Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-16

i, 1885.
TALKS BY MIR. MOODY.
Opening Of the Convention At the Con-
RreSatiOnal church.
A LARGE ArrENDAScE-cIERGYMk WHO WE'RE
PREsKNT-MR- MooDY's IDEAS OF HOW TO CAPTURE
NON CHuRCH-GcKRS, &C.
"The convention OF Christian workers" conducted
by D. l. Moody, was opened to-day at the Congre-
gational church. The first session was announced
TO begin at 10 O'Clock, but people commenced TO
present their tickets at the door as early as 9
O'Clock, and the corps Of ushers was busily en-
poyed from that hour until after 10 o'clock Nearly
every one who came, and majority OF those pres
ent were ladies, brought copy OF the Gospel
hymns A large stage.was built out from the plat
form, on which seats were placed for the ministers.
Back OF them and In the choir loft were seated the
members OF the choir, over one hundred In num-
per- led by Mr. Frank Wilson A few minutes be-
lore 10 O'Clock the choir began singing selections
from the Gospel hymns. AL that hour every seat
10 tne large church floor and galleries were filled
During the singing the ministers marched In single
nle 10 the platform and took their seats
Mr.. MOODY on THE PLATFORM.
few minutes later, Rev. Dr. Bartlett emerged
from the door OF the pastors room, followed by a
stout gentleman, with large round head closely
cropped hair, and rather full brown beard. tinged
with gray. This gentleman clasped a book in his
hands He was conducted by Dr. Bartlett to the
sofa placed behind the reading desk at the front OF
the platform. When the singing ceased, this gen.
tiemen, who was d. l. Moody, snapped his eye
glasses upon his nose; rose to his feet, opened a
little book. and when every one was on up-toe to
see what he would say, remarked, 1.-TWO hundred
and sixty-Second hymn. We will sing while the
friends are coming in."
When this hymn had been sung Mr.. Moody an
nounced the 370th hymn.
Bringing in the Sheaves' 1t is simple, We Shall
Come Rejoicing Bringing in the Sheaves' Why It
will sing ITSELF If you just give 1t chance II you
can't get the right tune. get as near to 1t you
can, but sing something"
When one StanZa had been sung, MI Moody held
up bis hand, remarking: "Thats very well for the
choir, but why don't you sing. There's q lady
down there" he said, motionng towards the center
OF the church, ''who didn't sing at all" Then Mr.
another, saying "Let us see who can sing it best"
Then he had the galleries sing In competition
against the body OF the church. Then he gave out
another spirited hymn in the same manner, so that
oy the time he was ready TO open the regular pro-
ceedingS the assembly had sung itself into an ex-
cellent humor. Mr.. Moody then gave out the con-
secration hymn, No 12s. After this was sung an
invocation was offered by Rev. Dr. Bullock and Sc
lections were read by Rev. DR.. s K. Cox from the
tenth chapter OF Romans
Mr. MooDY's OPENING DISCOURSE.
Another hymn, and Mr.. Moody then arose. he
began to speak in an easy, conversational STYLE
saying that the object OF these conventions was to
bring up these practical questions getting all the
light possible upon them without long essays The
question to be brought up first was the theme SHOW
going to speak OF churches that have star preach
ers-men who can draw the crowds He wanted to
speak OF a great many churches whose preachers
dld not have the drawing power. He suggested
revolutionzing and changing the forms OF services
giving more importance TO song, &C. He talked on,
pastor who was not a brilliant preacher could In
terest people In the church.
HIGH PEW RENTS
He referred to the system of charging high rents
for pews, which, he said, threatened to crowd poor
men out Of the churches. He spoke OF the embar-
rassment he had often experienced In going into q
church and having somebody come into the pew
and lock at him very hard. 81 heard good thing
the other day." he remarked. IA man went to his
pew and found stranger there He took good
wrote on it 4 hire this pew and handed it to the
stranger. The stranger wrote DO you! What do
you pay for it?' and handed it back. The owner or
the pew wrote, pay SIS for it, The stranger then
wrote, Its good pew. and think 1t is worth it,
There are not many people, though. added Mr..
