The New York herald., 1876-02-08

Her bereavement however furnished a topic OF general
comment In the house before the commencement Of
the services.
Long before the appointed hour for the commence
ment Of the services the members OF the choir
berng several hundred, were admitted by private
frances and at proceeded occupy their seats
also large number OF cergymen and their wives and
the body OF the nall The ushers, with their white
wands and badges OF Office, all in their places
ready to conduct the vast congregation that ex
peeted TO their seats These officials although said 10
be collected from among those who act
IN similar position at the different
churches throughout the city, evidently lost last
night Perhaps this owing the vastness of the
undertaking and that the iusmense numbers on whom
they were compelled TO wait caused them 20 lose their
usual sdnQfroid Certain, however, was II that they
require TO be much better drilled into what their
sphere OF duty before they can be considered 10 be
at all perfect In fact last night no one seemed TO
know what should be done and # question occurred
II was often the that wait OF half hour
occasioned before answer could be obtained
The corps of attendants who have been detailed look
after the seating OF the visitors to the building during
the meetings consist of one general in chief chiefs
in each hail. wearing gold badges with black letters;
twenty-four directors with white anu gilt badges,
twenty suPerintendeuts with red badges and eighty
ushers with blue badges In addition TO these there
physician constantly in attendance for the purpose of
treating any OF sickness accident that
may arise There also to be duty the hall at
all times sergeant OF police with twenty patrolmen
and an assistant foreman of the ire Brigade with
corps OF hremen, who we'll supplied with extngush
ers IN case OF conhagratlon.
ON THE PLATFORM.
On the platform was noticed large number Of the
prominent clergymen OF New York, Brooklyn and
other negnboring cities, among whom were Bishops
James and Reinks, Drs. A. Hastings, Vail, Ter
bin, Downing, g. j. Chambers. L. Virgin, Moore,
Hitchcock, Matthews, Marlng, Newa, Hall, Mlchaels,
Scott II. b Chaplin, Hepworth, ;. II. Tying,
tsge, Dr. Moore, b. 7. Bown, Rev. Mr. Phraner Of
Sing Sing W ?. Corbett q. Osborn J. ID. Sypher and
corne and @ Miss aDnery Miss
b. +. Wood, Mrs W. f. Forbeny Mr.. and Mrs. W. L.
Atwood, Ex-Governor Morgan aud wife Mrs Jonn Bige-
low, General Clinton h Fisk, Cyrus w Field, Judge
Noah Davis, Theo NJ Davis, NJ. X. Jesup and num-
Der Of others.
As soon as the doors were opened the vast au-
dorum seemed, as IL were TO be suddenly alive with
people AS they came through the only entrance
way they permeated the ball in every direction,
and in place of the solemn stiffness that had hitherto
pervaded the place there was a sudden hum
contrast Ushers, who had previously been stand
ing eisurely leaning on their wands or chatting
with each other, were suddenly aroused TO the neces
sty of making some show to exercise their duties, and
rushed hher and thither in almost frantic state Of
excitement in their endcavors TO seat the thousands
who were nockng into the building At first the
ground floor was packed, then the people gradually
filled the seats rising from the floor to the roof until
vacant chair to be had The general appear
ance OF this vast congregation a surprise 10 not a
few who have been In the habit of witnessing large
assembages people, for on this occasion the assem-
bed thousands represented IL apparent the well to
dc portion OF the community, and scarcely a ragged
coat was TO be seen.
opened by the singing of hymns Neither Moody
nor sankey was present at this time At first the
Singing was oonhneu W ,no nemoers ol 'he cnoI,
but after two songs had been gone through
Mr. Moody, who had just arrived, came TO
the front and said, "Let us open the meeting by
silent prayer" He then leaned the front rail
with bowed head shading his face with his hand The
congregation which by this time filled the whole edi1ce
silently bowed their heads and remained this
erentia attitude until Mr.. Moody to his feet and
said -"Let continue the worship by singing the
eighty.dfth hymn-Jesus lover of nv soul AZ this
tha in1u In
books and in their endcavor to find the proper place
caused quite rustlng they turned over the leaves
They all stood up at the word OF command and as the
organ pealed out its solemn tones the song of praise
was entered into every hand led, however, by the !
plain TO see that every eye was turned to the
great rcvivalist, and every attitude and motion
on his part watched with the greatest curiosity.
Mr. Sankey lad the musical services at the meodeon
aud was, w8h his coworker Mr.. Moody, the cynosure
of all eyes As as the singing concluded Mr..
Moody advaaced again TO the front of the little plat
form set apart for his use ACCOMPANIED by the venera
bic Bishop James Advancing his right and eevating
his hand above his head, Mr. Moody said, with clear,
ringing voice, "Let us unite IN prayer.n Again every
head was bowed, and Bishop James offered most elo
qucnt prayer, asking that all present might realize,
through the grace Of Almighty God the need that ex
listed for awakening of religious sentiment their
hearts ana that every heart might be made praying
one; that every ear might % made the recipient
Bishops prayer, announced that Mr.. Sankey would !
sing the hymn, "Hold the Fort, for | am Coming" |
requesting that every would be silent until the |
chorus was reached when the congregation would be /
expected TO Join therein. Mr.. Sankey commenced the /
now well Known lines, and there was perceptibe stir
at which they expected TO participate they as
with accord and Joined in The souLstirrng hymn
with a heartiness and a will that had hitherto been /
seemingly missing As the hymn progressed every I
person present appeared to be one until the very
raers seemed TO echo back tho volume oil sound given
out from the thousands of voices present The sing /
ing OF "Hold the Fort" was succeeded by Mr. /
Moody reading a portion OF the first chapter |
of Corinthians commencing at the seventeenth verse
hia was n
until the end, when Mr Sankcy requested to sing
the seventy ninth hymn-"What Shall the Harvest I
Be" This although listened TO with attentive silence
during the solo part by Mr.. Sankey, evidently 1
did not arouse enthusiasm among the congregation, |
for with the exception OF the choir which joined the
chorus but few other voices could be heard The |
metre and time of this ny not one that caught
the public sympathy, and general attention was seem
ingly divided between watching Mr. Sankey and the
choir the latter executing their part with peculiar and
pleasing effect
Mr. Moody here came TO the front and said:-
MR.. MooDYs
want 10 call your attention for a few moments to
that twenty seventh verse, which read, 'But God
hath chosen the foolish things confound
the wise +" and 'God hath chosen the weak things Of
the world to confound the things which mighty"
&c
Mr. Moody closed his book he finished reading the
passage and sad:-There is just one sentence there
that TO call your attention to-God hath chosen
the weak things OF the world to confound the things
which mighty" Then In the twenty-ninth verse
He tells why He has chosen the
weak things "that flesh should glory in his pres
nce" Now, If are to have work in this city Of
New York must give God all the glory. i dread
coming TO new place II takes almost week or
fortnight for get down to solid work The people
nre looking at the choir and saying, "Is not that
large choirS And how many ministers there are
There is surely going to be great work" But the
work is not by might, nor by power, but
by Gods spirit And there win be no work,
no blessing, until we get done leaning upon
everything that is human. Now We have not come
with any gospel any new story. 1t is the old,
old story, and want the old power-the power Of
the Holy Ghost Now viii tell you, before so any
'urther who viii be disappointed here. Every man
md every woman that don't get quckened themselves
viii be disappointed. nthere is a minister here that
DON'T get quickenod himself "ohl" he viii say, "the
wo,k faure Rnt I never knew a man that cot