The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-01-14

MEssPs. EDITORS The excitement incl
dent to the Holidays seemed to increase
rather than diminish the interest in the meet
ings conducted by Mossrs. Moody and
Sankey,in the great Depot fall, 18th and
Market Sts., in this city. The only meeting
omitted was on Christmas Eve; the services
appropriate to Christmas day being held on
Thursday evening, where to an immense
audience Mr.. Moody preached from the text,
"Bohold bring you good tidings of great
jov, which shall be to all people," Mr.. San
key aud some of his great choir sang scme
of their sweetest and most joyous Christmas
hymns During the protracted season of
inclemcnt weather the attendance was far
beyond the expectations of any, and on the
worst evenings the attendance was not less
than from five to six thous.nd, and when
the evening was at all passabe the attend
ance WAS much larger. With the return
of good weather comes nightly the great
crowds of the opening days, and, week days
and Sundays the hall i. full, ten thousa n d
being the regular audiences, with at times
thousands more turned away unable to get
in. The desire to get seats near the plat
form is so great that parties come and wait
about the doors for hours before they open,
and four and five thousand people are often
waiting for admission Many come in AZ
the close Of one service and ait for three and
four hours waiting for the next one. On
New Years eve service began at 3 O'Clock
and at o'clock the crowd began to gather,
and at 7.30, when the doors were open, The
house Was filled in few minutes. The ser
vice lasted from till II O'Clock, and at each
hour the doors were opened for inSress snd
egrcss The Hall was densely packed durin :
all the evening, full fifteen thousand bel ny
present, and thousands were turned ava,
unable to get in.
few months ago who was sanguino
enough to suppose that ten to fifteen thous-
and people would sit from 9 to Ia O'Clock t.
hear simple presentation of the Gospel
and simple songs ofpraise, and that, too OF
the New Year eve of the Centennial Year
when the city was all ablaze with illumina.
tions, fireworks, flag raising, processio, ,
and merry -makngs, and with the excite
mcnt in the streets seldom, if ever befor,
equaled' 1t is fair to suppose half of tn,
audience were not church goers. Mr.. Moody
preached three most impressive sermons, and
in the midst ofone Of them called the vsnera-
hln ,,f0 ~. al ;,,,o ,b.
witness stand to testify ss to the reality OF
the Gospel preached. Mr. Moody PROFOUND
ed some practical questions on different
phases of Christian experience, and the diff
culties met with every day in The inquiry
rooms, and the doctors ready and e1haus-
tive answers thrilled the vast audience. Dur
ing the evening Mr.. Sankey sang with great
effect 'The Ninety ty-and-Nine," and oth,l
solos, and with the choir out in full fore,
sang number Inappropriate hymns, ar.
ranged for the occasion. Slips, containing
tn hymns, had been distributed to the i'm.
mense aud ence, and when the many thous.
and voices swelled the chorus, mighty
volume of sweet sounds of praise ascende,
| heavenward. On Sunday last the eighl
o. clock morning lecture to Christians wa.
attended by some six or seven thousand
largely the representative Christians of oul
most active churches. All over the hous,
t he rustic of leaves, as passage after passag,
was referred to, showed that the audienc,
were noting them in their Bibles for futur,
In, ha - al l.,
with women only, and in the evening, not.
outstanding the rain, large audience OF
men only were present.
Many of the prominent ministers of all de-
nominations are present at every service
and among the distinguished men on th,
platform other than these have been til,
President OF the United States, Postmaste,
General Jewell Ex-Speaker Blaine, senator
and members of Congress, Judge of tn,
United States Supreme Court, all the Judge
of the Pennsy lyania Supreme Court, Bishol
VAIL the Episcopal Church, Bishop Samp-
son, Peck, and Haws, ofthe Methodist Epis-
C pal Church, and most of the prominent
citizens Of Philadelphia A list of the meet
ings in single day will give some idea o.
the variety of work now being carried on.
Each day the MONDAY meeting is held in the
Hall and the part partitioned off for it, hold
ing over three thousand, has had to be en-.
larged to accommodate the increased daily
attendance. Over hundred have arisen lol
prayer at different meetings this week. 1t is
followed by meeting for men only, conduc-
ted by Mr.. Sankey, and for women only,
conducted by Mr. Moody, and at the close
of these inquiry meetings are held. At 3 o.
clock this week the union meetings connec-
ted with the observance Of the day of prayer
are held in the Hall, following at o'clock
by a biblereading by Mr.. Moody. At 4.30
a meeting for young ladies only is held, and
at the same hour one for older people. AT
8 o'clock is preaching service, followed al
8 o'clock by a prayer-meeting, each for men
and women only. A young mems meeting,
boys meeting, and meeting for these
who have been addicted to strong drink
Each ofthese meetings is followed by meet.
ing for inquirers.
The question most frequently asked by
those interested in but not personally fam
iliar with the work is "And what is the re-
suit so far" In general terms of reply the
attendance at all the meetings is large be-
yond precedent and the attendance all that
could be desired The requests for prayer
presented daily are Numbered by hundreds