Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-08
Mr.. 'MOODY'S SUCCESS.
GREAT CROWDS TO HEAR HIM.

Il
| GREAT CROWDS TO HEAR HIN
Hundreds or People Turned from the Armor
Dsers Unable TO Get Admit,anee--The sei
mons.
| Yesterday afternoon being the frs
day Of the series Of meetings when
has not been raining, il seemed eyiden
that there would be crowd at the al
ternoon service as well as at night.
Accordingly. by 2 o'clock the peopl
begun to pour in, and by 2:3O the hous
was packed-platform and galleries
and standing-room, as well as all Of tn
seats on the floor.
All classes were represented. ant
there were noted in the vast thronI
representatives Of every profession
every condition, and every creed.
A number Of visiting ministers hav'
come in, many active laymen from al
parts of the State are here, and tn,
meetings have become truly representa-
tive not only of the city but Of the State
Not only men but number of ladie:
stood during the service. Large crowd:
were turned away from the hall, and il
is believed that it would be easy tc
pack hall five times as large.
The acoustics of the hall has been
greatly improved by putting up muslin
curtains and soundiils.bosrd, and the
annoying echo has been destroyed.
During the devotional exercises Rev.
W. L. Evans, of the Park-Placc NethO.
dist church, and Rev. j. WI. 3led.
soc led in prayer.
THE SERMON.
Mr.. Moody, read as his text the
first eight verses Of the twenty-fifth
chapter of Genesis, making very inter
esting and pungent comments as he
read, and saying that these verses OF
the twenty-fifth of Genesis should be
read in connection with the parable OF
the talents in the twenty-fifth of Mat
thew, as they teach the same lesson.
The theme he deduced was /: Work
for every Christian in proportion to his
talents and opportunities"
God wants heart-seryice, and fire.
quantity uses the weakest vessels for
his purposes.
Not a man in all Of Saul's army
whom God could not use, but only the
STRIPPING David realized that he could
meet Goliah.
Moses and his rod was used to illus
trate how God can link his power to the
weakest things.
A free-thinker would have sneered at
the rod; ; but there was power in it to
work mighty miracles; so Joshua be-
fore the walls of Jericho, Sampson
going out against the Phiistines with
the ,jawbone of an ass, and other incl
dents Of the Scripture, were very vivid
ly used TO enforce the lesson Use what
YOU have. and God will bless.
Call nothing small which God blesses.
He drew n vivid contrast between the
" two mites " ofthe poor widow and the
large contribution of the Hon. Mr.. Levi
given to the temple service. The latter
might have been praised among the peO-
pie, but Jesus has written Immortality
on the simple gift of this poor woman.
And so Mary did "what she could "
in bringing her alabaster box to anoint
the Master, and the sweet perfume of
that ointment fingers in the world to-
day, and its fragrance will never cease.
So he earnestly urged each one must
do his duty and every one seek 10 meet
his individual responsibility. He pitied
the man who had not enjoyed the sweet
luxury of leading a soul to Christ. and
he earnestly appealed to every Christian
present to see if he cannot, during the
next week, be instrumental i'll the con-
version of at least one.
He told touching story of teacher
who was watching for souls" and
who was instrumental i'll the conversion
of wealthy and accomplished young
lady who became an earnest and most
successful worker for Christ-giving up
her Saturday afternoons in order that
she might teach and lead to Christ a
street waif. And we must work from
the right motive, just as Mrs. Com
stock, the missionary, did when giving
up all of her children to be sent back
to America she fell on the deck of the
vessel to say, "Oh, God this do for
Christ's sake"
lie closed with powerful appeal to
all Christians to go home and work for
the salvation of their friends.
Mr.. Moody, Rev. DR.. Read, and
Rev. W. W. Landrum led in prayer.
Mr.. Moody made talk on the con-
iitions on which God answers prayer.
If | regard iniquity in my heart
God will not hear me-" If | fail to
forgive my brother He will not hear.
4 church difficulty will stop the bless
ng.
IF Gods Word abides in us, He will !
hear. If we ask for right things, and |
lsk in a spirit of submission to Gods |
will. and realizing that God knows best
md will choose for us best, He will |
near. God did not answer the prayer |
,f Moses that he might go into Canaan.
because He loved him too well for that, |
md meant to honor His servant by |
1urying him Himself. and giving him |
nigh place near the throne and great |
honor in the ages.
He would not answer the prayer of
Elijah that he might die under the juni- |
1er-tree, because he had grmder things |
or his servants than that ignOble end.
And Just as the loving father with
ioldS from his child the razor or other
dangerous implements. so our Father
who art in heaven will treat us.
Last Night.
The people begun to enter the hall at |
o'clock; at 6:30 they were pouring |
n; at a quarter to every seat was
aiken, and long before the hour for ser
ice the standing-room was all occupied,
nd disappointed crowds were turning
way from the door.
1t is an interesting sight to watch
he eagerneSS of the vast crowds to Sc |