New-York tribune., 1874-11-17
EVANGELISTS.
DIR. JOHN HALL ON THE LABORS OF MOODY
AND SANKEY.


NUMBERED ny ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WhoLLi
OF MEN-LEsSoNs TO BE DRAWN fhoa M in.S
SINGULAR MoyEMENT-woRK FOR OTHER MEN
THAN MINISTER'S
70 me Edifor Of TIE Trtohne' |
S,p. Tho remark has often been made In my near |
ing that telegraphc and letter dispaVcne' .io" w.
other side often afford information regarding SUD-
iects on which many readers feel no interest," anu
are silent regarding events about when they arc
concerned. There is probably some explanation Oh
This in the fact that the religious papers are sup
rosed 70 satisfy the wants OF the rengious woriu.
Yet there are movements OF religious anu morai
noture in which it is fair to suppose many persons
feel lively interest who content themselves with
tho daily papcrs One of these has assumed such
importance and appears to he productive OF results
40 desirable in all communities, that can haruly
think detailed notice Of it will be without interest
in America. allude to the religious movement now
IN progress in Great Britain and Ireland In connec-
ton with the labors of American Evangelist, Mr.
d. Moody, attended and aided in his meetings by
MIR. Sankey who while occasionally taking some
subordinate share in the meetings, is especially
recognized as a sweet singer Some little notice oi
these men may be appropriate.
Mr. ID L.. Moody is not in ORDERS" but bis not
beipg a clergyman has formed no objection to his
conducting missiOn-work and expoundIng the
Scriptures. He without education when ne
came under religious influences and 1t IS SAID that
the officers of a Congregational church In Boston
hesitated-and very properly-as to receiving MN
into church membership, deficient did he then
seem to them TO be in intelligence. But ne soon ex
hbited that Kind of moral power which is possessed
Ia men of positiyo convictions under one dominant
feeling: and Ike many other men OF energy ana
VICE.: he found a sphere OF congenial labor In
Chicago. There his directness zeal, simple eio-
quencc. and strength of conviction soon gave him
"A prominent place among those who excavate among
the masses Of ignorant and vicious persons which
so seriously affect the condition of our great cities
Daring occasional visits to the East his addresses
derived their interest in part from his simple una
tectcd earn stucss certain grSphic power OF group
ing and narratiag incidents, and the fresh. even
startling nature of the incidents themselves.
visit to Great Britain brought him into contact win
Christians whose estimate of the Bible aud OF pfac
lical acquaintance with it is very high Through
The conversation of friends who told him that there
was a limit 70 the number and power of such incl
dents but none to the variety aud force of Scrip
ture arguments and appeals, he became 4" dlllgent
student of the English Bible, the one book he seems
10 know we'll The great fire of Chicago destroyed
tho building in which his mission work was carried
on, and ncoessitated another While 1t was IN
course of erection he accepted invitation to En-
gland in some of tho northern towns of which he
attracted large audiences Of deeply Impressed per-
's'NANN'N
sons.
He had been joined by Mr.. Sankey, who it is un-
derstood had been in the excise in Pennsylvania.
nnd more than commonly Indifferent TO religious
things before his conversion. He sings, accompany
ing himself on a cabin,t organ, those modern hymns
of which We have such an abundance, marked rather
by deep feeling aud earnest emphasis of pathetic
words and incidents than by lyric beauty or fault
less exactness. They were invited to labor in Edn-
burgh.
1t is alleged that the Christian people of the Scot
tish capital dissatisfied with the condition of things.
had been eagerly looking for an awakening of the
minds of men to religious interests, and had been
assembling themselves very frequently for confer
ence and joint petitions for what they desired The
mind of the people was receptive The ministers OF
the various churches, usually working on separate
plans had been drawn together. and, IN point OF
fact with some exceptions, they joined actively and
heartily in the meetings conducted by Messrs Moody
and Sankey. Their churches were placed at their
disposal; their voices were heard in the meetings;
their presence could be counted upon when it was
desired that inqufers should be instructed and their
influence was earnestly employed in extending. di
recting and deepening religious impression.
The churches of Edinburgh were greatly moved.
Buildings like the Free Assembly Hall crowded,
even when women were excluded. Many hundreds
professed themselves converted and united with the
various churches The report Of what was transpir-
ing as it spread over the country, reused attention.
as il was often said nothing else had done since the
days of Whitfield. This was the more remarkable
on two accounts the first being the usually sober
and staid character of Edinburgh people. among
whom inquiry art, culture, literature, and a very
sober and deliberate type of religious life might be
supposed to indspOse men toward such ministra-
tions as Mr.. Moody supplies. second circumstance
that rendered the Scottish movement the more re-
markable is the acceptance of hymns where the
Psalms of DAVID held q commanding place. and OF an
organ where instrumental music in worship had
been at discount.
From Edinburgh the Evangelists went to other
cities. such as Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow. Spe-
caltrains were often run to accommodate the people
Mems meetings at 9 o'clock in the evening were
crowded No time or place seemed too Inconvenient
for multitudes to assemble. Young men i'll immense
numbers declared themselves impressed, and bent on
living religious lives. In district of Glasgow,
leading and well-known clergyman the RevDr.S Som
erylle announces that 333 persons profess to have
been converted 1,G70 of them, or majority, being
men, and connected with congregations in the
neghbOrhood In the schools and the universities.
no less than in the founderies and workshops, the
movement felt, and Inultitudes of young men
have set themselves in their spare hours to the form
ing and teaching of classes. and the enlightenment
of the non-churchgoing masses.
From Glasgow the Evangelists passed over to Bel
FAST where occurred repetition Of the scenes in
Scotland. The people of Ulster it is well known,
are essentially Scotch and the same sober, quiet
movement unattended by any of that noisy excite
ment which sometimes marks and expresses the reli
gious fervor Of less cultivated natures, here pre-
vailed. Crowded churches, at special services, |