The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-04-04
Sketches of New England Ministers
By Rev. lothian Sewol,

my grandfather, and was the mother of hi,
three children. His daughter Mary, was the
wife of Mr.. Joseph Emerson, who was min.
''ter in those days in Maiden, near Boston
MIR. Emerson used to write out his sermon.
correctly, before he preached them wherea.
Father Moody wrote but little, and was ratb
er scattering in his manner of preaching
Nlr, Emerson would now and then take hi,
wife home, and spend Sabbath with her
father' and give the people couple of hi.
good written sermons. Numbers of Father
Moody's hearers were very much taken with
Mr. Emerson's we'll studied discourse.. "Oh,
what instructive sermons - we can learn
something from Mem"-thev were wont to
say. Father Moody found it out, and thought
within himself, ,-"If should once in while
write out sermon in full, perhaps nigh,
benefit those people who do not so we'll relish
my random fires" So he concluded to mn,
the matter to trial, and wrote a sermon with
this object in view. After opening the meet.
ing as usual, he began to read his man,,scr;n,
and kept on reading till he got tired; and
then stopped and looked round upon the peo.
pie and sad,-"Emerson must be Emerson
and Moody must be Moody. feel as if
had my head in bag You call Moody =
rambling preacher, and it is true enough
but his preaching will do to catch up ram.
bling sinners-you are all runaways from the
Lord And so he went on his old way he
would not submit to be trammeIed at tb,,
rate.
AT meeting Of the Association to which
he belonged, held at his own house. the min.
lsters undertook to call him to an account fo,
his odd expressions and back handed strokes
Father Moody We do not think Won DE-
right" "Why, what have done ?" "Why
we are told that at such time YOU expressed
yourself SO and so. Now you know whether
1t is true or not Ifit is, we do think YOU
ought to be more careful: for YOU are liable
oy such course to injure the good cause. -
lie made no answer, but stepped into hi,
study, and soon returned with memorandum
OF twenty or thirty cases ofthe hopeful con-
version OF persons who haG been awakened
by Just such expressions as his brethren were
condemnng. As he read it over to them
with the dates, &C., they looked at each other
with no little surprise, and one o. them re-
marked,- ,-"lf the Lord owns Father Moodv.s
oddities, We must let him take his own wav :.
and to this they all agreed.
l" time Of revival among his people,
there was much excitement. some tak;no
sides for and some asa;nss tho wvrK. lie
was passing the road one day, and came upon
two men d'sput'ns warmly in respect to the
existing state of things in the community
In his zeal, forgetting the prohibition. "Be
no strker",) he gave one of them blow on
the shoulder with his cane, exc!aimino "I1I
teach you better than to dispute against the
work OF Col" After some talk he found
that it was the friend of the work whom he
had undertaken to chastse. lie ;mm.d;,t.,,
tell down upon his knees, there in the road
aud asked forgiveness and so the matter wa,
settled
On one occasion, he had lecture at a
private house, and there was no one present
who was competent to conduct the sineinc.
except his hired man. So he called on his
man. John, to tune the psalm, while the line
was given out in detail. John oheved and
after they had got through, Mr.. Moody thus
accosted him: John you never shall set the
psalm again; for you are ready to burst with
pride"
One morning late in the fall, after snow
had began to come, he rose early before b;s
wife, and while he was making fire in his
kitchen, there came in poor woman. and
asked IT Madam Moody had not an old pa;r
Oh SHOES that We're better than hers, that
would keep her feet from the snow and cold
ground. Mr. Moody took his wife's shoes
and gave her, and she went off highly de-
lighted. BY and by. when Mrs. Moody arose
and could find nothing of her shoes, Mr..
Moody hearing her inquire for them, said,
~ gave them away to such poor woman
this morning" "Why, Mr.. Moody. how
could you do so, when you knew they were
all the shoes had in the world ?" " Never
m'nd' the Lord will send in pair before
night don't doubt" And the prediction
was verified; IN tie course of the day, new
pair of shoes was actually sent to her.
A couple of strangers called on Father
Moody one day early in the forenoon. Their
norSes were put out, and he took them into
the sitting room, and engaged in conversation
with them. His wife opened door from an.
other room, and beckoned to him to come to
her' lie went, and she said to him in a low
Mr.. Moody, what shall we do ?
We have nothing to set before these men for
dinner" "Never mind-set the table. and
90 not doubt that the Lord will send u.
by dinner time" One of his
church members who lived in sight, and saw
the men call at the parsonage, said to her
daushters'-"There are couple of strangers
gone to MIR. Moody's and CUES. it is pretty
short times with them; let US prepare din.
ner and send it in" They did 80, and thus
the set table was furnished in season.
When Cane Rraton