, 1876-03-12
MOCDY'S TRAINING AND METHODS.

HIS GREAT THEME, "GoD IS LOVE"
! .Nt,o York Tribune
Something has already been said il the Ty56un
OF the simplicity Of Air. Moody's religious belief
and how it has been enlarged aud intensified
! through Suuday-school and missionary work
J The subject deserves further remark. It is nov
| more than Is years Bince the evangelist becamt
thoroughly devoted to The Christian cause. Il
the beginning his sermons and addresses to
largo extent were compoaed Of incidents occur
ring in his own experience, and though basel
upon Scriptural text, tho scenes in which he
lahored furnished largo part OF the material
for thom. Ideas and suggestions were thus con
tinually coming to his mind, and ho adopted g
plan OF placing the notes OF all his sermons II
largo envelopes. and as he gathered nov
thought or an appropriate story la carefully made
note Of it and placed it in the proper envelope.
Frequently =: be ( heard 3 sermon that
pleased him, and, When next le addressed
his own people, ho preached AZ much Of tho
same sermon az he could remember, and added
to it such suggestions as came to Ills own mind
OF this harmless plagiarism he made no secret,
ns ho often confessed TO clergymen that he had
been preaching their Sermons. Leading q most
active life among people Of two widely different
classrs-Christian workers lille himself, and the
oAAG4i4f. pl1A "a AA14LaGu--AlH AHlk9 experience
furnished him with new stores Of material which
was carefully lodged IN hls memory or distrib-
uted III the envelopes. Any one who hears him
preach will be impressed with the remarkable
appropriateness OF his stories. Many persons
have seriously questioned whether he has not
invented them for hia purpose, bnt his frionds
giyo these facts, showing that they present ac,-
al occurrences. Until about si1 years ago 1Ir.
Moody ya training for his evangelical work had
extended no further than this. He had raad Ais
EDle but he had not studied it. Its truths he
believed and urged upon his hearers with all the
ca1nestoe5a Of his nuture, oxpouuding them by
means Of his pathetic stories and closing with
fers1d exhortations. From the Eible he adducod
an elaborate system Of morals, but in this tho
Book occupied for him Il field hardly largar than
that filled By the writings OF Confucius or tba
teachings Of tue Stoics: or its Spirituality ho
Taught little; Of the universal love Of God hp
WAS to large extent ignorant.
In OF about the year 1870 "koy preacher"
as he termed himself, whom Mr. Moody had met
in England, sent him word one day thar he would
soon Be In Chicago, and would be glad to prench
for him. Mr.. Moody vas GU. Of tnecty on Sun
day, aud the young Engliahman occupied his
pulpit. preaching from the te2t. 'God so loved
the world that Ho gave His only begolton Son,
ish- but should hare everlasting li1e." Tho ser
mon Vas repeated every evening during the
week to immense congregations. Mr. Moody
came home and Was astonished at the enthusiasm
OF bis people. he became iatimate with the
young preacher and sought to learn the source
OF his Hucceas. He was told that men should
preach Gods Word, anu not their own.
They should study the BibIo and not
theology. To do this, only one book vas
needed, and that Wss the Bible ITSELF Mr.
Moody thought OF this advice He began to
study his Bible, and saw that his methods had
been to teach men to lead Christian lives by
struggle with their own hearts and tho
OF the world. Bnt he learned thst
salvation should come through acceptance of
the gifts which Chrias offered to all. .'As
naan thinketh in his heart, 90 is he" became the
Qoae-star u his teaehiagA- He RlRde xapH