North of England. Now these are conspicuous facts', and challenge the respect- ful attention and sympathy of all, whatever their religious views may be, were it on no higher principle than that of the ancient poet, " I am a man, and deem nothing human uninteresting to rae." Some have already photographed the humorous side of I04 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. these religious assemblies, and proved what we daresay nobody will deny, that some blemishes cleave to them. We are per- suaded, however, that many of our readers will not be disinclined to look at the higher aspects of '* these wondrous gatherings day by day ; " for we are not aware that so many large and represent ative meetings have been drawn together in Glasgow by any cause or interest whatever during the past century. Here is a novel addition to the " May meetings" — anew General Assem- bly, with representatives of almost every class of society and every Protestant Church in the land. The religious movement, of which these meetings are the most outstanding manifestation, dates, so far as it met the pub- lic eye from " the week of prayer " in the beginning of January. The ministers and office-bearers of almost all the churches then met, and formed a committee to arrange for united prayer meetings, and also for the expected visit of the American Evan- gelists. The record of what was going on in the North of Eng- land, and especially in Edinburgh, had previously inflamed, as well as informed, many of the more receptive and sympathetic souls. Tokens of growing interest had also been appearing in many quarters ; and evangelistic services, such as those con- ducted by Mr. Brownlovv North and others, had indicated that the spiritual thermometer was steadily rising. During the first week of January St. George's Church was crowded at noon, while the overflow was accommodated in Hope Street Free Gaelic Church. After the first fortnight Wellington Street United Presbyteriaa Church was made the centre, where, on an average, about a thousand met daily for prayer. In the second week of February, Messrs. Moody and Sankey began their work among us ; and for the last three months they have conducted meetings every day, with a few exceptions. The mind experiences a sense of fiitiguc in detailing their eflbrts. They certainly have not spared tiicmselves. Here is something like an average week-day's work : twelve to one o'clock, prayer- mcclJng ; one to two o'clock, conversation with individuals j four to five o'clock, Bible lecture, attended by some twelve or fifteen hundred ; seven to half-past eight o'clock, evangelistic THE REVIVAL IN SCOTLAND. IO5 meeting, with inquiry meeting at close ; nine to ten o'clock, young men's meeting. The tale of some Sabbath day's work is even heavier: nine to ten o'clock, City Hall ; eleven to half- past twelve o'clock, a church service ; live to seven o'clock, women's ; seven to nine o'clock, men's meetings in City Hall. Very few men possess, or at least exercise, such powers of ser- vice ; though in addition to the aid from the realm beyond on which true workers rely, we doubt not that congenial and suc- cessful Christian work may sustain a man beyond any other form of human effort. Admission to these meetings was usually by ticket, a necessary precaution against perilous overcrowding. The animated scenes of last week in the Botanic Gardens prove that the interest has not waned, even after three months' use and wont had worn off the edge of novelty. Accepting this as a genuine Christian work, it may be worth while to fix attention on some of its leading characteristics and results. We would say here, in passing, that we cannot welJ understand why some educated minds, without granting a hear- ing, condemn religious revivals out-and-out on philosophical grounds. Viewed on the human side, the philosophy of revivals, as they term it, is just a department of the philoso- phy of history. In no region has progress been uniformly steady and gradual ; but it has been now and then by great strides, by fits and starts, and such events as the Germans call epoch-making. In all the affairs of men there have been tides vviih full floods. Every channel along which human energies pour themselves has had its "freshet." We are familiar with revivals in trade, science, literature, arts, and politics. Times of refreshing and visitation are not much more frequent in sacred than in secular history ; and they indicate the most interesting and fruitful periods in both. To say that the work betrays some imperfections, and that there have been many objectors, is only to say what has been just- ly said of every great enterprih'e, civil and religious. But this revival seems to be distinguished from all previous revivals by the circumstance that it has been indorsed by something like the catholic consent of the churches. From the outset, nearly I06 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. all our leading ministers, and not a few of our foremost laymen, identified themselves with it. They sat and sang together on the pulpit stairs and platform at the daily prayer-meeting. A Highland member of the Free Church Presbytery lately pro- tested against some of the accompaniments ; and in a court that numbers about one hundred and fifty members, there was not one to second his lament. One o( our most conservative churches— the Reformed Presbyterian — gave its unanimous and cordial approval the other day at its Synod. The unfriendly letter-writers fall into two classes. Some sign themselves clergymen, and are much exercised about their clerical status. If any in these days will make it their chief concern to stand upon their official dignity, they shall find by- and-by that they have not much ground to stand upon. No evangelists, however, have come among us who have more respected the position and influence of the ministers. Mr. Moody's first statement at his first meeting in the City Hall was, that he met with the Sabbath-school teachers first, because he knew that no class would welcome him more heartily, with the single exception of the ministers, and that it would be pre- sumption in him to lecture them. The other class of unfriendly critics write in the interest of intellectualism and culture in its *' broadest " sense. We suspect that the " sages," whose pro- fession is, as one of themselves has said, that they are neither great sinners nor great saints, are the enemies of revivals only because they are the enemies of the things revived. Would they object, for instance, to a revival that gave body and popular attractions to the worn-out ideas which they commend as the «' word and catch their every song is something wonderful to see. As I remarked before, this eager- ness does not now proceed from curiosity. At all the meetings yesterday, the attendance was enormous. It is a very healthful sign of this work, that the daily prayer-meet- ing continues to be so largely attended, although neither IMr. Moody nor Mr. Sankey usually takes a very prominent part in it. The requests for prayer have become so numerous, that it has been found impossible to read even a brief classification of them. The letters have for some days been " spread before the Lord," after the example of good King Hezekiah, the meeting uniting in silent entreaty for the special cases sent in. Hundreds were obliged yesterday to go away disappointed in their efforts to get into the Bible-reading in the Metropolitan Hall. Mr. Moody reserved his best wine to the last. A more suggestive Bible-lecture it was never our privilege to hear. We had a com- pendium of some half a dozen Bible-readings. The great bulk of the people, ministers included, were taking notes. It is given to few preachers to have so many eager reporters. Many a good sermon will be got out of yesterday's addresses. One minister remarked that it was as good as an addition of many a good book to his library. It is calculated that in the evening there were not less than 12,000 persons assembled in the Exhibition building. There is not a Sabbath service in any congregation in Britain in which there is a greater solemnity and decorum than there was in that vast assembly. The sight from the platform of these earnest, and, in many cases, awe-stricken thousands, is one that it will be impossible for us ever to forget. Some one remarked to, me, a day or two ago, how significant it was that during the severe weather of last week, even a cough was scarcely heard in that great-crowded glass building. When Mr. Sankey sings the silence is sometimes even oppressive. We are now engaged in giving out tickets for the Thanksgiving meeting to be held on Wednesday evening, the last night Mr. Moody has promised to be with us. The tickets are given only to those who profess to have been brought to Christ during the THE GLORY OF GOU IN DUliLIN. 1 37 special services. We are very careful in giving these lickets, though I doubt not there may be many stony-ground hearers. We have had the help in this work of some of the most experi- enced ministers of the gospel in our city ; and the general impres- sion made on the minds of the brethren who have taken part in it, is of deep and intense gratitude for the many indubitable tokens of the presence and power of the regenerating Spirit of God. About a thousand tickets have been already given out ; but many of the converts have not yet applied. Arrangements have been made for the carrying on of special prayer and evangelistic meetings, after our brethren have left. Leading ministers of all our evangelical churches have thrown themselves heartily into these arrangements. We have felt that it is a good thing — good for ourselves, and good for that cause which, with all our imperfections, is dearer to us than life — for brethren to dwell together, and work together, in unity. The labors of the Evangelists closed with a three days' con- vention, which was attended by 800 ministers, from all parts of Ireland, besides thousands of the general public. The first day was devoted to discussions on the following topics : " Praise and Thanksgiving," " How are the masses to be reached .^ " "What can be done to promote the Lord's work throughout Ire- land ? " etc. The second day was signalized by a gathering of over 2,000 converts, to whom Mr. ]\Ioody addressed loving coun- sels, and on the third day there was another gathering of the min- isters in Exhibition Palace. And thus terminated one of the most remarkable gatherings ever held in Dublin. Mutual love and courtesy marked all the proceedings. Strangers could not tell to what body of Christians many of the speakers belonged. The labors of the evangelists in Ireland were ended, and on Sunday, the 29th of November, at Manchester, they began their new work in England. The happy visit of Messrs. Moody and Sankey to Dublin is now a thing of the past. These men of God are gone from us, but the work remains. That work consists: I. In a great general awakening throughout Dublin and its IjS MOUDY AND SANKEY IN' GREAT BRITAIN. neighbc»rhood. Tiiis is a fact which is patent to all, and cannot be gainsayed or denied. It is a fact that from 12,000 to 20,000 persons have been attracted to the Exhibition Palace every Sun- day afternoon since the work began ; that the attendance at the services held each evening in the same place, beginning with some 5,00 D people, increased each evening till it became as great as on the Sundays ; and this notwithstanding an audience of from 2,000 to 2,500 had been in daily attendance at the noon prayer-meeting in the Metropolitan Hall, and on three days in each week at the Bible-readings at two o'clock in the same place. What has been the great attractive power which has drawn together such vast multitudes ? Thank God, it was the simple St Uement of gospel truth — the old, old story of Jesus and His love, plainly and lovingly told. 2. The bringing in of so?ne 3,000 co7iverts to the fold of Christ. Nearly 2,000 tickets were issued to those who professed to have found the Lord Jesus as their Saviour since these services began. To these must be added the many hundreds who came up from all parts of the country to attend the services, and who found "joy and peace in believing," some of whom are known to myself, besides all those who are still day by day being added to the Lord. 3. The quickening and refreshing of many hundreds of ministers in connection with the convention held this week. It was a happy thought to bring so many ministers of the various evangelical denominations together at this time. It afforded them an oppor- tunity of seeing with their own eyes the reality of this great work of God which is going on around us, getting their own hearts warmed up afresh, and thus of becoming, when they return home, more than ever centres of spiritual light and heat in their own parishes and districts. Says a well-informed writer: "The finances of the Dublin revival are worthy of special attention. Some days before Messrs. Moody and Sankey arrived, three or four gentlemen met at the office of Mr. David Drummond ; and, after consultation and prayer, decided to send out a circular, saying that the Amer- ican evangelists were coming; that the Great Exliibition Palaco THE GLORY OF GOD IN DUBLIN. I^g had been engaged for them ; and that money would be wanted to meet the large expenses attendant upon the services. It was determined to ask for tlie sum of ;^i,5oo; and circuhirs for this purpose were sent out to five or six thousand o^ the leading citi zens of Dublin. Only two instances of personal solicitation are mentioned ; but the money came in so fast, that Mr. Drummond, who was the treasurer, was obliged to employ a clerk to keep the record. Old ladies would come in Bath-chairs to bring half a crown. People in high life came in carriages, bringing cheques or gold. Even the poor desired to have some share in the work, and gave their pennies and half-pence. By some means the sub- scription became known to the prisoners in a certain jail in the south of Ireland ; and they, regretting their inability to be present, sent their good wishes, and a little collection which had been raised among them, to the amount of twenty-five shillings. From Protestants and Papists, masters and servants, the contri- butions poured in. No sum larger than £$o was received. A large part of the money was in silver and copper; but the full Amount required was raised. " Having now come so near to the question of the support of Messrs. Moody and Sankey, the readers of this work will natu- rally desire to know something on that interesting topic. Here let it be said, once for all, that these brethren do not work for pay. They have never sought an invitation , never stipulated for any sum of money to be given them, either for their services or expenses. In every instance, Mr. Moody determined the ques- tion of going to, or passing by, a place, under the direction, as he believed, of the Spirit of God. The committees which invited him have held the matter of finance entirely in their own hands. They have raised the money as they pleased, and given him such sums as they judged suitable ; these he has shared with Mr. San- key ; and thus they have labored together, taking what God sent them — which in many instances has been very little, and in no case very much. At Dublin the committee consulted together, and determined to give Mr. Moody a sum of money which, they afterwards were glad to learn, \vas in excess of what he had 140 MOODY AND SANK.EY IN GREAT BRITAIN. received hitherto ; but even upon the proportion of this generous gift, the American cvangehsts will never become rich out of their present employment. Still, in the secular press, and in the gossip of the streets and offices, these men are accused, by those who know nothing of them, of mercenary motives in their great wcrk for Christ. " Only a little while ago a certain newspaper suggested that they were an advance-guard sent over by Barnum ; and that the adver- tising scheme, no doubt, would presently appear. Another equally discerning party had heard of Mr. Moody's little device for setting children to study the Bible, which he calls ' the Gospel clock.' It consists of the grouping of twelve texts of Scripture in a circle, containing respectively the same number of words as those which mark the hours upon a dial. A great many of these Gospel clock- faces have been arranged by the little people to their no small profit and delight. But the individual referred to saw in it a sug- gestion of a different character. 'I have it at last/ said he, 'Moody is a clock-maker in America, and this is the beginning of a system of advertising, by which he means to sell his wares.' " In like manner Mr. Sankey has been assailed as an agent for the sale of that peculiar make of harmoniums which he uses to accompany his singing. But it is scarcely needful to say that no such charge can be properly made against him." CHAPTER XVI. The Harvest in England. Thev were no longer the strangers who first struggled for a Iiearing in York, but brethren " beloved and longed for " by thou- sands who had not yet seen their faces in the flesh. Preparations at Manchester, whither they first went, were intelligently made for the successful conduct of their work, and we soon hear the tidings through the press that " Manchester is now on fire." The most difficult of all English cities, perhaps, to be set on fire by anything but politics, is now fairly ablaze, and the flames are breaking out in all directions. Free Trade Hall, within whose walls scenes of no common interest and excitement have often been witnessed, presented a spectacle such as those who beheld it will not easily forget. Dr McKerrow assured me that he had seen no such sight, even in the most excited political times, during the forty-seven years of his life in Manchester, as that which he saw there on Sunday afternoon. The building was densely crowded. Not an inch of standing- room was unoccupied. Long before the appointed hour, hun- dreds found it impossible to gain admission. And Mr. Moody — in what terms shall I describe his address ? Theological critics might have said there was nothing in it; but only eternity will reveal how much there came out of it. I should not be surprised If hundreds of conversions should result from that single mighty appeal. Taking for his text the first question addressed to them, 141 142 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. " Where art thou ? " he brought it home to the bosom of every hearer with a power and pathos that were simply irresistible. Having referred to the case of a young man who had cried out in the inquiry-room on Friday night, "Oh, mother, I am coming! " the young man himself sprang to his feet, and exclaimed in tones of impassioned earnestness, " That was me ! " The effect was electrical. Not an eye but was suffused with tears. The whole vast assembly was impressed with a profound sense of the pres- ence and power of the Holy Ghost. The meeting for young men in the evening was equally won- derful, no fewer than seventy-one having remained behind as anxious inquirers, not a few of whom went home rejoicing in the peace of God that passeth understanding. There is only one sentiment, I feel convinced, in the hearts of all God's children in this vast community in regard to this great work, and that is, a sentiment of devout thankfulness to oui heavenly Father that He has sent among us two such men, full of faith and power, and yet eminent for humility and lowliness of mind. "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." The meetings of December ii, that memorable Lord's day, gave a tone of solemnity and a character of power to all the meet- ings of the week. The tide rose steadily day by day, until it became full, overflowing the bank in all directions — a very spring- tide of blessing ; and only eternity will reveal how many immor- tals are now launching out upon its waters in the bark of a simple trust in the Son of God. The evenings of Monday and Tuesday in the Free Trade Hall will long be remembered by the thousands who were present. Mr. Moody delivered his famous discourses on Heaven. Much as we have read and heard of the fervor and unction that charac- terize them, we were net prepared to find these apostolic qualities in so superlative a degree as that which marked them pn this occasion. The second was especially interesting and delightful, treating as it did of the society and the treasure of heaven ; and the contrast drawn by tJie preacher between these and the trea- THE HARVEST IN ENGLAND. 43 surcs and society of tliis world, seemed to strike tlic minds of tlie vast audience with all the force of a revelation, constraining many a heart, doubtless, to resolve to seek henceforward "the things that are above." The appeal with which it closed, for power and pathos, exceeded, in our judgment, anything that he himself has uttered. And then the discourse on Hell, on the evening of Wednesday, coming as it did immediately after the addresses on Heaven, was certainly one of the most solemn and impressive utterances that have been heard within those walls. Every eye was riveted on the speaker. The projected shadow of the great white throne seemed to fall and rest upon every countenance. Even the fer- vent exclamations in which some of our friends indulge at reli- gious meetings, and which had been just a little too fervent the night previous, were hushed, and scarcely a sound broke tJie awful stillness with which, for nearly an hour, the people listened to the oft-repeated charge, like so many claps of thunder, " Son, remember! " In bygone revivals such heart-smiting, conscience- stirring, soul-firing words as those which poured from the preach- er's lips would have caused hundreds to start to their feet and cry out with frenzy, "God be merciful to me a sinner I " But in harmony with the prevailing character of this awakening, the conviction of sin produced on that occasion seemed to be too deep and too sacred to find expression in mere excited exclama- tions or physical prostrations, and were known only to Him who seeth in secret ! God was in the midst of us, of a truth. The Holy Spirit came, as of old, with the force as of a rushing mighty wind, and filled all the place where we were sitting. The powers of the world to come were brought nigh to every conscience in a manner never to be forgotten. We seemed to be looking across the gulf that divides time from eternity, and beholding the tor- ments of the self-destroyed victims of a broken law and a rejece received Jesus gladly. From these incidents, he proved how willing, how eager Christ is to save all. What have we to do.^* Nothing, blessed be God ! If we had, we would never do it. Only accept. What had Zac- cheus to do? Only come down, only obey. TIMES OF BLESSING IN SHEFFIELD. 155 He concluded by drawing the attention of the audience to the fact that the old year was fiist dying—only a few minutes— and what if the new year should come and find us where we were — lost ! Oh, let each of us take it, the offer is here; will you have it? Salvation — ay, even before this year is closed you maybe saved. As there are only a few minutes of this year remaihing, let us finish the old and begin the new on our knees. The whole audience then sank on their knees, and the new year found them bent in silent prayer. Mr. Moody asked that those who were unsaved might stand up, that they might be prayed for. For a time none were willing to do so, but on Mr. I^Ioody's asking a second time " if there were none in the hall wishing salvation," a few stood up, and the Christians were asked to pray for them. Just then the bells began to ring in the new year, and the Rev. R. Green engaged in prayer for an outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the town of Sheffield, and most particularly on the special meetings to be held. Mr. Moody also engaged in prayer. This was one of the most solemn scenes I have ever been privileged to witness. While the audience were bent in prayer the most intense stillness prevailed, broken only by an occasional sob. After singing the Doxology, the meeting separated. The streets were made lively after the meeting with vigorous singing of hymns, as bands of Christians wended their way home. Sunday was a day of blessing for Sheffield. The meetings were attended with most blessed results. The morning meeting for Christian workers was not, perhaps, so well attended in point of numbers as might have been expected, but the Christians who had come out at this early hour were right- down hearty workers. As Mr. Moody said, '' He would rather have a moderately small meeting of such earnest Christians than have it packed with thousands of careless people." At the afternoon meeting, the Albert Hall was densely packed half an hour before the time ; the lower Albert Hall was thrown open for the overflow, but even then many had to go away disap- pointed. ir6 MOODY AND SAN'KtY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Mr. Moody addressed this large gathering from Rom. ii. 23 : "For there is no difference." Many were evidently struck to the heart; some whom we heard scoffing at the commencement, were in tears at the conclu- sion of his address. When Mr. Sankey followed by singing "Free from the law, O happy condition! " it seemed to produce a deep impression. The Sunday evening meeting was glorious. The hall was again densely packed. Mr. Sankey sang his solo, " There were ninety and nine." Mr. Moody then gave his address on "Re- generation," from the words, " Ye must be born again." The result of the whole proceedings in Sheffield since the coming of our dear brethren must be considered highly satisfactory, and as affording great cause for thankfulness. Mr. Moody spoke no less than four times on Friday, on each occasion with much power, and with signs following. It need scarcely be added that Mr. Sankey's solos, including such favor- ites as " Only an armor-bearer," " Dare to be a Daniel," " Whiter than snow," etc., deepened the influences produced by Mr. Moody's impassioned discourses. Indeed, it is made more and more manifest that the special gifts of each evangelist have been most happily wedded together for the common purpose they have in view. At the closing service in the evening there was no diminution either in the attendance or the interest. It was chiefly intended for the young converts, who were admitted by ticket, and crowded a large part of the area of the Albert Hall. Both the galleries were also crammed long before the hour of commencing. It was a glorious and inspiring sight to look on such a vast sea of human fices, all lit up with eager expectation, and all assembled to hear the simple story of the Saviour's grace and power. The scene ■^as more impressive still when, at the appointed hour, Mr. !vtoody and Mr. Sankey having quietly crossed the front of the platform^ and taken their seats, the whole assembly rose and joined in singing the hymn, " Ring ihe bells of heaven, there is joy to-day, For a eoul returning from the wild." TIMES OF BLESSING IN SHEFFIELD. 157 And afterward, in that jubilant old hymn that used to be sung al revival meetings fifteen years ago, and is ever fresh and new : "O happy day! that fixed my choice On Thee, my Saviour and my God ; WeL may this glowmg heart rejoice, Ar.i tell its raptures all abroad." After Mr. Sankey had sung " Whiter than snow," Mr. Moody spoke with his accustomed pungency, simplicity, and power, chiefly addressing the young converts. Surely they will never be able to forget his words of affectionate encouragement and cau- tion, as he pointed out the dangers that would inevitably come to them in their Christian life, and the unfailing source of strength amidst them all. Tiien came his parting words, evidently painful alike to speaker and hearers. "I have learned to love you," said Mr. Moody; and the earnest gaze and tearful eyes before him testified, more loudly than words, how his love was reciprocated, and his labors and counsels prized. I was forcibly reminded of the scene of Paul's farewell meeting with the elders at Miletum. I verily believe that many hundreds of young converts would, one and all, have fallen on Mr. Moody's neck, and kissed him, sorrow- ing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. One little fellow, at the close of the meeting, came to me in great distress when he found that ^Ir. iMoody had left without having given him a shake of his hand. Before the meeting was dismissed, Mr. Sankey sang a parting hymn to the tenderly pathetic tune of " Home, sweet home," and the vast crowd lingered long in the hall where Christ had won so many sons and daughters within the past two weeks. The work among the young men has been taking root during the week. It has been a ''Happy New Year" for Sheffield, and the faith of the Lord's people prompts them to hope that "still there's more to follow." Upward of eighty — clergymen of all the evangelical denomina- tions in the town, and the other members of the committee- met Messis. Moody and Sankey at breakfast in the Imperial Hotel^ on Saturday morning, to bid them farewell. Reporters were ex- 158 MCX)DY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. eluded, but I understand that the unanimous expression of the company was one of gratitude to the evangelists for their untiring and successful labors in Sheffield, and for the spirit of cordial co- operation among the various divisions of the Church that their visit had so blessedly generated. Practical as he always is, Mr. Moody used the occasion to urge upon the committee the neces- sity of rearing a central and suitable building in the town, where all those interested in the continued success of the work could meet on neutral ground, and carry on the meetings. In summing up the results, and giving general impressions of the value of these special services, the following account may be found useful : The crowded meetings, thrice repeated every day, attended by persons who set aside engagements, alike of business, work, and pleasure, have been accompanied with much power from above. Sheffield is usually considered as a population difficult to arouse, sturdy, independent, unimpressionable ; like the metal in which we work in these parts, true, but hard as steel. Yet the place has been thoroughly aroused, and proof to demonstration given that God is able to work here, as in Jerusalem of old, and as in other towns of England now ; thus greatly encouraging Christian ministers and laborers to look with faith for greater things. All the meetings have been pervaded by a sense of God's nearness ; believers have been filled with fresh joy, and fired with new zeal ; the anxious have found soul-rest; the careless have been aroused. Tn fact, we have had at once a revival and an awakening — a re- vival touching the hearts of God's people, and an awakening spreading among the thoughtless. The influence reached its height on the last night of Mr. Moody's presence in the town, when he addressed specially the converts, who were present in goodly numbers, together with a vast crowd of Christian workers. His words seemed to have a thrilling power among us all. When he closed by saying that he did not like "farewell," and "good- bye" was almost as bad; he would therefore just say "good- night," and u) ;ct us in the morning (pointing to the skies), I think the whole audience deeply felt how much our beloved TIMES OF BLESSING IN SHEFFIELD. 159 brother had endeared himself to us. And wlien Mr. Sankey fol- lowed directly with his touching farewell hymn, so appropriate to such an occasion, and so specially addressing every class of hearers, many were the eyes that were bathed in tears. Had it been possible, we would not have parted with our brethren. But may the Lord go with them in other places, confirming their word with signs and wonders, as He has done here ! The verdict of almost all Christian people upon this movement is, that it is the work of God. I am convinced that such an esti- mate is just, on many grounds. 1. The movement was an answer to prayer. Though we had not waited on the Lord so long as Christians in some other towns have done, a weekly united prayer-meeting had been maintained for nearly a year previously. Many of God's people were also quietly sighing and crying for the abominations of the city, and hungering and thirsting for spiritual blessing. One feature in the prayers previously offered was very noticeable. While all were preparing heartily to welcome Messrs. Moody and Sankey, there was a thorough recognition in the supplications that not they, but their God, must open the flood-gates of grace. The Spirit was honored ; and we have had the answer. 2. Remarkable unity prevailed. At least in its outward mani- festation this was realized, when ministers of the Established Church and those of the Free Churches sat together on the same platform, and followed each other in prayer. The force of exhor- tation, backed by the united sympathy and supplications of the whole Christian Church, is multiplied tenfold. Doubtless Chris- tian union is of God. When will it genuinely prevail ? Is not the attainment of it worth the surrender of the causes of division ? 3. The movement had a growing power. Its influence at first was not to be compared with what it became in its progress. In- deed, the feeling of myself and of others with whom I have con- versed was at first one of disappointment. Both Mr. Moody's speaking and Mr. Sankey's singing seemed to fall short of what we had expected ; but it was not long before the imprcssiveness of both made itself felt to all. To my mind, this is a true test of l6c MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. excellence. A picture, a piece of music, a landscape — do they grow upon you by repetition ? The work of these evangelists has grown upon us. I apprehend it would have been the other way, hid it not been of God. 4. The stillness was remarkable. The noise and confusion favorable to revivals which are the work of man was altogether absent. The quiet, favorable to the descent and operations of the Holy Ghost, was marked. A man of my acquaintance once observed that " anybody could get up a revival, if he only made enough noise." There was nothing of that kind here. Indeed, I noticed that if any brother threw a needless physical exertion into his entreaties, Mr. Moody would be sure to say, " Let us have a few minutes' silent prayer ; " and this was mostly followed by the subduing strains of Mr. Sankey's harmonium and voice. A solemn quiet reigned at all times, and even Mr. Moody's hu- morous sayings did not destroy the solemnity of it. A work done under conditions such as these, so different from those which have prevailed in some "revivals," commends itself to me as the work of God. There are many things that I might touch on ; but only one thing more will I mention. 5. The work is evidently one of faith. This quality is very observable in Mr. Mood)-. He has faith — not a proud self confi- dence engendered by success, but a humble reliance upon God and fearless expectation of blessing. Letter of Mr. Moody to the Young Converts. A meeting of converts was held on the evening of January 19, presided over by the Rev. R. Staunton. During the proceedings the chairman read the following letter : "Birmingham, Jan. 19, 1S75. "My dear Friends: Mr. Sankey and I would have been very glad to liavc seen you all once more to-night, but God has given us work in another corner of His vineyard, and we can only join you in well-wishes. I am very glad now to have this opportunity TIMES OF BLESSING IN SHEFFIELD. l6l of fulfilling my promise to send you a short message. There are many things I should like to say if I had the time, but I fear I must confine myself to one or two very plain words. Ever since we left Sheffield, every one of us will have changed a little. Some will be merrier, and some will be gloomier. Some will be fuller of God's love, and some may even feel a little emptier ; others, again, may not have got over the period of wonder, and still find themselves asking: ' And can it really all be true ? Is it not just some strange dream ? Is it really possible that God loves us, and that we are really saved for evermore ? ' And this is my only one reply to these very common and rational questions : We are changed, but Christ is not. Oh, xi He were different, it would be a very, very serious thing. And if we are changed and are fright- ened about it, we must find out at once if He is changed too. If it is only we who are different, it does not matter much, because salvation does not depend upon us, but upon Him. And the Bible tells us all about it in one little golden sentence, which we must all ask God to burn into our hearts, and then we shall never be troubled any more about our feelings. In Hebrews xiii. 8, He says, * Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for- ever.' Yes ! the same ;" no matter how changed we are, no mat- ter how dull, how joyless, Pie is just as He was yesterday, just as He was the night when we got our first glimpse of His dying love for us. " Oh. dear friends, let us keep looking to Him, and as we look, God will give us the longing to be more and more like Him. Perhaps some of you already feel that longing, and you don't know what it is ! Perhaps you think it is very hard to have this craving after a better heart and a holier life. But Christ says it is 'blessed.' It is not hard ; it is not a misfortune; it is not a sign that the health of the soul is gone. No ; appetite is not the symptom of disease, but of health. And the Master Himself has told us that it is blessed to be hungry and thirsty after Him. And some of you may be mourning over your empty hearts, for little love is there ; how little faith, how little zeal for the Mas- ter's service 1 Well, it is not hardship to feel like that. If it be tCl MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. real, it is not sad to be that way, only don't mourn over it Christ says it is * blessed ' — blessed to be poor in spirit; and the poorer, and weaker, and humbler we feel, the more room is thero for Him to perfect strength in our weakness. * My grace is suffi- cient for thee ; my strength is made perfect in weakness ; * * * for when I am weak, then am I strong.' And now, dear friends, before closing, let me ask you all to do something for Christ, something this very week. I cannot tell you what to do ; but God will if you ask Him. He has something for everybody to do ; and let us be earnest in doing our best for Him, and let us do it soon. Death will be upon us when our work will be but begun, and ' the night comelh when no man can work.' And for every one of you, that God may bless you, and keep you, and cause the light of His face to shine upon you, and enable you to grow in the knowledge and likeness of His only begotten Son, ia the earnest and humble prayer of your affectionate friend, "D. L. Moody." CHAPTER XVIII. ^TiiK Toyshop of the World" Welcomes Them. Birmingham, with its 400,000 people, the constituency of John Bright, the English reformer, now looks up to God for a shower of grace upon the seed-sowing of the evangelists who began there January 17, and closed on the 29th. Never before in Birmingham have any preachers drawn such vast numbers of people as these brethren are doing at this time. Thousands are flocking daily to hear them from the districts around. The whole community seems stirred up. That which seems to be uppermost in men's minds, is the present marvelous gatherings ihat are daily taking place. There is no lack of opportunity for the Christian to put in a word for the Master, for wherever you go, whether in the counting-house, shop, refresh- ment-room, train, omnibus, and even as you walk along the street, the one topic is the doings of these wonderful men of God. If you want to get a seat at their meetings, you must be there fully one hour before the time, and a stranger entering the town must be struck with the determination of those who daily seek these gatherings. Eveiy day this week hundreds have been turned away fiom the noon-day meetings held in the Town Hall. Meetings are now being held in Carr's Lane Chapel every afternoon at three o'clock, and here again it is necessary to be there some time before the service commences. In fact, yesterday I was there at two o clock, and the body of the chapel was then filled. It is estimated that three thousand people are in this building every afternoon. 