The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-05-18
MOODY AND SANKEY.
Some Hitherto Unpublished Anecdotes
of the Great Revivalists.

MOODY AND SANKEY.
Some Hitherto Unpublished Anecdotes
of the Great Revivalists.
How Mr.. Moody and Mr.. Sankey. who
live we'll and are well attired, subsist with
out the contributions of money which, are
offered to them invariably in vain, is a
question that puzzles q good many peo-
Die. Ever since they began in the West
their work, which was afterward extern
ded into England, Scotland and ireland,
they have sturdily declined payment.
They receive considerable profits on the
sales of their hymn books, but Mr.. Moody
will have nothing to do with such mon
eys except to use them for poor churches
and Sunday-schools and for other reli-
pious purposes. He never keeps cent,
nor, it is said, does Mr.. Sankey. How,
then. do the preacher and the singer,
neither of whom has any private fortune,
pay their way.
MIR. Moody's startling success in Chi
cago was illustrated by the conversion
and the friendship of many of the richest
citizens. Among his best friends was
John V. Farwell, the great dry goods
merchant of the Northwest, to whom
while he was accumulating his estate the
late Mr.. Stewart extended credits. Mr..
Farwell said to Mr.. Moody at the con-
clusion of his labors there: MOODY, l
know you want to 60 out and preach
You ought to. Go ahead, and I'll see
that-you have the means" Mr.. Farwell
and several other wealthy gentlemen
speedily arranged for the necessary in
come. and have ever since maintained it
This is why Moody and Sankey are able
to decline to take toll for themselves
along the way.
An opulent and stubborn Chicago
merchant, who became one of the sub
scribers, declined for long while to be
converted. Mr.. Moody was so persist.
emit that, although the merchant liked
him for some traits, he resented what he
felt to be a persecution. 1t was not, is
not, and probably never will be, entirely
agreeable to a man to be pursued by the
best-meaning evangelist into his otlce
and his dwelling, and urged, vehemently,
to "save his soul" At last the merchant
said with candor: "Moody, if you ever
speak 10 me again on the subject of reli-
giion, by God, I'll horsewhip you, even if
it's on the public street." The next time
they met was on the verge at one end of
swing bridge, which was withdrawn to
give passage to boats. They shook hands,
and MIR. Moody, without finching, said !:
'Mr. -, hope you will remember that
you have Saviour who loves you, and a
soul to savew Crossing the bridge, they
went their different ways without the
horse-whipping. A few days later Mr..
Moody entered the merchants store, as
intent upon his purpose as ever ne had
been. He was anticipated by the mer-
chant, who drew him aside, and togeth-
er they sat on a dry-goods box. CHOW
look here, Moody" said the merchant,
"what YOU said to me the other day there
by the bridge-that I had Saviour who
loved me and soul to save made, a
profound impression on me. l want you
to talk to me-" The revivalist seized the
opportunity so long coveted, and soon
the two men were on their knees togeth-
er, in business hours, in the merchants
private Office, turning it into a place of
prayer and tears.
Not long after his recent arrival in
New York, a distinguished merchant in
vited Mr.. Moody to his house to meet a
party of eight or ten of the wealthiest
ssbusiness men" at dinner. Being averse
to such entertainments he thanked his
host and said ttI will be glad to go, on
one condition that it shall be understood
among your guests that at the table reli-
gion shall be the topic, and that shall
be sure to urge it upon them ALL" The
condition was acceded to, the gentleman
who gave the invitation judging rightly
that the curiosity of the rest of the COM
pany would transcend their dread of a
possible bore. They came in force, and
one of the toughest, most "wide-awake"
men amongst them accompanied Mr..
Moody into an adjoining room to talk, to
be convinced, and to subsequently, offer
his check for several thousands.
w.
When the revival in Brooklyn was at
its height, very wealthy, cultivated and
skeptical lady from New York went over
there to hear Mr.. Moody preach. She
was amazed and little disgusted by his
style of oratory. But for some reason
which probably she could not have de-
fined, she went again. Still again. On
her fourth visit she passed into the In
ouiry-room and said to Mr. Moody that
she would like to hear from him, directly
and privately, his argument why she
should become Christian. He an
swered her, saying, MADAM, I know OF
no surer way to reach your heart than
through prayer. Let us pray" Mr..
Moody knelt. His manner was such
that the Lady could not choose but kneel
beside him. He asked her to repeat after
him his prayer. In low earnest tones,
and with all the tender and pathetic
phraseology of which on such occasions
he is a master, he uttered his supplica-
ton, pausing after each sentence for his
companion to follow The prayer con-
cluded with the vow:
"And now, o Lord, 1 give my life to
Thee"
'Mr. Moody" said the lady, in hard,
painful whisper II cannot say that; truly,
cannot"
Mr.. Moody made no reply, nor did he
change his position. There was a pause
of half a minute. Then again he uttered
the words: