New-York tribune., 1876-02-08
THE AUDIENCE AND THE SERVICES.

great cities.
THE AUDIENCE AND THE SERVICES.
THE NEIGHBoRHooD OF THE HPPoDRoMF CROWDED
LONG BEFORE TIE HOUR OF oPENING-AN IN
TEILIGENr, ORDERLY. AND RESPECTABLE huL-
T.TCDE-MR MOODY PREACHEs on THE SPIRIT
WHICH SHOULD PREVAIL IN REVIVAL WORK
RELIANCE on lHE HOLY SPIRIT.
When in September last several cergymen OF this
city and its vicinity expressed the belief that they
had not known in many years much interest fels
among the people of their churches in religious
work as was then becoming apparent, they had
the key to the remarkable and successful
revival efforts which have been made
snce that time. Beginning in Brooklyn in
tho latter days of October and continuing
there with uninterrupted success for fOnr weeks, the
movement has gradually widened its influence and
gained new strength in parts of the United 5, ,ates
Going TO Philadelphia MesSrs Moody and Sankcy
began anew their abOFs, continually holding meet
ugs which in point Of numbers were constant
wonder TO the people of that city. From all the
country around Philadelphia special trains OF ears
run, and seats IN the revival building were
secured in advance. In other cities the work has
been taken mp by cyangelists, many OF whom have
national reputation, and unquestion-
ably doing great good for the cause Of
Christianity. The newspapers from the smaller
cities have accounts Of revival meetings held in the
churches sometimes with union Of several denom-
uaous and at other times under the conduct OF tho
various denominations in their own churches. At
this time in the pr gress of the great religious
effort when perhaps the interest is intense than
it has been at any time before, when meetings ara
going on in almost every city of considerable size in
the Union, Moody and Sankey have come TO the me-
tropos of the nation and entered upon a series
of meetings here. Many people from New.
York visited their meetings in Brooklyn, car
rying away vivid impressions of these pow
erfnl, and in some respects wonderful, men,
Their Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs"
have been sung in the city churches until il is
very frequent occurrence to meet school children
singing Hold the fort" or The ninety and nine"
For many weeks the fIippodrome has been in pro-
ccs, of transformation into apartments suited to tho
revival work. A choir Of 1.200 voices, corps OK
500 ushcis. aud band of Christian workers num-
berng several hundred. have been formed and
thoroughly trained in the duties of the extraordinary
occasion,
Last evening the work under the immediate con.
troll Of Moody and Sankey began. IL was remark
able beginning for many reasons short notice OK
the hour when the first services would be- held, and
a diSagrceabe state Of the weather were ciredm-
stances wch led the Executive Committee to feel
in excess of the capacity of the main hall.
pircaut onary measures the part Of the managers
had led to the announcement in all the principal
papers that the doors would not be opened until q
late hour. Only single line of cars passes very
near the hall selected for the occasion. The hail it
self was one wrested from what IL looked upon as
evil service by those likely TO be attracted By Moody
and Sankey aud not generally known to Christian
people. Nevertheless, long before the hour when the
doors we're advertised to be opened, peope-one
could count thcm of all ages and Of both SEXES be
gan to assemble in MallsOn-aye.. near the Hippo
drome bEiding. As ear y. indeed, as D O'Clock In
th. afternoon there were number Of people near
the doors. About o'clock the concoarsc OF people
became very great in MadiSon-ave.. that not only
the sidewalks but the pavement of the street iself,
we're packed with living, restless mass for moro
than block.
Meanwhile the clergymen, singers. aid represent
atiyes of the press had accumulated about the iDogs
s..t apart for their entrance In Twenty-siXth and
Tweuty-scventh-sts., and at O'Clock they were AL
mitted The members OF the choir hlled the seats
set apart for them in ten minutes. The ceIgymen
and those who have contributed TO the fund ior the
exp,nses of the revival came in rapidly and soon
filled the other side Of the platform. Those who
were to take part in the inquiry meetings were also
admitted by special door, and occupied the honT
seas.
When at the appointed hour the Madison-ave.
doors were opened Notwithstanding the great pres
sure from the throng and the impaticncc which, uas
been caused by lOug waiting the police and 's.eis
succeeded in admitting all in perfect order Ihc en-
fire multitude was seated III 20 minutes, ana 10 ono
sitting in tho font of the hall. the coming III of
these people could hardly he diScerned by tho
eor About 10 minutes before o'clock the hall
wa. tu aid the ushcrs closed the doors.
Tho .cou, at the moment just before the services
were ou,ned WAS most remarkable. No eye had
nr.vior,y ever seen in this country such IN audi
en,e assembled in any hall. Not merely in numbers
but IN intelligence and rcspectability of looks and
drcss il was remarkable All the theaters and con-
cert halls of the city combined could not have seated
such al audience that which gathered III tho large
hail. Fully seven probably eight thousand persons
were there congregaed before word of the service
was uttered. 1t was moreover al audience OF tho
best class Of people. Gray heads OF both sexes
men and women in the fIst aud middle classes OF
ife-not the the poor aud lowly, tho tiamps ana
vagabonds who it propheeied would be nrst 70
attend the meetings Of the RevIvalists-these were
the first to enter and looking over the vast mult-
tnds from the platform. only these could Dc ai''
cerned. It was in personal appearance h'' ICES
remarkable than in numbers -.
The disappointed Thousands still remaining outside
tbs main hall Immediately pressed around the build
ing on both sides, and asked admission at Tie