163 164 MOOD\ AVD SANKtV IN GREAT BRITAIN. To convey to tho mind of the reader the sight which presents itself on entering Bingley Hall is impossible. Sloping down from the galleries which run round the building, other galleries have been erected, and the whole building, from the speaker's platform, looks like one vast amphitheatre. The crimson cloth which drapes the galleries adds to the general effect, and makes the hall look very comfortable. The immense sea of faces is singularly impressive, especially when from 12,000 to 15,000 people are listening eagerly to catch the words that fall from the speaker's lips. The question may be asked. What effect is this movement hav- ing upon the people in general .? I repl}^ Good every way. The stirring addresses given by Mr. Moody to Christians from the very first morning, are bearing fruit. They are beginning to look about, and realize that thousands around them are living without Christ. Many Christians have spoken to me of the fresh energy with which they have been stimulated, through attendinj^ the meetings. As for those who nightly throng Bingley Hall, the best test of the work I can give is, that whereas at first the after- meetings were held in a neighboring church, the anxious ones have now become so numerous, that they are obliged to remain in the hall, while earnest Christian workers, with Bible in hand, pass from one to another, and open to inquirers the way of life. All this proves to us the great power of God, and what He can do by two men who give themselves wholly up to Him. The work "is marvelous in our eyes," but it is not less marvelous that their physical strength does not give way under their unceasing labors. While Mr. Sankey is greatly gifted with power to use his voice in singing the Gospel, Mr. Moody has a way of marvelously picturing, in the most vivid manner, Bible truths. From the humorous he can come down to the pathetic, and so move his hearers to tears, and withal there is a "holy boldness " which is seldom to be met with in tlie preachers of the present day. The Mornifi^^ News says : " Never before in the history of Bir- mingham, I l)clicve, have two men drawn such large numbers 'of people together as Messrs. Moody and Sankey have done, time THE TOY-.. .OP OF THE WORLD" WELCOMES THEM. 165 after time, during the wliole of last week and yesterday. The Town Hall, Carr's Lane Chapel, and Bingley Hall, have been entirely filled at most of their meetings, uncomfortably crowded at some, and all but full at one or two others. Since commencing their labors here, they have held twenty-two services, namely, four in Carr's Lane Chapel, six in the Town Hall, and twelve in Bingley Hall. No doubt in many cases the same persons pre- sented themselves at the meetings again and again ; but it is probable that the audiences were, for the most part, different on each occasion. At the four meetings in Carr's Lane Chapel some 12,000, at the six in the Town Hall about 24,000, and at the twelve in Bingley Hall at least 120,000 persons must have been present, making a total of 156,000 men, women, and children, to whom, during the last eight days, they have preached and sung the Gospel. Nor does the interest in the men and their work as yet know any abatement, it being likely that the services to be held this week will be as numerously attended as those of last v/eek." Amidst all the cavil of unbelief, and other opponents, thou- sands can testify, day by day, to the rdiUty and power, widely spreading and deepening blessing upon their souls. Sinners have been converted to God, and believers edified. Whole con- gregations, both in churches and chapels, have felt its animating power. The clergy and ministers of various denominations have rejoiced together in this blessed work of the Lord, and felt its quickening influence. Many of the Lord's servants have met together for the first time, and felt their hearts drawn out in brotherly love and sympathy, enabling them to overlook various minor differences of creed and church governm.ent. The noon-day piayer-meeting was first held in the Town Hall, which large building was filled long before the appointed hour. A very solemn and prayerful spirit seemed to pervade the masses — the stillness was quite impressive, and the great bulk of the people seemed to enter most deeply into the importance and solemnity of the occasion. The numbers at the noon day prayer- meeting were probably quite 3,000. Afterward it was changed to Bingley Hall, where thousands more might be accommodated l66 MOOCY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. The afternoon Bible-reading is also well attended, and greatly enjoyed by many. The evening meetings hav^ gone on steadily- increasing, until at length I suppose some 15,000 must have been congregated together. The attention of these great masses (assembled an hour before the time) was well sustained by sing- ing— and, as a brother clergyman said to me, on the platform, " we never heard such singing of the good Old Hundredth Psalm before, and probably may never hear the like again " — as it burst forth from the hearts and lips of this vast assemblage. Oh ! it was a touching sight and a telling sound— such as Birmingham itself had never witnessed before — 15,000 met together, night after night, to listen to the loving, sympathizing, fervent preach- ing of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners! And the audience felt it! The Holy Spirit of God seemed working in our midst — alike on preacher and hearers — and many were the hearts moved. At 7:30 Messrs. Moody and Sankey entered the building. The service began by singing, then prayer was offered, another hymn or two were sung, a portion of Holy Scripture read, another hymn, and then followed the address. Numerous anecdotes were related, as if not only to illustrate certain points, but also to rivet the attention, and then, as the preacher's heart and tongue seemed set on fire, all these little adjuncts were sub- merged in the one glowing, burning theme — salvation for lost sinners— yea, a present and immediate salvation for every one that believeth in Jesus! As I sat near the preacher, I could read the meaning of the big drops upon his brow, and how his whole frame was moved, not with selfish passions, seeking per- sonal admiration, but steeped in the love and spirit of his Master. One great object was kept steadily in view — the glory of God in the salvation of sinners through Jesus Christ, and the intense longing that thousands might share with him the blessings and the joys of this great salvation 1 Almost breathless stillness chained the audience. Numbers stayed for the after-meetings ; the females in the side-galleries, the males in the Scotch Church adjoining. On the first Mooday evening Mr. Moody himself undertook the men, •*THE TOY-SHOP OF THE WORLD" WELCOMES THEM. 167 but finding the numbers so large, he sent up to the pLilform for assistance. Undoubtedly personal interviews are the best. We have reason to believe that many found pardon and peace in Jesus, and are spreading their happy and holy influences around. The singing appeared to be improving night after night, as the vast masses gradually learned the tunes and hymns. Mr. Sankey's solos were powerfully and sweetly sung, and his clear utterance and distinct enunciation of syllable after syllable gave a great effect and pathos to the whole. And on Tuesday, January 26, the day of the convention, it was supposed that from one to two thousand ministers of various denominations attended the gathering, which began that day at ten o'clock and continued till four p. m. Truly it was a great evidence of the divine blessing, as the delegates from Edinburgh, and Dublin, and other cities, told how the work was still progress- ing in their respective cities, after Messrs. Moody and Sankey had left, and in some places ripening in a most marvelous manner. Indeed a fetter reached me only yesterday, telling me of a brother clergyman in Dublin, who had a list of sixty persons in his congregation, who had apparently been brought to Christ through attending the meetings of Messrs. Moody and Sankey. Verily, the Lord is blessing the evangelistic labors of our dear brothers in Christ — Moody and Sankey. I do not pretend to endorse every utterance, or to see with them exactly, eye to eye, on every point. But I do see, and I do greatl) rejoice in their being raised up by God to proclaim, so touchingly, and so successfully, the utter ruin of sinful, fallen man, and his recovery solely through FAITH in Jesus Christ! The all-day convention on Tuesday was in every way a suc- cessful meeting. It was attended by immense crowds throughout the day, and many well-known ministers and others were present from London and various towns in the provinces, as well as Scot- land and Ireland. Mr. Moody presided throughout the day, with his usual tact and energy. The first hour was filly devoted to praise, and Mr. Sankey's opening address was followed by powerful testimony to the \^luc l68 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Df the services by our brethren in Scotland and Ireland. All the speakers concurred in saying that a new song had been put into their mouths. Mr. Moody occupied the next hour with an address on " Work ; " and his trenchant words, uttered in the presence of so many Christian workers, were potent with blessing, in stimulating them to do more than ever for the Master in their widely separated vineyards. " How to conduct Prayer-meetings " was the next topic, and a most important one it is. We cannot better describe many of the prayer-meetings we have been accustomed to attend in past years than by comparing them to " wet blankets." They have been characterized by so much frigidity and routine, that we do not wonder the attendance has mostly been small. Mr. Moody will have done us British Christians a great and lasting service if he has been enabled to show how our prayer-meetings may be made broad and deep channels of blessing and happiness, both to Christians and the careless world round about us. We look for this result. More important, perhaps, was the subject of the next hour, " How to reach the masses." Whoever will solve that problem will earn the unspeakable gratitude of all who sigh for the conver- sion of the nations to Christ. The rousing addresses of Mr. Chown, of Bradford ; Mr. Newman Hall, of London ; Mr. R. W. Dale, of Birmingham ; Mr. Fletcher, of Dublin, and others,, all men of large experience, will, we trust, have contributed some- what to this desired end. Mr. Moody was as practical as ever in his answers to the ques- tions sent in ; and if those who sent them will only apply those answers, we are inclined to think the hour devoted to the "Ques- tion Drawer" will be the most fruitful of any. In the evening a public service was held in the same place ; hundreds were unable to gain admission. The Rev. Newman Hall, of London, delivered an address, earnestly entreating all present to forsake sin and come to Christ. Mr. Moody, in his discourse, urged on his hearers immediate decision for Christ. "the toyshop of the world" welcomes them. 169 Mr. Sankey's singing of sacred songs seems to make a deep impression upon the great congregation. At the meeting in Bingley Hall on Friday evening, Mr. Moody said : I was very dejected last night. Our meetings have been so much blessed that an effort was put forth to get Bingley Hall for another week. When we got home last evening, we found a despatch from a gentleman, saying we could not have the hall. I was greatly depressed all day. Now, however, I have just been told we may yet obtain the hall for another week. But the com- mittee are wavering a little, as they have some fears the people will not come out to the meetings next week. We have had good committees wherever we have been ; but we have never had a better committee than the Birmingham one, and I know they will come to a wise decision. But if you are anxious about your souls, you'll attend the meetings. We'll get several gentlemen to speak, and we hope you'll rally round them and the committee. We have had great blessings in other towns ; but I think we never met with anything that came up to this — to our meetings in Bir- mingham. I must say I've never enjoyed preaching the gospel more than I have done since we came to Birmingham. We've reached so many people. I only wish we could have such a hall wherever we go. I think if we could only take up Bingley Hall, we would carry it round the world with us, as a place in which to preach the gospel to all men. But I would like you Birmingham people to go with us. Well, then, if we do our best to get speak- ers for another week, will you do your best to get hearers for the speakers!* — (Many cries of "Yes," "yes.") Well, keep your promise. Why, almost any man could speak in this hall to such a meeting as this. The very sight of you is enough to make a dumb dog bark. I'll telegraph off to Liverpool and London to send us all the help they can. There will be a service on Sunday afternoon, when one of your own ministers will preach. On Mon- day night you'll have a thanksgiving service. Come to it to thank God for having answered our prayers to bless these meetings. Has God not answered your prayers? — (Cries of " Yes," "yes.") Then on Tuesday we'll get some one else to speak. On 8 17© MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Wednesday there will be the usual services in the churches and chapels. On Thursday night there will be another speaker. On Friday I will come back, on my way to Liverpool, and we'll have a meeting for all the converts. Now, let all rise who will support the committee and attend the different meetings. [Almost the entire audience stood up in response to this appeal.] Yes ; the committee are quite satisfied. We'll go on then. Pray there may be hundreds and thousands converted next week. If things do not always please you, don't complain ; just pray. Pray for a great blessing next week. Services were held in Bingley Hall, from 5,000 to 7,000 per- sons having been present at each. At Messrs. Moody and Sankey's farewell service, Bingley Hall was once more crowded to its utmost, nearly 1,600 converts' tickets being applied for. It would be manifestly premature to assert that this number of people have been converted during the previous three weeks' services. As Mr. Moody said at the Con- ference in London, on the same day, they did not desire to reckon up the number of converts, because they could not judge of the reality of the cases. At the same time we think it very probable that many have been brought savingly to believe in Christ who did not apply for converts' tickets. In any case, the progress of the movement in Birmingham has been such as greatly to encour- age and cheer our American brethren and those who helped them in their labors ; and we respond to Mr. Moody's hope that it may " continue for a year." Mr. Moody's address to the converts was, as usual, most fitting. His parting sentences were tlie expression of affectionate regard, and it was plain, from the demeanor of the audience, that the parting on their side was a most reluctant one. Mr. Sankey sang the farewell hymn with great pathos and feel- ing; and on leaving the hall both he and Mr. Moody were be- sieged with friends anxious to receive a parting shake of the hand. Tlicy proceeded to Liverpool on Saturday. A correspondent writes concerning this meeting: "We shall never forget that address." Such was the almost involuntary •*TME TOY-SHOP OF THE WORLD" WELCOMES THEM. 171 exclamation of a well-dressed mechanic who was standing by us in the aisle of Bingley Hall. And truly the work of the Lord in this town is such as has never before been seen here. We were praying and expecting great things, but the blessing has exceeded our expectations ; never before have the people of every class been so moved and such glorious results followed. A week hav- ing elapsed since Mr. Moody left us, we are enabled to speak in a measure of results. First, the life«of the ministers who have taken part has been largely increased, so that the testimony of many of the hearers last Sunday was, " Our minister preaches like a new man ; " then the renewed life of the churches is already manifesting itself in the desire to work either in Sunday-schools or tract districts ; and besides this, the people outside are more disposed to hear the gospel, many coming into our churches last Sunday, and in more cases than one when notice was given out after the service that inquirers would be spoken to, numbers vary- ing from twenty to sixty passed into the vestry, and many rejoiced in a new-found Saviour. Our hearts are indeed full of praise ; should we be silent, the stones might well cry out, " But we will bless the Lord from this time forth, and forevermore." I know of no one of the many blessed hymns which has more struck the heart and arrested attention than that sweet one whose chorus begins, " Oh, 'twas love, 'twas wondrous love, the love of God to me." This love and its manifestation is the theme of every sermon, and, of course, God owns it. Ministers wonder at fail- ure, and try to discover the cause ; a week of services such as Birmingham has had for the last fortnight, I think must answer the question, "What is the cause of failure?" for we have seen in the crowded meetings, in the overwhelming number of anxious ones, in the utter breaking down of strong ra^n, the secret of suc- cess^ The wondrous love of God has been the weapon which has been used ; failure in using this weapon has been the cause of failure in result. Never has Birmingham been so mightily moved ; jn the workshops Sankey's songs are sung, and men who cared for nore of thcst 'hings are anxiously inquiring after the good news. Oh, may our God carry on the work begun with mighty power. CHAPTER XIX. Liverpool's Month of Mercy. The brethren revisited this great city by the sea on the 7th of February and remained till March 7, 1875. Twenty thousand dollars had been expended for a building capable of seating eight thousand persons, and, when crowded, several thousand more were accommodated. It was named Victoria Hall. The Friday preceding the arrival was observed as a day of preparation on the part of many of the churches, and the first meeting of the evangelists was on Sunday morning, at eight o'clock, for Christian workers. This was followed by the after- noon and evening meetings. All Liverpool was moved by them ; but not with the most dcsiiable feelings. Some were actuated by a spirit of embittered hostility, and did not hesitate to write and speak of these ser- vants of Christ what had not the shadow of truth. This very opposition, however, did good. God makes *'the wrath of men to praise Him." I have known of some who entered Victoria Hall bitter enemies, and left it attached friends to the move- ment. Many flock to the meetings, apparently from idle curi- osity, and thousands under spiritual anxiety, whilst God's people rally round the evangelists with an enthusiasm and hearty good- will which is cheering to observe. At last Monday evening's meeting, an intelligent young man informed mc he came into that hall to scoff at all he heard. "I believed only in God and the devil ; the latter I served well, and, ns sitting laughing at the fools (as I then thought) about mc, i;2 Liverpool's month of mercy. 173 that beautiful hymn, 'Safe in the arms of Jesus, was sung. A sudden thrill passed through my whole frame, and then like a dart .ran through my very heart. My feelings were awful, but I lis- tened to the next verse, and felt there is a Saviour. Who is He? Where is He.'* Instantly I realized the truth, Jesus is the Saviour. I threw myself into His loving arms, and here I am now, rejoicing in Him." " Blessed be God," I said, " for such news. Now, brother, go home and tell your friends what great things God hath done for your soul." "Will you pray?" he said. We went together to the throne, and then he said, " God bless you. I will now live and work for Jesus." The devil lays his plans, and no doubt thinks they are well arranged, but whilst he proposes certain events, God disposes of them in a very different way than Satan expected. Of this I have had an instance. " I am under a dreadful temptation," said a young man to me. "What is it?" I asked. " I was given drink by a man professing to be a Christian, and whom I have heard preaching the truth to me and others, but who is opposed to Moody and Sankey, and I was sent here by him to give annoyance. Now I am brought to Christ, in place of dis- honoring Christ in this meeting, what am I to do to this man ? " " Pray for him," I said, " and God will give him to you as a star for your crown. Tell him plainly his state, and bring him iiere with you next night." " I knew a lady who went to a religious meeting an avowed infidel, sent there by two sisters-in-law for a similar purpose to that which brought you this night here. She was brought to Christ, and sent back to them full of Jesus, and was the means of their saving conversion ; and now all three are rejoicing in the great salvation effected by Jesus, the Son of God, for every penitent, believing child of Adam." Truly the Lord is doing great things for us, "whereof we ctq glad.' 174 MOODY AND SANKEV IN GREAT BRITAIN. It may emphatically be said of them, "They came, they spoke, they conquered." For twenty years I have been more or less mixed up with the evangelistic work of the town, but never have I met with more opposition and scorn to any movement than the present. The erection of the vast hall to hold 10,000 persons, was looked on as monstrous folly. As it was being built, the talk was. To what purpose is this waste ? But now what was called Moody's folly, is seen to be God's wisdom. Men who wrote, spoke against, and laughed at it, now speak with bated breath, come and hear, and go with changed thoughts. " Nothing succeeds like success," is an old world's adage, and in this is proved to be true : — 6,000 at a midday prayer-meeting; 6,000 at the afternoon Bible-lecture ; 10,000 at the evening meet- ing, with the inquiry-rooms full, are something that even the Ex- change has to admit. But beyond this, there is the mighty work- ing power of God's Spirit working and acting, which no tables can register or numbers record. " 'Tis not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," was the key-note of the preparatory meetings, which has been steadily kept before all the workers. - The part allotted to me in the great work has enabled me to see and test much that is going on. And this I can say — there is wheat ; there is chaff. The wheat is sound, and will be a glorious, bountiful harvest. The chaff will be blown away. Wheat and chaff always grow together. Never have we been privileged to see so much real, genuine work — anxious faces, tearful eyes, aching hearts. Mr. Moody, after a telling address, went into the inquiry-room, and his place was occupied by a layman, who wielded the sword of the Spirit with amazing power right and left. His words, powerful and well chosen, fell with force, and told on the vast audience that seemed spellbound. Many seemed to be convicted of sin, nnfl hurried into the inquir}'-room. Mr. Moody remarked that many people thought the Victoria Hall was a bad investment, but that, if souls were born there, per-i haps some of ihcm would like to have a little stock in it. Liverpool's month or mercy. ly^ Mr. Moody's earnest invitation to those who were anxious about their salvation to stand up, and afterward to meet him in the inquir3'-room, was responded to by hundreds, who were not deterred from showing their anxiety by the curious gaze of many thousand spectators. Many striking instances of conversion have occurred, and other cases have come under my own observation in which back- sliders have been led to return to their first love. One day at the noon prayer-meeting, Mr. Moody told of an interesting case of conversion he had met the night before. A young, stalwart man, who was to sail for America next day, had come into the meeting. He had been pricked to the heart by Mr. Moody's pointed appeals, and found his way to the inquiry-room, and here, as he believed, to lay his hitherto unforgiven sins on Jesus. Later in the evening he called on Mr. Moody at his hotel, and received a letter of intro- duction to any of the Christian friends in America he might meet. He was accompanied to the hotel by his brother, who had come from the country with him to see him sail, and who seemed over- joyed to think that one so nearly related to him was taking Christ with him ere he left his native shores. At the evening meetings the hall is always crowded with some- thing like 10,000 people, and if it were not that the committee kept a great part of the passages clear to allow of access to the inquiry-room, ev^ery inch of standing ground would be occupied. The attendance at the noon prayer-meetings averages 4,000 to 5,000, the audience, of course, not being so mixed as those in the evening. One gratifying circumstance, however, in connection with the noon meeting should be noted, and that is, the presence of so many of the Liverpool merchants and business men. I have heard it stated that between twelve and one, when the noon prayer-meeting is held, 'Change is half deserted, and it has been remarked that no other source of attraction has ever drawn so many of these busy men away from their money-making for an hour in the middle of the day. May they carry away some truth that will cling to them when they are tempted to forget God in theii haste to get rich I 176 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. A t^ery happy feature of the work here, as elsewhere, is the s}'m<' pathetic co-operation of many clergymen and ministers of various denominations. They appear on the platform and take part in the services, as well as in the personal dealing with the anxious. " This is glorious work ; this is reality.'' Such was the remark that reached my ears one evening last week, as I was passing through the inquiry-room adjoining Victoria Hall. There, I thought, is the whole movement in a nut-shell. The more I see it, and the more I ponder over it, I am impressed with the feeling of reality that pervades this work, as it is now going on in Liver- pool. Endless are the surmises, and very ludicrous some of the guesses, as to the secret of its wonderful success. The Liver- pool critics (and their name is legion) are fairly puzzled. I sum it all up in the one word reality. Mr. Moody has often been described, and criticised, and dis- sected, both by friends and foes, but I think sufficient stress has been laid on his predominating characteristic of reality. As he said the other day, he pulls up his net anon to see what he has caught. This is the highest test of his reality, and the one that has evoked the greatest criticism. But it is the one that has all along contributed most to the success of the movement. During the past week the slain of the Lord have been many. Every evening has seen fresh groups scattered over the inquiry- room, with tearful eyes and troubled hearts, drinking in the affectionate words of invitation, or the plain words of appeal, addressed to them by Mr. Moody and his co-workers. People who know least about it may affect to shrug the shoulder at the inquiry-room, but one or t\vo visits there would do them good, and probably convince them how indispensable it is to success in this work. I hope one result of this awakening in our land will be that every minister of the gospel, and every one who seeks to speak to his fellow-men about salvation, will not only cast out the net, but will draw it up every time. The leading attraction of the meetings last week was Mr. Moody's Biblc-lccturcs. On each occasion the hall was crowded ; BO that on a moderate computation, the seed of the word of God LIVERPOOL'S MONTH OF MERCY. 17I relating to these two most important subjects was sown in ths hearts of some 60,000 or 70,000 persons, many of them from a long distance. The lectures are a treat of no ordinary kind. As expository discourses they are most valuable, and reveal, to some extent, how Mr. Moody has got, to use a common phrase, " the Bible at his finger-ends." But these lectures have a wonderful hortatory as well as expository value. It is a gratifying fact that the attendance at the evening meet- ings chiefly continues to increase. During the first week of the services the Victoria Hall was almost sufficient to hold the crowds of eager listeners ; at any rate, the overflow was not con- sidered so great as to necessitate the opening of other places. Last week, however, overflow meetings were held, sometimes in two and sometimes in three diflerent places. One evening I went to St. John's Church, where I found W. H. M. Aitken and the vicar of the church conducting the service after the model of the services in Victoria Hall. The body of the church was filled partly with the overflow from the hall, and partly with those who had been induced to enter by personal solicitation, and by hearing a group of young men singing hymns in the church-yard. It was a motley company, and a great ma- jority consisted of those who, from their dress and appearance, do not often find their way to God's house. There were num- bers of men such as one sees lounging at street-corners and about pubHc-houses, many young girls in working attire and without bonnets, and a number of rough, neglected-looking street Arabs. Their behavior, with one or two exceptions, was most orderly and attentive. A good sprinkling remained at the close to be conversed with, and many of them were enabled to lay their sins on Jesus, or, as the speaker said, to accept the fact that God had laid them there nearly nineteen hundred years ago. It is interesting and refreshing to notice how all grades of society and all ages are represented among the anxious who throng the inquiry-room at the close of Mr. Moody's addresses. From the richly-dressed lady to the poor waif of the street, with iy8 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. scarce enough of clothing to cover his nakedness ; from the boy and girl of eight or ten years to the horny-handed, gray-headed working-man, with all the intervening stages of life— there you find all, burdened with the same sense of sin, and afterward rejoicing in the same Saviour. The special work among the young men, which has been car- ried on in other towns where the evangelists have been, is being organized here also. On Saturday evening there was a meeting for young men, chiefly to make arrangements, at which Mr. Moody was present. In the meantime the meetings will be held in Newsome's Circus, and shortly it is expected that the concert room of St. George's Hall will be available. Sunday last was another day of much sowing of the precious seed of the word, and reaping too. The early meeting for "workers" was some 8,000 strong. The afternoon meeting for women was a wonderful sight. The hall was packed to excess, and many hundreds failing to gain entrance, an overflow meeting was held in Newsome's Circus. Mr. Sankey sang the solo " Mary Magdalene " amidst the most profound silence, and the pathetic and beautiful words of the hymn brought tears to many an eye. Mr. Moody spoke on " What Christ is to us," a most pregnant and powerful address on a theme that he said it would take all eternity to exhaust. As at other times, Mr. Moody asked those who wished to be prayed for to rise up, and hundreds upon hundreds responded in all parts of the house. A more touching or cheering sight I never witnessed. Mr. Sankey sang " Almost persuaded," and Mr. Moody said that there were so many anxious, it would be impossible to speak with them ; so he asked them to go home, and at five o'clock to take God's Word, and kneel down pleading His promise, and commit themselves to Him. All the Christians in the hall would be praying for them at that hour. He prayed that they mii^ht be altogether persuaded. Mr. Moody repeated his afternoon address to an immense audience of men in the evening, and in the course of it made Strong reference to the great curse of Liverpool, the drink traffic, Liverpool's month of mercy. 