St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-12
PREPARING FOR MOODY.
Large Meeting of Pastors and Lay
men in Conference at the House
Of Hope.
Remarks by Bishop FOss on the Condition
Of the Churches in st. Paul and
Minneapolis.

The gathering at the House Of Hope last
evening was Of the pastors and laymen Of
the several orthodox churches and missions
OF St. Paul, with some attendance from Min
neapOlis, together with the Young Mems
Christian association Of our city, and it was
well attended. Tue object was a predatory
gathering prior to the advent of Mr.. Moody,
the evaeselist, in the twin cities, and
to gain information as to whether
the different religious denominations would
come together, leaving their seetarian gar
ments on the outside in a Christian conVen-
ton OF several days in this city, pertaining
to Mr.. Moody's opening revival work in the
two cities, with. every true Christians shOul-
der 10 the wheel.
Prayers were offered by Rev. DR.. S. G.
Smith, of the First Methodist church, and by
Rev. DR.. Breed, and the congregation sang
several familiar hymns. DIR. Breed
announced that preparatory devotional ser
vices would be held this morning in the
chapel Of the House of Hope, at 10 M, to
attendance upon which the pastors and lay
men Of all the churches were invited, and
also that Mr.. Moody would be present at
meetings this and tomorrow evenings, In
the audience room OF the church. Tickets
to these latter services would be issued by
the pastors OF the churches and the Y. NJ. C..
A association for the full seating capacity Of
tie house, but persons holding these tickets
would be required to be in their seats by7 :I5,
each evening, as at that hour
doors would be opened to those desiring
seats and without tickets. These meetings
d.. Breed designated as conference Of
the Christian workers OF the churches"
Rev. E. c. Evans, of the Pacific Congrega-
tionaI church, was introduced aud male
some very earnest remarks on the sympathy
Of Christian work and conservation
thereto. The question was, how
TO use the latent forces in the
churches and to get their members to under
stand that they were Employment officers, ~
by divine design instead of Zion rests from
work. With all their culture and education the
churches here had come to a standstill, not
from the lack Of force in their pulplts, but
from the lack Of Aarons and Hurs 10 work. II
was 4 wonderful provision Of God for man to
work 10 save the needy aud lost, and Jesus
himself came down to minister to those in
the world and TO save souls, thereby setting
men example. The reward of faithful work
for saving souls was also fairly dwelt upon
by the speaker.
DR.. Breed, then introduced Bishop Foss.
He asked the question, why was this couveu-
ton of Christian workers assembled with
their pastors in his union gatheringi It was
on account of the deep sense OF the present
NJ h. rr in,
northwest. He was no pesimists as to the
condition of the church, for it was advanc-
ing in all phases Of its work, and it had no
seeds of failure 10 its history In the past or
present Yet this meeting was an open
confession Of its needs, and its gathering to
welcome the setting foot of an illierate
lsyman in our midst, showed that
IL was not accomplishing here
what it ought We have smart men in our
pulpits. fne buildings aud audience rooms,
yet there are few sinners saved and back
slidings and apOstacies exceed the converted,
there are too few brought 10 the light in the
Sunday schools, the pews are half filed at
morning service and deserted at the evening
while there has been no widespread revival
here for many years. Worldly amusements
are beating up against these churches even
to the communion rails, sweeping fathers,
mothers, sons and daughters into darkness
and death, while scepticism and sin not
only rob our churches, but our family affairs
Of our relations aud friends. Four years OF
earnest study of the speaker as to the con-
dition of things In st. Paul aud Minneapolis
showed him that worldly gain, accum uls-
ton Of wealth and frivolous amusements
made the work of the church very hard, in
other words dead lift.
This Is why We are gathered 70 welcome a
man but forty-fiye years Of age who is fred
with christianity; man who at nineteen
years Of age was a swearing, illitsrate boy,
who could not read without stumbling on
the hard words, who from the moment of his
con version at that age through the spirit OF
God was transferred into flaming Evange-
list, learner at Jesus feet aud was well
coined far and near BY all wherever Christi
anity had foothold. This man made the
word Of God, as embodied In the scriptures,
his chief aud perpetual study. He pondered
and prayed over II for truth aud light upon
his knees, and prone upon his face until 1t
was wet with tears. and he extracted from 1t
the sweetness and honey, like the bee
going down into the petals
of the honeysuckle to come out
and dispense its sweetness and breathe il
:nto the ears of others. On high authority
luc speaker sAlu VT. AOOuE ndu nOI Teaus
over fifty other books in his life, and that
fact was something for ministers TO think Of,
who thought to get at men with forts aud
earthworks OF theology and philosophy, when
quick shots from rifle were needed.
The theology Of Mr.. Moody was that all
sinners, including gamblers and hariots, had
enough Of the st. John the Baptist God In
their hearts to be Immediately sum
moned aud saved-the theology
which converted the jailer after midnight,
baptized him and took him into the church
before the morning dawned.
He (the speaker did not plead for a Wild
FIRE Of conversion, but be wanted fire that
would warm the Christian churches, bring
out large and thoughtful congregations to
listen to the old Christian revival truths.
The word revival meant the turning Of men
In masses to God. Moody's belief was in
quick conversion under the power OF the
Holy Spirit, and attend to the wounded and