New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-09
THE EVENING SERVICES.

TIE SECRET OF Mr.. MOCDYs POwER-HIs FACILITY
IN SEEING UPON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THE
SUBJECT OF HIS DIsCOURsE-1s POWER AND
RECOGNITION.
Accustomed as all great cities are to doing what
ever is undertaken large scale, it might reason
ably have been expected that revival in a city Of
tie size and population Of New-York would be Of
great proportions. But with recollections of tho
Evangelical Alliance in mind, when Association
Hall and the churches were esteemed adequate to
the wants of services in which nearly all Christen-
dom was represented, moderate mind could
hardly have expected that building like the Hip
pOdrome, with two immense halls, capable together
of seating 900 people, would be necessary to meet
the wants Of revival conducted by ilhterate men,
whose grammar Is sometimes O gross violation Of
rules learned early in the schOoldays Of youth. But
to any one who visits the Hppodrome these are
facts now visible to all eyes. The source of Mr.
MOOdy's great and constant power has always
been q subject of discussion. His earnestness
and sincerity are apparent. But beside these
characteristics is his Inconsistencies. "The uncon-
scious," aays Carlyle, lis the alone complete"
As an element of persuasive power in the case Of
MIR. Moody it is very noteworthy He is often to b
sitting in his chair while the choir are singing
apparently in distracted mood. his mind other
subjects than the hymn. He arises to announce .
seldom reads the reports of his meetings If asked
how his work Is succeeding he gives no definite
answer. He has no idea Of the number who have
been converted, always saving 1t is matter be-
tween the individual and his God. 1t is alone
recorded upon high"
Mr.. Moody has little of that sefcOnsciOus suavity
of manner which education and acquaintance with
the world give to most men. The pleasantries and
arts Of address, which often great sources of sue
In life when the other and better exceencios
are wanting, Mr. Moody possesses in small degree.
But his sound and mistaken faith in the
intrinsic worth Of his cause and the simplicity
and honesty of his heart furnish excuses for
his failings. and those who hear him forget them,
while they drawn irresistably by his large SYM
pathies and his earnest power. Nevertheless Mr..
Moody is not without certain kind Of shrewdness,
though is of elevated character sprnging from
an intuitive sense of when a right thing is in the
right place and done in the proper season. He
knows how he wants his meetings conducted, and
seldom fails to have his ideas put into practice.
The hall was filled last evening in IL minutes
after the doors had been opened. The thorough
discipline observed as on the previous evening.
Although new corps of ushers were in charge,
they gave no signs of ignorance of duty. The hall
seated in perfect Order and with quiet worthy
of church. Before the evangelists came In the
choir sang, "For you am praying Only an Armor
baSrcr," 81 Need Thee Every Hour" and =" Pull fo1
the Shore" Moody and Sankey appeared together,
Bibles in hand, and the l17th hymn-"Thou Lamb
of Cavary"-was sung. The audience all arose,
fully one-third of whom had provided themselves
with hymn books, and many sang the chorus. This
fact was instructive, showing how large part Of
those present already interested in the work.
Stepping to the 'front.' Mr. Moody uplifted his hand
nd crol oil tn ho,y in uh eia
prayed that notonly may we who have been in Thy
service and those who the church be brought to
a renewal of faith and trust in God but may many
suffering souls be brought by us to learn of the love
of Christ" Mr. Sankey then sang the 12Oth Hymn,
" Hark the Voice of Jesus Crying. who Will Go and
Work To-Dayf" and when he had finished Q
rustic of people sinking back to their chairs, and
stirring from the position they had been sitting
in, was audible in every part of the building Mr..
Moody then read from st. Luke, chap. ", beginning
Mt the 18th verse; Of the cleansing Of the leper BY
Christ
The eighteenth hymn, RESCUE the Perishing,
Care for the Dying" having been sung, Mr.. Moody
took up his Bible and began his sermon. His sub
ject Faith" theme suited to his AIMS at this
stage of the revival. In the course of the sermon
an incident occurred which illustrates the control
which he always maintains over an audience. Some
one was on the roof Of the building and made Q
noise which was plainly heard, so that many were
attracted by it. Mr.. Moody had been speaking Of
the faith which the man with the leper had and 10
o moment, and with appar Mt disturbance
Of his mind, he related the story Of
the four men who carried the sick
with the palsy through the city toward the house
where Christ was staying. and were stopped bya
throng Of Pharisees, who refused 10 let them pass.
They then went into house in the same block with
the one where Christ wasand passed from roof to
the other and then down through the scutte ntot tho
room. Dwelngespeciallyu upon the idea that the men
passed through the roof, and pcturing them as
coming through the roof Of the Hppodrome, the
audience forgot the noise and gave him their
attentive ears.
In beginning his sermon Mr. Moody called attention to
Luxe when He their faith" little while before
his native town, and had come down 70 Capernaum 10
ye and He had begun His ministry ana some mighty
little while before this OF the 0ce In King Herods
moc G that ay s sick with fever had bssn
and Mark tells us that the whole city moved, that
WAS sitting tho whole city bringing their sick In fact
there was great revival In Capenaum That Is what
sn a' tSns: what ~" mighty pfsa Se1 W.:
Ssrs Sns fom His Iu And Wy
few before this goth that full Of ep
sans't, make me cean," aud / want TO call
your attention TO the difference between man
that had the palsy and the that had the
leprosy. The man with the palsy had friends who had
faith The man who had the leerosy had friends who
believed he could be csanscd There had been lcpef
ceansed 800 years. and read back IN the days Of
Elisha that there leper that was ccansed but nene
snos that time until Hero T. leper that has fAt4
and goes right straight to the Son Of God Hmsef and
want ~ cay there 10 poor sinner here to-ngh. that
nas not cot any friends that would pray for him. you can
60 night straight to Jesus Himself You don't need any
to Christ came poor eper. He said, II Thou Will