New-York tribune., 1876-02-09
PRAYER-MEETING AT NOON.

MR. MoODY's AIM TO AROUSE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FOR PRAYER-AN APPEAL FROM THE EVANGELIST
--REMARKs BY Mr. sANKEY.
1t was not until the close of the Monday evening
meeting that anv announcement was made OF the
morning prayer-meetings which will be held regu-
lary during the revival season. at IL o'clock, in the
Hippodrome. This fact accounts for what some may
have regarded small audience at the first of these
prayer-meetings. which was held yesterday at noon
in the smaller hall. There were present, however
about 5000 people, many Of them being ministers
and Christian workers. Mr. MOody's desire and aim
during the first week or two will be to thoroughly
arouse the Christians of the city before
special attempting to make an impression
on the uncOnverted classes His sermon
on Monday evening plainly significant OF this.
and at the IL o'clock meeting Yesterday it again
became manifest. Precisely at the hour of opening
the servces-Mr. Moody is always prompt-the
evangelist came into the room from the side door
and was unobserved by many people who had been
anxiously watching the door at the rear of the
pulpit. from which they expected he would emerge
The platform had been filled OH both sides with the
clergymen and members of the choir. but the pulpit
remained vacant during the hour. Mr.. Moody on
coming in was accompanied by the Rev. Drs. T. d.
Anderson and Marvin X. Vincent, the Rev.
John Johnes, and the Rev. MIR. True
small temporary platform had been erected
Just beneath the pulpit on the main
floor, and in company with the Rev. ID. Stuart
Dodge Mr.. Moody sat there beside small table
The ministers took seats in row along the front o
this latforn. facing the congregation. Observing
the clergymen OH the stage above, Mr. Moody asked
some of them to come down and SIT below, and the
Rev. Drs +. =. Rogers and Stephen II. Tying, Jr
and the Rev. Mr. Lloyd responded. The circle thus
formed was further enlarged during the meeting by
Irtt.aa
ton and Schai1.
Mr. Moody then read the 6lst Psalm, but before
doing so he said "Now let us at once get down TO
ourselves If we are only quickened and revived
ourselves as Christians, there Will be no trouble
about reaching the world. In this 6lst Psalm the
Psalmist 33 times refers to himself He is not pray
ing for the Church now, not praying for Jerusalem
now not praying for His kingdom now but praying
for himself 1t is q good thing sometimes to get
home to ourselves. especially that are engaged IN
working for our brothers. While we are looking
after the vineyards of others, we sometimes neglect
ourselves. IL does us good sometimes just to get
down to our r3elves." While reading the psalm, Mr.
Moody stopped short at the passage, Create clean
heart in me, o God ana renew right spirit within
me-" and said:
a word Ia our heart clean in the sight OF Godt Ha.
He renewed right spirit within Ills DO We show that
in our home In our daily c In business and IN oar
contact with o,hersi II we do not seems TO me u ls
better to be praying for oufseyes h"n Sr h GhsIs % a
n we are a great way from Christ In all our ways our
words vii rs Se Go1 SRa enough in this to move oil
New-York If had the right spt and clean hesrts
time without seeing any results in his Church and
he began to cry to God that be nigh might a, have "a
and the answer did ut come, and be ielt as II be
must either have blessing or give up the ministry: ne
he threw himself knees In his study and cried TO
God: "oh God break this heart on mine ana glVe ns ,e
at the door and 9Bes1g IT, s 'e sV anS she
> ciean heart" And said Go' God broke heart
that one .srmon OH that our hearts may be tender,
and know what 1t Is to have broken heart' anu
cOntrite Spirits"
These remarks were especially addressed to Chris
tans and were in accord with Mr.. Moody's plan,
first to prepare church members and minisersforthe
labors to he directed against unconverted persons.
MIR. Moody then gave ont the Sd Hymn, COM
mencing 81 need Thee every hour which was
taken I'D by the choir and joined in by the entire as
semblage, almost all being provided with hymn
books Prayer was offered by tho Rev. DR.. Marvin
r. Vincent imporing that God in His mercy would
cleanse the people of their inquites, and beseech'
ing the Almighty to crown the efforts of the revival
lists with success. The Rev. DR.. Paxton followed
with an earnest address upon the necessary spr, III
which people must work to obtain blessings from
this religious movement. The Rev. DR.. T.. +. Rog-
ers then offered prayer, invoking the blessings oil
Christ on the work.
Mr. Sankey said he desired to call attention to
that part of the psalm commencing. &" Restore to us
the Joy of our salvation" The audience now De-
came expcctant at the prospect of hearing this evan
grst speak he rarely makes addresses at the re-
yiyal meetings. He told tho story OF minister In
London who was with them III their work. lie
had been working with u.s." said the singer, :" and
yet did not to have any JOY and happiness, but
was sad and weary looking, and l noticed that the
burden of his prayer was Restore unto us the JOY
of our salvation; :" but l also observed that when
the inquirers of God were going into the inquiry
room TO be spoken with, that dear man OF God took
his hat and went home. He may have gone
home to pray, but he didn't seem to have
any Joy for long time. One evening, instead
of going home he took his hat ana went
into the inquiry TO labor for the Lord there,
and who should sit down opposite in that crowded
inqmry-room but his own son that he had been
PRAYING for for years! God directed him to that
chair, and he spoke to the boy and knelt down and
prayed with him and God blessed the son there and
the father back the next day and looked as II
God had restored to him the joy Of his salvation and
he stood up and told the story whenever he went to
work for Jesus in the vineyard, aud wherever he
went God blessed him and joy restored. hope
it will be- so here that instead of waiting and watch
ing for feeling will go to the work each one of
us and if God will restore to us speedily the
Joy of his salvation, and may be will some of
our own dear sons that are here to-day"
| At the conclusion of these remarks, the Rev. DR..
Stephen Ii. Tying, jr., took up the remainder of the
psalm quoted by Mr. Sankey, and invoked the spirit
of the Holy Ghost to enlighten and guide them in
|