Morris tribune., 1884-01-09
EVANGELIST MOODY.
A Prominent Minister Gives an
Analysis of the Noted
Revivalist.
chicago Tines.l

EChicago Times.1
A prominent divine and an intimate per-
sonal friend of Mr.. Moody contributes the
following interesting sketch of the distin-
guished evangelist: Mr.. Moody, the chief
speaker in the late convention, is a Chi, ago
production. In his physique thoroughly
healthy and nervous; eager and pronounced
in opinion, and withal possessed of large
amount of good mother wit, he is bound
to carry through anything which he under
takes Twenty three years ago the writer
knew him as a ''worker'' ON the north
side, and indeed all over the city.
Then he was a flame of fire, and
he has not cooled single degree since At
that time wild and anti-church in his senti-
ments he was not an unmixed blessing to the
Chicago clergy. He is well remembered as
riding about on shaggy pony, with an old
cap pulled over his eyes, and electrifying an
audience many time in spite of his litter
acy. He has achieved the wonder Of becoming
Intelligent and consecrated and at the same
time keeping his heat. He has fairly broken
out a niche for himself in history st. Ber-
nard, Francis d'Assisi, and Tavanarola are
no more sure of being known by the future
students Of the Christian church than Dwight
envy Taylor, Robert Hall, and scores of emf
nent preachers have blazed out away along
the line OF Christian prayers. Moody belongs
to another order. Without education, a man
of the masses, he has swept the British isles
and this country, and aroused religious faith
with success which rivals the first period of
the apostolic age. After SO wide success it
could not be otherwise than that he should be
trifle peremptory, and sometimes dicta-
torial, and it is only surprising that he is not
more so. He is modest, and, on the whole.
quite considerate of those whose field is more
narrow, and he keeps in mind his dependence
on the good will and sympathy of the
clerical body. As is true with every
healthy and severe mind, Moody, to
the surprise of some Of his followers
of the morbid type, has an eye for
the humorous side of Christian work. His
quick common sense was illustrated when he
worked in Chicago in 1876. In the heat of
zeal, the theme being 'The Abandoned
Classes" a widely-known worker" proposed
from the platform of the tabernacle that the
young men of the Christian association put
by their scruples and go forth to reclaim the
fallen women of the town. God would go
with them, he said, as he closed his earnest
appeal Up rose Mr.. Moody: "No, no;
that won't do! Let the women go after their
unfortunate sisters" That ended the debate.
At that time the vouchers for miracles found
no opening for their wonderful stories.
Moody had hardly left town before the Far.
well hall meetings had on record some of the
most wondrous events. His method Of han
Hing men is well shown in the case of
the young man who came to him in
great despair-real, and not feigned. The
world had gone wrong with him, and he had
settled on suicide. "Good," said Moody,
sflet's think about it" 1t was about II in the
evening t'Let's pray awhile, and then if
you think that suicide is the best thing, per-
haps Pl help you along" The suicide col
lapsed. Once brother talked quite warmly
about praying all night. 'tBosh," said
Moody, 81 can do all my praying in ten min
utes." He told story on Wednesday last
that illustrates his open eye, if so it may he
called. ''Street Preaching" was the theme
Don't put your third-rate men oryour good,
strong men who are not quick to make
a point on the street to preach. Why,
I knew frst-rate minister to
try it. There were two of them
went together. The first to begin was gvod,
able man, but he had hardly spoken dozen
words before fellow on the edge of the
crowd sung out: THE man who discovered
gas did more for mankind than all the
preachers that ever lived This set the crowd
a-laughing. The minister tried to go on, but
he couldn't, there was so much confusion,
and he sat down. The second got up, smiled,
waved his hand. Said he: Look here,
my friends; that man out there on the edge
of this crowd thinks gas is the greatest thing
in this world. Why, if he were a-dying he'd
be ascending round to find the gas man. Til
brought applause, and gave him the crowd"
Untaught as Mr.. Moody was at the start,
his printed sermons are no mean reading.
Indeed, there are few discourses that are
more worth putting into print than his.
Moody never makes mistakes He rode the
second hobby eight years ago, but he was
quite prudent and has let that drop. His
argument in favor of it was mainly: SIT
does good; it awakens men to think the Lord
is coming soon," an argument which is too
plainly fallacious to need refutation. He
started off once on the "Books Of Noses" and
said some very absurd things, which, if
true, would upset Christianity, but he
let go that string The books of Moses are a
kind of mauvais pas for any but scholarly
men. Even Rev. John Hail. if report be true,
was glad to recall an edition of popular
lectures, and DR.. Gibson just escaped-and
that by the advice of clerical friend-put-
ting into print what he might be only too
glad at some later time to unsay Mr.. Moody
has the good sense to know that his forte is in
arousing Christian sentiment and calling men
to repentance, and he rarely essays any other
role. 1t is enough for any man to be great in
one thing.