179 amid the approval of the vast congregation. He asked thcin to show their detestation of it by becoming abstainers. There were hundreds of inquirers at the close. A deeply interesting meeting of about 7,000 young men was held in the Circus from nine to ten o'clock, conducted by Mr. Henry Drummond. These meet- ings are to be continued every night. Valuable testimony was given a«s to the tangible effects of the work in Liverpool. It was stated that one class reached had been those who, though religiously trained, had, during these special meetings, seen a new meaning and power in the truths with which they were familiar. Many sailors, and ship captains, too, had come to the meetings and been guided into the true haven of rest and peace. Then there were many workingmen who had plunged into the depths of intemperance, and whose in- sulted and injured wives, after being driven from their homes, had been compelled to support themselves and their children for years together. These wives, in this day of grace, had sent let- ters to their husbands, extending their forgiveness and implor- ing them to come to Victoria Hall and seek forgiveness of the Saviour. Some of them had come and found that forgiveness, and gone back to lighten their homes again with a new lustre and joy- Allusion was made by one of the speakers to another class, one much too large and full of strange and painful interest, con- sisting of those who have in past years made a profession of love to Christ, but have wandered " Away on the mountains, wild and bare," and have been glad to take of the husks that the swine did eat. It had often been asked whether the converts connected with this revival would stand the test of time, and endure the temptations of the world. When the question is put, as it often is, " Brother, have all your converts stood fast?" I can only confess that, during the forty years but one that I have preached in this town, I have missed a great many from the fold ; but I have found some of them in that inquiry-room. The first night the inquiry- l8o MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. room was needed, I lingered on the platform, not intending to go into the room, when a message came to me, " You are wanted immediately ; an inquirer wishes to see you." I went, and I had not seen that face — I will not tell you whether it was man or woman — for twenty years ; and I found that soul had wandered away, and had kept out of my sight with perfect success. The first conviction was to go and tell him by whose hands they had been received into the Christian Church. Many a wanderer has come, and Christ alone knows how many more He will welcome back to His all-forgiving arms, and fill our hearts with a gladness they have never experienced before. And so the great work flows steadily on. As the days and weeks roll past, and the same scenes are so often repeated, it is difficult to find fresh terms in which to describe " these wondrous gatherings day by day." The four meetings on Sunday last may briefly be stated as a repetition of those on the Sunday before. All crowded to the utmost capacity of the great hall, and, in some cases, especially at the afternoon and evening meetings, multi- tudes turned away for lack of room. The service for " non-church goers *' at eleven o'clock was a fresh illustration of the power of Christ's wondrous love, or "com- passion," to melt the hearts of the most supine, and to move the consciences of the most sin-stricken. The arrows of conviction went home right and left, and there was a large ingathering of souls at the close. Mr. Moody used, by way of illustration, a very touching chapter of personal family history that brought tears to many eyes. At the three o'clock service for women, the hall was filled to overflowing an hour before the time. The women are quite as de- termined in their efforts to get in as the stronger sex, and some say not quite so well behaved under the trying conditions of a crowd. To my mind, these Sunday afternoon meetings for women have been the most wonderful of all, and certainly not the least impor- tant, when we consider the power for good or evil that must be ex- erted by so many thousands of our mothers and sisters. I must say these meetings have proved that the women are not only quicker Liverpool's month of mercy. i8i in their apprehension of the truth, but more honest and courageous in avowing their apprehension of it. At the close of Mr. Moody's searching address on '* Excuses," a very considerable proportion of the audience promptly stood up to show that they wished to excuse themselves no longer from accepting the gracious invita- tion to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Mr. Moody spoke to the inquirers that filled the inquiry-room, in language and by illustration so beautifully simple and apt, that it is almost impos- sible to conceive any difficulty could have remained in their minds. At the same time Mr. Sankey addressed, in a very art less, homely, and touching way, a large body of anxious inquirers who remained in the hall. Mr. Moody, before leaving Liverpool, addressed an immense meeting in behalf of the Young Men's Christian Association, and laid the corner-stone of the new building, inscribed, " This memo- rial stone was laid by D. L. Moody of Chicago, 2d March, 1875." He used a silver trowel presented to him for the occasion. The closing services were held on Sunday, the 7th of March, at eight a. m., for Christian workers ; at eleven A. m. for young converts and inquirers ; at three p. m. for women only ; and at eight p. M. for men only. Each was very largely attended. In 1873, not a convert was known to have been made by the meetings held by the evangelists in Liverpool, and now behold the wonderful victories of the Truth I CHAPTER XX. Mighty London is Blessed. The scale of magnitude by which the work was carried on in the metropolis may be measured in our thoughts by one fact — over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars were expended in the prosecution during the four months from its commencement, March 9th to July nth, 1875. During the first month the meet- ings were held in North London, and in Agricultural Hall, the largest building in that quarter. It is said that once, at the Agri- cultural Hall, Mr. Spurgeon preached to twenty-two thousand people. But for the different style of the arrangements in the vast interior, that would probably have been the number present on Tuesday night, when the Chicago evangelists entered on their London campaign. As it was, the audience could not be less than eighteen thousand; in all likelihood it reached twenty thou- sand. The chairs numbered fourteen thousand according to some authorities, fifteen thousand say others ; and not one of these, nor scarcely an inch of standing-ground, was left unoccupied, while the doors had to be closed in the face of many hundreds for whom there was no room. The anxiety to procure admission ivas indicated by the fact that fully two hours before the time ad- vertised for the beginning of the service crowds began to assem- ble. We were there a few minutes after six, and already the building seemed to be more than half full, while the stream of people entering was in full fiood, and required not many minutes to crowd e\'ery vacant spot, excepting only the reserved seats near the platform, for which tickets were required At half-past 182 MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 1 83 six the singing of a hymn was begun in a distant part of the hall ; but the Rev. Thain Davidson, from his seat on the platform, re- quested the stewards to repress volunteer attempts of this sort, and in a moment his wish was obeyed. The arrangements were, indeed, admirable. Ushers, each invested with an official rod, were scattered all over the building. Those near me were younor merchants and professional men ; and they di|l their work with quiet, effective energy. There seems to have been no screw loose anywhere. The silent seating of so many thousands was a mas- terpiece of administrative care and skill. The appearance of the vast throng was in itself a sight worth going many miles to see. No architectural features of the build- ing came between the eye and the great sea of humanity that seemed to stretch as far as the vision could go. There was abun- dance of light shed from thousands of gas-burners beading the walls — these at times running in straight lines, and at regular in- tervals assuming a semicircular form. A broad strip of red cloth running round beneath the lines and arches of light bore appro- priate passages in white lettering. The first of these, on the right of the platform, was, "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel "; and the first on the left, " The gift of God is eternal life." At the centre of the platform there is a small dais, covered with red cloth, and having a slight rail round it, and a little book-board at one corner. This is for the president of the meetings. On his right are the seats for the choir, and Mr. Sankey's American ^gan. The seats on the left are for the committee and others taking part in the service. On and around the j)latform were hundreds of leading men of all the evangelical communions, min- isters and laymen ; and it struck me that the Congregational and Presbyterian churches were represented in special strength, es- pecially the former body. The Earl of Cavan and Lord Rad- stock occupied seats on the platform. At seven o'clock Rev. Thain Davidson gave out the hymn, "I hear Thy welcome voice," and the volume of sound which rose from the audience indicated that it was a flimiliar strain to the most of the people present. Then, after a brief interval, the hymn, 184 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIIf. "Tell me the old, old story of Jesus and His love," was finely sung by the choir, which was composed of two hundred voices. At lialf-past seven to a moment, Mr. Moody stepped on to the dais, while Mr. Sankey took his place at the organ; and the for- mer, in the least conventional of voices, said, "Let us rise and sing to the praise of God. Let us praise Him for what He is going to do in London." The response, as the people sung the familiar Doxology, was thrilling; and no sooner had the strain ceased than the Rev. Mr. Billing, the incumbent of the nearest cliurch, offered prayer. " We bless Thee, that we have seen this day and this hour," he said ; and hundreds gave audible vent to a thanksgiving that was uttered with deep fervor. Very hearty, too, were the "Amens" which followed the request that God might be pleased to " speak to all London " by the mouth of His servants from the other side of the sea. Mr. Moody gave out the Scotch version of the hundredth Psalm, Mr. Sankey saying, " Let us rise and sing. Let all the people sing." To all, but more especially to the Scottish friends, that was a soul-stirring strain. Mr. Moody then stated that he had that day received despatches from all the great cities in Britain, letting him know that the peO' pie were praying for London. All their expectations must be in vain unless they were depending upon God. He therefore asked them to spend a few moments in silent prayer. Hereupon a great calm fell upon the assembly, and every head was bowed. In a minute or two the hush was broken by the voice of Mr. Moody, who prayed that God's blessing might rest upon the worl* on which they were now entering, and that many might be encour- aged to go out and labor in this dark city. " It is a great city," he said, " but Thou art a great God. May we ask great things, and expect them." He gave special thanks for the many minis- ters present, and prayed that there might be "no strife among the herdmen." Mr. Sankey then sang the solo, "Jesus of Naza- reth passeth by," explaining before he did so that it was simply a Christian song. " May the Lord bless the singing of this song here, as He has blessed it elsewhere," said Mr. Sankey, and he requeued the people to keep very still. The first stanza, and MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 1 85 especially the line, " What means this strange commotion ? " was thrilling in its effect; but a slight disturbance in a distant part of the hall somewhat marred the closing verses. At the end of the piece some present began to applaud ; but they were instantly rebuked into silence by a murmured " Hush ! " from thousands of lips. On Wednesday evening the second meeting was held in, the Agricultural Hall. The attendance was not nearly so large as on the first evening, resulting from the fact that Mr. Moody requested the doors to be closed at half-past seven, thus preventing many thousands who were unable to attend so early from gaining ad- mission. It was speedily apparent that great blessing from on high was present in that meeting. The address was full of power ; anec- dote, illustration, Scripture entreaty, persuasion, succeeded each other again and again, with lightning speed and force, while the vast audience listened intently. As the interest heightened, and story after story was told, many could be seen wiping the tears openly, apparently unconscious of what they were doing. The graphic picture of the meeting of Bartimeus and Zaccheus, after- the former had been healed, was thoroughly enjoyed ; and the quiet hit at those "who don't believe in sudden conversions," in the statement that Zaccheus " was converted between the branches and the ground," was greatly enjoyed. The story that followed, of " the young man converted on his mother's grave," gave occa- sion for an impassioned appeal to turn to Jesus then and there. Silent prayer followed the conclusion of the address ; and, amid a hush that was almost awful, the sound of music floated on the air, and Mr. Sankey sang softly, "Come home — come home." Every head bowed, thousands earnestly praying, while the soft music seemed to enter into the very souls of that mass of human- ity, bowing and swaying even the hardest to thoughts of repent- ance and prayer. Then Lord Radstock concluded with prayer, and ibe hymn, "I hear Thy welcome voice," was sung as Mr. Moody went from the Hall to the first inquiry-meeting in London. Many hundreds followed him, but whether workers or inquirers 1 86 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. did not at the time appear, and it is far too early yet to speak of results. On Thursday Mr. Moody presided for the second time at the noon prayer-meeting. There was also a falling oft' in the attend- ance here compared with the day before ; but the great Hall was nearly filled, and would doubtlessly have been filled to overflow- ing during the service had the doors remained open. Mr. Moody was just a very little bitter in saying, "I don't know what some men would do at a Pentecost," or his earnestness seemed intensi- fied to bitterness ; but this disappeared when he spoke of a boy of fourteen with a Bible under his arm, whom he had met in the inquiry-room the previous night, and asked as to his presence there. The boy replied that he was a Christian, hoped to meet some little boy like himself to tell about Jesus. Afterward the boy was seen kneeling with another in a corner. Mr. Sankey also spoke earnestly in defence of the inquiry-room — asking ob- jectors to visit and see for themselves, instead of finding fault beforehand ; adding, warmly, " It don't take half a man to find fault." The meeting ended as usual ; but after its close there appeared to be an impromptu reunion of nearly all the evangeli- cal workers in London, the resemblance being almost perfect to one of the evening conferences at Mildmay Park. The third evening service was much more largely attended than the second. Much better order was observed than at the commencement of the previous evening, the meeting being admi- rably controlled. The address was most solemn and searching in character, concludinjr with an exhortation to immediate and final decision. Mr. Moody ended his discourse by prayer. Then " Safe in the arms of Jesus " was sung; then silent prayer ; next, "Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah!" then the benediction and the inquiry-meeting. On Friday the great hall for the noon prayer-meeting had a glo- rious gathering, and there were quite as many present as. on the previous Jay, but notably men ; the ladies could not face the ter- rible cold and sleet. After singing, a gentleman spoke earnestly of the way and the MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 187 need of working for Jesus. He was followed by another, who told a touching story of how the lost are found in London. A tract-distributor offered a man a tract on Waterloo Bridge ; it was declined with the remark, "I shall be in hell before night"; the words were heard and answered, " No, you will not, for I'm going to heaven, and will stick to you all day." They left the bridge together, the hungry man was supplied with food and taken to a place of worship. There he fell asleep. " Perhaps he has been walking all night," said his friend ; " let him sleep ! " Service over, he was conveyed home to supper, inquiring con- cerning all this kindness, " I V/ia/^s uj>?" He was fed, tended, reasoned with, instructed, and brought to the way of heaven, instead of being in hell, as he had said. So ends the first three of Mr. Moody's noon prayer-meetings and the first three nights of work in London. And it is simple truth to state, that such meetings were never held before in Lon- don, if ever they were in the world's history. In /Aree days of noon and evening service, about eighty thousand have Hstened to ' the glorious gospel of the blessed God. Well might Mr. Moody express his thankfulness to God — the encouragement he had received and felt, and his deep sense of the sympathy and help extended to him and his colleague in their great v/ork. Well might he dissolve in broken accents and tears of entreaty for a rich blessing on himself and those who, laboring with him, will share his eternal rest and reward. Surely, when bankers and rich merchants, and ministers holding high official positions, are content to be doorkeepers, it must be said, "We never saw it after this fashion," and this was exactly the case at the door of Exeter Hall yesterday. Mr. Moody took for his text Isa. Iv. 6, stating for two evenings he had dwelt on man seeking God, but now he would speak of God seeking man ; yet recommending earnestness in seeking God by many touching incidents and suggestions. This, among others, he thought "the dying thief might have had a praying mother " He also turned to the ministers around him and asked, " Did they believe that God was present, and willing to save ? " l88 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. and was instantly answered by an audible "Yes." A tearful, impassioned appeal followed to all classes to seek the Lord, and He would assuredly be found. Silent prayer succeeded, and Mr. Sankey sang "Almost persuaded." Then the audience were dismissed, and all anxious, and all workers, were invited to remain, an invitation that was accepted by several thousands) The whole space under the arched room was occupied by seekers and workers, while the responses to earnest prayers rolled around like the deep tones of the great sea waves at night. The Lord was there. Inquirer after inquirer made themselves manifest* until there were scores in the inquiry-room, and scores remaining in the hall speaking with the workers there. In the inquiry- room were seekers and workers in every direction, and very many found peace in believing. One fine young man fell to the lot of the writer, and it was emphatically good to watch the dawning of divine truth on the mind, as shown in the intelligent face — to see the look of anxiety and fear give place to the knowledge and love of God — to watch the birth of the soul to eternal life bring forth that look of brightness on the face which is never seen from any other cause. One young lady said " she was so happy, she seemed to tread on air"; and in instance after instance the testimony grew and multiplied, till we could only rejoice in believing that numbers were born again — not of corruptible seed, but of the incorruptible, which liveth and abideth for ever. Then the long, happy evening closed by Mr. Moody calling the workers together, and giving some brotherly advice and counsel concern- ing the details of work in the inquiry-room. Oh for the time of blessing 1 Oh for the rain upon the weary I Oh for the coming, in mightiest power, of the loving Spirit and the King our Brother, among the ruined and lost — among the weary and burdened laborers on this rough and stony ground ! Our Father, hear and answer Thy children's heart-cry, for Jesus' sake ! On Sunday morning, March 14, the usual unbroken^ quiet of Islington experienced a striking change. From every direction solitaires, couples, and bands of well-dressed people were hasten- ing to tJie Agricultural Hall. Many parties of singers had MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 189 arranged to meet in their different localities, and inarched with songs to their destination. Sunday-school teachers resident in the line of march near to the Hall had invited their fellow-laborers to breakfast at a very unusual hour ; while the vendors of hymns and papers round the Hall took their usual week-day positions, and transacted a large amount of buying and selling, to which multitudes made strong and indignant objection. Pouring in at all the entrances to the Hall, there was speedily convened such a gathering of its Christian workers as London had never seen. It was a complete r^-union. Friends, whom the exigencies of work had separated for years, met and clasped hands once more ; young men grown old in service met with others in like condition, whom they had labored with in years of strength ; and comely matrons' faces were recognized as those of former girls in Sunday- schools. Long before all old friends could be recognized and greeted, the time for the service arrived, and the evangelists stood face to face with many thousands of the Christian workers of the great metropolis for the first time. Cool, i^rompt, and business-like as ever, Mr. Moody announced the first song would be " Hold the fort," which was sung with a vigor that left nothing to be desired. Mr. Moody narrated a striking instance of a Sunday-school superintendent who was not converted, but finding this to be so, v/ent honestly to his minister and offered to resign. The minister suggested a more excellent way — that the superintendent should first turn to the Lord at once and then continue his labors. This was done ; he turned to the willing Saviour, and then became the means of the conversion of the teachers and a great revival in the school. It was the duty of each Christian — not duty, but privi- lege (Away with mere duty I we did not talk oi duty to wives and mothers, and why in religion ?) — to speak to some person daily. For twelve years there had scarcely been a day in which he had not done this. Seek out fpends, and bring them into the current, that they might get a blessing and pass it on. We must also get into sympathy with the unsaved. When he was laboring in the school at Chicago, a teacher, who was going away to die, came to 190 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. him in bitter trouble about his unconverted class. He felt his strength too far gone to visit them ; they were unsaved, and he was leaving them — going away, for ever. Mr. Moody procured a carriage, and they went together day after day for ten days, until the teacher had seen all, pleaded with all, and won them all for Jesus. The tearful eyes, the pale face, and the deep sympathy had triumphed for Christ ! Then they all met him on the plat- form, and the wave of his hand from the carriage was a last, long flirewell. The effect produced by this narration was very deep. Sobs and tears were almost universal The ministers on the plat- form were wiping both eyes and glasses, and some were literally scooping away the tears with their hands. Strong men were weep- ing like children, and the speaker himself wept abundantly as he remembered and depicted the touching scene. Yes, he con- tinued, we must get in sympathy — make their case ours, their troubles and sorrows ours, and then we shall have prevailing power. He spoke of a poor mother, whose child had been drowned in procuring drift-wood from the river, and whom he visited along with his little daughter. " If that was me," said my child, " wouldn't you feel bad, father ? Don't you feel bad for the poor mother 1 " This unlocked the springs of sympathy, and I did feel bad for her. I found a grave for the poor child, and after- ward bought ground for a Sunday-school lot, to bury a hundred of our poor little scholars. In the midst of a most striking scene of weeping, such as that hall had never seen before, the address concluded, and Mr. Moody attempted to pray. So deeply was he moved, that he was compelled to pause in his prayer, amid dead silence, to recover himself, and be able to proceed. Then we sang, "Work, for the night is coming," and the benediction ended the first workers' meeting. On Sunday afternoon, at three, the first special meeting for women was held. There were, at the lowest computation, about 17,000 women present; and the power of the Spirit was clearly there : tears and sobs md repressed cries, anxious faces, low, earnest words anl entreaties for mercy were all around, as the discourse proceeded from point to point. God was the preacher MIGHT. ,DON IS BLESSED. X9I of this sermon, said Mr. Moody ; and though the first audience was small, the sermon has come rolling down the ages, and many, I hope, are asking themselves this question now. I am speaking to professors, to backsliders, and to those who never made pro- fession, but all equally lost. Then all sang the hymn, " Lord, I hear of showers of blessing," and the meeting closed to allow inquirers to gather. Such a number accepted the invitation that the large inquiry-room could not contain them, and many were spoken to in the bitter cold without the room. The evening service was simply a repetition of the afternoon, but for men only, instead of women. Thousands of women, nevertheless, accompanied their male friends in hope of admis- sion, but were disappointed — they could not be admitted. Nevertheless, the building was filled to its utmost capacity, and the doors were closed nearly an hour before the service com- menced. The would-be infidel orator of London is in the habit of saying that " Religion is an affair of priests and women." Never again will he be able to repeat that taunt, after the meeting on Sunday evening last, when nearly 15,000 men of London were held breathless by the simple preaching and singing of the Gospel of Christ Before the address was delivered, Mr. Sankey sang "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by "; himself singing the verses, and the vast multitude joining in singing the last line in each verse, thus pro- ducing the effect of one of the mightiest choruses ever sung on earth. After the address the inquiry-room was opened, while the meeting in the hall continued with praise and prayer. So great had been the effect produced, so large was the number of inquirers who were not "priests" or "women," that there were not enough workers present to deal with them. Nor can this be wondered at. Christians had been entreated and enjoined to stay away, that the unconverted might have all the room ; and this request was too literally obeyed. St. Mary's Hall is a large concert-room, with chairs on the floor fronting the platform, and a deep gallery round the sides and end of the hall. Mr. Moody divided the inquirers, leaving the women on the basement, and serding tlic men into the gal- 19.2 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. lery, and directed the workers to divide in the same way. All round the gallery were men in twos and threes, to the number of two or three hundred — each couple or three separated from their neighbors, and earnestly engaged in their own work, without tak- ing any notice of those near and around. Here was a couple discussing a difficulty in the way. There another couple earnestly reading passages of God's Word. Next was one pleading ear- nestly with another. Next one whose work was done, as the close, loving hand-clasp showed. Many were striving together in prayer, two by two. Here a worker earnestly asking for the light to come. There another pressing the inquirer to pray for himself, and others praying earnestly together. The writer had the pleasure of speaking with three in succession. The first was a young man who had made long, wearying endeavor to work out salvation ; he had been trying hard to come to Jesus, but neither work nor trial had brought the assurance of faith. To one so much in earnest it was most pleasant to show salvation as the gift of God, and a little patience was richly rewarded by the dawning of the light. Then said he, " T see it 7iow ; please to leave nie alone with God /^^ Most reverently and willingly this was done, and the second was spoken to ; he also promised to accept the gift, and left to kneel before the Lord in seeking, as he w^as compelled to go. The third had long had a form of godliness, but neither its power nor hope — he was just a sleeping nominal church-member, who did not wish to be disturbed. He had wandered into the inquiry- room, thinking it was public, and he should hear an address. Unable to deal satisfactorily with him, the attention of another brother was called to him, and we passed on round the gallery. On returning, this one was praying earnestly, the second was gone, and the face of the first showed better than any words that he had lost his burden. Passing below to leave, a lady who was talking to three working-girls claimed help, as help had been claimed in the case above. We held conversation, and speedily all three declared themselves on the Lord's side; and the bright, earnest young faces glowed with the thought of the gift received, and thd " cove- nant unto death " with Jesus. As we saw, so we heard of many MIGHTY LONDON rS DLESSED. 1 93 to whom light and peace came ; nor was it the least impressive to mark how willingly help was given and received, how entirely absent were evidences of self and self-seeking. Conversions all aiound, an atmosphere of prayer and the Word of God, the sub- dued hum of conversation with each other, and converse with the Father through the Son, gave a sense of " nearness of access," of personal presence, of a very present and loving help, that was as &we( t as it was solemn. Verily it " was good to be there ! '" It was just eleven o'clock when, after three hours of delightful ser- vice, " the labor was done, and the laborers gone home." The Christian World thus summarizes the first month's work: To-day the American evangelists, whose names are on every lip, enter upon the second month of their London campaign. They have all but completed the series of meetings at the Agri- cultural Hall, in Islington, designed more especially for the benefit of the people dwelling in the great northern region of the metrop- olis ; and now they are about to enter on the daily occupation of a building specially erected for their accommodation at the East End. From week to week we have furnished our readers with full reports of the proceedings. In this way the public have been enabled to obtain a comprehensive, and we believe accurate, view of a series of meetings that certainly stand without a parallel in the religious annals of England. We may not be able to say, with a respected contemporary, that Mr. Moody is the modern Wycliffe — a name we should rather assign, if we used it at all, to a great English preacher who has been proclaiming the Gospel to multi- tudes in London every week for more than twenty-one years. Neither are we prepared to coincide with the magnanimous asser- tion of a Wesleyan Methodist journal, that this movement puts the revival which was wrought by Whitfield and Wesley into the shade, in respect, at least, to the numbers brought under the sound of the Gospel. These are statements, as it seems to us, which would require to be greatly qualified before they could be accepted by thoughtful men. Yet, without going the length of our too exuberant friends, we can testify that the success of the 9 194 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. gatherings over which Mr. Moody presides has been simply mar- velous, and in its way quite unexampled, either within the mem- ory of living men, or in all that has been recorded by the pen of the English historian of the Christian Church. Whatever may be the view he takes of the work, as to its true spiritual significance and value, every candid onlooker must acknowledge that the present is a phenomenon which cannot be too carefully scanned, or too fully described by the contemporary journalist. It will unquestionably claim for itself a chapter of no inconsiderable magnitude in the book that deals with the religious history of England in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Some little service to the future, as well as to the present-day reader, .may, therefore, be rendered by an attempt to gather up the salient points in the story of the first month spent by Messrs. Moody and Sankey in London. And first of all we have to note the sustained, and it would even seem growing, interest which the public take in the meet- ings. Every day at noon Exeter Hall has been well filled ; often it has been crowded, and there is no symptom of any falling off in the attendance, while it may be confidently expected that when the prayer-meeting is transferred, as it will be on Monday next, to Her Majesty's Opera House, tlie audience will be as great as that building is able to contain. That the interest in the primary purpose of the noon-gathering has not declined is made manifest by many pleasing tokens. Not the least eloquent of these was the statement made by Mr. Moody on Wednesday last, that the requests for prayer received that morning numbered no fewer than 1 80. The reports of spiritual work achieved in connection with the movement, not only in London, but also in the provinces, have been multiplying daily; and these form a feature of the proceedings at Exeter Hall which does much to keep alive the interest and to intensify the fervor of the assembly. Then there has been the appearance of new speakers from day to day — wit- nesses to the reality of the revival in Scotland, Ireland, and pro- vincial towns of England. When the mccLing is thrown open to volunteers, the result has not always been edifying; but T!^r. MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 1 95 Moody, as a shrewd and ready-witted president, keeps the most of the time well occupied with a swift and flowing succession of song, prayer, and exhortation, so that the hour seems to all pres- ent to be only too short, and is obviously most refreshing to their spirits. Mr. Moody is, perhaps, seen at his best at Exeter Hall. Some of his short addresses there have been gems of pithy expo- sition ; and his occasional quaint bits of self-defence, and frequent touches of mingled humor and pathos, have been remarkably effective. People from the country have formed a distinctly per- ceptible element in the congregation ; and we cannot doubt that these, along with the city brethren, have derived useful hints from Mr. Moody's method for the conduct of prayer-meetings in their own places of worship. In this way, we think it likely that a great deal of good may be done. The three afternoon meetings held at Sanger's (formerly Ast- ley's) Amphitheatre were among the most successful of all the gatherings, and are said to have been the most fruitful in spiritual results. The place could not hold all the people who flocked to them; and a proportionately larger number of the "lapsed masses" were to be seen in these South-side gatherings than in the assemblies at the Agricultural Hall. The two afternoon Bible-readings— the first held in the Conference Hall at Mildmay Park, and the second at Exeter, and to both of which admission was procured only by ticket — were crammed, and they seemed to be greatly enjoyed. As for the great meetings, those held every night (with the exception of Saturday) arthe Agricultural Hall, and thrice on Sunday in the same enormous edifice, they have continued to attract an average attendance of at least eleven or twelve thou- sand down to the ver)- last. On the two nights when the address was not given by Mr. Moody there was a great falling off" in the congregation. On Good Friday the Times "felt bound" to express its "strong conviction that the interest of the meetings was rapidly falling off; " but the facts do not sustain this view. The largest congregations have assembled within the last ten days ; and these have included all ranks and classes of society. Hj6 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Royalty itself, in the person of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Teck, has expressed its intention to come since the leading journal proclaimed the turning of the tide. On one evening there were at least sixty clergymen of the Establishment present, with Dean Stanley occupying a conspicuous seat on the platform ; and on the night of Good Friday the evangelical Earl of Shaftes- bury sat on the same chair which a few evenings before had been occupied by the Broad Church Dean. Lord Shaftesbur)^, at the close of the service, paid a visit, along with his daughters, to the inquiry-room. In respect to the numbers of the Agricultural Hall congregation, the floor of the building is capable of seating 9,000 persons ; the raised platform for the choir and ministers, 250 ; the eastern side gallery, 900 ; the western side gallery, 1,000; the upper raised gallery in front of the platform, 1,350; the balcony in front, 850; and the upper western balcony, 350. Even on moderate computation, it would seem that about 350,000 must have been the total of the numbers present at the Agricul- tural Hall services during the month ; though it must be borne in mind that very many persons were frequent, and not a few constant, attenders. It would probably be a liberal allowance if we were to say that 200,000 separate individuals were present. The arrangements made by the committee for the comfort of the congregation and the preservation of order have, from first to last, been admirable. With respect to the inquiry-rooms, they have been largely attended every night by Christian friends, clerical and lay ; and the penitents pressing in for spiritual advice have, on many occa- sions, numb(;red several hundreds. But there has been no more excitement there than in the public service ; indeed, the proceed- ings have been more subdued, and a quiet, solemn earnestness has characterized all that has been done in connection with this part of the work. Several gentlemen taking part in it have tes- tified to the good accomplished ; and Mr. Sankey in particular, who is active in the inquiry-room, describes the v*'o:k of which he was witness on Sunday week, and on every succeeding night, as being in ihe highest degree encouraging. Many Christian work- MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. I97 ers, though not so many as Mr. Moody desires to see, have scat- tered themselves among the great audience at the ordinary ser- vices, for the purpose of speaking a word to their unconverted neighbors ; and a case has been mentioned in which the young ladies of a certain seminary have, in this way, been instrumental in leading twenty individuals to the Saviour. With this we may bracket the case of a lady who took her ten servants to one of the services, and who reports that seven of these have been, in coi> sequence, converted to God. Mr. Moody has detailed instances of persons brought to a knowledge of God in the inquiry-room one night, and appearing on the next with friends whom they desired to see sharing the peace which they had secured. Since the second Sunday a young men's meeting has been held every night at St. Mary's Hall, immediately after the public service; and latterly this feature has come more conspicuously into view, and been more pressingly urged upon the attention of the class referred to by Mr. Moody, who is ambitious of securing a band of at least a thousand to assist him in his work. The meetings in the East End of London were held in the Bow- road Hall and a tent pitched close by. Here the rich and poor congregated, and God graciously poured out His Spirit. In the West End the Royal Opera House, in the Haymarket, was ob- tained. In South London Camberwell Hall was specially pro- vided for the immense multitudes sure to gather. During the greater part of April services had been conducted daily in each of the four divisions of the metropolis. Messrs. Moody and Sankey have divided their labors almost equally be- tween the East and the West Ends — officiating at Her Majesty's Opera House, in the Haymarket, at the daily noon prayer-meet- ing, and also at an afternoon Bible-reading, while in the evening they have generally been present at the service in the Bow-road Hall. On two evenings of each week they have returned to the Agricul- tural Hall in Islington. The first week after their departure from that hall the services there were conducted by Rev. William Taylor of California ; but the attendance instantly dropped from 12,000 to 2,000, and sank to as low as i,ooo before the week was ig8 MOODY AND SANKLY IN GREAT BRITAIN. done. In the second week Mr. Taylor was succeeded by the Rev. W. H. M. Aitken (Episcopalian) of Liverpool, who secured much larger congregations, there being occasionally as many as 5,000 and 6, coo present to hear him ; and at the Victoria Thea- tre, on the South side, Mr. Taylor held daily meetings, where his labors would appear to be better appreciated than they were at Islington. The prayer-meeting at the Opera House has not been so well attended, on the whole, as that at Exeter Hall ; but the Bible-readings have attracted great congregations, these including many members of fashionable society, led by Her Royal High- ness the Princess of Wales, who was present on Thursday, April 15. In an article on "The American Revivalists in England," the New York Independent says : '* We presume that the aristoc- racy and the literati will scarce hear of the movement that is about them. It is an after-generation that builds the monuments of the prophets. Bunyan got no words of honor from the Duke of Bedford, whose descendant has lately set up his statue." Sev- eral months before these words were written, Mr. Moody had sojourned as a guest within the walls of Dunrobin Castle, the northern seat of the Duke of Sutherland ; and weeks before, he had dined with the Lord Chancellor of England at Bournemouth. At his first meeting in the Agricultural Hall he was assisted by a peer of the realm, and other noblemG^n took part in subsequent gatherings, while Lord Cairns, the Earl of Shaftesbury, and many other members of the aristocracy, formed part of his audience. The favor with which his labors are regarded by a large section of the nobility has been still more conspicuously displayed since the opening of the services in the Haymarket, and especially since the visit paid by the Princess of Wales. Standing some- what in the same relation to Mr. Moody that the Countess of Huntingdon did to Whitefield, her Grace the Duchess of Suther- land has been well-nigh a daily attender, accompanied sometimes by her daughter and Lady Constance Leveson-Gower. Twice last week the Duke and Duchess of St. Albans were seen in the royal box ; the Prince Teck has also been present, and so have tlie Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, the Countess of Gains- MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 199 borough, Lady Dudley, Lord and Lady Rendlcsham (the latter a daughter of the late popular Earl of Eglington), and many more of the " upper ten thousand." To crown all, it is alleged, not only that Lord Dudley interested himself in securing the Opera House for the American evangelists, but that his lordship was en- couraged to do this by no less a personage than the Heir Apparent The following is given as the number of meetings and aggre- gate attendance during the four months that Mr. Moody has been in London : In Camberwell, sixty meetings, attended by 480,000 people ; in Victoria, forty-five meetings, attended by 400,000 ; in the Opera House, sixty meetings, attended by 330,000; in Bow, sixty meet- ings, attended by 600,000 ; and in Agricultural Hall, sixty meet- ings, attended by 720,000. The amount of money expended for buildings, printing, stewards, etc., is ;^ 140,000. Messrs. Moody and Sankey have declined to receive any compensation from the committee. It is stated that a prominent business man has bought the Victoria Theatre, and intends to fit it up for religious work. Inquirers multiplied ; young men's meetings were held ; thou- sands of children were gathered. A great array of workers went out, two by two, to visit every house in London with the Gospel. Every text Mr. Moody quoted was an arrow from God's bow which went straight to the heart ; every song from Mr. Sankey won some soul ; every appeal persuaded some heart to yield to Christ ; every meeting swelled the throng of converts. The mighty movement swept from one end of London to the other. As the evangelists left one quarter of the city for another, the meetings were continued in the localities left, until, when Mr. Moody, during the last month, was at Camberwell Green Hall in the South, Major Cole was at the Victoria Theatre in the West, Henry Varley at the Bow-road Hall in the East, while Henry Drummond was holding his young men's meetings with great success. Notwithstanding all these great meetings, numbering often many thousands, the central meetings under our two brethren mo^-ed on with wonderful power and success. too MOODY AND SAN KEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. As the last week drew to a close, the interest became intense. On the last night, Mr. Moody became very earnest and urgent in his appeals to the vast and intensely interested audience, to accept Christ. "Just let me pause here," he said. "Ask your- selves whether you ought not to receive the Lord Jesus Christ now.