New-York tribune., 1876-01-20
TIE CHRISTIAN CONTENTION.
MR. MOODY TALKS TO CLERGYMEN.

MR.. MOODY TALKS TO CLERGYMEN.
THREE INTERESTING MEETINGS-TiE INsIANIANE'
ous REPLIES OF Mg. MOODY TO QUESTIONING
TIE METHODS or REVIVAL WORK.
lyRoM TIE REGULAR CoRREsPoNDEsT OF THE TRIBUNE
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 19.-Aiessrs. Moody and
sankcy begun this morning the two-days Christian Con
ventlon which is designed 10 be appropriate culmna
ton Of their ibOs in this city The chief purpose OF the
gathering is 10 give Mr.. Moody opportunity oi
nstrlcing ministers in those methods OF revival woh
which he has pTaciccd with such success. Ia
this end. great efforts hIyo been made to muuc'
the pastors OF Evangelical churches to attend ana
gratifying result has bten obtained The space IN the
depot rallied off for ministers and lay delegates froih
churches was occupied at both tho morning and aer'
noon services by nearly 1000 pcrson; and the genera
audience numbered about 1000. Mr MoOdy'S mode OF
conducting the meeting Is somewhat novel. with the
attendant clergy lie puts himself in tho relation "i
schoOlmastcr with a class OF pupils lie dNlu's
tho um0 into periods ot an hour each'
assigns a subject to each hour, and when
the time MP he breaks or abruptly and takee up th
next theme as though he dsnissnS one class ana
calling up tho rest Upon each topic he delivers pre-
pinary address very seutcnous and forcbic and then
calls on The ministers ask such questions as may occur
to them. In his he is usually qn@ eiiclons'
going at to the marrow OF the matter thd u'Po'e
of it in % few pointed sentences.
His first subject this morning was " EYanseilc',
Services" by which term he meant Nll"H IRWIN
meetings He insisted that they should be short
no meeting longer than hour and ten minutes.
Long preaching, he said. drives tho Gosp''
frat in and then ont Of tho congregation. The re-
vya should bo all the time in charge OF one man. ana II
WIS almost essential that there should bc good music
No srns should bs preached. In order TO Danish see
tariinism there should be preparatory union prayer
meetings. In answer to question "a TO the proper
length OF sermons Moody said that thirty minutes Is
about right. minister who breaches long sermon ~
added, is like fisherman who allowed his net 10 remain
in the water until all the fish got ont.
The next subject vas" How to Conduct Prayer Me''
nss" Mr. Moody thought the cicf trouble with s1el.
meeting, was tho miserable stiffness of th"s" who con
duet them. a man will gct behind the small desk, AMI
pray in the same old stcrcoypcd style H. has used FOR
years freaucnily using hc old words and al - -
stiff and cold "a icrhcrg" lie was opposed Z" long
pra,e-s Preachers ought not 20 tako fifteen minutes L.
siy what could bc sad with profit In three All tue
church members should he encouraged to take part "
the prayermceting. Such gath rng, 10 more good Than
sermons or lcc,urcs 1--WE preached and lcctufed "
death II is all preach. preach. and no prayer"
In the afternoon the nrs' topic wts Inquiry Meet
ings-iher Importance and Conduct" Mr. Mood!
argued that inquiry mcctins were tue very cream o ~
religious work They reached the pooplc-thcy narrowed
in tie seed by sermons. lie toll. how Dfst To az
preach different bnls % po.pe In TIE Inquiry rooms
and esq eciay insisted thorough work; ho vas Tired
of so much supcrcalty. OF seeing Christian worker
skip around from person 10 another, making NO d@'
impression on any one Prayer with inqurars g ~ sr,li
importance and the ready Of Bbls c.ts adopted to
individual cases.
Questions poured in thick and Fast after this discourse
No matter what the iutcrtocltury might he MI MOODY
WAS ready on the instant with an answer sometime ia
the shape OF anccdotc sometime, ~ humorous rc
mark and Often Of q pertinent tcAt oi Scripture. l.
q, ardcd only ab an exhibition Of intellectual cymna-
;ic- his performance cNtraordnary. His quick, on
hand replies excited tho admiration ~ the large body oi
clrmon present who appeared 10 assent TO the u'an
ing he gave tae Bible texts. ana 10 approve tho m,thod
of awakening anxious sinners whicI lac prescribed.
There were frequent of applause Iou the mn
i-trls' bcncGcs
The last zulcct considered was, TRAINING o. fonnt
Convert, AMI Lay Wol'rs" which was treated IN the
same manner n the preceding oncs-hist by short e.
cn.i-r and tncu by ANSWERS To dur r,i.'uH l"-hi VI
lnody rfraclel 10 AN immense audience. III" 80 ven
viii close morrow.