, 1875-08-15

OH. JOt7N HALL On MUCD1.
WILL HIS WORK LAsT2
The following letter from the Rev. DR.. Hall,
the most widely known Presbyterian clergyman
III New York, to the New York tribune, gives
singularly clear view of the effects Of the Moody
work abroad:
Eight months sgo you were good enough to print
letter from {Nov. IT, 1871 the subject Of the
American Evan8elists, Moody and 3ankey- At that
time the Aasociated Press did not furnish the In
formation that has more recently been given. There
little knowledge ot the then in urogress
In Great Brrain. aud OF little interest fait In
had bean eecsed to teach tho churches such lessons
as the power aud value Of smXe Bible TRUTH higher
estimate Of non-cleEca religious effort, tho need Of
We To do them good and the truth Of Gods word
AZ the effective fundamentally BY which only ths
prtrd regions can be disnfaced-
great change has been wrought IN the public mind
regarding these men and their work during the past
eight months,-a change produced by the communities
tou Of knowledEe Tie past history Of the men, their
Preparation for the work they have been doing, tue
style Of approach they mike to the people, the nature
Of ther Communications, the methods by which they
proceed things have been presented sud freely
in religious affairs Some, indeed, dislike the whole
subject. Some suspicious Of the agency and the
voutly praise God for what has beon done, md pray
for the extension Of the movement Very few. indeed
claiming to have any trustworthy views as to religious
forces afford to ignore the facts. whatever tho
strustion they put upon them.
81essrs. Moody and Sankey hive not escaped crti-
eis1u Had thoy notable weak points nc should have
Seen them. They thought BY 10 be fanati-
cal But OF the most sober minded and inlucn-
tial engaged with them in the work and gave
it hearty and public communication. Every presbyte-
rim church in sco:andwhere slow and sober convic
ton fH supposed to prrlomnate-gaye approval more
or less pronounced. There Was most grateful men
ton made Of the results Of their aoors the door Ut
both General Assemblies, when 5ca1 had tested their
efforts in Scotland. IN Ireland tho 1noat Jealous
u1t kno thefr rr1t9
proceedings in the publicity q London secured
like Mr. spurgcon, Mr. Gladstone Dean Stanley, and
Lord Chancellor Cairus,-meu vino are neither foola
fanatics It has been suggested that they were
only appealing to the passions Of the low and vuRar:
but hundreds of lleducated clergyunen Of all de-
nominations Of Protastants have owned the obhga-
tions Of their la1hhioners to their teaching and often
avowed themselves to be prohted and edited by the
services. This imp1tAtlon having been removed ~
the noticeable element Of the titled and Influential in
"toaying 10 the rich" But happily. to tho very Inst,
the .nodesty and humility Of Mr. Moody and his
cate have furnished sufficient reply to the insnua-
ton.
1t has been suggested that they making "good
thing Of their mission III pecuniry point Of v:ew.
It is Significant that this innuenlo has
far Us have sceubeen thrown out in Great Britain.
It has been exclusively at American suggestion Now,
it il fortunate that We should be the first to charge
por.liu motives countrynen engaged abroad.
UnhappiIy we have put many things an English
market more creditaele to Ingenuity than in
British cosins but it is satisfactory to know that in
this instance not single act, arrangement or return
has tended to the pecuniaEy gain of onr repsesenta
t1ves aud the positive evidence OF disinerestedaes-
which has been no part of their policy Arade-has
done much to attach and impress those who, by
tetr position, could not escape being cognlzant OF It,
The exptnseg Of new buildings of great meetings, and
Of institutions suggested BY tho ETangelistB, have
been promptly furnished on the spot by Christian men
ciaed and who expressed their approval in tue mos.
emphatic Of methods, namely, By subscribing many
Thousands Of pounds to provide for crowds without
parallel in tie religious history Of Great Britain.
The results Of the winters labors in Manchester,
Liverpool Sheffield, and finally iu London, fur ~
the time permits estimate Of them, may be briefly
summed up a. follows: and unprecedented
interest in the Of the soul with the future
has been awakened. Hundreds OF Thousands not used
to hearing The Gospel praise Or havs been
to religious movements hare been ful md 1e-
epectful In their notices. Clergyman Of various de-
aliel lines II not indeed in collision, have prayed and
worked together. Divine truth in sermon and hymn,
has been sent down into strata Of society not yet peae
trated by it. Men and women claiming to be religious
have had their zeal they affirm, wonderfully sinu-
lsted and their benevolent activities increased Sys
been organized and provided for. Many thouaans Of
such persons as Join the Church here in New York
in twos and threes at quarterly intervals IN our
churches have according to their respective methods
been received into tho churches III some as
many ~ hundred at time. And all this has been
done without mnx ony nc" pa' Ind up any
'sm," but by the earnest, forcibe presentation Ct
what among Us called the old Gospel" to the poo
ple .tn their own tongue In which they were born"
~ Man ask. "wiu this last7" Will what last h1r.
Moodys preachin97 or the the religious feEvor Did
Penteeost ast7 Tho eaecs Of It DID. The ne fruit fruit
courage Of the RefoEmerB 1ast7 The effects did,
and they would have been moro permanent and ex-
seshness md oowardice Of those who ought to have
pe1petuated theiz work. 70 churches and to comnau
nites it il rs to individuals according to their faith
And this leads to the question: Now that the evan-
eelists close their abora in England and ind invita-
lions to prosecute similar efforts IN the cttes OF
tempted7 In making few suggestions on this gan
oral topc the present writer docs not ventura TO 49,
sny competency except what comes from close and
continuous acquaintance With this movement.
fua-Mess1s. Moody and ssnkey must b the
plaee to plAce. They have shown much window
abroad. They would doubtless ray themselves that
they wers wisely guaed They began 4 IN smaller
It is to be presumed they looked upward for wisdom,
.. among competing calls they mnst b allowed to
Ssrond- il not to be supposed that, because Mr.
Moody breaches and Mr. Santey eings, men will BE-
relig1ously helped and enlightened, "of couzse."
and He who quickens dead souls into spiritual Life
would have Christians ask him with ono accord for the
- s 10
Glasgow, Dublin, Belfast, London.
Th1rd-Let tire things that make for peace suoug
the churches be studied These men aimed At max
ing not Methodsts, or BspttstA or pEsb,terans but
Chr1stisns They required sone evidence OF nnanlm.
itv among local ministers before entering on effort
among thsm. They everywhere sustained the minis
try-neve1 net It aslde. or beted tho Divine IL
sttuuon before tho peopla. Hence the remarkable
freedom from jars and the delightful spirit Of BROTH
erly co-oper7hon-
Fostrkh-In or American cities there II 4 ciaes Of
persnns whom we may not judge - before God, but
Who certainly do not stand wen before the1r fellow
7entions and prsJer-meettngs- They are workez1 Ut
iarge, '4un..tached and often unresttatned BY con
sderatons which influence men who bear RESPONSE
htHtv These should not be allowed to come into
nromfnenoa, They do much harm- They not in
reputation among them that aro without, and the
Nv 10 prevent religious movements from falling into
snch tnfelidtous hands il for recognized ~
blsmeess and prudent Christians to be brought foE-
ttons nas made it embarrassing for aueh man to
fdsptify themselves With his wozk.
FIfsh-Lct no u,an glory n ruin This has been
nth h4akhFAH Nav fhsy