^ Who is there in this assembly who will receive the gift of God and be saved ? " After a brief pause, a voice came from /he left-hand gallery, somewhat faintly, " I will." It was speed- ily followed by others from all parts of the house. "Well," con- tinued Mr. Moody, "thank God for that. I am just passing around the cup of salvation. Who else will take it?" "I will," "I will," "I will," "I will," came resounding on every hand. " That's right, my boy," replied he, speaking to a little fellow down in front of him, whose " I will " came up to the plarform with the rest. "Will the Christians keep on praying? Men do not speak out like this unless God is at work. Who else will accept the gift of God?" Again came a perfect volume of "I will's." "Would it not be a glorious thing if every man here would take it to-night? Is there another?" "I will." "Another?" "I will." "How many are to-night willing to stand up before God and man, and say by that act that they v^iil join us in our journey to heaven? You that are willing to take Christ now, would you just rise ?" A mighty army of men rose to their feet at once. "Why not three thousand? The God of Pentecost still lives ! " Numbers more stood up, until one could scarce distinguish between those sitting and those standing. Mr. Moody prayed and said, "and now we will sing 'Safe in the arms of Jesus.' " Multitudes flocked into the inquiry-room, where there was a scene of ingathering never to be forgotten by those who were present. A fitting close to the labors of our brethren in Great Britain. Their work had continued without interruption through two years and three weeks. They had held meetings in perhaps a hundred cities and villages. They had personally attended between two and three thousand services. Mr. Roberts, of New York, writing from London, says: "The places of most interest for over two months are those where the MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 201 meetings of Moody and Sankey, the American evangelists, are held. I had heard of them before leaving home, but I was not prepared for what I heard and saw at these vast assemblages, which I attended several days twice, and sometimes thrice a day. I was present at Agricultural Hall, when there were from twelve to fifteen thousand persons present. Last Sunday evening the room was crammed full, and I had to stand an hour and a half. Though there were so many inside, thousands went away. The Lord Chancellor (Cairns), with his wife, was present. They are both, I was told, devoutly pious, attending several of the meet- ings with a number of the nobility and eminent men, including Gladstone. " It is a grand sight to see such a vast audience ; and when they unite in singing, it is thrilling beyond anything I have ever heard. " The text was, ' Come thou and all thy house into the ark' (Genesis vii.). He handled it remarkably well, and I was told the discourse was more effective than in the morning, which was based on the story of Naaman (2 Kings v.). " He usually preached from thirty to forty-five minutes, in a very clear voice, enunciating distinctly, presenting the truth very plainly, earnestly, and pungently, appealing to the heart and con- science, without any effort to excite animal feeling; and at all these meetings there was an entire absence of fiinaticism. The people are absorbed by what is said, and there is nothing noisy or demonstrative, though nearly all join in the singing of hymns full of Gospel truth, to simple melodious airs. " Sankey leads the singing usually, and generally sings a solo at every service, 'Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,' or the * Ninety rind nine,' based on the parable of the lost sheep. His voice is so powerful as to be heard easily by such large assemblages, for he enunciates every word in a remarkably sweet voice. " The music is, no doubt, a great help to the preaching, the main element of which is Christ, as set forth in the Bible sent home to ihe souls of rich and poor, high and low, the educated and the ignorant, by the Spirit of God ; for, in my opinion, there 202 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. is no Other way of accounting for the assembling of such vast multitudes three or four times daily for weeks and months. 'While I was in London, Moody held a noon prayer-meeting at the Queen's Opera House, Haymarket, at which, I think, fifteen hundred attended — preaching there at three and seven r. M., when the house was filled from top to bottom. At eight and a half he preached at East London in a large hall, accom- modating some twelve thousand. How he endures such great and constant mental and physical labors I cannot understand. " Thus, substantially, he has worked for over two months in London, and in about like manner for nearly two years in various places in Great Britain. He appears very robust — I think larger around the chest than any man I ever saw, and every time I heard him, what he said was fresh. "At the large meetings hundreds stood up for prayers, and entered the inquiry-rooms, where Christians conversed with them. " This was a large hall, nearly filled with groups of inquirers, two to four attending to the instruction of men and women, each of their own sex ; and while some were conversing, other groups were kneeling and praying in a low tone. Thousands remained in the audience-room praying and singing, where every Chris- tian was requested, in their places, to speak to his or her neigh- bor suitable words, if they had no hope in Christ. I spoke to two young persons near me, and found they were both indulging hope. " It reminded me of the efforts of this kind in the early days of Brainerd Church. "Sometimes the scenes of 1 831 were brought vividly before me, and I have a conviction that the means used by Moody and Sankcy, and the preaching, are very like those so much blessed in our country for eight or ten years subsequent to 1825, of which probably Mr. Ncttleton was the most prominent author. The same pungent, direct manner of presenting truth, enforced by apposite illustrations, which all could understand, accompanied by singing of hymns containing fundamental truths, in melodious MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 203 and simple tunes, nearly the whole congregation joining. No doubt you will recall the Village Hymn Book compiled by Mr. Nettlcton. "I cannot but hope this is the beginning of a new era, showing our ministers that, as Spurgeon said the other day at Exeter Hall (referring to these meetings), he had no fear of them, for the ^ Bible was kept in the front' " I do not undervalue learning, but it must be kept secondary to the Bible, the Sword of the Spirit, which is almost the only weapon Moody uses with so much effect. "But I must close, though I have not said half I might on this subject." It must be conceded that this was the most wonderful series of revival meetings ever held in the world. In the union of all God's people ; in the mighty but perfectly quiet workings of God's Spirit ; in the honor put upon God's simple word ; in the dependence put upon prayer, and the simplest agencies ; in the earnestness with which Christians labored, and the liberality with which they gave their money; in the multitudes which everywhere flocked to the services ; in the wide extent of the work, in the readiness with which men received the Gospel ; in the number of conversions ; in eveiy aspect of it, the movement is without a parallel in the history of Christianity. It seems to betoken a world-wide revival of religion. Sunday, July 11. — Last Day. — Ho^v shall we write of it? Fresh from the meeting in the evening, we feel how inadequate are human words to portray that most marvelous close of a no less marvelous season of revival throughout our land. The doors for the morning service were opened at half-past six, and by seven o'clock the hall was comfortably full. An hour yet intervened before the commencement of the service, and the time was profitably and pleasantly occupied with a service of song from the familiar book. About half-past seven it was announced that there were thousands outside, some of them from a great distance, and if the audience would kindly sit more closely, a few hundreds more might be got in. The request was good-naturedly 204 MOODY AND SANKEV IN GREAT BRITAIN. complied with at once, and room made for a few more. For the great numbers Avho were unable to get admission, an overflow- meeting was held in the Presbyterian church close by, and was addressed by Dr. A. Bonar, of Glasgow. Shortly before eight o'clock Mr. Sankey appeared, and delighted the audience with a few solos. Before singing " I am praying for you," he said he hoped in the days to come they would not for- get to pray for Mr. Moody and himself when they were gone. In consequence of the crowd at the gates, Mr. Moody could not gain an entrance, and had to be conveyed through a private house opening from the back upon the site of the building. This delayed the opening of the service till about ten minutes past eight o'clock — a thing altogether unusual at these gatherings, as one of the most noticeable features of them has been the punctu- ality observed by our brethren. Mr. Sankey having sung " Only an Armor-bearer," the audi- ence swelling out in the chorus, very earnest prayer was offered, making special reference to the occasion. Mr. Moody then delivered his well-known address on " Daniel," beginning with the secret of his wonderful success, which he at- tributed to his being able to say " No " at the right moment. He sketched the eventful career of this man, "beloved of God," through the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius, showing how he was delivered from all the many snares laid for him by his enemies, because he was faithful to God and His com- mandments. The history of Daniel in the telling of it rouses Mr. Moody's enthusiasm, which he succeeds in a large degree in im- parting to the audience, and many thousands of hearts were stirred by this closing address to Christian workers. Before part- ing, we sang with Mr. Sankey " Dare to be a Daniel." The afternoon service for women was a deeply interesting one, both in itself and from the fact of its being the last of them. The hall was crammed in every corner. 'J'he opening hymn was "Yet there is room," very appropriate to the occasion. All through his mission in Great Britain, Mr. Moody has striven to make the Gospel so plain as to be understood by the MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 205 meanest comprehension. He has avoided collateral issues and eschewed tlieological discussions, and held to the proclamation of the good news of salv ition through faith in a crucified and risen Saviour. One of his flivorite texts has been the question of the jailer, " What must I do to be saved ? " and this he chose for his final gospel addresses to London audiences. Many people, he said, still disbelieved in sudden conversion, and he proceeded ^o draw from the treasury of Holy Scripture numerous illustrations to show that the new birth is, of necessity, an instantaneous act, and not a gradual change. He quoted the ark, the salvation of Lot from Sodom, the preservation of the children of Israel in Egypt by sprinkling the blood on their doors, the cities of refuge, and others, as well as illustrations from history and from daily life. At the close he spoke with much emotion of how he had tried in all possible ways to allure sinners to Christ, and en- treated those present not to go out of the building without receiv- ing Christ as their Saviour. They might never hear his and Mr, Sankey's voice again on earth, but he hoped there would not be one missing at the last great meeting. Many rose in response to his pressing appeal at the close, and the inquiry-rooms were afterward the scene of much earnest conversation and prayer with the crowds of anxious sisters. The evening meeting for men was almost filled before the last of the inquirers and workers had left the building. The last meeting of all will, we think, be reckoned, by those who have attended the London meetings throughout, the best of all. It was as closely packed with men as could be ; how many were left outside we cannot tell. A meeting for them was held in the Camberwell-green Hall. Mr. Sankey took his seat at the instrument about half an hour before the time, and while he was singing for Jesus to the eager crowd of listeners, Mr. Moody and a few friends were in the little waiting-room below, supplicating God for a Pentecostal blessing on this parting service. And their prayer was answered of a truth. We have not witnessed such a wondrous scene during any of the many gatherings these last four months ; the only approach to it was one Sunday after- noon at a women's meeting in the Opera House. t06 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Several of Mr. Moody's American friends were present to wit- ness the crowning service of this mission, before described. At the farewell meeting at London, of the 700 and odd ministers who were present at this memorable gathering, there were 188 be- longing to the Church of England, 154 Congregationalists, 85 Baptists, 8 1 Wcsieyan Methodists, 39 Presbyterians, 8 foreign pas- tors, 8 United Methodists, 7 Primitive Methodists, 3 Plymouth Brethren, 2 Countess of Huntingdon's Connection, 2 Society of Friends, 3 Free Church of England, i Bible Christian, and upward of 20 not known. These figures we take from the official statement supplied at the meeting, and they significantly show the catholic and unsectarian character of Messrs. Moody and Sankey's services, as well as the universal esteem with which oui evangelist brethren are regarded by all sections of the Church ot Christ in this country. A large number of influential laymen and Christian workers were present, among the best known of them being Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Cavan, Mr. Cowper-Temple, M. P., Mr. Alderman Mc Arthur, M. P., Mr. Samuel Morley, M. P., etc. We only give those of the addresses containing interesting facts and statistics relating to the movement. Rev. R. D. Wilson, of Craven Chapel, said a new spiritual glow had come into the hearts of many during the last four months. They had learned, too, that their cherished traditions had no more sanctity or authority about them than the new things, which startled some of them at first, but with which they had now become most blessedly familiar. It was too soon to speak of the results as a whole, but within the last three days he had met no less than twelve or thirteen distinct cases of conversion in consequence of the ministrations of the evangelists. He read the following ex- tract from a letter he had received : " I feel it my duty rind inex- pressible pleasure to tell you that I and one of my brothers were converted at one of Mr. Moody's meetings last week. Could you know my inner life for the past ten years, you would indeed say I have been plucked like a brand from the burning. I cannot cease to maivel at the greatness of my salvation." The mother of that young lady, said the speaker, had come to him yesterday, MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 207 and stated that for twenty-five years, with few exceptions, she had regularly attended the service of the sanctuary, but thti hai> piest day in her Christian experience was the previous Sunday, when she sat with her converted daughter on her right hand and a converted son on her left. As the speaker told this affecting little story, we felt certain that the tear of joy gathered in many an eye, only we could not see for the mist that came across our own. He went on to say that we had never known what it was to " sing the Gospel " of Jesus Christ till our two brethren came. We could now understand how the sweetest tones could become the highest sort of Christian eloquence, in declaring to men the Way of Life. He would so far disobey the rule that no reference was to be made to the two evangelists, as to assure them that they would carry home to their American country the warmest love and heartiest esteem of the ministers and Christian people of this country. At this remark the pent-up feelings of the audi- ence could no longer be restrained, and they burst out into loud and prolonged applause. We were extremely glad that the nat- ural emotions of the congregation for once refused to be smoth- ered by that false and frigid idea of decorum which obtains too much in our religious assemblies, and prevents the legitimate expression of the deepest feelings of the heart. But this is a digression. Mr. Wilson continued : " We shall not forget, when the Atlantic lies between their home and ours, at our family altar, at the place of secret meeting with our God, in our prayer-meet- ings, and in our Sabbath assemblies, to pray that God's richest blessing may rest upon them there. And it will be a glad day for us all, if ever that day comes, when we shall hear from the other side of the Western Main the intelligence that they are coming again. Until then we shall continue to pray that, when Gud sees meet that they should come, they may come in the full ness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ." Rev. Thomas Richardson, of St. Benet's, Stepney, said the effect of the meetings in the East End had been to make his church and corgregation "enlarge the place of their tent, and stretch forth the curtains of their habitation." He would rather 2oS MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. wait for a year before he gave his testimony as to results, as there were many reasons why they should not now begin to count. But he had no doubt that thousands of souls would be recorded in their various chapels and churches all over London by next year. His district visitors had sent in to him formal returns, showing that of i,oo8 families in his parish, 672, or two fiimilies out of every three, had attended the services at Bow-road Hall. Further, he had two direct testimonies that the attendances at the theatres of East London had sensibly diminished. Some of the officials of these theatres had given up the profession, and he had only to-day had an interview with one who was starting a different course. He had something too to say about the influ- ence of the movement on the dock laborers. He had received testimony from several of the large docks that the men did not swear so much since Messrs. Moody and Sankey came ; praise God for that. Besides, drinking was not so prevalent among the dockmen, and that was the kind of work that the world believed in. He had been privileged to attend every service in Bow-road Hall, and he would thank God to all eternity for it. He had seen the power of sympathy — that sympathy which brought Christ down to die for sinners. Sinners had felt its power, so they had stood up and declared they wanted to be saved. He had had the privilege of conversing personally with 450 anxious souls; his wife had spoken to 150, and his curate had spoken to 100. There were thus 700 souls whose names and addresses they knew, and to whom they had written. Formerly, he had an after-meeting once a month ; now he had one every Sunday evening, and not a Sunday passed without some souls being gathered in. The direct results of the meetings were seen in his church, his wife's Bible-class, his young men's meetings, and among his district visitors. He urged the general adoption of the after-meeting, as Int'ing the key to the success of the services, and added that if the Spirit led him to adopt Mr. Moody's style of preaching he was going to do it. Rev. Robert Taylor, of Norwood, gave some intensely interest- ing facts respecting what had transpired in the inquiry room al MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 209 Camberwell-green Hall. He had to do what Mr. Moody called "police work" there, and in this capacity he was able to take a general view of the inquirers who, night after night, thronged the rooms. One or two things had struck him. First, the large number of old people who came as inquirers, and who went away as very young Christians. He was afraid that, in their anxiety to shut up and shut in the young, they had been in danger of shutting out the old. They had fallen into the unbelief of Nico- demus, who said, " How can a man be born when he is old ? " But many blessed births of the old had been seen in the inquiry- room at Camberwell. He was also struck with the amazing vari- ety of opinion — religious opinion and no opinion — represented. One evening he gave up his seat in the hall to a distinguished literary man, who lately wrote that " there was a Power above us that, at least, we know to be working for righteousness." One evening, in the inquiry-room, he met a young woman, and asked if she was anxious. Yes, to know if there was a God. Did she not believe it? Well, the sum of her belief was that "there was something above us." He could tell of a wife, deserted by her husband, who had been in such utter misery and agony that she had twice contemplated going to London-bridge to commit sui- cide. In that inquiry-room she was brought to faith in Jesus Christ and peace with God through the preaching and singing. Afterward she prayed so beautifully for her husband that the lady who conversed with her was deeply touched as she listened. She did not pray that he might be restored to her — now she did not care so much about that — but that God would bring him to Himself, and that they might be reunited in heaven. He could tell of several Roman Catholics brought to simple faith and sweet peace in Jesus. He could tell of a man who for twenty minutes hid his face from the lady who spoke to him, so deep was his dis- tress and shame. He afterward told her how he was standing at St. Giles's, and tossed up whether he should go to the theatre or the meeting. It was "Heads the theatre, tails Moody and San- key. ' It was tails. He w^ent to the meedng, was led to go into the inquiry-room, and, as he described it in a letter to the lady 2IO MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. who was the means of bringing him into light, " She fought man- fully with him lor the Lord Jesus," and he went home a rejoicing believer. These were but few specimens of hundreds of cases he could quote, and when friends said to him the night before, with sad hearts, they were so sorry the meetings were over, he could only reply, "Yes, and I am so glad the work is so gloriously begun." Rev. G. Flindt of Denmark-hill also spoke of the work in the inquiry-room at Camberwell. He said that one result of the ser- vices had been to increase the local congregations. In his own church they had, on several occasions, not had standing-room during the visit of the evangelists. He had learned this lesson : (hat if the ministry is to be useful, a personal Christ must be lifted up. A man in the inquiry-room had said to him, " It seems as if that man (referring to Mr. Moody) had his Friend quite close to him, and he was talking about him," Only eternity would reveal the good that had been done in the South of Lon- don. The night before, at the closing service, there were scores of anxious ones who came asking if it was possible, to get a grip of the hands of the evangelists, and thank them for what had been told them about the Lord Jesus Christ; and tears of gladness flowed down many a furrowed cheek when they were asked to go home and tell God all about it, and thank Him for the messen- gers He had sent. One remarkable circumstance in connection with the Camberwell services had been in the attendance of a number of medical students from the various hospitals. Some of the medical men in the neighborhood had found time and oppor- tunity to invite them to their houses to dine, and afterward had spoken to them about salvation. If only half a dozen young stu- dents were brought to Christ, what might not be the result when they were attending the sick-beds of those who should be com- mitted to their care ? The South London committee were one hundred strong, and they were going, by God's grace, to work shoulder to shoulder and hand to hand in this blessed work. Rev Marcus Rainsford said he felt we were living in days which many had looked and longed for, but had not seen. He MIGHTY LONDOxN IS BLESSED. 2 11 thought that God had been working much more with the masses than the ministers. For his own part, he had learned much since Messrs. Moody and Sankey came to London. Many pre- judices had been broken down, many difficulties removed, and many a lesson learned that he would never forget. He had been taught by a costermonger how to preach the Gospel. lie was talking to a costermonger one evening, and trying to show him the great salvation, when a bright-loQking young fellow came up and quiedy put him aside, saying, " Sir, I found Christ last week ; I think I can talk to this man better than you." " Well, let us hear what you have to say." " I never heard such lingo," said Mr. Rainsford. " Now, Joe, s'pose it was all up wi' yer ; mother starvin', wife starvin', children starvin', and the mackerel no- where. S'pose I see yer lookin' very pale and sad and miserable ; and, says I, ' Joe, here's a fat half for you.' " (I wondered what that was, but the other seemed to know all about it.) " I give it yer with all my heart. Away you go to Billingsgate and spend the fat half." (It means half a sovereign, and a sixpence means a " thin half.") " You get the mackerel, and bring it home ; you get the money, and you bring home some bread ; yes, there it be at home ; now what would you say ? " "I would say, ' Thank you ; God bless you ! ' " " Well, say that to Christ, for He didn't give you the fat half, but the whole." And that was the Gospel as ably and spiritually preached, and as blessedly preached, as the Archbishop of Canterbury could preach it. After some further striking experiences, he expressed a hope that the work would go on after our brethren had left, and that many would be found to imitate their example in telling of Jesus to all around. The Earl of Shaftesbury said, nothing but the positive command of Mr. Moody would have induced him to come forward on the present occasion and say but a few words in the presence of so many ministers of the Gospel. But as Mr. Moody had asked him to speak of what had occurred during the past four months, he did so with the deepest sense of gratitude to Almighty God that he had raised up a man with such a message and to be de« 212 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. livered in such a manner. And though Mr. Moody said they were not to praise him or his friend Mr. Sankey, yet if they praised God for sending them such men as these, they did no more than express their admiration of the instruments that He had raised up, while they gave Him all the glory. He had been conversant for many years with the people of this metropolis, and he might tell them that wherever he went he found the traces of these men, of the impression 'they had made, of the feeling they had produced, and of the stamp that he hoped would be indelible on many of the people. He could speak that as the truth as to many parts of London, and the lowest parts of London. Only a few days ago he received a letter from a friend of his, a man whose whole life was given to going among the most wretched and the most abandoned of the populous city of Manchester, and who spoke of the good that had been effected there by the preach- ing of Moody and Sankey. A correspondent in Sheffield had also written him that he could not satisfy in any degree the wants of the people ; that they were calling out for tracts and something that should keep up the appetite that had been created. Ho said, " For God's sake, send me tracts by thousands and mil- lions ! " Even if Messrs. Moody and Sankey had done nothing more than to teach the people to sing as they did with energy and expression, such hymns as " Hold the fort, for I am coming," they would have conferred an inestimable blessing. Mr. Sankey then sang the hymn commencing, " There were ninety and nine that safely lay," after which he said that when they got to their own country they would often sing this hymn again, and they trusted that God's blessing would accompany the singing of it. They asked their friends here to pray for them, and that the Lord would continue to bless them. They would be glad to hear from their friends here, and they trusted to hear that the work was going on. Mr. Moody said he would ask them to spend a few moments in silent prayer, bu' before they did so, he begged to thank the ministers for the sympathy they had shown them in the past two years. They had had nothing but kindness shown thc«i. He MIGHTY LONDON IS BLESSED. 213 also wished publicly to thank the committee, and also the stew- ards, who had manifested toward them nothing but kindness. He had also to thank the reporters for the press. He knew that he had made mistakes, but they had not reported his mistakes or his failings. In fact, they had all been kind. He also wished to thank the police for the considerate manner in which they had performed their duty. He had one favor to ask of them — he would not ask them to pass a resolution, for their hearts were worth more than a resolution — he asked them to pray for them, and to continue to pray for them as they had done for the last two years. He now asked them to pray for a short time in silence. The congregation then bowed their heads, and, after the lapse of two or three minutes, audible prayer was offered, after which Messrs. Moody and Sankey hastily retired, in order to escape the painful ordeal of bidding so many of their friends a formal good-bye. CHAPTER XXI. Farewell in Liverpool. Turning reluctantly away from London where they had tri nmphed gloriously under the Great Captain Christ, they were received at the place of final departure from Great Britain, in the following manner : About a quarter to three o'clock, Messrs. Moody and Sankey, with many well known friends, were greeted by an audience that crowded every nook and corner of the Victoria Hall. The heartiness of the welcome found vent in a universal clapping of hands, which, however, Mr. Moody speedily stopped by a wave of Wis hand. Some kind friends had placed very beautiful bou- quets of flowers on Mr. Sankey's organ. The Rev. Mr. Aitken said he thought they could not meet in that hall without feeling that the departure of their dear friends for America very greatly enhanced the personal responsibility of all who called themselves Christians. The blessing which God had been pleased to shower upon His work in various parts of the land had put them on a vantage-ground, for they occupied a b(:tter position now than they ever occupied before in this land. He did not believe that the Church of Christ had ever occupied a better position in this land than it did at the present moment; and if that was so, their responsibility must be proportionately heavy. And if ihcy allowed themselves to lose their vantage- groui;d and slip back into the dull routine of the past, they would have themselves to blame. ITie question before them was a vory 814 FAREWELL IN LIVERPOOL. 215 practical one, and it was, How were they to push on the advan- tage ? If they were really to avail themselves of the opportunity, they must expect further successes. He was apprehensive of Christian people allowing themselves to think that the period of reaction had come — that they had been having such great encouragement that for a little time they must rest on their oars. If they placed themselves in this attitude, they would have them- selves to thank for it, if God turned the heavens above into brass, and made the earth as iron beneath their feet ; therefore he felt it incumbent upon him to sound this note of warning. He thought that their attitude should be this : That they should thank God, and then rush on against the foe with fresh determi- nation, believing that the victory was only commencing, and that inasmuch as God had given them a position of advantage, they must push it on and fight the. battle out, until God in his own good time placed the crown of victory on their brow. How was this to be done ? God expected every one of them to come forward with the gospel of grace in their hearts ; and if they realized their personal responsibility and went into the battle fully determined to win souls for Christ, England would very soon feel the results of their efforts. He desired to warn them against this season of revival being followed by a period of reac- tion. Before the present work closed, he thought that minis- ters of Christ, and also lay people, especially those who occupied influential positions, should ask themselves solemnly what were the permanent lessons which had been brought before them in this great movement. Mr. Moody had given himself up to the work of evangelization, and he (Mr. Aitken) could not help believing that the Church of Christ from a very remote period had practically ignored the evangelist's office. They had their local pastors, but he thought that the evangelist was more likely to be powerful in a locality where he was not permanently fixed than in his own country. If they were desirous to see God's work still carried on on a large scale, those whom God had in a large measure gifted with the power of the evangelist should con- sider whether they could give themselves entirely to the work. 2l6 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. He had done so, but he utterly disclaimed all credit on that score. He did not ihink he should Have had the courage to take that step, but domestic circumstances had rendered it imperatively necessary that he should leave his flock in Liverpool. He had, however, long been convinced of this truth, that if a man was to be a practical evangelist, he must give himself over to the work ; and he called upon God's people to take this matter into serious consideration, and say that the great work which had been under- taken must be followed up in all our towns and villages, for he believed that even the villages needed it more than the towns. A great responsibility also rested on the ministers of Christ. In almost all the places where the wave of blessing had passed, there would be a large number of young converts who had given themselves over to God and wanted something to do. Their duty at this moment was to set all those young Christians to work. There were a great many ministers who fell into the mistake of trying to do all the work themselves. What was wanted to be done was to find specific spiritual work for those who had given themselves to God, and encourage them ; and he wished to point out that unless this was done they must be the last persons to find fault with those extravagances which otherwise must develop themselves. If, instead of young converts being taken by the hand, they were left in the rear and not given any kind of encour- agement, the result would be that they would either draw themselves up in their shells altogether, or rush into the opposite extreme. It seemed to him that now was the golden opportunity ; and unless they got their young Christians to work, they would have to regret it to the end of their days. If, after the departure of their American brethren, they resolved to have a holiday time of it, then good-bye to their usefulness, and God's blight would rest upon them instead of God's blessing; whereas, if they put them- selves into God's hands, depend upon it this wave of blessing which had swept over the land was but the beginning of good things. He closed his stirring and practical address in the words of Wesley, which, he said, used to be sung at the close of his conferences : FAREWELL IN LIVERPOOL. 217 " A rill, a stream, a torrent flows, But send the miglity flood ; Awake the nations, shake the earth, Till all proclaim Thee God." The Rev. A. N. Somerville spoke next, and it is not too much to say that the meeting was fairly electrified as " the old man eloquent " poured out the wealth of his declamation and illustra- tion in a perfect torrent of burning words, accompanied by highly dramatic and expressive gestures. He said Messrs. Moody and Sankey did not want them to occupy lime by throwing their arms around their necks and kissing them, but they had given them the motto, and that was to " advance." What, he asked, is our great encouragement? "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth ; go ye therefore and teach (or disciple) all na- tions." Just before Christ ascended, He said, " Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me in Judea and Jerusalem, and unto the ut- termost ends of the earth." Why did the Lord Jesus tell us He had received all power ? That He might confer power upon us. Mr. Somerville recounted the exploits of the mighty men in the days of the Judges, upon whom the power of God fell, and pro- ceeded. The day has come when it will not do for us to remain within this little isle. Larger efforts must be made to proclaim Christ's name throughout the world. We read that Alexander the Great, while a young man (he died before he was thirty-two), crossed the Hellespont with only 35,000 infantry and 5,000 horse- men. He had provisions and money to last them only one month, yet they went forth and took possession of the world. What ! Is Alexander the Great to be always spoken of as the only man who can do the like of this? Is Jesus Christ not strong? Why should we not gather round Him, and in the power of His Spirit take possession of the world ? We must not only send out men to engage in this blessed work, but the whole Church must, by prayer and sympathy, by the voice of encouragement, and by lib- eral support, work together as one man for this great end. Wlien I was in India, I felt that wherever I went I was borne up by the 10 3l8 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. sympathy and prayers of many dear friends in my own city of Glasgow, in Edinburgh, in London, and in many parts of the world besides, and I wzls strong through their sympathy. If a man is sympathized with and encouraged in that way, he v.