The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-03-26
HOODY CONVENTION.
THE EIGHTH AVENUE RINK FILLED TO
OVERLOOKING
With People Eager to See and Hear
the Great Divine.

With People Eager to See and Hear
the Great Divine.
Mr.. MOOdy's Opening Address Tues
day Morning.
Discussion of Various Topics of In
terest.
The EVANGELISM Views on the Topic
In Question.
The wheat may be there though the weeds
are tall"
When that vast assemblage which
gathered at the; rink building Tuesday
morning, corner of Eighth avenue and
Commercial street, had seated itself, all
eyes were turned steadily to the front.
Upon the platform were many ministers,
Of our own and from abroad. Two
organs stood near the edge. At
the right of these and behind
was the choir. This was led
by Prot. j. T. Plat and the voices were
assisted in addition to the organ by the
cornet Upon the left of the organs and
near the center Of the front portion of the
rostrum quietly and firmly sat a solid
looking gentleman, plainly dressed in
dark, business-like suit. A man ofmark-
ed physical development and OF portly
but sprightly bearing. His face was
strengthened by q full beard and
moustsches just slightly tinged with the
INIT streaks Of grey. The features Of
this gentleman were those Of 9 man in
terested and earnest In the work which
engaged him. Before he had spoken
he yet Impressed one with the idea that
he was q man of convictions that had
been firmly settled IN his own mind, and
had determined that those feelings and
conclusions should be shared to as great
degree as possible by those whom he
addressed. His firm eyes, a. they looked
over the multitude before him seemed to
speak as If they knew the subject that
had brought these people together and
had witnessed the successful results of
many years of labors for the extension of
Chrlst's work and the elevation OF
humanity. Mr.. Dwight L. Moody, the
evangelist, who Is recognized as the sub
ject OF these cursorY remarks, has the
elements Of q leader in his form, his
looks and his easy pastures. His slight
est actions indicated that he knew how
TO manage, that he had his work we'll in
hand and was always looking ahead to
be ready for what was to come. He
evidently practices in all his works that
which he tells to the people who come
to hear him upon his celebrations for
the preparations of the future and the
improvement of the present: "Be Ye al
ways ready"
This man,
THE MOVING SPIRIT
Of this convention, and the center about
which its success hovers, is well
known throughout every part Of this
country and through many portions of
the old world. He was born in little,
humble mountain home at Mortified,
Massachusetts,, forty-eight years ago.
His father died when the boy was but
four years old, but his early education
was intrusted to q noble
mother. whose energy, firm re-
solves and high instincts were
impressed upon q son whose later life
shows the powerful influence and great
force exerted by a good woman over
the career Of children she cherishes and
the offspring for whose welfare she
chooses her life work.
Mr.. MOody's early education was linn
tied. At about II he went to Boston,
entered q shoe store as sales
man and Joined the Congrega.
tional church, and gradually became
what men term good christian. In
1856 he became possessed with that west.
ern spirit, which an energy like his
seeks to develop 1t. He made Chicago
his home and soon became q jealous
home missionary, laboring principally
Il
OF his first acts was to secure q number Of
pews in the Congregational church and
make them q welcome place for young
men, He soon had Sunday school OF
his own, numbering thousand persons.
During the war he was a member of the
CHRISTIAN commission and at Its close
became city missionary Chicago, q
large church being built for the people
he gathered about him. In 1871 the
church was destroyed by the great fire
which also burned his own touse and its
contents.
Mr.. MoodY's works at Chicago attract
ed wide attention and there was de-
mand for his peculiar and effective ser.
vices everywhere. He responded to the
calls, uniting with him, the great singer
Ira d. SAnkeY. These two men attract
ed immense audiences everywhere they
went in this broad land. In 1878 they
both went to Europe, Mr.. Moody having
been In England before. Here
as IN the United States, they occasionet
great religious awakening In the cities
Of Great Britain. In 1875 Messrs. Moody
and Sankey returned to this country anC
again held those great, popular, religious
meetings. Mr.. Moody has continued
this work from year to year, nov
in America, now in Europe. having re
turned from his last tour abroad dur.
ing 1884. Lately Mr.. Sankey ha
Z. not been with him, having retired to tn,
quiet life his labors have earned and hi
health required. at his home in Penn
sylvania.
Mr.. Moody's style is q plain ant
straightforward one. He uses the COS
pei truths and the gospel stories In al
their simplicity. He teaches the masse
and yet holds by his earnestness and sin
certify men, women and children il
all classes OF society. He has that facul
ty, invaluable to one IN his position, @
inspiring confidence IN the hearts of hi
? hearers and carrying conviction to tn
/ minds of those who see and hear him.
This then, in the way of an imperfeC
and hasty sketch, will sequaint tn
reader with the history and association
: of the prominent Christian worker VIII
is now among US and whom Emporl
honors as a man whom Thousands an
thousands OF people at home and abroa
2 testify TO be one whose earnest Labor
j have brought lasting fruit that will G
dowR the long series of years to com
t sWeetening, Frightening and elevatir
= the lives of this and coming generation
/ For more than an hour previous to Il
regular opening exercises, crowds OF pc
pie came In gradually and quickly I'll
ing every available seat and occupyIr