Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-02-20

have resumed its wonted channels once
mere - be can see who has occasion
70 trsvel about il the city, on or about
Light and Pratt streets, IS clearly Is in
dscsied BY the number Of loaded drsys
and wagons. threading their way 70
some wharf or depot, the drivers Of
which. not infrequently, express Them
selves, when their progress il impeded,
Ia language more emphatic than polite,
and In spite Of Dir. Moody, oitsntimes
indicative, that they have not heard
him exhort, or having heard, do not
heed his admonition about using naughty
language, and giving vent to their irate
feelings. Doubtless some OF your ciii-
zens, OF pereginating habits, have seen
and heard this famous Moody, who il
still In The city. and draws daily, as
large crowds to bear him. as docked TO
bis meeting places the frat week be
was among us. Yoar correspondent,
impelled doubtless BY the natural curi-
osity, that all men imbibe from their
maternal side Of the house, went TO hear
Moody, with view in part TO learn, if
possible, the secret Of his success, rs q,
sc-called, Evangelist. He reached DR..
Leyburn's church, some minutes before
the hour arrived Cor the opening of the
meeting, bat could not secure seat ia
the body Of the building. and had to
wend his way TO one Of the galleries.
where no vacant seat was 10 be found,
but only favorable standing place,
where all could be seen and heard.
Alter waiting q few minutes, large
and tall man appeared upon the plat
form behind q table, on which was
Bible, who, from all descriptions Of the
man, was evidently Moody. He had q
short neck, is some w hat disposed TO cor
pulency, and not at all graceful in bis
actions or movements. He commenced
By calling for the singing Of certain
hymn, which was done, but not being
to his satisfaction. he caused il to be re-
peated, which still not coming up to his
standard Of excellence, was, al his re-
quest, repeated . second time. This
last attempt, he said, was better, and
would do, after which he proceeded to
deliver discourse upon "seed time and
harvest" to which your correspondent
listened atteniively for about twenty
minutes, when he determined to leave,
but unfortunately for his resolution, Mr..
Moody at that particular moment, COM
menced to tell Of a gentleman who had
taken something that was not his, and
had called TO talk with him, the day pre-
viously, during which interview, Mr..
Moody said, he impressed upon him the
absolute importance of restitution, If he
had the power, and hoped for ultimate
salvation. To this, it would appear, the
gentleman % demurred, and looking all
around the church, and especially in the
east gallery, Mr.. Moody observed, ''ii
the gentleman is here to-day, wish 10
say, that hope he will not go away
until | have finished. for as | do not
know him, or his name, could not des-
ignate him If wished to DO So" When
this had been said, your correspondents
resolve 10 leave very soon, underwent
. serious change. lest be might be ta-
ken for the man Moody spoke Of, who
had taken something without due war
rant of divine or human law, and he had
to remain at his post, in the said east
gallery OF DR.. Leyburn's church, about
ten minutes longer than he had wished.
But he did not regret the delay, because
he was well entertained by the expla-
nation Of good orthodox doctrine, touch
ing restitution, although he was previ-
ously, in theoretical sense, pretty well
posted. in regard to that particular
branch Of dogma. Moody is no ordina-
nv man, although he lacks finish and
education, norris he natural born orator.
He seems TO have made a regular study
of simplicity and earnestness, and to
have completely ignored the vehement
style Of pulpit oratory, which has be-
come 80 common, aud is so very dis
tasteful 10 the great majority of Those
who are looked upon as exemplars Of
decorum and good taste. In doing this.
you must not suppose he has taken his
place by the side Of those cold, phleg-
matte preachers. who ascend their pull
pits at regular stated times and deliver
themselves, as il it were an unpleasant
task, Of prepared and written out dis
course, full OF common place generali-
ties and piatitudes, dressed up in well
regulated English and Bible quotations,
all Of which have about as much effect,
and no more, upon their hearers, as
would the splashing of little cold wa
ter on Q ducks back. Moody speaks
plain vernacular, and calls things by
their right names, and never says per-
version Of the truth, when he means a
lie, or q diviation from strict honesty,
when he means steal. He does not
seem to agree with the eminent French
man, who said, that language was in
teaded to convey what one did not mean.
but looks upon II as an invention for q
very opposite purpose. His figures Of
speech are generally very forcible and
opposite, and are so plain that the or
binary man Of business can grasp and
appreciate them without any study or
reflection. This 10 great forte with
him, and might almost be said, 10 be his
chief attraction. Men are naturally
pleased when they can easily under
stand preacher, and are willing to al
low him to be ranked as truly great, be-
cause they have no difficulty in keep
ing up with and understanding him. II
is something the ordinary or average
intellect is not much used 10. and there
fore is something Of a treat. So far as
your correspondent is informed, Moody
only once touched on debatable or con-
| troverted ground, and that was, regard