-ill do twice as much as he would do otherwise. Mr. Somerville illus- trated the power of sympathy by telling how Alexander the Great was traversing a desert with his followers, who were suffering greatly from thirst. Some one brought him a little water in 9 helmet, and as he was about to partake of the precious refresh- ment, he looked toward his followers, and seeing their sufferings, he refused to drink. His men were roused to action by the sym- pathy thus shown by their leader ; they p5t their spurs to their horses, and sped on to a place where relief could be found. Speaking of the necessity of humility in Christian work, he quoted a beautifully apt simile, in the use of which he seems to excel. He said the Rhine, before it reached Basle, received no fewer than 1,200 tributaries. How was this ? It was l^y keeping at its lowest level. If it had not, these streams would have flowed somewhere else. He roused the audience to such a pitch of excitement, that when he sat down they burst into applause, which no at' tempt was made to suppress. Mr. Sankey then sang " My Prayer," a beautiful hymn of con- secration. He prefaced it by saying that he would be able to go out and work better if we had the blessing of which the hymn told. Dr. Barnardo then gave an address, in the course of which he said the question was frequently asked, " How shall we reach the masses ? " He knew only of one answer : " Go and preach Christ to them." That must be the bait ; but there must be something more than that. Not only must they preach Christ in His boundless love to a dying world, but there must be the hook — such an application of the truth as should enter men's hearts and draw them to the Saviour. What was the great prerequisite to success ? It was given in the two words of our Saviour, " Fol- low me." That was the secret of successful service : there was no ro3.Hl road ; their brother Mr. Moody had no knack in it FAREWELL IN LIVERPOOL 2IQ God help them to follow Christ, that they may be tiuly fishers of men. Mr. Stalker, of Edinburgh, said he felt that the past two years had been years of great importance to the whole country, and would be remembered for many years to come as great years. One tiling that had made them interesting and memorable was that religion had been made respected among the young men of the country. Young men had been apt to look down upon evan- gelical religion ; but in the part he came from they dared not do that now, because, in all classes of the community, the very back- bone of these young men had been won to Christ, and they were bearing themselves so in the ordinary business of life that it was impossible for those around them not to respect them. He never thought of this movemetit without his mind wandering away into the future ; and he thought not only of the number of men who had been saved, but of the young men who were devoted to Christ going on in their various spheres— in the family, in social intercourse, in business, at the university, in their shops, as clerks, and in all the different walks in life— distinguishing them- selves, and showing that their Christianity, instead of keeping them back, was helping them on ; that their spiritual regenera"*- tion had been at the same time moral and intellectual regenera- tion; and that they were determined to be men in all the depart- ments of life. He read often with pity the remarks made by some, of the weakness of those who took part in this movement. At the University of Edinburgh last April, there were only six or seven men who secured first-class honors, and three of these were head and shoulders in this work. Only one man got what was called a "double first," and that man he had heard address- ing these revival meetings. That was the kind ot revival of reli- gion they were having now ; and he thanked God for it with all his heart, for their preaching to young men was far more effective if they could show them that their religion was making them get on well in business, and do tjieir business well, and come to the front n the ordinary walks of life. Let them seek to serve God by dv^mg their work thoroughl} and at the same time, standing 220 MOODY AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. on that vantage ground, exhort all their brethren to get that which had made men of them. At the evening meeting, Mr. Moody spoke of Thanksgiving Day in America, the observance of which brings all the scattered members of the household together. We were strongly reminded of this by the great gathering of friends who had come from far- off parts of the country to be present at the farewell services and departure next day. Many who had taken an active part in the London services came down expressly to say good-bye to their evangelist brethren, and not a few had come from across the border, as well as the other English towns. We have seldom had to record anything else but crowded meetings in connection with Messrs. Moody and Sankey's ser- vices, but this last evening meeting of all must have been — if that were possible — more crowded than any. As one of the local papers of next day puts it : " Every .inch of space where a person could sit, or stand, or crouch, was occupied." Mr. Sankey sang '•' I am praying for you," and before doing so lie said : " When we are gon-e from among you, we hope that you will remember to pray for us, as we will surely remember to pray for you. Pray God that He may use us in our own dear land as He has used us here, and even more abundantly. May the bless- ing of God rest upon the singing of this hymn to-night." Mr. Moody then commenced his address, and spoke for more than an hour, but to the very last there was the most rapt atten- tion. By some means the gas could not be lit, and as the fading twilight deepened into darkness the scene became intensely sol- emn, as Mr. Moody's earnest and sometimes fiiltering words fell on the hushed and eagerly attentive multitude. At the close of his address he offered fervent prayer. He besought God's bless- ing on England and America, on the work among the young men, and on the ministers, his utterances anon being stayed, by his evident emohon. ^lr. Sankey's voice found expression for the last time in the farewell hymn which he has sung at many of the towns visited, though not in London. As Mr Sankey sang it. by the light of a FAREWELL IN LIVERPOOL. 221 candle, to the justly popular tune of " Home, Sweet Home," the audience was much moved. It was the last time many of ihcm will probably hear Mr. Sankey's voice, and we are sure none of those present will be able to forget it. On Tuesday evening, after the general meeting, a few friends gathered at the Compton Hotel, and two or three hours were spent in an informal conversation on the subject always upper- most in Mr. Moody's thoughts — the best way to benefit young men — to conserve and utilize in the way of righteousness, for the glory of God and the good of men, the young manhood of Great Britain, America, and the world. We believe that if one thing more than another will induce Mr. Moody to return to Great Britain, it will be the desire to weld together its Christian young men into a band of fellow-laborers, that, by the operation of the Spirit of God, shall be in the midst of many peoples as a dew from the Lord, and as a lion among the beasts of the forest. And to tell the truth, we expect that it will not be years before we see our brethren again among us. The last service in England was held by Mr. Moody on the morning of their departure, so that we may say they left our shores " with their harness on their backs." Mr. Sankey was not present. The hall was opened at seven o'clock, by which time consider- able crowds had gathered at all the doors, and before Mr. Moody made his appearance at twenty minutes past seven there were some 5,000 or 6,000 persons in the hall. After praise and prayer, Mr. Moody read part of the first chapter of Joshua and twenty- sixth chapter of Leviticus. He proceeded to give a short address to the young men, the first part of which was an earnest plea for a systematic study of the Bible and Bible characters, and for union with some organized body of Christians. He also urged on them the necessity of having some definite work to do, and not to at- tempt too many things at one time. " I have been wonderfully cheered," he continued, "during the past months by the tidings coming from Liverpool. I want to say from the depths of my heart, God bless you, young men. The eyes of Christendom are 2 22 MOODV AND SANKEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Upon you. Perhaps there has not been a place where the work has been so deep and thorough as the work here among the young men. I believe it was in answer to the prayers that went up for it when we were here six months ago. And now, as we cross the Atlantic, it will cheer us as tidings come that the young men are still advancing. Do not fold your arms and say, ' We will have a good time next fall.' God is just as ready to work in August as in July. If some have gone out of town on their holi days, the work should not stop ; I think it is the best time to work when many are away. Every man ought to be worth the five or six that are away. Then the work will go on. The great revival at Pentecost was in the hot weather, and also in a very hot country. People think there cannot be any interest in the warm months; but if the prayer goes up to the throne, God does not look to see what month it is. He is as ready to bless in one month as in another. Let me give you the watchword we had yesterday afternoon — ' Advance.' I hope there will be a fresh interest awakened in Liverpool as there has been in Manchester, I do not know of anything that has encouraged me more than to hear of the work going on in Manchester for the last six weeks, I hope Liverpool and Manchester will shake hands in carrying on the work, and let the lies of those skeptics who say it is only *a nine days* wonder ' be driven back. I cannot talk longer. I say from the depths of my heart, I love you ; God bless you, and may the power of God come upon you this morning afresh." After the hymn, " Free from the law," had been sung, Mr. Alexander Balfour said, " I do not know whether I am the proper person on behalf of this audience to say good-bye to our dear friend, Mr. Moody, and our absent friend, Mr. Sankey ; but I feel that there must be some mouthpiece to say to them what we really do feel. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts and souls for what they have come here and done. Unless Mr. Moody had been n min like a cannon-ball for hardness of material, for directness of aim, and for strength of will, he could never have done what he has been privileged by God to do. His wisdom has been conspicuous in discovering this — that our young men in Liverpool FAREWELL IX LIVERPOOL 223 aod elsewhere in this country have been greatly neglected, and in choosing them to be, for the future, not merely the recipients of God's grace, but the distributors of it. I do feel that Mr. Moody, in having given so much attention to our young men, has really done the right thing. Many know that Liverpool has been a curse to young men. They have come here and been led astray into all kinds of mischief and wickedness. How many broken hearts are there in this country because of the mischief done to young men in Liverpool ! On behalf of the mothers and sisters of this country, I want to give Mr. Moody the most heartfelt vote of thanks that it is in my power to convey ; and on behalf of thou- sands who shall be influenced by the young men in Liverpool, I want to convey to him the tribute of gratitude for what he has done. As President of the Young Men's Christian Association, I want to say this : That it is our purpose as young men to go on with the work ; and, by God's grace, we shall not go back, but advance in our endeavor to do our duty before God and men." Mr. Moody, in reply, simply said, " I will now shake hands with you all in the person of the President of the Association "; and the meeting having been closed, he returned to the Compton Hotel, surrounded by a large crowd, which sang, " Hold the fort," and the "Doxology" in the street in front of the hotel. Many of them lingered there during the hour and a half that elapsed before Mr. Moody, Mrs. Moody, and family, accompan- ied by a large number of friends, drove away to the landing-stage. They were followed by the enthusiastic cheers of the assembled multitude. Mr. Sankey stayed at the residence of a friend, and so escaped much of the popular attention that Mr. Moody had to undergo. A special tender was provided for the conveyance of the evan- gelists and their party to the "Spain"; and Mr. Sankey, who spent the night at Edge-lane, and most of the friends, went on board of it shortly before Mr. Moody. As Mr. Sankey passed across the landing-stage, upon which a large number of people had assembled, he was warmly cheered. As Mr. Moody emerged from the hotel, a hearty cheer aiose 224 MOODY AND SAX KEY IN GREAT BRITAIN. from the crowd, and people rushed to the door cf the cab on each side to shake hands with him, and bid him good-bye. The cab was, however, immediately driven away to the stage amidst renewed and warm cheering. For some time prior to the hour at which the special tender was to leave for the ^* Spain," people began to assemble on the Prince's pier and the landing-stage, and when Mr. Moody arrived, there were several thousands pre- sent. A wide strip of the stage was kept clear by the police for the party to walk to the tender, and as Mr. Moody went on board he was heartily cheered, which he acknowledged by bowing. When the company were all on board, the tender steamed away. As it passed down the river, the people upon the pier and the landing-stage cheered with increased heartiness, and waved their hats and handkerchiefs. Their example was imitated by the people on the ferry-boats moored at the stage or crossing the river ; and when the cheering had subsided, the people on the stage struck up one of the well-known hymns. The sorrowful countenances of many of the people showed that it was with no ordinary feelings of regret that they saw the evangelists going away. The tender reached the "Spain" about an hour before the time for the ship to weigh anchor, and the interval was fully occu- pied in taking leave of the evangelists, and in receiving from them or conveying to them parting words of comfort and encour- agement. Mr. Moody again urged those who have been his fel- low-laborers in this and other districts to remain united, and to carry on the work with courage and determination ; whilst on the other hand, there were very numerous expressions of the hope that a success equal to that of the last two years may attend the evangelists' labors wherever and whenever they may be resumed. Many of the leave-takings, from their intense earnest- ness, were very affecting. Only when the " Spain's " anchor was being raised, and the tender was upon the point of starting, could many of the friends tear themselves away. As the last of the people '* for the shore " were leaving the ship, those who were already on board the tender sang the hymn, " Safe in the arms of FAREWELL IN LIVERPOOL. 225 Jesus." As the "Spain" moved slowly down the river, the peo- ple in the tender, which was still alongside, cheered heartily, and the passengers on board the "Spain" replied with another cheer, and the waving of handkerchiefs anc' hats. As the " Spain " passed on ahead, the people in the tender sang the hymn, " Hold the fort," and afterwards the hymn, " Work, for the night is com- ing." Mr. Moody and Mr. Sankey stood at the bulwarks of the '* Spain " and bowed and waved their handkerchiefs until the two ships were out of sight of each other. Shortly before the tender reached Liverpool, prayer was offered up on board by Mr. R. Radcliff, and other gentlemen, for the safe arrival of the evan- gelists at their destination, and for the subsequent success of their labors, whether carried on in England or America. Part III. A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THB CAREER AND WORK OF MOODY AND SANKEY, IN AMERICA- MOODY AND SANKEV IN AMERICA. 237 CHAPTER XXII. Moody and Sankey in Brooklyn. When their wonderful career was over in the old country, and they returned to their native land, these laborers felt the need of rest, and desired to greet once more their kin- dred from whom they had so long been separated. Mr. Moody proceeded at once to Northfield, Massachusetts, to the home of his mother, where he could rest, or gather strength for the work already marked out for him and his associate in America. For great expectations had b^en raised by their success abroad, and eager multitudes awaited their coming. While in Northfield, delegations visited Mr. Moody, requesting his services in various cities of the Union, whenever he felt able to resume the service temporarily laid aside. While reposing among the quiet scenes of his early days, the wants of the community pressed heavily on his heart, and his old neigh- bors were anxious to hear him preach again. He came among them as a conquering hero, bearing rich trophies and bright laurels. The pent-up fires of religious earnestness and fervor burst forth again, and he poured out his soul to the thronging multitudes, who gathered from flir and near to hear the Gospel from his burning lips. The Unitarian pastor attempted to controvert and hinder him in his work, but was cast aside as a leaf before the whirlwind. The tidings flashed over the land that God was with his servants at Northfield, and raised expec- tation higher than ever. Bui there were some who doubted. They said, and with plausibility, that the songs were familiar here, and the direct address was characteristically American, and these men could scarcely interest and hold people as they had done abroad. The answer will be found stated in the compend we have made of the reports and editorials of the 228 MOODY AND SAN KEY IN AMERICA. press, for the benefit of our readers who may desire a record of these glorious events, that shall stir their hearts and show what God hath wrought. Mr. Moody, after long and careful consultation, resolved to visit Philadelphia first; but, upon urgent appeals from the City of Churches, he commenced there October 24, 1875. Money was freely subscribed and a perfect Union of Christians obtained. The services were arranged to be held in the Rink on Clermont Avenue, and prayer meetings, in Talmage's Tabernacle. The preaching on Sundays began at half-past eight, so as not to interfere with the regular church meetings. An afternoon preaching service occurred at four, and a meeting at nine p. m., for young men. From the journals we gather the events of the course of revival efforts, and arrange them in such order as may convey the best general view of the whole marvelous series, without stopping to quote the several sources of information. All calculations with regard to the coming of the evangelists, Moody and Sankey, have been at fault. The numbers inter- ested, the assistance at hand, the religious feeling awakened, have all been underestimated. This was not a result of mis- management,— on the contrary, the management has been singularly good, — but a misconception of the depth and earn- estness of the religious feeling which awaited the coming of the evangelists and stood ready at once to aid and to respond to their efforts. This religious spirit has been lately aroused in this country by various causes, chief among which we reckon the general trade and business depression which now, as always in the past, tends, while multiplying men's troubles, to quicken their sympathetic and religious feelings. The demon- stration yesterday in Brooklyn was expected to be noticeable and earnest, but in its magnitude it has proved a surprise. The reputation won by Moody and Sankey abroad specially adapted them to lead in a general revival, and led all to antici- pate a great following to hear them, but that three or four times the numbers in attendance would have to be turned away was wholly unexpected. And instead of an effort being required to awaken interest and arouse dormant feelings, it was soon MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 229 discovered that the audience was as intensely earnest and sympathetic as the leaders themselves. Some of the indications of this spirit, as betrayed at yes- terday's meetings, are curious. The morning services were begun at half-past eight o'clock. Before six in the morning the crowd began to gather at the doors ; at eight o'clock over five thousand persons were seated in the building, and three thousand or more had been turned away for lack of standing room. In the afternoon twelve — possibly twenty — thousand were unable to gain admittance; meetings had to be organized in neighboring churches (Mr. Sankey going from place to place singing his songs), while the sidewalks and house-stoops for blocks around were black with the constantly increasing crowd. Additional car-tracks had been laid by the street railroad com- panies to the doors of the building, and though cars were run at intervals of only one minute, many thousands had to wend their ways homeward on foot. The prayer with which the services were begun, though delivered by a minister whose manner is never impassioned and whose style is purely argU' mentative, was interrupted by frequent and fervent ejaculations from the audience, indicating the intense sympathy with the movement which existed. The songs of Mr. Sankey renewed and heightened these demonstrations, and the utterances of Mr. Moody raised the excitement, enthusiasm, religious fervor, as one may choose to call it, to the highest pitch. These comments are founded on the reports of the first meetings, of which we have most glowing accounts, like the following. It was early evident to the coldest and most sceptical per- son present at yesterday's services that the revival spirit was thoroughly aroused, and the people ripe for a great and enthu- siastic religious demonstration. This feeling was manifested at the veiy beginning of the services, during the prayer of the Rev. Dr. Budington. Many familiar with the gentleman's manner thought that his selection for this duty was an error of judgment on the part of the managers. Dr. Budington has never made any claims to being a magnetic speaker. He is logical in style, 230 MOODY AND SAN KEY IN AMERICA. and his manner of delivery is polished but cold. His words would, probably, by their logical force, always keep for him the close attention of an intellectual assemblage, but they would not on any ordinary occasion arouse deep feeling or enthusiasm. Yesterday, before he had uttered half a dozen sentences of the prayer, fervent " amens " came from many lips, and there were other signs of profound emotion in the great throng. The next opportunity which was offered for the display of this fervent and reverential enthusiasm was during the singing of the 1 20th Hymn by Mr. Sankey. Mr. Moody had said, im- mediately after reading from the Bible, " I am going to ask Mr. Sankey to sing the 120th Hymn alone " — a sharp emphasis on the last word. The instant hush of expectation as the great audience settled back prepared to hear something that should appeal to their hearts, was very marked, but as Mr. Sankey's magnetic voice and wonderfully expressive singing filled the great auditorium, the sympathy among his hearers grew and in- creased until it seemed as if, had he continued the sweet melody and earnest supplication, every person in the whole audience would have risen and joined with him in a grand musical prayer of mingled appeal and thanksgiving. The effect he produced was simply marvelous. Many responses, such as "Amen " and "Glory to God," were heard from all parts of the vast assembly, and at the close a great many men as well as women were in tears. Mr. Sankey's voice is a marvel of sweetness, flexibility, and strength. I'hcre is a simplicity about his vocalism which disarms the criticism that would apply to it any of the rules of art. It has a charm purely its own, which attracts and holds one with a power that is gentle but irresistible. Mr. Moody's appearance during the delivery of his sermon was as one man standing in a sea of men and women. On all sides, and even in rear of him, were the assembled 5,000 persons, r.early all on a slightly lower plane than himself. Every one's attention was closely directed to him, and, in moments of intense utterance or emphasis of some religious truth, fervent responses came from every part of the room. And when, toward the MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 231 close of his sermon, he told his hearers that they must lay aside the world, its vanities, pleasures, parties, festivals, and its other gayeties, if they would "go up at once and take the land," the responsive '^ Amcns," " Yes, yes," "Glory to God," and " Aye, aye," were very numerous, and came from every quarter of the auditorium. Mr. Moody's manner in the pulpit was not such as a trained elocutionist would use. He is evidently a man who in his diligent search for truths has made little study of forms. He is quick in his movements, and so rapid in speech that the swiftest stenographer present yesterday could not reproduce his language literally. He is earnest and vigorous in enunciation and gesture, and wholly without studied art. But as one listens, he becomes irresistibly convinced that an intense earnestness and unquestioning faith in the saving power of Christianity inspire the rugged, sinewy oratory of the speaker. Often neglecting a syllable and sacrificing a sound, not always correct in grammar or fluent in speech, he appears to the amazed lis- tener a man who feels more than he can express, whose brain is big with great thoughts which speech — earnest and eager as Mr. Moody's language is — is incapable of expressing, and which, in their rapid delivery, tread so fast on each other's heels as to more or less mar each other's form. The music is under the direct charge of Mr. Sankey. In ac- cordance with his request the choir is composed of singers who are themselves Christians, and recommended by their pastors as such. It numbers 250 voices. There have been 500 names entered, so that there will always be a reserve force of as many more as are requisite from which to keep the ranks full. The singers have been undergoing several rehearsals, with a view to adapting themselves in various points of expression to the spirit of the words they utter. The last of these was conducted on Saturday night by Mr. Sankey. There will be one large organ to assist the choir and audience, and a smaller one upon which Mr. Sankey accompanies himself in his solos. . One of the papers said, near the close of the campaign : Moody and Sankey will advance upon Philadelphia, after their Brooklyn experience, as conquerors. There was great 232 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. anxiety about their success when they made their advent in Brooklyn a month ago. They had stirred up England and Scotland just before their arrival in this country ; but still there were doubts whether the conditions here were as favorable as they had been there. The '' evangelist" Varley and his assistants had carried on revival operations here last year, in the Hippodrome and elsewhere; but they w-ere failures. Moody himself had worked among us with very slight results before he went abroad. Other revivalists had tried their powers in various places, and met with discouragement. But the very first meeting held by Moody and Sankey, on the 24th of last month, was a triumph, so far as it could be made so by the multitudes in attendance and the number of anxious inquirers. From then until now, the popular interest has not only been sustained, but has increased ; and the meetings of the last two evenings, especially that of last evening, show that the revival is yet at its flood tide. It is from such scenes that Moody and Sankey go to Philadelphia. We are not surprised that the pious Philadelphians now look for great things, or that they expect a Pentecostal season without prece- dent in their city. We hope that, if they enjoy it, they will be the better for it, and that the fruits of it will be apparent to all observers. Mr. Moody himself was not surprised at what was witnessed, for he said to the reporters : " I have nowhere found more im- pressionable audiences than in Brooklyn. In England, where I was successful, my friends counseled me against going into Scotland, saying that I could not move the cool, calculat- ing spirit of the Scotchman ; and when I started for Ireland, they told me that the volatile Irish were the last people in the world among whom I could labor with good results. But in both those countries there were as great awakenings as any I have ever seen. It made me think that hearts are the same all over the world." " What has been the most encouraging feature of your recep- tion in Brooklyn ? " " The union of the churches. All the clergy seem to be MOODY AXD SANKEY IN AMKRICA. 233 working zealously and harmoniously and intelligently to carry on the work."' " And the most discou racking ? " " My inability to reach the great masses who ought to be saved. Still, they may be yet approached through the churches, t'oi- this movement has not stopped." '* Have you any estimate of the number of converts made?" asked the reporter, for Mr. Moody volunteers nothing to an interviewer. '' I have not one, and cannot make one. Many go to their own pastors, and do not come near the inquiry room, and many more of the wounded will be won if the work is carried on as it should be." He said that he as yet felt no fatigue, and that he had been able to carry on four meetings a day in England, Scotland, and Ireland, for over two years, without breaking down. He ex- pressed great satisfaction with the opening meetings, saying that he had never had a more encouraging outlook. Every- thing had been planned after the very best manner, and the indications of success were as satisfactory as any he had found abroad. The prayer meeting yesterday morning was more successful than he could have expected. In Great Britain these meetings were held at noon, but at no time was there a larger attendance than yesterday. Many of the meetings there had been overestimated in the numbers in attendance. He had yet to learn of a circumstance in this country that was un- favorable. In Brooklyn he had found a universal feeling of cordiality and support, and in all he had known of the other cities to which he and ^Ir. Sankey had been invited, there was the same unvarying encouragement. Some of the newspapers had stated that in New York there were some ministers who disapproved of their coming, but he had found the feeling there fully as universal and sympathetic as anywhere else. America differed in this respect from Great Britain. In the latter coun- try he and Mr. Sankey were strangers, and many people regarded them at first from aloof, and it was only after they became belter known and their work was understood that tho 234 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. sentiments became cordial and the interest general. He there- fore believed that a still greater work would be accomplished in the United States than on the other side of the Atlantic Said Mr. Moody : " I am the most overestimated man in this country. By some means the people look upon me as a great man, but I am only a lay preacher, and have little learn- ing. I don't know what will become of me if the newspapers continue to print all of my sermons. My stock will be exhausted by and by, and I must repeat the old ideas and teachings. Brooklyn every Sunday hears a score of better sermons than I can preach. I can't get up such sermons as Drs. Budington and Cuyler and Talmage, and many others who preach here week after week. I don't know what I shall do." It is interesting to note the interest excited by Mr. Moody in such men as Mr. Beecher, the prince of preachers, who said at one of his lectures, the impression he had gained in conversa- tion with Mr. Moody was that the number of persons who had been converted from the outside world, while not inconsiderable, has not yet been large. This leaves the comforting thought, he added, that the greatest benefit of the meetings is yet to accrue. He spoke further, suggesting different methods to prolong the Christian meetings. He could not see how they could carry on the central meetings with continued success. If every church tried to be a little Rink, and everybody a litile Moody and San- key, they would fail because imitations were very inferior. Moody was no careless worker ; no man had a more definite conception of the end he aimed at. " On last Saturday," said Mr. Beecher, " I had the pleasure of two or three hours' conference with Mr. Moody in my own house. I thought I saw the secret of his working and plans. He is a believer in the second advent of Christ, and in our own time. He thinks it is no use to attempt to work for this world. In his opinion it is blasted — a wreck bound to sink — and the only thing that is worth doing is to get as many of the crew off as you can, and let her go. All that is worth doing is to work and wait for the appearance of the Master, and not to attempt a thorough regeneration of a com- MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMKRICA. 235 plicated State of society. He thinks that Christ may come even to-morrow. 1 should be a burning fire all the time if I believed like that, but I do not say that I must believe like that to be a burning fire." Mr. NordhofT, an accomplished literary gentleman, wrote of the evangelists a capital review for the " Herald " from whicii we copy : Mr. Moody is a short and somewhat stout man, with a full dark beard, rather small eyes and an active, energetic, but not nervous, habit. His manner is alert and prompt, but not grace- ful ; his voice is unmusical, and indeed harsh ; his enun- ciation is very clear, but somewhat too rapid, andean be heard and understood in every part of the Tabernacle or the Rink. In the latter place he has spoken to 7000 people. He gesticu- lates but little, and his gestures are evidently extremely un- studied. His style of speaking is entirely conversational, and bearing him perhaps a dozen times,I have never detected him in any attempt at eloquence. He is evidently, by his pronuncia- tion, a Yankee, clippmg some of the minor words in his sen- tences, as the farmers in the interior of Massachusetts do; but he has no '' Yankee drawl." He speaks the language of the people, and has the merit of using always the commonest words; and that he had no early educational advantages is plain from his frequent use of " done " for " did " and other ungrammatical colloquialisms. In short, his appearance is not imposing; his figure is not graceful, but that of a farmer or hard-working laborer ; his voice is not melodious, nor has it a great range ; his language is not choice. His externals, therefore, are all against him. In spite of all these disadvantages he has succeeded in attract- ing in England and here vast crowds day after day, which, at some of the Brooklyn meetings at least, are composed largely of cultivated people ; he has, evidently, succeeded in interesting these crowds in what he has had to say ; for nothing is more remarkable af the meetings than the absolute quiet and order, the attitude of interested listeners, which prevails among the audience. He has so entirely controlled his audiences that alJ 236 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. noisy manifestations of religious feeling have been entirely suppressed ; and at the same time no one who has sat in the meetings at the Rink or the Tabernacle can have failed to see that Mr. ?^Ioody's manner of presenting his subject is to an extraordinary degree effective in moving the hearts of his hear- ers, in stirring devotional feelings, in producing a profound impression upon them of the importance of the message he has to deliver. Indeed, it has ^Deen a common remark that the audiences were even more remarkable than Mr. Moody, for not only are they spontaneous gatherings ; to some of the meetings admit- tance can be secured only by the presentation of a ticket, and these ticket meetings, where each person must be supposed at least to have had a desire to attend strong enough to induce him to take the trouble of securing a ticket, are as crowded as any others. Nor are conveni'^nt hours selected for the meetings. There is one from eight to nine in the morning, which yet has seen the Tabernacle filled with an audience, at least a third of whom were men. There it another at four o'clock in the after- noon, and again not less than a third of those present have been men. After the Rink meeting in the evening there has been held a meeting in the Tabernacle for young men exclusively, beginning at nine o'clock, and this, too, I have seen crowded, the large auditorium being on several occasions incapable of holding all who came. Nor is this all. Not the least remark- able evidence of the real and profound interest excited by Mr. Moody's exhortations is seen in what are happily called the ''overflow meetings," composed of persons who could not gain admission to the rtigular meetings where Mr. Moody exhorts and Mr. Sankey sings, and who adjourn to a neighbor- ing church to listen to some other preacher and to sing the songs which Mr. Sankey has made familiar to them. If any considerable part cf the crowds who go to the meetings were con)poscd of the merely curious these "overflow meetings" could not exist. Nor is evjn this all. Mr. Moody does not hesitate to advise people to stay away from his meetings. He has repeatedly MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 237 urged that his labors are for non-church goers ; that he desires room left for this class, and he has taken special means to exclude from some of his meetings all who regulaily attend a church — that is to sa}*, he does not court his audiences, but the contrary. If you go to hear him it must be because you want to; if you go the second time it must be because he interested you the first. 