Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-16
MOODY AND SANKEY IN PARIS.
French Audiences.
Correspondence New York Sun.

Correspondence New York Sun.
PARIS, Nov. Lone hestates to refer to these
gentlemen as one hesitates to speak of "Pina-
fore, or that recent event in Philadelphia which
commemorated the anniversary of our republic;
but when one meets them anew in Paris, con-
Quoting their importunate services under the
shadow OF the Louvre, they borrow fresh in
| terest from their homogeneous surroundings.
1t is not that the gospel has not been heard be-
fore in the light-hearted capital, or that it had
not been urged upon the people from time to
| time at the point Of the bayonet as well as by
the no less instantaneous methods Of these zeal
Gus workers; but when q stranger, sauntering
from the gardens of the Luxembourg, comes
| upon bevy Of his countrymen laboring in con-
version, the contrast strikes him.
For the past two weeks English meetings
have been held at the American ana Wesleyan
chapels, and reuniCus Franchises rOratOire.
rue Saint-Honore; and as usual in America,
these meetings have been crowded, not only by
the Engiish-speaking people, but by the French.
Mr.. Moody In Paris is identical with Mr.. Moody
In Chicago. He addresses his audience with
the simple fervOr Of old, telling the same
stories. He bids the audience in the aises
come forward with the same familiar and COLO
quail address, and as he closes his sermon his
tones quaver with the emotions Of '73; while Mr.
sankey reaches as bravely as ever for the high
vest in the HippOdrOme in '76, where thousands
Of troubled faces we're turned toward the dis
tant and hazy speaker, and the front rows
were ranged three deep with women in black
holding ear trumpets under their moarning
weeds, the fervOr of these assemblies has waned
though their numbers are fairly maintained
There are now no inquiry rooms, and not
many are presenting themselves at the anxious
seat to see what will turn up. There are
no means, few tears, and the general burden
n hAro fv,
borne.
To casual visitor the small red-canopied pull
pit occupied by Mr. Moody on Sunday last
seemed the only closet in the city whence inter-
cessions were sent above the chimney pots and
the Column VendOme, and the only closet
wherein an anxious soul wrestled In serious
concern for its serene comrades. The gas was
lighted in the middle Of the afternoon in the
American chapel, and during the hour of the
services 1t strove TO aid the rays from the
stained windows in lighting the sombre interior
where few hundred Americans joined In pro-
longing the faith of their fathers Outside the
shops were all open. the boulevards thronged.
lnnumerable wheels trundled their ruffed
freight In the Bots de BoulOgne. and the too
happy Frenchmen, fresh from the gardens, sang
on the tops of the omnbuses. Here and there
in the city a cathedral was Open and devout
Catholics dropped in and out: but between these
points good deal of the business and more
than the pleasure of the week went on The
slim young men and the stout old men sat drink
Ing their wine and looking with the common
beatitude at the monuments which Paris has
everywhere erected to her glory And while
Mr.. Moody preached one could hear the work.
men engaged in tearing down large house
across the street, and shouting to the passers-by
to beware of the falling bricks.
The assembly at the Oratoire in the evening
was OF a different character. This is one OF the
oldest Protestant churches in the city, and the
pulpit whichis on one side, is nearly on a level
with its galleries. The audience was French
and of various social grades. from the ladies
and gentlemen in the center to the laborers in
oyeralls and shirts who scowled with folded
arms near the entrance, and seemed uncertain
whether they were called in to build up or de-
moiish citadel The hymns Mr.. Sankey ac-
companied upon the cabinet organ were trans
lated into French and scattered in slips among
the congregation, while the sermon which was
in English, was translated then and there SEN
tence by sentence. by clergyman who shared
the pulpit with Mr.. Moody, and scattered his
utterances reverently among the people. 1t
made the services long and somewhat dis
jointed, but nevertheless. under this system,
they have been as successful in attracting num-
bers near the shades Of The Tuileries as they
were on their native soil.