Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-10-08
MI. Moody IN BRArrLEpoRo.


Mr.. MOODY IN BRATTLEDoRo.
In accordance with previous announce
ment Mr.. d. L. Moody, the world-renown-
ed evangelist, held a service in the town
hall last Sunday morning at nine o'clock.
The hall was filled to its full seating capa-
city, indicating that all of the 1900 tickets
issued were used, but as only small por-
ton OF the standing room was occupied it
would seem that only few others than
those holding tickets sought admission.
Mr.. Moody came upon The platform
promptly at the hour appointed, and, after
bowling his head for moment Ia silent
prayer, arose, and in loud, strong voice
said, Let us open the meeting this morn
ing by singing the hymn, Work, for the
night is coming!'' At the conclusion Of
the by mn prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.
Burchard of the Baptist church, after
which the hymn, "Mnst Jesus bear the
cross alone" was given out and sung.
Mr.. Moody then read the first seven YER
ses OF the 9th chapter Of Isaiah. In com
menting on the passage he said, "If any
man is going 10 work for God he must
have clean hands, clean lips and a pure
life. If we are going 10 work for God we
must be consistent, or the world will call
US hypocrites." The scripture lesson clos
ed with passage from the 25lh chapter of
Matthew, and at lis conclusion Mss
Sprague sang, with fine effect, the beauti-
full sacred song, "Your Mission" Mr..
Moody then announced his text, from
Matthew xxv:l5, "To every man ac.
cor ding 20 his several ability" In open
ing lie said he believed that when ~e get
ever cyery iHin sn M Fad Ills work given him 10 do
before lac came into this world. Every
man has just as many talents given him
as lie can take care Of. II he uses them
well God will give him more. The man
who has ten talents has more 10 answer for
than he who has only five or one. God
don't want us TO " oTk on borrowed capi-
tai. There are too many business men
trading on borrowed capital, appearing TO
have something which they have not-and
just so there are too many Christians who
are cuntented TO work on borrowed capt.
tai, to rest ON the labors Of others. Refer
ing to the passage in Mark which says
that every man has his own work to do,
Mr.. Moody said; What glorious sight it
would be revery Christian could wake up
to the fact that lie has really got work 10
do! We don't want evangelists or more
or better ministers. There are good min
listers enough now. Perhaps there never
was a lime when there were more good
ministers than there are now. What we
do want is a union between pews and pull
pits, every individual taking hold 10 do
his share OF work. We should then see
such revival as our fathers have been
praying for. Mr.. Moody said he had found
ed a resolution which he formed several
years ago to be of more help TO him than
almost anything else; and this was never
10 let a day so by without speaking 10
somebody about their spiritual condition.
This made three hundred and sixty-ive
persons spoken TO every year, if no more,
and if il had helped nobody else it had at
least helped him by keeping his heart
warm and his sympaihies active. Ii every
Christian in Brattleboro would do the
same every man, woman and child would,
in a year, have been asked 10 be Chris
tian at least a dozen times, and the result
would be such revival as was never be-
fore seen. The necessity of Christian
growth was very fOrcibly urged, and the
state Of cold, languid Christian was liken-
ed, by very APT comparison, TO that of a
little child which should become dwarfed
and stunted and never grow beyond the
stature of childhood.
Mr.. Moody said that the three essential
| qualities of Christian character, which he
wished especially TO emphasize were en-
thusiasm, love, and sympathy. He liked
10 see man enthusiastic in business, and
just the same he liked to see him enlhusi-
astic in his Christian work. II the price of
stocks went up few cents New York was
alive aud excited about it. II the price of
corn should 60 up twenty-five cents
bushel the farmers would be wide awake
and enthusiastic ON the subject, and he
wanted TO see the same interest and enlhu-
slasm in the church. Paul was the most
enthusiastic man of his Time; he was a man
of one idea, and the best thing in the world
is to have one idea, IL that idea is Christ.
This dead, cold Journalism is the worst ism
in the world to-day. II God is with us we
can afford to be on fire. The necessity and
the power Of a hearty enthusiasm was for
chilly illustrated by the story of the veteran
old Scotch missionary who tainted from
exhaustion amer addressing the assembly
at Edinburg for an hour and a half in be-
half of the missionary cause in India, and
on revivlng, Insisted on being carried back
TO finish his appeal for the cause TO which
he had given his life, aud to whose work
he told the assembly he should return If
there were no young men willing TO take
hold and carry it forward. This, the speak
er said, was specimen OF genuine, vital
enthusiasm, such as the church needs
Mr.. Moody then went on to speak of the
power and magic of the word love. If we
work mechanically and there is no love in
our work the words fall dead. A warm
grasp Of the hand and a smile will do more
good than sermon. In illustration he re-