1 have heard him a number of times, and always with interest and gratification ; and it seems to me that this arose mainly — aside from the interest which any thoughtful man may have in this subject — because he gives the impression of possessing remarkable common sense, the clear head of a business man, and a habit of attending to the one thing which he has on ♦hand and making all parts of the audience do the same. The meetings are opened and closed promptly at the preappointed hour ; there is not even a minute of time lost during the meet- ing by delays ; his own prayers are brief, very earnest, and directly to the point ; and his exhortations are a running co n- mentary on passages of Scripture which he reads rapidly, always asking the audience to turn to the passage. Indeed, so far as Mr. Moody is concerned, there is little or no " machin- ery." He opens a meeting as though his audience were the stockholders of a bank to whom he was about to make a report. He has the air of a business man to whom time is extremely valuable, and slow and tedious people are evidently a trial to him. In some of the prayer meetings persons in the audience take an active part ; and it happened not seldom in those that I attended that some earnest but indiscreet soul made a long and rambling prayer. Mr. Moody knev*' how to bring back the assembly to the strict object of the hour. In one of the morning meetings a clergyman made a very long, loud, and rambling prayer, full of set and stale phraseology. The moment he ceased Mr. Moody said, " Let us now have a few minutes of silent prayer ; that will bring us back to our- selves, and that's where we need to get."' After a brief but impressive silence Mr. Sankey spoke a few words — pertinent, pointed, and fu-rcible — of prayer, and the meeting proceeded 238 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. I hope I shall not be thought disrespectful to the clergy if I say that the prayers some of them speak at these meetings contrast unfavorably with the brief and pertinent petitions of Messrs. Moody and Sankey. The formal and thread-bare phraseology of the former is strikingly inappropriate in such meetings as these, and seemed to me often to jar painfully on the feelings of the people around me. Again, in one of the morning meetings prayers were asked by various individuals in the audience for people in whom they are interested. One asked the prayers of the assembly for his sister; another for her brother; one for her mother; sons for fathers ; fathers for sons and daughters ; wives for husbands ; one for a church out of town ; another for a church in New York. Finally a man shyly asked the prayers of the congregation for himself. Instantly Mr. Moody said, "That's right. I like that. I like to hear people ask prayers for them- selves. That's where they are often most needed." Such an incident seems to me to show that he is not an enthusiast who has lost his self-possession ; and indeed this is evident at every meeting. He is, of course, enthusiastic in his work, but with the sobriety of a business man or of a general in battle. Again, he is never in the least afraid of his audience. lu' deed, no one can hear him without feeling that he is entirely unconscious, as much so as a child. His own personality does not trouble him. Thus at the Rink one evening, while impress- ing upon the assemblage the importance of immediate conver- sion, he said : *' I wish that friend over there would just wake up, and ril tell him something which is important to him." And again, at another meeting, he said : " Salvation is offered to every man in this Rink, now, to-night, at this very moment ; (o that man there, who is laughing and jeering — the Son of Man comes to him to-night and offers salvation." Though he aims lo reach more particularly the non-church- going population, he concerns himself also about church goers. " The churches," he said on one occasion, "need awakening; it is too e.isy now to be a church member. If you pay youi MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 239 debts and keep out of jail, that seems to be enough." At a meeting for youn<; men, held at nine o'clock p. M. in the Taber- nacle, he said, " You don't need that I should preach to you. There is too much preaching. It's preach, preach, preach, all the time; and you, young men, have heard sermons enough here in Brooklyn to convert every one of you. What you need is to work among yourselves. Let the converted speak personally with the unconverted — friend to friend. Then you'll see/esulls." He has a good deal of dramatic power, and sometimes is very effective in a natural but strong appeal or statement. " When the prisoners at Philippi with Paul cried Amen," he said, " God himself answered them Amen 1 " Speaking of the probability that we forget none of the events of our lives, and that this is, perhaps, to be a means of punishment in a future state, he pic- tured an unrepentant sinner awakening in the other world, and his misdeeds coming back upon him. " Tramp ! tramp I tramp ! tramp I " he said, suiting the action to the word. "Do you think that Judas, after nearly 1,900 years, has forgotten that he betrayed his Saviour for thirty pieces of silver ? Do you think that Cain, after 5,000 years, has forgotten the pleading look of his brother Able when he slew him ? " he continued. In speak- ing of Bible incidents or parables he usually brings them in a dramatic form— as when he remarked, '• If I want to know about some man in Brooklyn I don't ask only his enemies, nor only his friends, but both. Let us ask about Christ in this way. I call first Pilate's wife " — and relating her warning to Pilate went on to call other witnesses to the character and works of Jesus. He has m.ide an extremely close study of the Bible, and is evidently that formidable being, a man of one book, and thus he is able to give often a novel view of a Bible passage. Thus, speaking of Jacob, he remarked that his life was a failure; pointed out that Jacob himself had complained of it, and enu- merated his tribulations, which followed his misdeeds. He enforced upon the audience the necessity of reading the Bible biographies not as though they were the lives of sainls. but the truthfully written lives of mortal men, in which their bad as well as their good deeds were set forth for our instruction. 240 MOODY AND SAX KEY IN AMERICA. He has in perfection that faculty of epigrammatic statement which one often finds among the farmers and laboring people of New England, and this has sometimes the effect of humor. Thus, preaching at the Rink from the text, "Where the treasure is, there the heart will be also," he remarked: "If you find a man's household goods on a freight train, you may be pretty sure to find him on the next passenger train." On anollier occasion he told of a woman who came to him saying that she had sought Christ without avail. " I told her there must be some mistake about this, because an anxious sinfier and an anxious Saviour could not need three years to find each other." Speak- ing of persons who were ambitious to make themselves promi- nent, he remarked : " It does not say, make your light shine, but let your light shine. You can't make a light shine. If it is really a light it will shine in spite of you — only don't hide it under a bushel. Let it shine. Confess Christ everywhere." *' Satan got his match when he came across John Bunyan," he remarked. " He thought he had done a shrewd thing when he got the poor tinker stuck into Bedford Jail, but that was one of his blunders. It was there that Bunyan wrote the ' Pilgrim's Progress,' and no doubt he was more thankful for the imprison- ment than for anything else in his life." Speaking of the izoodness of God and of "grace abounding,*' he told a striking story of a rich man who sent to a poor friend in distress $25 in an envelope, on which he wrote, '" More to follow." " Now," said he, '• which was the more welcome— the money or the gracious promise of further help ? So it is with God's grace ; there is always more to follow. Let us thank God, not only for what he gives us, but for what he promises — more to follow." Contrasting the law and the Gospel, he said. "Moses, in Egypt, turned water into blood, which is death. Christ turned water into wine, which is life, joy, and gladness." Speaking of future punishment in one of his Rink sermons, he said, "God will not punish us. \\'e shall punish ourselves. When we come before God He will turn us over to ourselves. Go and read the book of your memory, He will say." Urging the duty of immediate repentance and the joy in heaven over a MOODY ANIJ SAXKKY IN AMERICA 24I repentant sinner, he said, "If the President should die to-night, or if the Governor of the State should be shot, that would make an outcry here. But perhaps even so great an event would not be mentioned in heaven at all. But," said he, raising his voice a little, "if some sinner in this assembly were just now con- verted, there would be a great shout of joy in heaven." Dwell- ing upon the certainty of future punishment, he remarked. *' Some people doubt it ; they think God is so loving that He will make no distinctions in another world. But do you imagine that when men had become so wicked that God sent a flood to exterminate them because they were not fit to live on earth — do you suppose that when the waters came and drowned them, He took all this wicked generation into his bosom and left pool righteous Noah to drift about in his ark ? Do you suppose that when His chosen people crossed the Red Sea, and Pharaoh's host were drowned, God took those idolatrous Egyptians directly to heaven and let the children of Israel wander miserably over the desert for forty years ? " Speaking of the real objects to be attained by prayer, he said, " If you have a thorn in your foot, you are to pray, not that God shall relieve you of the physical pain — He can do that too — but what you are to ask Him for is grace and strength to bear the pain patiently. We should thank God for our trib- ulations ; they are sent to us as blessings ; they bring us to Him." Again, " Many things we want God knows are not good for us ; if He gives them it is that we may learn through suffer- ing ; if He withholds them it is because He loves us.'' Again he said, " Suppose a man going from here to Chicago, who knows me and my wife. When he gets there he goes to see her, and he says, * I saw Mr. Moody in Brooklyn.' And then, when she is naturally anxious to hear all about me, suppose he goes on to speak about himself, to tell her how he felt on the cars and where he stopped, and what he said and did and ate. Would not she presently tell him that it was not him she wanted to hear about, but me.?" Nor is he backward in im- pressing upon those who listen to him their own responsibility. *' People attending these meetings during these two weeks," be II 242 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. said, "will be either better or worse. They will not go away the same men and women. If I did not want to be a Christian do you think I would ever go where the Gospel is preached ? If any of you have made up your minds not to be Christians I advise you to get up and go out at once. It is not safe for you ^o be here.'' I do not know whether these passages which I have given from Mr. Moody's exhortations will seem to those who read them as forcible as they were to me who heard them. I took down at the time what appeared to me his most striking utter- ances, as the best way of showing wherein his power over his audiences consists. That he is a man of genuine power there can be no doubt. He has gathered, and held in silent attention, and deeply moved, some of the largest assemblies that any speaker has addressed in America ; at least in our day. For my part I do not doubt that his words have left a lasting im- pression upon a great many men and women. And he has done this without frantic or passionate appeals ; without the least of what we commonly call eloquence. He has none of the vehe- mence of Peter Cartvvright or Elder Knapp, and he possesses none of the personal advantages or culture of an orator. Instead of all these he has a profound conviction of the reality of the future life ; a just idea of its importance compared with this life and of the relations of the two, and an unhesitating belief in the literal truth of the Bible. It is, of course, his own deep and earnest conviction which enables him to impress others. Mr. Sankey has an effective voice, a clear pronunciation; and, I should think, a quick ear to catch simple and tendei melodies. His singing was, I suspect, more effective and affecting in England than here, because the hymns he sings were not as familiar to his English hearers as they are to Americans, most of whom have been brought up in Sunday schools, or have heard their children sing their Sunday-school hymns at home. He is evidently a favorite with the Rink and Tabernacle audiences, and he has a pathetic and sympathetic voice. I'urt to me the main figure is Mr. Moody. Of course a daily p.^jcr is not the place in which to discuss his theology. Gv. MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 243 even if I desired to do so. Those to whom his creed is false or offensive need not go to hear him. But as to the general ten- dency and usefulness of his work, it seems to me clear that if there is a future life, it is useful to have it and its relations to the present life sometimes brought vividly before men and women actively and anxiously engaged in the daily struggle for bread. Mr. Moody addresses himself to a multitude thus ab- sorbed ; his exhortations raise them for a timeout of themselves, out of sordid cares and engrossing pursuits, and present to them in a vivid, epigrammatic, often pathetic, always simple and nat- ural way, the greatest questions and interests which can be brought to the consideration of a being gifted with immortal life. It is surely a great merit to do this, and to do it as these "evan- gelists" doit — calmly, without mere passionate appeals, without efforts to capture the imagination of their hearers, and without noisy or disorderly demonstrations among their hearers. Turning, now, from this thorough and just estimate of these men to the results of their labors, we find many incidents of thrilling interest. The requests for prayer at the morning prayer-meetings revealed the universal awakening that has seized upon the whole people; and they also exposed the pitifulness of our human condition, by unveiling the vast variety of needs pressing on the hearts of myriads of sufferers. Says one report : The requests for prayers exceeded in number those of any previous day. There were twenty-five for cities and towns, twenty-seven for revivals in churches ; one for the evangelists now laboring in Minnesota, one for the Oswego State Normal School, one for a young ladies' boarding school ; eight for Sunday-school classes ; six for Sunday-schools ; four clergymen for themselves ; seventeen for drunkards ; and four hundied and forty-seven for different persons, many being from parents' for wayward sons and daughters, and from wives for their hus- bands. Mr. Moody then offered prayer. Mr. E. W. Hawley then read requests as follows, all heads being bowed in silent prayer during the reading. Requests for a sceptic 88 years of age, who will not hear of Jesus; for a father, 244 MOODY AND SAN KEY IN AMERICA. three sons and a daughter ; for a daughter, father and mother sixty years of age ; for four sons and one daughter ; for two young men yesterday in the meeting in the church ; for a young lady who is a backslider; for a mother who is sick ; for a daughter and son ; for a wife, husband and three daughters ; for a sister and three brothers ; for a person sick, that he may be kept from tempta- tion and doubt ; for a young man, an ^only son ; for a sick mother ; for a brother that he may be restored to health ; two requests for backsliders ; for a person very sick, that he may be kept from temptation and doubt ; for a young man, an only son ; for an organized band of praying young men ; a father for himself and six of his family ; a wife for a husband given to strong drink ; four requests for church members who have an appetite for strong drink ; three requests for an aged mother ; for a friend in danger through strong drink ; three requests for husbands and wives ; four requests for unconverted husbands ; two requests of mothers for htalth of their sons ; for one who feels if she delays longer she will be shut out from God's grace ; a widow for six children ; for a husband and father bit- terly opposed to attending church ;. for sixteen young men by class-leader ; a request for wives given up to the intoxicating cup ; four requests for fathers from sons ; one for a nephew ; a father and mother for seven sons, two of them intemperate. The reports brought into the morning meetings indicated the immediate results of the work: A woman came into the inquiry metjtings broken hearted. She was a wife and a mother. After she had laid hold on Christ herself, she wanted us to pray for her husband and children Last evening she came in, leading that husband by the hand. 'JMiat man got up and said he would accept Christ. This m.other, six months ago, received a letter from her mother in England, asking that when our American friends (Messrs. Moody and Sankey) came to America, they would come to their meetings. Another letter was received from Scotland by an infidel from his mother. He last night came to llie inquiry meeting. I talked with liim He had a fearful st!ugL;le. He was a civil engineer. For a good many years he had roamed around the world, preaching MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 245 against Christ. He did not believe that he preached. It was the devil in him. He was on a vessel in a storm, and as they thought the ship was going down, he, like a poor coward, ftll on his knees in prayer. But after the storm he forgot it. For the last two days this man has been in terrible agony. He said : '•' I am in terror ; my heart is broken. I'll lay down the weapons of my rebellion. I'll write to my mother in Scot- land about it to-morrow." Keep on praying. At the inquiry meeting there were two or three hundred seekers, many of them youths of from twelve to sixteen years of age. A curious scene was observed at the entrance of the chapel of the Simpson M. E. Church. A man and woman of middle age and well dressed, coming down VVilloughby avenue vv^ith the throng after the services in the Rink, stopped at the gateway in front of the chapel. After a moment of hurried, earnest conversation, the man stepped backward away from the woman toward the chapel steps, all the time looking reproach- fully at her. He mounted the steps and was about to cross the threshold when the woman stepped quickly forward and, putting her face between the, iron bars of the fence, said, in troubled tones : " I will not go in that place ; you shall not ; come away at once." She walked hurriedly away and the man followed. Yesterday, at our Sunday-school, in place of the usual closing exercises, we invited the scholars to remain for a prayer- meeting. Five hundred remained. Twenty rose and asked for prayers, and seven, we think, found peace in believing. Last evening at the Rink very many souls were brought to Christ. In the inquiry-room it seemed as if all on each side of me were anxious to fifid Christ. Going home last night, as I walked down the street, I talked with three young men.— one of them was anxious, but hesitated. I said to him, " You can be con- verted before you reach yonder lamp-post, if you will." When within twelve feet of it he stopped still, and after a struggle said, " I will," with intense feeling. I turned to his companion, and after a struggle he said, " Yes, I too." The third companion stiil lemained. We knelt down with him around the lamp post. 246 MOODY AND SANKEV IN AMERICA. and after a prayer he accepted Christ. The presence of God Was felt in this city yesterday. Thanks be to His Holy name. A man in the gallery said he wanted to say a .word of en- couragement. In the Rink a man sat before him, singing with a strong voice — a fine looking gentleman. Something said to me : " I must speak to that man. It was an effort. With trembling voice I said : " Are you a Christian ? " " No ; I can't Bay I am." I asked him to go to the inquiry-room. He said *'No ; it is to conspicuous." I said, " I'll go with you ; people won't know which of us is a sinner." He said, "Perhaps, presently." I said, a few moments after, " Presently has come." He went with me, sat down and talked with me, and in one half-hour had given himself definitely to Christ. Last night at the Rink I went to get a lady to come to the inquiry-room. I sent a lady to go for her daughter. She said, " I can't leave here at present." The lady who went for the daughter said, at the close of the Rink meeting, she felt so im- pressed that she must pray for some one who would not come to the inquiry-meeting. She rose up and prayed in the body of that church. Pretty soon the daughter came running into the church, almost out of breath, and said, "Your prayer has reached me. Nothing had ever reached me before your prayer." The mother also said, "Your prayer saved me ;" and they sat down there and all were blessed together. A man rose and related the conversion of a soldier with an empty sleeve, and a badge on his breast, revealing the shat-' tered remnant of a noble man. His parents were members of the Reformed Church of Kinderhook. He came out of the army a drunkard. His wife and children returned from Sunday-school one day, and his little girl said to bim, " Jesus loves you." He pushed her away in anger, and rushed out to a drinking saloon to drink. Just as he was putting ihe glass to his lips, a little girl rose, as if in a mirror, before him, and he seemed to hear ringing in his ears, " Father, Jesus loves you." He dropped the glass, and rushed out, and walked the streets all night in agony. He went home and said to his wife, "Betsy, I waat you to pray for mc." This man is now MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 247 laboring every day in Water street, New York, trying to save the lost drunkards there, without pay for his service. Mr. Moody then related, in closing, a very affecting incident of the reconciliation of a prodigal son and stern father at the bedside of a dying mother, whose last act in expiring was to place their hands in each other's clasp. The story was so feel- ingly told that a spell of suppressed emotion seemed to sway the vast audience, and when Mr. Moody said, " Let us pray," while the people were silently communing, Mr. Sankey's voice plaintively breathed forth, " Come home, prodigal child." The spell was broken, and there was a wail of passionate weeping ; the grief of the young man particularly, who sat near the plat- form, becoming almost uncontrollable. Mr. Moody noticed this at once, and checked the excitement by stopping Mr. Sankey at the end of the first verse, asking the audience to rise and sing, " There is a fountain filled with blood." The self-restraint and the genuineness of Mr. Moody's work was never more signally displayed than in this slight circum- stance. He might have allowed the excitement to have swept on till it became a religious frenzy, which would have been the case in a few minutes, and many mistaken religious leaders would have done so for the mere gratification of their own love of excitement. But Mr. Moody, realizing that mere excite- ment is not healthy, checked it, while that was possible, leav- ing to the influences of the Holy Spirit the completion of the work which had evidently commenced in many hearts. Rev. Mr. Dixon, a colored minister, of Concord .Street Baptist Church, said Friday morning the Lord touched him in the Rink, while Mr. Moody was preaching about Daniel, and hu got up and ran home to his closet, and he was obliged now to ask the Lord to stay his hand, he was so full of the joy of the Lord. The brother of Orville Gardner arose and said that Orville said to him, " Though I am a cripple and cannot walk, go and fight for Jesus." God is in Brooklyn and He will shake this place from top to bottom if we only trust in Him. Rev. Mr. Murray related the conversion of a man of intellect 2:^8 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA.. and character and a very dear friend, who was addicted to strong drink. I'he speaker invited him to go to the Rink meeting to hear Mr. Moody. He said: "I'll do it for your sake." He went and God touched his heart. On his way home he resolved he would crush his appetite and curb his profanity, and set up his family altar there for the first time in the history of his fiimily. He met me the next day, and embraced me with tears of thankfulness that I asked him to go to the Rink meet- ing. We don't know what results come from little things. He asked me to come here this morning and ask you to bear him up in your prayers. A young man in terrible agony and tears said he wanted to find Jesus. We told him how the best we could. He left the place gready relieved. The next night he came to the plat- form with his face shining with joy. He went for his younger brother, and he was the next day rejoicing in Christ. Another young man came to the meeting at the Rink, and could not get in. He wandered around and went to the Dutch Church ad- joining, which was empty. About nine o'clock the young man came into the young men's meeting and I prevailed on him to stay. That night God spoke to his conscience. He did not believe in anything. He went away saying that he would pray for himself. The next night he came and said, " Pray for me." Last Thursday morning, you may remember, I made a request for a young lady sick of consumption, asking that her pains 1 light be relieved. God told me to rise that morning and make request, which I did.*" Friday morning her pains left her. She rose from her bed, made her little bequests of mone> and gifts to benevolent objects and friends. She sat up on her couch all through the evening, talking, with her mind perfectly clear. Pretty soon her senses left her, one by one. She says, " It is nil dark now. I can't see, but it is all bright over there." Pretty soon she said : "I can't hear now. But Christ is here, all here ; doubts are gone." At 1.30 a. m., Sunday morning she went to her rest. That prayer last Thursday morning for this sick young lady was answered. All through the last week I was praying for my own son, eighteen years old, m) son MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 249 Walter. He attended meetings at the Rink several times with- out much feeling, He last night came out of the inquiry room svith brother Sankey, relying on Jesus. In the Simpson Church occurred a number of singular scenes. Inquirers and all who desired entrance were first directed into the main auditorium. A continuous stream of people poured in from all entrances, front and rear. Mr. Moody took charge of the meeting, and while the throng were crowding in, a num- ber of hymns were sung. When the church was thoroughly full, Mr. Moody asked those who were inquirers and who were really in earnest about their salvation to pass into the inquiry room while the audience sang, "Just as I Am." Immediately the sing- ing commenced, two long processions filed through the two doors into the chapel. They were composed principally of young men. After the inquirers had retired, Mr. Moody asked all who were Christians to rise. Very few were left sitting. While a hymn was sung, he went down an aisle and spoke to a few of these, and then after leaving the meeting, to continue as a prayer meeting, went into the inquiry room. The number of inquirers dealt with was estimated to be from a hundred to a hundred and fifty. A number of Mr. Moody's Christian helpers dealt with many of these. About fifty gathered about Mr. Moody himself, to whom he made plain the way of life. Among his coadjutors at present is Mr. Needham, the well known Irish evangelist. Mr. Needham, as we announced, was to have sailed on the Spain on Saturday for Europe. His family were placed on board, and everything had been prepared for travelling, when about noon Mr. Moody and Mr. McWil- liams came to endeavor to persuade him to remain and assist the Brooklyn work, He took two hours to pray about it, and concluded to stay. His visit abroad is therefore indefinitely postponed, perhaps until next summer. He has now no plans for the future, and will simply follow divine guidance. He will take charge of one of the overflow meetings, and in other ways aid Mr. Moody. The Christian workeis present last night were jubilant One word was on many a tongue — " It's grand." An old gen^ 250 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. tleman said : " The ice is broken." Dr. Duryea says a young man of his acquaintance, of very fine culture and wide reading, came to him, took his hand, and said : " Doctor, I'm going." He was the first to rise in the main auditorium when Mr. Moody called upon inquirers. He had read German writers .on meta- physics, and become befogged and verging on Universalism,but Mr. Moody's sermon went home, and broke sunlight through the vapor and mystification in his mind. Cheering instances like these occur and attest the force of divine truth, while they uplift the courage of Christian laborers. Many people ask, " How many people have been converted by the special services that are being held?" and they want to measure the good done by an arithmetical calculation. So many sermons preached, so many prayers offered, so many hymns sung, so many people gathered at the services, and so many converted, is the rule which some who do not understand the nature of religious work seek to apply. The number of conversions will probably never be known ; certainly, it is not important that any accurate statement of this part of the work should now be made. There are, however, some questions which we have a right to ask. Are the Christians of Brooklyn being stirred up to holy enthusiasm and consecrated service ? Is there any general awakening among the church members ? Do they hear the call of the Master to go out into the highways and hedges — into the dark places of the city — to compel by their loving entreaty and earnest counsel the hardened and ignorant and depraved and self-righteous to come and listen to the good tidings of salvation ? These are questions that may be asked, and to which answers in the afiirmative can now be given. The churches of Brooklyn were never more alive to their re- sponsibilities than now, and this gives hope that a genuine re- vival has already commenced, the ultimate result of which may not be estimated, and will never be known. One of the most hopeful and encouraging features of the Brooklyn special services, conducted by the Messrs Moody and Sankey, has been the united and perfectly harmonious action of the ministers and laymen of all denominations of Christians^ MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 25 1 Frequently may be seen thirty or forty of the city pastors gath- ered aiound the platform in the Tabernacle at the moining prayer-meetings, and all ready to do their utmost towards in- creasing the interest and success of the services. All minor differences have sunk into obscurity in view of the great work which is being carried on ; and there is no thought of sectarian- ism in the heart of any man or woman actively engaged in the work of winning souls. This union spirit was, it will be remem- bered, also a leading characteristic of the revival movement in Great Britain. Another feature of blessing is an increased use of the Bible by the attendants, who are constantly urged and inspired to its study by the speaker's appeals and example. Mr. Moody's habit of Bible study has been for the past five years to lise at five o'clock and give an hour in the early morn- ing to the study of the Bible. This is one secret of his great Bible knowledge. Mr. Moody's Bible is an interesting book; It was given him by a friend, and bears on the fly-leaf the words : " D. L. Moody, Dublin, December, 1872.—' God is love.' W. Fay." The Bible is an 8vo volume, with flexible black morocco covers and turned edges. Though given Moody in the last month of 1872. it appears as if it might have seen ten years' service. Some of the leaves are worn through with handling. But nearly every page gives another and more positive proof of the study Mr. Moody has given the Book. In the Old Testament many por tions are annotated on nearly every page. Especially is this trut of those parts treating of the history of the Israelites, the chosen people of God. But in the New Testament, open the book wherever one may, the pages are marked and annotated in black, red, and blue ink to a wonderful extent. Sometimes certain words are underscored ; again a whole verse is inclosed in black lines, with mysterious numbers or a single letter of the alphabet marked opposite. All around the margins and at the chnpter-heads are comments on certain passages — an idea em- bodied in two or three words, with the more important word underscored. Turning to the texts of the sermons Mr. Moody 252 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. has preached in Brooklyn, one finds the burden of his themes often embodied one of those marginal notes. There is scarcely a page in the New Testament where a dozen such annotations could not be counted ; while in some instances every space in the margin is filled, and hardly a sentence has escaped the evangelist's pen. In combating men's trivial objections he said; one of the worst excuses is the old Bible. Of all the sceptics that I have ever heard talk against the Bible, I have yet to find the first one that has ever read it from back to back. They read a chapter here and there, and lay it down and say it is dark and mysterious to them, and they don't understand it, and they never will understand it until they are spiritually minded, for its truths are spiritually discerned. No unrenewed man can understand it. What he can know is that he has sinned. Everything tells you that in your experience in life. Your rest- less spirit and anxious soul, whether you acknowledge it or not, prove it. You can know from the Bible that Jesus Christ came to save you, a sinner, and prove it by trying it. The Bible ought to be read right through. It is only then you can know the music, the swell, the cadence, the rapture and sorrow, the triumph and the tears, of God's Word. W^hat would you know of your boy's letter, if you were to read the superscription on Monday, to look at the signature on Friday, and read a little in the middle of it three months afterwards? I get tired toward the end of July and I go away to the mountains. I take the Bible with me ; I read it through, and I feel as if 1 had never seen the book before. I have spent most of my life in reading and expounding it, yet it seems as if I had never seen it. It is so new, so rich, so varied, the truth flashing from a thousand unexpected and undiscovered points, with a light above the brightness of the sun. And that summer reading of the Bible is what I call tuning the instrument. If anybody docs not believe the Bible, he has never read it through ; he may have read a little here and there, with general commentaries and criticisms between, but he has not read the whole. Once two men said, " We will disprove the conversion MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 253 of Paul.'' They read it through — and wrote a book in proof of it. So will God deal with all destructive critics who really make themselves masters of the situation they intended to overthrow. It is wonderful, if you read the whole, how it gets hold of you somewhere. 