Morning journal and courier., 1885-08-12
THE MOODY MEETINGS.

The Great Kvangelist's Northfield
 HOme-His Summer WOrk-Glimpse
 of The COnventiOn-His Schools For
 Girls Their History EPttomized
 M0Ody,s Philanthropy MT. Hiram
 Camp,s Generous Gift And The School
 For Boys-A $1,OO0 Gift From New
 Haven Just Received.
 NoRTHFIELD, Aug. 1O.-Northheld, the birth place and home of Evangelist Moody, is one of the most beautiful of the Massa- chusetts hill towns. MT. Moody never tires of praising it's beauties and pointing them out to his visitors. Up to the time of MOO dy's return from England in 1875, after his first great work in that country, the religious sentiment was strongly Unitarian, and Mr. Moody's nearest relatives were members Of the village church. Many refused to hear him preach, and for some time, while thou sands were crowding his tabernacles in the great cities, those who next to his own wife and children were dearest to him could not be induced to listen to him or his message; but little by little their scruples were over come and they were won to the orthodox faith. With them have come many of the substantial citizens of Northfeld, and to-day the Congregational church is in most flour ishing condition, while the Unitarian church is depressed and struggling.
 The schools for young ladies and boys which have sprung into existence as if by some magicians wand during the past five years have added much to the i'm portance of Northfeld. The first building was erected in the summer of '79 and was the result of desire of MT. Moody that young girls members of families with small mear x, might enjoy the advantages of their more favored sisters in the more important educational institutions, with the addition of most thorough Christian training. It is an interesting glimpse of his character to note the way the idea of the school for girls first came to him. He had returned to Northfield after his years work, and we all know how he works. He might justly be entitled to rest but he felt that he must do some thing among the poorer families scattered about ill the back hills, and day after day was spent in visiting among them. He often met bright young girls of splendid health, daughters of good New England farmers whose scanty earnings from their rocky farms forbade any advantages to their children MT. Moody's great heart was touched with Il longing to grotify the ambition of these girls to cultivate their minds and to put them in n position in which their strength and talents might be used for the good of the world. So the school was begun, but in a small way. The first building was used as recitation hall and MT. Moodys house was turned into dormitory. The applications were so numerous that the woodshed was partitioned off into small rooms and filled with young women. But appe als for admission came from all parts of the country, and these increased when it be- came known that MT. Moody charged only $100 year for board and tuition and that the right sort of girl could come for noth ing if she did not havs the $100. Mir. Moody's rich friends came to his aid, with the resul, that three magnificent buildings now crown the hills just back of the house in which MT. Moody was born And ample accommoda tions are provided for two hundred and more young girls. These buildings, with the three hundred and fifty acres of land, are worth not far from $250,000. One day after the girls school was started, Hiram Camp, of New Haven, was visiting MT. Moo. dy; y;.soo. o- a,uo o COX mn ,, Camp,' said Moody, land we will have a school for boys like this for girls.''
 MT. Camp thought about it and agreed to the proposition. In few weeks the school was under way, and to-day it has grown into splendid institution with 80 boys and young men as pupils, and new buildings are in course of erection which, when finished, will furnish accommodations for 300 youths. The farm of the Boys school contains 300 acres When the new buildings are complet- ed the property will be worth about $500, 900. These schools are unique and most valuable institutions. The young men and women in them of the right kind. Great care is used in selecting only the best from the c;owds of applicants. If few weeks ex perience proves boy or girl to be not what was expected, they are sent home and room is made for others I saw some of the boys two years ago and spent a week with them in the school. I was interested to see them in my present visit and note the change in them It seemed to me that this change would be good test as to what the school could do They have developed into manly young fellows, who are entrusted by MT. Moody with much of the work of caring for the visi tors at this convention. The improvement is marked If the New Haven gentleman who has just sent MT. Moody check for $1 GOO could see them as have he might send other check He certainly would not regret his good work.
 But in all this about the schools must not forget this great convention. The num- bers remain about the same, but the interest is increasing It would do any minister in the country good to be present during these ten days. The chief benefit, think, would come from the way in which they would see these Christian workers use the scriptures. Their knowledge of the Bible is simply won derful.
 Every ouotation-and there are hundreds of them brought out every day-is most apt and seems to fit into the subject under con sideration. Yesterday there were four sermons. two in the morning by Drs. Pierson and Cor don and two in the afternoon by G. 0. Needham and MT. Moody. To-day Is given np to "sorvice" tp which many workers from afl parts of the world gill give points and fncts about their various methods of work
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