Moody, "cool enough for that"
RECOGNIZING FRIENDS IN BEAvEN-AND ON EARTH.
In another church he said the preacher delivered
sermon On recognizing friends In heaven. A man
who was in the church said 81 hope he will preach
next Sunday on recognizing friends on earth.
have been in this church six years, and no one has
ever recognized me yet"
He advised having hand-shaklng committee at
the doors OF the churches HespOke altogether about
fifteen minutes, talking very rapidly, and then
closed by giving out hymn.
The question was then taken up and briefly dis
cussed by Rev. Messrs. Bartlett, Faunce and But
Ter, and Mr.. Harding and other gentlemen. Mr..
Moody closed the discussion with a very interest
ing talk. describing his earliest experiences in get
ting up meetings and getting persons Interested.
After song and prayer by Mr. Moody
THE SECOND QUESTION,
"HOw to Promote Spiritual Life in the Churches" !"
was opened by Bishop E. G. Andrews.
Bishop Andrews spoke about ten minutes. After
a hymn and prayer Mr. Moody took up the SUBJ
Ject. treating 1T In his usual style. What they
wanted to-day were men and women who were
have much respect Tor border Christians who lived
80 near the world that one could not tell the differ
ence The world doesn't have confidence in these
men. The world knows that there ought to be
difference. People were
AFRAID OF BEING CALLED PECULIAR,
but there must be some peculiar men. When God
wanted anything done he picked out peculiar
man. He did not doubt, If they could go back to
the Old antediluvian days and ask the people OF
that time what they thought OF Enoch, they would
say: "Oh, he is a good man, but very peculiar
man." He said he did not fear the inf1dels who
were going up and down lecturing against Christi
anity half so much as he did the cold Journalism
and lukewarmnesS OF Christians
After singing MIR. Moody announced that the
SupJeCt vi HIS dUuftoo dC elItc OCiOCk luis 0Iter-
noon would be assurance" and this evening 1.-The
Spirit Of God for Service"
THE CLOSING PRAYER MEETING
At few minutes to twelve prayer meeting was
opened by singing the hymn "Sweet Hour OF
Prayer" while those who did not care to remain
were leaving the church. Very few, however.
LEFT Rev. +. d. Power offered the opening prayer,
and was followed by Rev. Jos. r. Kelly.
Mr Moody read "a few verses from the S3d chap
ter OF Ezekiel and gave short informal talk about
prayer. He referred to Moses and Elijah as the
two great praying men of the Old Testament. He
spoke OF Elijah as carrying the key Of Heaven in
his pocket for three years and six months, that
they could not get drop OF rain or dew. The
third great man OF prayer OF the Bible was Paul
After prayers by several OF the clergymen present
unable to attend the meeting on account OF a cold
requested prayers for his church and congregation
He then led the assembly in prayer, which included
O petition in behalf of the church OF the absent
minister. He concluded by asking a benediction
and at 1890 p. N. the gathering was dismissed.
STIRRING THEM Up.
After the meeting Mr. Moody said to a SrAR
that he regarded this as a very good be-
ginning. "Christian life gets sluggish" he said
"Christian life is Ike political life 1t needs STIR
ring up now and then.n One OF Mr. MOOdys audi
tors this morning was his daughter, young lady
who is visiting In Baltimore, but who came over to
day especially to attend the service.
WHAT MR. MOODY SAYS OF THE RICHMOND MEETING.
Mr. Moody expresses qualification at the success
Of his meetings In Richmond Notwithstanding the
hostility raised against him by publication that
he had In a sermon compared the confederate Gems
Lee and Jackson with the devil Mr. Moody denied
this statement publicly. but still q great many