1 have tried it ; and I appeal to you who know it best, whether you will willingly let it drop out of your fingers^ when it has once got into the movement and necessity of your being. One secret of his power is well described by himself: Mr. Moody chose his subject, " The Holy Ghost," and related an incident in his early life as an evangelist, wtien an old gentle- man had said to him : " Young man, when you speak again, honor the Holy Ghost." Mr. Moody said he had never for- gotten the advice, and had profited much from it. "The Holy Spirit is a person. We get life through the Holy Ghost. We can have no revival save through Him. He gives hope. When He ai rives we lean upon something more than human supports. Men often utter the prayers which they spoke twenty years ago. We only know how to pray when we have the Holy Spirit. There are two kinds of Christians. The one class are as an ordinary well, from which you must pump all- their religion. The other are artesian, and send forth the waters of love con- tinually. If we are full of the Spirit to-day, it is no assurance for to-morrow. We must keep at the fountain all the time. Think of Elisha, how he followed Elijah and at last received his robe and a double portion of his grace. That old farmer made the mightiest prophet the world ever saw. The Church is living too much upon old manna. They think one supply enough for their life." When Mr. Moody had finished the whole congre- gation sang the 128th hymn, "Come Holy Spirit." Another Element of influence has been forcibly stated : here is our view of the case : Unselfishness is the greatest power in the world. The man who gladly makes sacrifices for the honor of God and the well being of mankind wields an immense power. When the Holy Spirit is allowed to enter and occupy the hearts of men, selfishness disappears. Selfishness and the Holy Spirit cannot dwell together. It is because of the absolute unselfish' 254 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. ness of these evangelists now working in Brooklyn that multi- tudes hear them gladly. The)' are earnest and enthusiastic, not seeking their own, but Christ's glory. They themselves are nothing — Christ is everything. Persistent effort has been made by the enemies of pure and undefiled religion to discover flaws in the character and methods of these men. The world itself, which generally delights in truthfulness, and fair play, has frowned down the effort as dis- honorable. Honest Christians know well the falsity of the ac- cusation. These self denying men have no stain of CcEsar's gold about them. They are after souls, not money. They are engaged in heaven's mission, working to lift society from the debasing bondage of Satan to the blessed service of Christ. In self-sacrifice they are strong. Consistent and self-denying lives are yet largely an undeveloped power within the Church. Unworthy membership breeds much mischief It was at this citadel of sin that Moody and Sankey directed their first shot. The sacred fort has in too many cases been betrayed into the hands of the enemy through the foes v/ithin it. The world is not reading God's word, but scanning closely the lives of Chris- tian professors, and they find many grievous blemishes. It is because Moody and Sankey are like Enoch walking daily with God, that they are honored and successful. They have learned that most difficult lesson that we cannot serve God and mam- mon. They are fully persuaded that they are their brother's keeper ; and men flock after them to hear the truths of the Gospel in all their grand simplicity ; to learn from men who in their lives and labors present glorious examples of the blessed influence of the Gospel message. They are bold, yet most un- assuming soldiers of the cross ; not afraid of the warfare, but rejoicing in the conflict. It is uj^on such that the blessing of heaven descends. There is no difficulty in understanding the power of these men. It is of God. They are living obedient lives. If we fail to perceive the connection the fault is our own. The scales have not yet fallen from our eyes. Mr. Sank(;y's singing has caused almost as great an awaken- ing as his associate's preaching. Choristers have probably as MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 255 Beldom adopted Sankey's songs as ministers have used Moody's sermons, but the power of song has been reahzed as never be- fore, the artistic quartette with its soulless music is going out of favor, and congregations are being lectured, with good effect, about their neglect of one of the most effective means of worship. A pervading sentiment of vigor of soul and the deepest sin- cerity animates hun. He is possessed of all the enthusiasm which fills the speech of Mr. Moody, and brands his words on the minds and in the hearts of men as by fire. But it is enthu- siasm subdued to the rhythm and melody of his songs, and stirs the souls of his hearers by the feeling it awakens of genuine and whole-souled praise, such as the devout heart in moments of religious exaltation may long for but seldom attains fully. This is the impression left by a first hearing of Mr. Sankey, as stated by many, and confirmed by the almost breathless si- lence during the execution of his solos, and the fervor with which the vast body of the audience join their voices to swell the chorus of praise. Another source of power to Mr. Sankey is the manner in which he subordinates and modulates the organ in the reinforcement of his voice. The effect produced is some- thing which would hardly seem attainable were Mr. Sankey to sing to the accompaniment of some other person. Mr. Sankey sings and plays with his whole soul and body. He is, however, entirely free from anything which might be called a mannerism, and his passages of greatest force are executed with great vigor and animation of body, wholly natural, and suggested by the sentiment and stirring feeling of the hymn. lu explanation of the. chorus, " Hold the Fort for I am Com- ing," he said that during the Rebellion one of the Union officers in command of a fort closely invested by General Hood, was almost persuaded, by the distress of his men, to surrender the position, when he received a dispatch from General Sherman to this effect : " Hold the fort fori am coming— W. T. Sherman." It filled the soldiers with confidence, they kept up courage and were saved. He exhorted those present to show an equally abiding faith in Christ and they would be saved- 256 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. Mr. Sankey produced a remarkable effect by the manner in which he rendered the last line, ''Victory is nigh," and dwelt with redoubled force upon the word " Hold," until the vast chorus had caught the spirit and action ol" the loader. Mr. Sankey also sang the verses of the iSth hymn, " Rescue the perishing," but the audience did not respond as enthusiastically as usual in the chorus. After the services Mr. Sankey said that this hymn was new, at least he had not had it very long, and that a large portion of the audience was unacquainted with the tune. He was confident they would sing it with the usual force after hearing it a few more times. He expressed himself highly pleased with the interest the audiences had shown in the sittging throughout the week, and said that feature of the meet- ings was very similar to their experience in London. One of the most celebrated of Mr. Sankey's collection of hymns is '' The Ninety and Nine." It was a favorite in Eng- land, and is much admired here. Several statements concern- ing its origin have been published which conflict with each other, and no one of them, Mr. Sankey said yesterday, is correct. The true facts in the case are these : Some time in 1873, Mr, Sankey being then in England with Mr. Moody for the firsl; time, bought a copy of The Christiajt Age, a London religious paper publishing Dr. Talmage's sermons, and in one corner found this hymn. He had never seen nor heard of it before. It pleased him, and seemed adapted to religious work. He cut it out of the paper, and three days afterward he sung it at a meeting in Free Assembly Hall in Edinburgh, having com- posed the music himself A short time after, he received a letter from a lady thanking him for having sung the hymn, and stating that the author was her sister. Miss Eliza C. Claphane of Melrose, Scotland. She had written the hymn in 1868 and shortly after died. She and her whole family were members of the Church of Scotland, and were not Unitarians, as stated in this country. Mr. Sankey replied to the lady's letter, asking if her sister had ever written any other hymns, and was told that she had written several others which were sent to Th& Family Ireasury, a religious paper of which the late Dr. Arnot MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMKRICA. 21^7 was the editor, but only " The Ninety and Nine " was ever published. Mr. Sankey communicated with him, and received several pieces of manuscript. The only other hymn by the same author in Mr. Sankey's collection is the 43d, " Beneath the Cross of Jesus." He has been gathering hymns for the past eight years, keeping a scrap-book for that purpose. Many of them are found in the common Sunday-school collections, and were not known in England before Moody and Sankey introduced them. Since that time they have become the most popular hymns in Great Britain. While the evangelists were in Scotland they at first found difficulty in inducing people to smg their hymns, as the Presbyterians preferred their version of the Psalms. The evangelists were accustomed to sing the looth, 23d, and 40th Psalms, or the ist, 107th, and 125th Hymns of the collection, and then ask the Presbyterian to sing " Hold the Fort," which they usually did, and at length sang any of the hymns. The record of God's gracious dealings by the agency of his honored servants in Brooklyn promises to be eclipsed by the brilliant display of divine mercy on their work in Philadelphia ; and we may bring our review to a close by giving the keynote as struck by Mr. Moody the morning of his advent in the city of churches. " Ah ! Lord God ! behold thou hast made the Heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched-out arm and there is nothing too hard for thee." "And there is nothing too hard for thee." During the past two years, into every town and city that Mr. Sankey and I have gone, we always took this verse as the keynote to our work. We generally commence every prayer-meeting by reading this verse — nothing is too hard for God — and it was a wonderful help to us. Sometimes our ways seemed hard ways. Then we came back to the old text and these ways were freed from all darkness. It sometimes seemed as if some men could not be converted. But we came back to the old text, and flinty hearts wou'd break. At Edinburgh I was told that a young man who was pointed out to me was the chairman of an infidel club. 1 258 MOODY AND SAXK.EY IN AMERICA. went and stood beside him, and asked him if he was thinking of his soul. He turned to me and said, "How do you know I've got one?" I thought it was no use trying, but then I thought nothing is too hard for God. I asked him if I might pray for him. He said, " You may pray if you like. Try your hand on me." I got down on my knees and prayed for him. His head was held up and his eyes did not notice me, and he seemed to say to the people that my prayers did not affect him at all. For six long months prayers were daily offered in prayer-meetings for the infidel. This was in January or the lat- ter part of December, and a year afterward, or a little over a year, when we were at work in Liverpool, I got a letter from a person in Edinburgh, who said that the infidel was at the foot of the cross, crying for mercy ; and just as we were leaving England we heard that he was leading a meeting every night. I was to give you this as our key-note — nothing is too hard for God. It is just as easy for God to save the most abandoned man as for me to turn my hand over. If this is God's work, we had better cling to it; if this is Christ's work, it is as lasting as eternity itself. I have a good deal more hope of this prayer- meeting than the meetings at the Rink. It is not preaching that you want you have plenty of preaching. You have plenty of men who can preach better than I can. You have plenty of men who can sing better than Mr. Sankey can. Let this be your key-note — nothing is too hard for God to do in His great power. I asked my boy how God created the world. He said, " He spoke." . That is all ; " He said, let there be light, and there was light." He can convert the thief, the harlot, the most abandoned, and another class still harder, that is the self-right- eous Pharisee. God can do it. Nothing is too hard for him. Let us every morning keep this text in our hearts, " Nothing is too hard for thee." Our God can do it. They tell us that the sun is thirteen hundred thousand times larger than the world, and our God created it. There have been eighty millions of other suns discovered, but these are only a fringe on the garments of God. Our God did it all. If, then, God is so MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 259 great, shall we not ask him for great things? We honor God by asking for great things. Alexander had a general who ac- complished a great victory ; and it pleased him greatly. He told the general to draw on his treasurer for any amount he wished, and directed his treasurer to honor the draft. The draft was so large that the treasurer was afraid to pay it. The emperor said, "Didn't I tell you to honor his draft.? Don't you know he honors me by making so large a draft.?" Don't you know we honor God by asking for great things.? The church has been asking for little things too long. Let us go now to the 20th verse. " Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me ? " Just as if it pleased him. He says to Jeremiah, '^ Is there anything too hard for me.? I am the Lord, the God ot all flesh." God has shown us great things, but when we accept his tnith we will see still greater things. The next chapter, 3d verse : " Call unto Me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Now, my friends, let us this morning call upon God, and when we pray let us ask him for something. There are a great many who come for nothing, and therefore they get nothing. Let us come with some great burden upon our hearts — some great petition. Let us bring it before God. Let us try it. When a man was one time making a long prayer, and ask- ing for nothing in particular, an old woman says, " Ask God for something, and see if he don't give it you." Let us ask for something, and we will get it. Let every mother ask for the salvation of her sons and daughters. Nothing is too hard for him. We may not see the answers to our prayers, but God does answer the prayers of the faithful. Between thirty and forty years ago, at a prayer-meeting which I held, there was a mother who had a very bad son. He was a very bad man : he was very profane and was one of the noted men of the town for his sin. And when the church was struck with lightning he said he would have given $25 if it had burned it down. During the past few weeks the Lord God has found him. He has resolved to stop swearing and come back 26o MOODY AND SANKEY IN' AMERICA. to church. I asked him to go down on his knees and pray. He answered that he had been on his knees all day. We may not see the answers to our prayers, but God answers the prayer of f^iith. Let us pray. Our heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this " Sweet Hour of Prayer." We thank thee for the privilege we have this morning of coming to this place and worshipping, and we pray that thou wouldst give us the spirit of prayer. Teach us how to pray. May we come and ask thee great things. Nothing is too hard for thee. So we pray that thou would take the whole country to thyself and lay it at thy feet. Do a work in this country that shall make all men embrace salvation. In answer to prayer may there go up a cry, " What shall I do to be saved.-*" Teach thy servant to preach. Send him a mes- sage from the upper world to-night, and may his words come from the heart and go to the hearts of many. We pray for these mothers that are here this morning. May they pray for their sons and daughters, that they may be saved. We pray for these Sunday-school teachers who have unconverted schol- ars ; may they labor and pray much. We pray that the chil- dren may be gathered into the fold of Christ. May the harvest be ripe, and may we come to this place carrying our sheaves, and Christ will have all the praise and glory. Amen. MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 261 CHAPTER XXIII. The Evangelists in Philadelphia. Their advance on Philadelphia had been carefully prepared for by earnest, wise, and strong men, who arranged for a gigantic campaign corresponding with the greatness of their city, and the popularity of the men who had carried Brooklyn by storm. The freight depot, corner Thirteenth and Market Streets, was fitted up for the accommodation of twelve thousand persons, as many as it was probable the preacher's voice could reach. A grand choir of five hundred trained and superior singers was drilled to act as a choir to aid Mr. Sankey, and a union of churches effected, by which all the ablest and most efficient Christians were com- bined in solid phalanx. Unworn by the immense labors undergone in Brooklyn, the brethren tore themselves away from their friends there, and sped to the City of Brotherly Love, there to preach and sing of that Divine Love which is the theme of sermon and song by day and by night, wherever the evangelists set up their standard. Never had men equal advantages, and never was more expected of human beings. There was a feeling of need in the churches of something more than they had, and they were looking to the men whom God had so greatly honored, and stood ready to co-operate with them. In one branch of the church, this was the testimony: Rev. W. P. Corbit spoke with much earnestness. The Methodist Church, he said, was in a deplor- able condition. Tie chief causes were a laxity of discipline and a want of praying bands. A speedy remedy for this state of things was needed. No new agencies were wanted. The Meth- odist Episcopal Church, worked by its own machinery, would take tl e world, if it were allowed to work. It is the pioneer church in this country. The remedy is in union of effort and activity. Preachers had been preaching their heads off nearly. 262 MOODY AND SANKEY IN VMERICA. and yet were effecting nothing. There was a disintegration and selfishness about the Church. Each one of the church organiza- tions thought of itself only. There was a jealousy among the preachers and lay brethren that ought not to exist. The only remedy is union. There must be a coming together, and a re- turn to the old circuit system. Let the preachers and people gather together as Moody and Sankey have got them together. He did not depreciate Moody and Sankey, but they had many men in their own body who were just as gifted as they, or more so. It was not Moody, and it was not Sankey, but the power which they possess of bringing good people together to work for God. In another quarter it was said, and we may understand the language as confession : The Church was never more aggressive than now. Machinery was never better managed. There never was so much of it. The display of strength was never finer. But all this may be only equipped and organized weakness. The Church is nothing if not pious. More than this, it is very little if not consistently pious. To be zealously affected in a good cause, is good only on condition that it be '■'' always y A church is an ekkksia — a company called out from the world. Its strength, therefore, lies in its divergence from the world. To be in it, yet not of it, is the double problem which our machinery and our spirit must combine to solve. Christians themselves were ready to be touched with an electric shock by these surcharged evangelists. And this was early seen to be a source of weakness as well as of strength to the work. Sin- ners were to be reached by these fiery apostles, and the church members filled all the scats before them. So that the cry has been raised by one of the papers, and may be repeated through- out the land, that Christians may stand in the way of the fiillest success of the monster meetings likely to be held all over the country. The Brooklyn revival has been in certain features a sad disap- pointment to us who have taken an interest and part in it. Mr. Moody failed, it must be confessed, in his evening meetings at the MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 263 Rink to reach that outside class which he sought. The reason for his faihire is so discreditable that we almost hesitate to give it. But it must be confessed that it was the dishonesty, the self- ishness of excitement-seeking professed Christians, that made these meetings a partial failure. Mr. Moody tried his best to open the door into his meetings to those who are not church- goers, and to shut it against church-members. He begged these latter to stay at home. He plead with them ; but they still would come. He then issued tickets, that were offered only to the non- church-goers j but the conscience-hardened professors would rob their unconverted neighbors of their tickets and lie their way into the Rink, and then have the face to stand up when all Christians were requested to rise, and thus flaunt their hypocrisy in the face of the evangelist. Our words are strong, but the responsibility of souls is on the head of these " Christians," who have yet to learn that Christianity means honor and truthfulness. We do not like to say these words ; but we commend them now to the mem- bers of the Philadelphia churches. In a famine, that man, oi crowd of men, were beneath all contempt who, with cellars stored with grain and their cheeks standing out for fatness, should crowd the bureaus of public charity, and prevent the poor from rcceiv- ing the dole that should save them from starvation. But nothing better, nay, worse, has been the conduct of these greedy profess- ors, very many of them from our cities, who have pushed the Brooklyn hungry, starving poor away from the Gospel feast. May the Lord not have mercy on their souls until they repent. It is an unusual spectacle to behold Christians so eager to be fed or taught, and it is probable that the blessed results will ap- pear in thousands of churches. A Scottish Sunday-school teacher says : " I venture to send you the following letter from London, because of the reference to young women's meetings, which are already proving so useful to the many girls in our country who consider themselves too grown up and too dignified to attend Sunday-school. The letter tells its own story, but I may just add, in thankful acknowledgment of our loving Father's willingness to bless the feeblest attempt 264 MOODY AXD SAN KEY IN AMERICA. of the weakest beginner, that that young lady was the very first stranger I ever spoke to about coming to Jesus. It was only the night before, while Mr. Moody was preaching, that I myself got into the sunshine ; and when that next night she sat beside me locking so sad, I could not help saying to her, 'Jesus has made me so happy, won't you let him make you happy too?' She seemed just wailing to be taken by the hand, and went with me almost at once to the inquiry-room. " I write now in testimony of the fact that I am one of the many, many ' church members ' who will thank God through all eternity for sending Messrs. Moody and Sankey to our country ; for, through their means, we have been led to exchange our hopes and fears for a glad certainty^ and we can now say, */ know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.' " 'On his word I am resting, assurance divine, I am " hoping" no longer, I knoiu he is mine.' "The following is the letter to which I have referred : "'London, October 3, 1875. " 'Dear Miss : I feel that I have neglected this duty too long. I ought to have written to you before. You were the means in God's hands of making me one of his own children. Oh, how happy I have been since the night you won me for our blessed Redeemer ! You do not know who I am, but possibly you may remember me when I tell you that you gave me a red hymn-book of Mr. Sankey's with your address in it. It was at the Agricultural Hall I met you, and you took me into the in- quiry-room. After talking to me for some time you brought me to Mr. Moody, and Mr. Moody handed me over, with several other young women, to a gentleman from Newcastle, and before I left the inquiry-room I had found Jesus as my Saviour. How precious he ha§ been to me since that night I I went to -hear Mr. Moody that evening out of mere curiosity, and had you not taken mc into the iuquiry-ruuni, possibly 1 should have gone MOODY AND SAN KEY IN AMERICA. 265 away unimpressed. Afterward I went several times to hear Mr. Mood)' at tiie Opera House. I heard the address to the con- vei ts there, and may the burning zeal I felt created in my breast that night continue. How I wish I had more leisure to work for Jesus, and more boldness. I became a member of a little chapel close to home soon after, and, as Mr. Moody advised, I went to thi^ pastor first, and asked him for work. He found me some- thing to do among the aged. One of my old people cannot read, and others are so old they cannot see. One poor old body is bed-ridden. It is very pleasant work, but I always felt I was not actually winning souls for Jesus, they being mostly Christians. [ have been asking God for some time to open up a way for me, and now my prayer has begn answered in a way I hardly ex- pected. Our dear pastor has planned a young women's meeting, which is to be held one night in the week from half-past eight till half-past nine ; rather late, but that is the most convenient hour for business girls, whom it is principally for. The plan is that each worker is to give out not less than one dozen invitations ; these are to be given in the streets, as the girls leave their differ- ent business houses. There never has been anything of the kind done in this part of the vineyard. The invitations are very neat, and not like common circulars or bills. Outside there is printed an invitation and a warm welcome for Wednesday next. Inside there is a small address telling them how pleased we will be to see them ; also, that if they are strangers from home in London, they will meet many who can sympathize with them, being also far from home. We had a large meeting of workers. I do not doubt success. It has been made a great subject of prayer, and God has promised that where two or three are agreed on one subject he will grant their request. Will you pray for us ? " ' Etc., etc. C W .' " In this way the seed sown may yield bountiful harvests year by year. Mr. Moody, in his first sermon at Philadelphia, said : " Letters come in from all parts saying that the prayer-meetings are four oi five times larger than ever before ; the prayer-meet- 13 266 MOODY AND SAXKKY IN AMERICA. ins: connected with one of the largest churches in New Vork, at which before only a few people attended, has, during the last few weeks, crowded the lecture-room ; all this shows that the spirit of prayer is coming on the nation. God is ready to give us a blessing. I never had such large prayer-meetings in any of the cities in Great Britain as we had in Brooklyn. Some say this is all sensational. If you can get three or four thousand people to meet together and pray, not to hear some man, but to meet God, and call on God, it shows God is in the movement. This is no sensationalism or false excitement. If we can but stir up the people to pray, the blessing is ours. I would rather know how to pray like Daniel than to preach like Gabriel." It was amazing to note how the subject of religion was handled by the secular press, whose readers numbered millions ; and their utterances deserve to be gathered and reperused and studied, for their corroborative testimony to the importance and thoroughness of the movement. They used language like this, which deserves the consideration of professed Christians as well as worldly peo- ple : " With all this we are quite well aware that there is a large class of thin-brained, vacant-minded persons for whom life has nothing serious except personal discomfort, and who are most flippant over the weightiest problems of existence ; and that these stand ready upon the slightest pretext to make the whole business a jest and turn it into ridicule. But however lightly they may treat the matter, however much they may burlesque the actors in it, and make of their zeal and devotion a mockery and a jest, one thing is certain, that no man or set of men can make a religious movement of the importance of this one ridiculous unless it be the men themselves who are engaged in it. So long as they are sincere and earnest and can forget themselves in the greatness of their work, nothing can withstand them, and cer- tiinly nothing can detract from their dignity or belittle their efforts. But the emotions lie close together. H.gh religious sentiment is of a brittle edge, and easily crumbles into silly sen- timentality. Faith lies very close to superstition ; it is but a step from trustfulness to blind credulity. There are well-marked MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 267 metes and bounds which cannot be disregarded in the presenta- tion of religious truths and the expression of religious sentiments and emotions. Within these limits the advocate or exhortcr is invested with a grandeur of personal dignity which belongs to the man who is saturated with his belief, and who, in utter un- consciousness of self, is rapt in the contemplation of what lie conceives to be the absolute and awful truth. These limits overstepped for an instant or by a word, and his power is gone. Between pathos and bathos the difference is less than of a letter ; the step is that * one ' from the sublime. *' It should not be forgotten by the leaders in this revival movement that religion is by no means all emotional; that it rests on reason and common sense, which its ministers and mis- sionaries must not affront by lack of logic, or shock by shallow illustrations and weak appeals. "The attitude and act of prayer are beyond all other things in life invested with solemnity and clothed in mystery. It is the supreme act of faith ; approached by the penitent with doubts and questions and infinite wondering ; only slowly apprehended, and so immeasurably vast in its meaning to the helpless soul strug- gling upward on it, that man at his very best can only throw him- self upon it in utter self-distrust and leave the rest to God. The questioning men and women, longing to learn the truth and to lead true lives, get no light nor comfort from any flippant illus- trations of the power of prayer. They excite doubts instead of removing them ; they confirm skepticism and awaken no convic- tion ; they do not attract but repel the sincere seeker after truth. The work in hand is of too great moment to be handled without the profoundest care and the most thoughtful consideration of every word spoken and every act done. " It cannot be denied that a ' revival of religion,' as it is called, adds largely to the merely moral strength of society and increases th^ number of those who honestly mean to do right. Every reader has known within his personal experience more than one instance of a bad nature made better, of a degraded character elevated, of an unwise life made true and rational, by the acqui- 268 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. sition of religious motives. Hypocrisy, humbug, conceit, vanity, fanatlQsm — these are words which fall easily from our tongues; but the fact remains that hundreds and thousands are really in earnest. These accessions to the right-doing side of the popula- tion cannot be otherwise than of good import. It is unfair to weigh ordinary spiritual experience against that of larger natures — of Fenelon or of Pascal, of Wesley or of Channing. The real question is, Have we here a man who has resolved to walk uprightly in this world for the rest of his days? If so, then society gains a good man in the place of a bad one, or one who "might at any moment have become bad ; a good citizen instead of a possible felon ; a faithful mechanic or tradesman instead of a cheat ; an honest merchant instead of a fraudulent bankrupt -, a devoted instead of a neglectful parent; a good Samaritan instead of a liver for self aione. These surely are acquisitions which even the world need not despise. " Apart from the more solemn profession of the religious con- vert, is his promise that he will be honest and kindly; that he will neither lie nor cheat nor steal ; that whatsoever of good his hands may find to do, he will do it; that he will refrain from the vices which degrade and impoverish and kill ; that he will no longer be selfish and ungenerous, and that his works shall prove the vitality of his faith. There has bc^n so much loose talk lately about religion and churches and preachers, that we are in danger of forgetting that all our lives we have been surrounded by thousands of excellent men and women made gentlemen and ladies by grace, full-hearted and full-handed helpers of the sick, the needy, and the suffering, doers of the work whenever and wherever opportunity has offered, lovely in their lives and cred- ible because involuntary witnesses of the reality of their faith. To the number of these a season of marked religious interest unquestionably must make large additions ; for though tlje weak may fall away, though the most vociferous may grow silent and the warmest cold, there will always be a remnant of stronger natures abiding to the end." The chief purpose of Messrs. Moody and Sankey is the con- MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 269 version of souls to Christ. What sort of men and women ihey expect their converts to become, their preaching and exhortations abundantly proclaim. Let us now look in upon them, the first Sunday in Philadelphia, Nov. 21st, 1875. While the heavens wept over the departure of the evangelists from religious Brooklyn, the driving rain could not dampen the enthusiasm of thousands who were anxious to attend the initial services of the expected revival. From every part of the city the worshippers came, and for almost an hour hurrying streams of humanity converged to a focus at the old exhibition building. The police arrangements, as indeed all the arrangements for the accommodation of visitors and the maintenance of good order, were perfect. By eight o'clock the grand auditorium was about two-thirds full, while the stage was occupied by over eight hun- dred persons, a large proportion of whom were ministers. Among the more prominent clergymen present were Rev. Richard New- ton, D.D., of the Episcopal Church ; Rev. R. M. Hatfield, D.D., of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; Rev. W. P. Breed, D.D., of the Presbyterian Church ; Rev. J. Wheaton Smith, D.D., of the Baptist Church, the committee who have been training a class of three hundred for services in the inquiry rooms. Also on the stage were 500 singers selected from all the choirs in the city, and thoroughly drilled in Mr. Sankey's songs by Prof. Fischer. In the middle and close to the front of the platform sat the evange- list, Dwight L. Moody, and the "sweet singer," Ira D. Sankey, surrounded by the gentlemen who were mainly instrumental in persuading the revivalists to come to Philadelphia. Messrs. George H. Stuart and John Wanamaker, who have had almost all the great work directly under their charge, were seated on the right of Rev. Dr. Newton, who presided over the opening ser- vices. At precisely eight o'clock the doors of the vast auditorium were closed, and the hymn, ** All hail the power of Jesus' name," was sung with fine effect by the choir. Dr. Newton then made a 2JO MOODY AND SAXKEY IN AMERICA. fervent prayer for the success of the movement so well begun, and asked for the blessing of the Holy Spirit on all workers in the cause. The 24th hymn, " Rejoice, and be glad ! The Redeemer has come ! Go look on His cradle, His cross, and His tomb," AMs next given out, and hundreds of voices in the congregation soon joined in to swell the harmonies of the great choir on the stage. Then upon the little platform or pulpit in front ascended the leading spirit of all this congregation of worshippers, Mr. D wight L. Moody. His appearance created a momentary stir of sensation throughout the hall. Mr. Moody is a short and some- what stout man, with a full, dark beard, rather small eyes, and an active, energetic, but not nervous habit. His manner is alert and prompt, but not graceful ; his voice is unmusical, and, indeed, harsh ; his enunciation is very clear, but somewhat too rapid, yet can be heard and understood in every part of the building. He gesticulates but little, and his motions are evidently unstudied. His style of speaking is entirely conversational, but, though he seldom makes any attempt at rhetorical display, he possesses and uses with marvellous effect a dramatic power which clothes the most trite sayings with the thrilling beauty of fervid eloquence. But, after all, the great secret of his power over a vast assembly seems to lie less in what he says or his manner of saying it than in his personal magnetism, which affects those who are too far off to hear almost as strongly as those who crowd about his feet. Before Mr. Moody spoke the first word he glanced quietly about him for a moment, and almost instantly every whispered tone was hushed, every breath bated, and throughout the congregation oi six or eight thousand persons not a sound disturbed the strange stillness which seemed to have been produced by some mighty strength of wiH possessed by the very unevangelical-Iooking gen- tleman standing on the platform. "Now," said Mr. Moody, after announcing his text, "what is MOODY AND SANKLY IN AMERICA. S/r the use of these special meetings? I have been asked this que* tion often. Are there not churches enough ? Are there not min- isters enough, and services enough, and sermons enough? Yes, if sermons could save sinners, there have been enough preached to convert the whole of Christendom. We have only come to help you. In time of harvest extra help is always needed, and, my friends, the harvest is here now." He closed an earnest sermon on work as follows : " While at Brooklyn, one teacher worked night and day with her class, and one evening told me with heartfelt joy that she had twenty-seven young ladies in the inquiry-room. In less than two weeks the whole twenty-seven experienced a change of heart. Don't think because your children are little or young that they can't share the blessings of this revival. Bring them here, and we will save them. The power of Almighty God," added Mr. Moody, suddenly elevating his voice, " is in this hall this mornr ing. Do you doubt it .? " he asked, turning to the clergy upon the stage. " No," " No," " No," was answered. " Some time ago," continued the speaker, " a lady where we were stopping remained away from her Sunday-school, saying that there were only five little boys in her class, and one day could make no difference. Did you ever stop to think what there may be to save in five little boys ? In one little tow-headed boy may sleep the Refor- mation. In another may be a Wesley, a Whitefield, a Bunyan. Little did Andrew know what he was doing when he brought Peter to Christ. May each one of you hunt up some Simon Peter and bring him to Christ ; find some persecuting Saul and bring him to Christ. One lady in London, by tireless and prayer- ful labor, succeeded, by the assistance of her husband, a wealthy barrister of the metropolis, in converting one hundred and fifty of their friends and acquaintances. In speaking of it with grate- ful joy, she said, 'We did not work; we just laid ourselves out for Christ.' That's the way to do it. Don't count your strokes ; just lay yourselves out. God help you to lay yourselves out for work. Go ye all into the vineyard ! Don't wait for the harvest, 'for— hark I" 27? MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. At this exclamation a thrill of indescribable anticipation seemed to pass through the breathless assembly, and then, after a pause, during which only the patter of tlie rain-drops on the roof could be heard, the speaker concluded with : *' Hark ! the voice of Jesus crying, Who will go and work to-day ? " The tones of Mr. Moody's voice had hardly ceased before the same words were repeated by Mr. Sankey's musical voice in a beautiful hymn : " Hark ! the voice of Jesus crying. Who will go and work to-day? Fields are white and harvest waiting. Who will bear the sheaves away?" In the afternoon the throng was immense. For a considerable time before the hour for the commencement of the services the hall was crowded, and the number anxious and clamorous to obtain admission was greater than that within. Thirteenth, Juniper, and Market streets were filled with people, and all the doors were guarded by an efficient police force, who kept the multitude back. Such a sight has not been witnessed for many a day, and such a congregation, largely made up of earnest Christian men and women, has never assembled in this city. There were, according to estimates made by competent parties, fully thirteen thousand persons present, and the calculation does not seem to be at all out of the way when it is remembered that there are over one thousand chairs in the audience-room, all of which were occupied. The order throughout the services was unexceptionable, and prior to their commencement there was a stillness that is rarely observed. There was neither buzz nor hum, no one seemed inclined to even whisper, and while doubt- less many were drawn to the place out of curiosity, the larger portion, by their demeanor, seemed to have but one object, that of promoting the work of the great revivalists. The ladies and gentlemen of the choir were promptly in their places ; and punc- MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 273 tual to time the evangelists, Messrs. Moody and Sankey, made their appearance. The latter immediately took his seat at the melodeon, while the first-named took position at the stand, and never throughout the afternoon did he sit down, but kept his eye upon the audience the entire time. The services were opened by Mr. George H. Stuart, who gave out a hymn, and after it had been sung by the choir, Rev. J. Wheaton Smith, D. D., of the Beth Eden Baptist Church, stepped forward and led in prayer. Mr. Sankey then gave out the ii6th hymn, "Come, thou Fount of every blessing." At the conclusion of the singing, Mr. Sankey said : " We will now sing, ' Here I raise my Ebenezer.' The audience will all join in the singing." The hymn was evi- dently popular with the masses, for it was sung with a hearty good-will. Mr. Moody then announced that he would read a portion of the first chapter of Joshua, which was subsequently made the text of his discourse. Mr. Moody spoke about twenty minutes. The two points of his remarks, upon which he en- larged and elaborated, were moral courage and enthusiasm, both of which, he held, were essential elements for success in the religious work. The address was stirring, earnest and effective, the speaker appearing to be anxious to reach the hearts of his hearers, and in this he was eminently successful, as more than one individual seemed to be touched by the powerful appeal made to take up the cross and enlist under the banner of the Saviour of mankind. The hymns, "Hear ye the Battle Cry?" "Forward the Call," and " Hold the Fort," were sung by Mr. Sankey, the choir join- ing in the chorus. No such singing has been heard in any of the churches, and the effect produced was all that the revivalists could have wished. I'hc revival movement gives promise of complete success. It is now the talk of all classes. On 'Change, in business circles, in social gatherings, on the street-cars and the trains, and in the greeting of friends in the street, the names of Moody and Sankey are on every tongue. The evangelists and their work are liter- ally the town talk. " Have you been to hear Mood^ i '* " San- 174 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. key's singing is better than a sermon;" "Did you hear the ' Ninety and Nine ? ' " " Wasn't that hymn, ' Nothing but Leaves,' impressive?" "Its Moody's earnestness that tells;" "What a team they are ! " — these are a few of the thousand-and-one ex- pressions you hear every day. There are plenty of sharp criti- cisms on tlie methods of the revivalists, and doubts enough are expressed as to the permanency of their work ; but no one denies that they possess real power, unique in kind and degree, and wonderfully effective in awakening a new interest in the old doctrines of religion. A common complaint among the thought- ful people is that Mr. Moody's sermons have no direct applica- tion to the relations and duties of everj^day life — that they do not aim to make men less selfish and cold-hearted and more charitable, genial, generous, and kind — that their sole purpose is to induce people to accept a certain form of faith, and to lead devoutly religious rather than moral lives. It should be remembered by those who make this criticism, that the great preacher is a firm believer in the immediate second coming of Christ. He is looking for the end of the world and the appear- ance of the Saviour every day and hour. No wonder, then, that he does not think it worth while to talk about business and social morality. He is perfectly consistent. Why ^ould he try to tell people how to live, when the important thing is to prepare them for death and the last judgment ? Why trouble himself about the affairs of the household, the street, and the mart, when he ex- pects every moment to see the world rolled up like a scroll ? With few exceptions the clergy of the city are taking a hearty interest in the revival. Probably the Methodists are more active in assisting it than the other sects ; but Presbyterians, Episco- palians, Baptists, Lutherans, and, in short, ministers of all the Protestant denominations, attend the meetings in the Depot Church, and participate in the morning assemblies for prayer. The general feeling among the clergy is one of gratified disap- pointment at the character of Moody and Sankcy's effort. They had expected to hear something much more sensational — they feared, indeed, that it would be objectionably sensational — and MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 275 they aie delighted to' find that Mr. Moody preaches only the soundest doctrine, and makes use of none of the theatrical devices of oratory employed by many professional revivalists. His earnest, direct, and humble appeals, his apt and familiar illus- trations, and his way of preaching on a level with the hearts and heads of his hearers, is like a new revelation of the possibilities of pulpit oratory to many clergymen, whose well-turned periods and fine theological points have proved powerless to stimulate the faith of their congregations. A Presbyterian minister, speaking to a friend after the meeting was over last night, said : *' Moody's verbs don't always agree with his nouns, but I imagine that Peter the fisherman didn't talk very good grammar either. Moody's language, if not always elegant, never fails to convey the exact idea that he wants it to. Nobody can get a wrong or a doubtful meaning from it." " I have been trying to get at the secret of his power," said a Baptist, "and I think it lies, first, in his own profound convic- tion, and second, in his constant repetition of the same idea, with just variation enough to keep it monotonous. By tireless re- iteration he wears the truth of the Gospel into the stoniest heart. Faith in Christ is his simple and never-ending theme. Most ministers scatter too much. They seek to interest people's heads by a variety of topics. Mr. Moody hammers away at the heart with sublime persistence." Just after the prayer-meeting this morning a Methodist min- ister, talking to a knot of brother clergymen, praised the revi- valists warmly. " I declare it gives me new courage," he said, " to see people flocking to hear the Gospel in crowds larger than went to Barnum's Hippodrome last summer. Since the war it has often seemed to me that faith was dying out in the hearts of men. Any kind of a show or parade would draw a crowd, while we talked about the soul's salvation and eternal life to half-filled churches. I believe we are going to see a great awakening in this country. Moody and Sankey are the Lord's instruments to begin the work. We have had hundreds of better preachers than Mr. Moody, but they made no impression on the masses. 