The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-10 00:00:00

MESSRS. MOODY AND SANKEY IN
LONDON.

The services at the Agricultural Hall last Sunday
were the most successful that have yet been held. At
the afternoon service every nook and corner of the
hall was crammed, while thousands of people were
turned away for want of room. At the morning
meeting there were about 12,000 or 14,000 persons
present. The address was one specially for Christian
workers, and Mr. Moody delivered an appropriate and
stirring address upon "Daniel." Mr. Sankey sung
also as a solo the hymn, "Dare to be a Daniel. The
sight ot thousands of women packed together in the
afternoon was a striking one. Every available foot
of space was utilised by sitting ,And standing women,
while the platform itself was crowded, a large
number of ministers of all denominations being
present. A new arrangement had been made on
the platform by which a large portion of it
just behind the speaker was boarded in, thus
curtailing the space somewhat, but tending to slightly
improve the sound of the voices. No doubt the fact
that the announcement that it was to be the last Sun-
day at the Agricultural Hall accounted to some extent
for the great assembly present (says the Daily News,
from whom we are quoting). The service was com-
menced by the singing of the second hymn, "The gate
ajar," after which Mr. Sankey sang "Knocking,
knocking." Mr. Moody then read various portions of
Scripture, commenting upon them; and after the sing-
ing of another hymn, "Whosoever heareth shout,
shout the sound," he preached from the fourth chapter
of Luke, the 18th verse. He said a mother came to
London a few weeks since with a cancer in her breast.
She came up to see a physician, who told her that she
could live but 30 days. A friend gave her a ticket to
come to one of the meetings at the Agricultural Hall,
where she heard the proclamation of the Gospel, and
accepted salvation. Herlittle daughter came to her, and
the mother said, " Oh 1 I shall never hear you play the
piano again." "Oh yes, mamma," said the child, "I
will play the piano for you in Heaven." And the day
before (Saturday) the mother started for Heaven,
where there was no more sorrow, pain, or woe. In
the South of America Mr. Moody said he happened
to be in Richmond, U.S., when the slaves held what
they called a jubilee meeting in commemoration of
the freeing of the land from slavery. But he could
tell every woman in that assembly that the master she
served was a thousand times worse than any old master
the slaves ever served, and he entreated them allto lay
down their sins, and become reconciled to God. A poor
soldier in Russia was sitting on day in his barracks in
deep despair, for he owed a great deal of money, and he
knew not where to get it. He got a piece of paper, and
made on it a list of all his debts, and underneath wrote,
"Who shall pay these debts ?" He then fell asleep,
and while in that condition the Emperor of Russia
passed by, and, taking up the paper, read the question.
Having read it, he took up a pen and signed his name
" Nicholas "at the bottom. When the soldier woke
up he could not believe it, he thought it was too good to
be true, but in the morning the money came round,
the debt was paid, and the soldier was free. He could
not have a better illustration. Let them take a piece
of paper and write thereon all the sins they had ever
committed, and then let them write at the bottom,
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from
all sin," and that would be the plan of salvation simply,
placed before them. Mr. Sankey sang the hymn com-
mencing
Come home, come home,
'You are weary at heart,

and the proceedings then closed, Mr. Moody asking
that the Christian friends among the audience would
not allow anyone to go out without speaking to them.
A very large number afterwards went into the inquiry
rooms.

The service for men only in the evening was, as
usual, fully attended, and thousands of people had to
be refused admission. An overflow meeting for men
and women was at the same time held in St. Mary's
Hall, which was al4o filled.