276 MOODY AND SAN KEY IN AMERICA. Why do thousands rush to hear him ? Because the Spirit of God is moving the hearts of men, and he has been chosen to lead a great movement for the salvation of souis." It would seem that the hold obtained by the evangelists on the unconverted masses is greater in Philadelphia than in Biook- Ivn. The attendance from this class is larger, and the impres- sion produced in those who attend seems deep and influential. Mr. Moody pronounced the gatherings of the second Sunday more successful, in view of the attendance of the unconverted so early in the series of meetings, than at any other place in this country or in England. The week following showed an increase rather than a diminution of interest, and the third week opens more auspiciously than either which it follows. The meetings of Sunday last were remarkably effective The day was cold and wet; just such a day as would ordinarily give smallest attendance at religious meetings ; such a day as would suggest to many a faint-hearted country superintendent the thought that it was about time to close the Sunday-school for the winter. But at eight o'clock on that dreary morning the Depot Church showed a gathering of some six thousand Christian work- ers ; enough it would seem to cheer the heart of any doubting Elijah as to the faith and zeal of very many amid all the coldness and unbelief in this great city. When, at the close of his ap peal to these workers to be " a peculiar people, zealous of good works," in their service in God's vineyard, Mr. Moody asked those who during the coming week would endeavor to lead at least one soul to the Saviour to rise to their feet, nearly one-half of all present rose in indication of this purpose. At the Sunday-afternoon meeting for women, at least ten thousand were present. As nearly five thousand tickets of ad- mission had been given to women who expressed a desire to find salvation, wiiile many other tickets were distributed without ques- tion, Mr. Moody thought there were more than se\-en thousand unconverted persons in the audience ; certainly a hopeful gather- ing at such a time and place. The appeal of the preacher was most earnest. As he told of the love of Uie Saviour for the lost, MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 277 and of the full salvation offered freely to all, all hearts seemed to throb as one in gratitude to such a Saviour for such a salva- tion. When he' asked those who desired an interest in this salvation to rise and stand during his prayer, hundreds rose to their feet, and afterward repaired to the inquiry-rooms for per- sonal converse and counsel. It can hardly be doubted that that evening hour was the birth-hour of many precious souls, then brought by God's Spirit into the life of Christian love and trust. At the evening meeting, which was for men, while the attendance was not quite as large as in the afternoon, there was great se- riousness, and many rose for prayers and remained at the inquiry- meeting. For one whole week Mr. Moody labored, not for the salvation of sinners, but for the regeneration of professed Christians. At every service hundreds of long-acknowledged church members listened with bowed heads and tearful eyes to the fervent exhorta tions of the evangelist, who, casting aside all preconceived notions of church work, and preaching only love to God and devotion to the Saviour, brought to tlieir awakening souls a vision of the bless- ings of true holiness more beautiful than even in their most un- selfish moods they had ever before conceived. He did not preach, " Repent in order to avoid the wrath of an angry God," and thus wring an ephemeral obeisance from weak knees but cold hearts; he preached Christ crucified; drew for his hearers convincing illustrations of the perfect love of the Father, and urged them, with tears in his eyes, not to kneel from a sense of duty, but to cast themselves at the feet of the Saviour, and, with a heart overflowing with love, there seek to learn how to win others to the straight and narrow, but pleasant path of joy and peace. Rev. Dr. Breed said there was a wonderful power in self-con- secration ; the ungodly man had at all times a traitor in the cita- del of his wickedness — a conscience which would compel him to yield when assaulted by a truly consecrated heart. He once heard of a young man who had been notoriously bad, but had suddenly been couvcrted, and v^as moved by the Spirit to ayS MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. go and pray with every one in the village. He started, and knocking at every door, was, in spite of his past reputation, ad- mitted and 'permitted to pray. The man truly consecrated to God could always have the aitree into any house or by the Holy Spirit into every lieart. Mr. Sankey said : "Will you please turn to the 90th hymn. In that we will find averse which should give us great comfort if we do what that verse says. But before we begin, I wish to bear testimony to the fact that we can do no good without a broken and a contrite heart. Shortly after the Chicago fire, seven men, finding that their labors were apparently fruitless, determined to seek counsel of God, and assembled one afternoon in a gentle- man's office, and there humbled themselves before their Maker. I saw these men lying on their faces on the floor, praying to be emptied of self and filled with the Holy Spirit. These seven men have since been greatly blessed and greatly honored by God in their labors. Two are in the West, one in Europe, and two in this city. Now let us sing." Mr. Moody, at the conclusion of the singing, said : " Send thanksgiving, but praise to God is better. What we want to do to-night is to praise God for all his mercies, for all that we enjoy, and for all the glorious promises of an immortality. There is a great deal said at our meetings about prayer, but nothing about praise. In the Bible there are more passages referring to praise than to prayer. We want Christ, and if we are heard to praise him, then will we be able to get to him. What we want to-day is a praising Church. We can be praising God every day, even when in sorrow. If we go through the world all the time with a long face, we will drive men away from Christ. There are so many people always borrowing trouble and looking on the dark side of the picture instead of praising God, that they are only in the way of men coming to Jesus. A man once severely cut his hand, and said, 'Praise God,' and," said Mr. Moody, " I thought that it was a strange thing to praise God for. On asking the man why he praised God, lie said he did it because his hand was not cut off. You can see, then, that in the midst of afiliction one can praise MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 279 the Lord because it might have been worse. What we want is more sunny Christian men, who always have happy countenances; they go far toward making rehgion attractive and drawing sinners to a knowledge of their condition and the necessity of seeking the Lord. If men praise God and are happy in the Church, the fire will be caught by others and spread until the whole Church becomes alive, and all are happy in the knowledge that Jesus is their Master. If there are any who should be happy, it is those who are sincere Christians, those who have come to Christ. The first thing a young convert always does is to pray, and when, in praising God, he sings, " ' O happy day ! ' how happy he is ! If the ten thousand persons present could be induced to take Christ as their only friend and sing praises to him, there would be such a shout as to almost raise the roof. We want to see the time when the streets are filled with people filling the air with songs of praise to Zion. When that time comes the peaple will be happy, because they have found Christ. When we stray away from God, we don't want to pray ; but when we return to God, then we want to sing his praises. What we want to-day is a Church of workers, and when we have that we will have a praising Church. When a man gets out of himself, be- comes unselfish, and commences to w'ork for others, he becomes a happy man, because he is doing God's service. If you want to praise God, go and do some work, lift up somebody, relieve the sick and comfort the heart-broken. By so doing it will be the best praise that we can give to God." The speaker said that some years ago he met a man who told him that he w-as going to take his family of five children to church with a smile. The man said to him, whenever he passed a house on a certain street he always looked at the windows where he saw children, and he always smiled upon them. Said the speaker: "Kindness to children is never forgotten ; it is the way to reach their hearts and gain their affection ' The children became so fond of seeing the man that they watched for him, and finally they^aiU he was «80 MOODY AND SANKEV IN AMERICA. SO p^ood and kind, that lie must be a minister. They resolved one Sunday after he passed to follow him, and they did so; when they found that he entered a church, they also went in, and after service returned home and said that they heard the best sermon of their lives. They went again, and finally joined the church. The man said that he got them in with a smile. A crabbed and cross Christian never accomplishes any good ; they are stumbling- blocks in the way of others, and prevent the building up of the Christian Church. Oh that we may have live churches ! What we want to do is to get rid of these dead churches, with their cold forms and ceremonies, and have them filled with live, happy people. The speaker continued in this strain for some time, and urged his hearers to come to Christ and be happy. When they did so they would continually praise Him for His goodness. Mr. Moody then gave out the 25th hymn, which was sung by the choir and the entire congregation, led by Mr. Sankey. The people seemed to be deeply impressed with it, and such whole- souled singing by more than eleven thousand persons has never been heard before in this city. It is in these words : We praise Thee, O God ! for the Son of Thy love, For Jesus who died and is now gone above. C/wrwj— Hallelujah ! Thine the glory, Hallelujah ! Amen. Hallelujah ! Thine the glory, revive us again. We praise Thee, O God ! for Thy spirit of light, Who has shown us our Saviour and scattered our night All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain, Who has borne all our sins and cleansed every stain All glory and praise to the God of all grace. Who has bought us, and sought us, and guided our ways. Revive us agam : fill each heart with Thy love ; May each soul be rekindled with fire from above. Mr. Sankey next rose from his cabinet organ, behind which he had rcm.iined seated during the service, and said: "How many prodigal sl#i3 may be restored to their homes to-day 1 Tlie rt> MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 281 currence of Thanksgiving recalls to my mind a story told me by a very dear friend in Europe of a prodigal son who was saved by love. A wayward boy who could not be persuaded to do good, whose steps were only evil continually, was finally, at the request of his brothers, sent into the street. He went away, but on Thanksgiving day poor John, homesick and heartsick, returned. HiS father saw the poor wanderer at the door, and received him back to his arms. Then his brothers again demanded that the black sheep should again be cast out, but the father answered, ' No, no, my son John, I'll not cast thee out ; come, gather around our board to-day.' This overwhelming love was too much. The long-lost prodigal wept, the family knelt with him and prayed for him, and to-day that boy is one of the hardest workers for Christ to be found in all Europe. A father's love saved him I Let us remember that. Our friends may cast us off, but our Heavenly Father will receive us if we only knock at the door. I will now sing you the hymn 'Ninety and Nine.'" Mr. Sankey here took his seat, and in a sweet voice sang with touching expression the words : " There were ninety and nine that safely lay In the shelter of the fold ; But one was out on the hills away, Far off from the gates of gold. Away on the mountains wild and bare, Away from the tender Shepherd's care ; Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine, Are they not enough for Thee? But the Shepherd made answer, 'Tis of mine Has wandered far away from me ; And although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find my sheep." Never was our National Thanksgiving more perfectly symbol- ized than in the scene which yesterday morning gladdened the eyes of the Evangelists ;:s they entered the old Exhibition build- ing at Thirteenth and Market streets to begin their early prayer- meeting. The seemingly limitless auditorium, decorated as it is 282 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. in our national colors, with wide, beautiful expanses of pure white between the relieving tints, was almost filled with eager worsiiip- pers, whose very glances beamed with praise and thanksgiving, svhile, with many a benison and on silvery pinions, the light of opening day, descending earthward, poured in a flood of welcome through the glass-covered roof and rested on the picture lilie a dove of peace. Large as the building is and ample as the accommodations are, last evening every seat was occupied, and around the walls men were standing. Such a gathering of males in this city has never before been seen, and it is a question whether in this country for such a purpose there has ever been such an assemblage. The order was perfect, not the slightest confusion or noise was obser- vable, but all seemed deeply oppressed with the solemnity of the occasion. The stillness was remarkable, and throughout the entire evening a whisper, if made, might have been heard. While doubtless many were drawn to the place by curiosity, it was also true that many more were there with an honest purpose and with honest convictions. It has happened more than once that men who had no idea of conversion have been brought under the influence of the great revivalists, and such most likely was the case last night, when some two hundred sturdy men fearlessly stood up in that mighty assemblage and acknowledged themselves sinners, and as being desirous of leading better lives. The occasion was one long to be remembered, and could not but make a deep and lasting impression upon very many who. stood back. The preaching of IMr. Moody is irresistible in its effects ; so plainly is tiie teaching of the Saviour made, and so convincing is his argu- ment in behalf of tiie religion of Christ and the great necessity of turning away from the paths of vice, that before a person is aware of it, he is unconsciously forced to make a public confes- sion of his sinfulness and his desire to lead the life of a Chr'slian. Greater Interest could not have been manifested than was last evening, and a more respectful hearing could not have been accorded to any preacher. "Go*" said he; '-go to some hovel where a drunkard reels to MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 283 even' day. See the children run away and hide in terror when the b<.^sotted father staggers up the hill; see the pale, haggard- faced wife tremble ; she bears many a scar made by that strong right arm on that defenceless body. Such a man may be here to- day. He may repent at last and secure the Lord Jesus. Then, in a little while, see what a change ! The little children will climb on his knee and clasp their loving arms about his neck ; the wife will wear a happy smile, and instead of the drunken song, you will hear : " 'There is a fountain filled with blood,' or perhaps he will remember a hymn his sainted mother taught him, and on the evening air will come the words : " ' Rock of Ages, cleft for mc, Let me hide myself in Thee.' "That is what I call regeneration. May the spirit of prayer come on this assembly this afternoon. You may see many king- doms, but except you be born again you will never see the Kingr dom of God. You may travel through your own country, and in California stand in awe before the great trees at which so many have wondered, but except you be born again you can never see the tree of life which stands in the paradise of God. You may stand on the banks of many mighty rivers, but except you be born again you never can see the river that bursts from the Throne of God and runs through His Kingdom. You may look with pleasure upon the jewelled crowns of the earth, but unless you be born again you cannot see the Crown of Life. You may meet with princes in this world, but except you be born again you cannot meet the Prince of Peace. A few years ago I met with a man who seemed happy and yet very, very lonesome. * Have you no children ? ' I asked. ' Yes,' was the reply, ' I have o.ie — in heaven.' He then showed me the picture of a beautiful child, about seven years of age, and said, ' I am glad she is in heaven, for while she lived I worshipped her, and when she was taken from me I almost cursed my Maker, for I was a SS4 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. cursing man. And when I was still in this terrible mood I threw myself on the bed and at last I slept, and dreamed, I sup- pose, though it may have been a vision. I thought I was travel- ing along a desert waste, and at length came to a dark, fathomless river. I thought I heard the voice of my darling calling, " Father, come over ; its beautiful over here." Then I saw my precious one amid a choir of heavenly beings, and she kept on beckoning to me until I attempted to cross, but found I could not ford the stream. While I was looking for some way to get over, I heard a voice from heaven saying, " I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." I awoke a changed man, and now only live to meet her in that heavenly sphere where death can never again come. If my little one had lived I might have led her astray, but she is safe now, and I believe that a kind Father wili let me follow her.' Oh ! how many of you," said Mr. Moody in conclusion, " have little ones beckoning to you from the other side of the river of death ? Have you children, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, godly fathers, or sainted mothers in the land to dhme .? Only go to God, be born again, and meet them in the Kingdom of God*' At the conclusion of the sermon, Mr. Moody called upon those who desired to be prayed for to stand up, and fully two thousand rose to their feet, and stood with bowed heads and glistening eyes v/hile the leader offered up a fervent suppli- cation in their behalf. Charles M. Morton, of Plymouth Bethel, Brooklyn, then made a brief address, relating an incident of the recent meetings in Brooklyn, the reclamation of a man whose home had been broken up by intemperance. When the man had been converted he came to the speaker one day and said, " I have got back my home, my friends, my wife and my children, but something that my little girl said last night made me cry. She ran up to me, and, throwing her arms around me, said, * Papa, you don't stag- ger any more now.' " Now it is just so with Christians when they get the Word of God in the heart ; they don't stagger any more. Hon, S. Farwcll, of Chicago, spoke of some special meetings MOODY AND SANKKY IN AMERICA. 285 now teing held in Central Illinois, and said the workers in his State weie listening for the key-note from tlie City of Brotherly Love, and were anxious for an interest in their prayers at one of the meetings in Mason, Illinois. I'he first convert was the leader of a company of actors who had been a few evenings before per- forming in the same hall in which the meeting was held. He was an intelligent, highly educated man, and is now preaching the Gospel. He says : " I have served the devil for thirty years. I am fifty-one years okl now. All my time and talents shall be upon the Lord," and one of the first things he told the people after his conversion was this: "I have been behind the scenes. You don't know all that goes on there. Take my advice, you church members who have been in the habit of going to theatres, and don't go there again." That was pretty good preaching for a first sermon. He now goes about the street read- ing the New Testament, as he used to read Shakespeare, and he tells Brother Dean that every day he finds new texts that he never knew were in the Bible at all. That might be the case with all of us, for the Spirit will bring all. things to your remem- brance whatsoever 1 have said unto you. There was one point which ought to be mentioned in this con- nection. It was a matter of experience with him that very often what prevents persons who are anxious from finding peace is some difficulty in their business. There is some little thing which they are not prepared to give up. It was so with a young man with whom he was speaking last night. He found that he was engaged in the liquor business, and he told the young man that unless he was prepared to give that up he would not have peace. M'. Moody spoke on the prayers of Jesus, and said He was the example, for He was praying all the night before He chose the twelve Apostles ; and on every occasion where there was a special communication to Him from His Father in heaven, it came in answer to prayers. What we need is more of the praying spirit., that ill who come to these meetings maybe reached by the Spirit of God. Even those who are unable to get into the meet- 286 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. ings are sometimes in that way led to a spirit of reflection. A man came to one of the services and found the door closed, and the words of Scripture rushed upon his mind, " And the door was shut." He said, "What if the door of Heaven should be shut?" and was led to serious consideration, which resulted in his conversion. A lady in Brooklyn had been praying that her son might attend the meetings. She had tried to persuade him, but he had refused. On the last of the services there, the young man thought he would* go to the Tabernacle for the afternoon meeting. He found the gates locked, the building being full. He went into the overflow meeting, and heard Mr. Needham. That afternoon he was converted, and his mother's prayers were answered. There is nothing for which we may not pray. Jesus prayed at the grave of Lazarus ; and we may bring our dead sons and daughters to Christ that He may give them spiritual life. Rev. Dr. Newton said he wanted to relate an incident which had been revived in his memory by the observations of Mr. Moody on prayer. Forty years ago, said he, I was a student in a theological college in New York, and was brought into inti- macy with a graduate of West Point Military Academy, whose brother was a fellow-student of mine. The officer was a strictly moral man of sterling integrity, but not a Christian. His brother one day spoke to him, and asked if he would not be- come a Christian. His reply was : "What more do you want me to be than I am now ? " and his manner was such that the bi other said no more, but determined to pray for his conversion instead of arguing with him. The next winter the officer was ordered out West for frontier service, and his wife, who was a lady of high moral character and great attainments, was, in con- sequence, temporarily separated from him, and went to live at Providence, Rhode Island. While she was there a great work of grace was progressing in the parish. She was among those who verc brought to the feet of Jesus ; and after she was converted, the minister, at whose house she was staying, asked if she would not join llie church. She said, "1 can't until I have written to my husband. I have never taken a step that we could not take MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 287 together since we were married. I can't put a barrier between him anil myself until I have written to him and told him of the change in my life." She immediately wrote ; hut before her letter reached him out on the frontier, he had written to her, and their letters crossed. He said that for several days he had a strange feeling, such as he had never experienced before. He felt that he was unworthy and a sinner, and that he needed pardon. He had no Bible in his tent, and borrowed one from a comrade ; then he read about the way of salvation, and found light. He said in his letter that he had become a Christian ; so when her letter reached him, the wife was in possession of the glad news that both were following Jesus. Who can tell the joy there was in that family? Although this occurred many years ago, and the dear fellow to whom I refer is now in heaven, the impression it made upon me will never be effaced, and I tell it to-day because it may lead others to pray for the conversion of those friends who do not now feel their need of Christ. After silent prayer for a few moments, during which it seemed that every Christian heart was lifted to God in earnest supplica- tion— for the most solemn stillness prevailed through the house — the meeting closed with the Doxology and benediction. MEETING FOR DRUNKARDS. One of the most interesting meetings yet held by the evangel- ists in this city was that set apart especially for the benefit of drunkards who had been unable to conquer the demon of alco- holic stimulus. The congregation was much larger than on the preceding day, and, as would naturally be expected, very difTcr- ent in many other respects. Several hundreds of Christian workers, who have been regularly attending all the meetings, remained away in order to leave as much room as possible to those who were directly affected b) the curse of intemperance A glance over the audience showed a large number of temperance advocates and missionaries, several clergymen, and a few regular Christian workers. Almost all the other flices were new. Theie were old fathers whose white hairs had almost been brought in 288 MUDDY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. sorrow to the grave by the wayward steps of loved and almost lost sons ; aged mothers, whose doubly refined features had been pinched by suffering, and once rosy, smiling lips blanched to whiteness by long-continued eftbrt to choke back the sobs which will well up from hearts wrung by the anguish of seeing dear ones sinking into ruin ; there were pale-faced, loving-eyed sisters, whose young lives had been nothing but woe instead of innocent, hopeful joy, and whose bright smiles had long given place to sighs over the downward course of some willful brother. Here and there could be seen the bloated flices of blear-eyed drunk- ards, who glanced wildly around as though the strangeness of the situation was so overpowering that it required a great effort of will to remain, and not a few were accompanied by mothers, wives, sisters, or, perchance, sweethearts, who, having exhausted worldly means, had determined to lay their burden before the Lord. The great majority of all those gathered in the Depot- Tabernacle yesterday afternoon were as sad-faced and tearful- eyed a collection of humanity as it would be possible to assemble in one place. Those who had not directly suffered by intem- perance grew at once into sympathy with the hundreds about them, whose heavy sighs told the stories of unutterable anguish, and this influence increased until a cloud of terrible depression seemed to hang over the entire congregation. Every class of society was represented in this throng united so closely by such painful bonds. Close to the half-starved, long-abused, yet faith- ful wife of some besotted brute was seated the child of fortune and culture — child no more, but an old, old woman, whose only son, still in his youth, had fallen almost to the lowest depths of degradation. Near her was a man, every lineament of whose features was some index of nobility of soul and rare talents, but whose threadbare coat and sunken cheeks betrayed to all gazes the lifelong victim of an unconquerable appetite. Just behind this group was a young girl, whose face, sweet as an angel's, was already furrowed by grief. Beside her was a father, whom she seemed to worship, and this father, broken down in health and almost ruined in mind by the excessive use of liquor, seemed at MOODY AND SANKliY IN AMERICA. 289 last to have resigned himself to hopeless ruin. He gazed about in a half-sleepy, half-childish way, and several times attempted to get up and leave his seat, but the hand of the child-woman held his very tightly, and each time he would conquer his restlessness and sit down. By far the largest proportion of the congregation were women, almost all of whom had evidently clutching at their hearts the agonizing image of some past or present experience with w^oe in its most terrible form. As the exercises proceeded it was interesting to note the change which gradually came over the scene. As Mr. Moody declared over and over again that the God who had once cast out devils could do it now, and would do it if only asked, and as fervent supplications for this Divine inter- position were made, the cloud seemed to rise from all hearts, the noonday sun poured in upon the picture like blessed rays of hope ; eyes long dimmed by tears beamed with a new light ; lips so long tighdy pressed by anguish smiled with a new-found joy, and dissipated faces lost their reckless look and becarrft resolute in the strength of noble determination. It is probable that more than one slave was freed, and more than one heart made happy. Rev. Dr. Newton read the requests for prayer. He said that as the day was set apart particularly for prayers for the intem- perate only, only those which related to persons held by the demon of drink would be read. Among the requests were twenty for prayers for intemperate husbands ; ten for drunken fathers ; twenty-five from sisters for dissipated brothers ; ten from widows for intemperate sons ; one for a young man struggling to over- come the demon of drink ; one from a sister for three brothers, one of them a hard drinker; one from a mother in Scottsville for an intemperate son ; from a friend for a young man in New- castle, England ; from a friend for a young man who earnestly desires to reform ; from a sister (long identified with Methodist missions) for an intemperate brother ; from a Christian for an intemperate brother-in-law in Richmond, Va. ; from a mother, whose only son was rapidly hastening to ruin ; from a wife whose husband has almost beggared his family, and from friends for the Woman's Temperance Society of Plymoutii Church. There 290 MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. were forty requests for prayers for tavern-keepers' souls, that they might be turned from the road in which they were leading so many of their follows ; two requests for intemperate and ungodly men ; one against the sale of liquor on the Centennial Grounds ; one from a wife for a husband, one from a father whose son, once a professor of religion, was now hurrying on to destruction ; one from a mother who desired prayers for a drunken husband and son ; one from a Christian lady whose intemperate husband had come to believe that not even God could save him from him- self; another from a sister for a dissipated brother ; another from a mother for a son who is addicted to the use of intoxicating drinks ; a doctor in Massachusetts desired prayers for himself— he had long been striving in vain to overcome the habit, and now asked for higher aid. Prayers w^ere also requested for a brother who was once a professed Christian, but who now made the hearts of his friends heavy by yielding to temptation ; a mother re- quested prayers for four children, one of whom was addicted to the use of wine. Prayers were asked for God's blessing on the Woman's Temperance Society and their " Home for Inebriate Women ; " also, for the " Franklin Reformatory Home." A wife and daughter requested prayer for a father in the liquor business. Prayers were requested for four intemperate men, three of whom were the sons of three deceased elders in one Presbyterian church, and for three intemperate brothers, the sons of a minis- ter. Rev. Dr. J. Wheaton Smith also offered a fervent prayer for the salvation of those who were unable to take even the first step towards saving themselves. He asked for comfort for aged hearts, for wives and daughters and sisters, so that they could feel to-day the joy of thanksgiving, and asked special blessing on those who were engaged in the unhallowed traffic, that they should be taught that all happiness on earth or in heaven would be lost if they should continue in their present course. The congregation then rose, and with heartfelt earnestness translated into the harmonics of sound the words of the 3d hymn : MOODY AND SANKEY IN AMERICA. 29I " I need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord ; No tender voice like Thine Can peace afTord." ^Ir. Sankey stopped the singing at the third verse and said : *' Now we should like to hear every one in the house who believe that they do need the Lord join in that chorus : " " I need Thee, oh ! I need Thee, Every hour I need Thee ; Oh ! bless me now, my Saviour, I come to Thee." Thus adjured, every voice seemed to combine with every other to fill the grand auditorium with the musical reverberations of the beautiful supplication, and the waves of harmony rolled mountain high through the seemingly limitless structure. The secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, Mr. Cree, spoke of the case of a drunkard who had come into his office and asked special prayers for strength to resist temptation. Another case was mentioned of a poor man who came into the inquiry-room with a heart almost breaking, and said he wanted the people to pray for him, but could not write a line, and was consequently unable to send in a request without help. It was also requested that prayer be offered for an unworthy son, who had for years resisted every effort to bring him into the right way, and also for his companion, with whom he had becom