New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-02
MR.. MOODY ATNoRTHFIELD
THE LARGEST CoNvoCATIoY THAT HAS
EVER BEEN HELD.
arr MoopY's PLANS FOR HIS CHICAGO IN
INsTITUTE-MINIsTERs NEEDED WHO CAN
REACH THE MASSES IN THE CITIES.


Mortified Mass, Aug. (Srcciall morrow fore
noon will open here the annual conference " con-
vocation as they call 1t, of Christian workers. Al
ready It promises TO be the largest in numbers which
has ever been held and II is expected that thousand
visitors will come 10 This little country town among
the Franklin County hills for the good they expect
10 get Every available lodging place has already
been secured and the hospitality of the people win
be taxed TO the utmost People come from all parts
OF this country TO attend tho convocaion and even
fiom across the solely for this purpose Among
the latter arc william Robinson who Is in charge of
the evangslstc work, whose headquarters is in Grub
bins Close In Edinburgh aud the Rev. DIS Yibson and
Hudson Taylor Of London. The opening meeting Will
be addressed by the Rev. Dr. Person, of Philade
phia but beyond that programme has been ar
ranged and speakers have been advertised Mr..
Moody tells that il Is their purpose TO take up
such subjects seem to be of most Importance at
tho time. In general the meetings will be given up
TO study of the Bible and 10 discussing plans oil
Christian work. and they will be continued for ten or
twelve days
The situation OF the seminary buildings and OF
tho Congregational Church in which the meetings
Will DO held is most delightful and 1t makes very
enjoyable summer vacation of a few days 10 aucho
this convocation provided, should add than II zoos
not rain almost continually, it has done for the
last four days. The chlrcb, which was built
to considerable extent through Mr.. M0odys lhuu-
ence stands high knoll just north of the mountain
brook which crosses the main street and commands
glorious view away down the beautiful valley OF inc
Connecticut River, far to the south Further norm,
somo ten minutes walk tho seminary buildings
from their grassy height on the east slope
of tho river, look away UP the valley TO the north
west, 1t separates the States of NewHampshIe
and Vermont Northfeld is ono OF the northern
tier of towns in the county and the seminary lies
very near the New-Hampshire line. At a little dis
tance in the foreground, looks up the valley,
L ebarf Viz NJ fle
OF tho AshuelOt Railroad coming FROM keene, N H.,
down TO South Vernon, VT, there to connect Win
the Connecticut River and the Now-London Northerh
systems going south and with the Central Vermont
10 the north and northwest. Beyond the bridge inc
undulating, forestcrowned hills crowd upon tho low
lying, cultivated meadows, gradually shutting them
from view. Peaks Of the Gseen Mountains rise 10
the clouds the distance, and the whole picture, with
meadow and river in the foreground and the massive
heights beyond, framed each side by the ever
lasting hills of Massachusetts, New Hampshire anu
Vermont, is most beautiful and grand. About The
seminary, too, everything IS lovely even IL the next
clause of the quotation is conceded Il" and only man
IS vile.' The grounds very expansive for COZ
lcgiate institution and would shame such campus
a. that al Yale or Harvard. They are undulating
and slope rapidly 10 the west, down 10 the level
meadow BY the river. They are kept well trimmed
and the drives have been laid out with the saying
In mind Curved Is the line OF beauty II Is evi
buildings OF This seminary for girls and of the COM
panion seminary for boys on Mount Hermon, across
the Connecticut River in the little town of GIL, that
Mr. Moody selected the sites because OF the beauty
and st.blmHy of tho landscape which IS commanded
from thelI heights The house in which he lives IS
just south OF the seminary grounds and his birth
place was about forty rods back of IT on tho HILL
Mr. sanley lives in the house next to the Unitarian
Church, near the station Professor Towner' the
singer has built him new house near Mr.. Moody's
and the house Of Sir Pcntecost, on the main street,
las piazyas fun OF women and children these summer
day.
Mr.. Moody is an easy man to approach and no i'm
presses one with his thorough business air and absorb
ing earnestness in his work 50 far could be seen
in a conversation upon the leading features of his
work and his plans for the future ho lacks conspicuous
ly that conceit and forhputtng of himself which Is
so common in our public men. Just now he is full
of his plans for his institution In Chicago, and
has no evangestc work laid out for the winter unless
81 IS in that city. For some two years Ire has been
WORKING for his seminary and now says that it
will be oren for students iE October next He IS man
who Is determined to get the best. He insists that he
must the most competent teachers IN the country
no matter how much they cost. Two buildings have
been erected. one for and one for women. at
cost Of 100000. Besides this. he has secured an
endowment of $4,000. With 200 students he es
mates that it will cost $4,000 year to the in
stitution. and the problem lie has to face now is
whore 10 raise the money beyond what has already
been guaranteed. Mr.. Moody is very particular re-
gardng the class of students who 10 be admitted
10 bis institution No trouble will be encountered,
he expects In getting students enough, but the Diff
Guilty will consist in getting those Of the right sort
All his effort IS bent to develop men and women for
Christian work. IL is not his object 10 give general
education, upon which basis the young man or
go into any of the professions, but his
whole purpose is TO got competent workers for the
fiqprT nj cifie Of TfOi
cordngy. there will be regular course of instruc
ton. Some students, he says, will develop moro in
six months than Others In two years. He does not
propose TO make regular groove, nc puts IT. and
break every bone in a mans body 10 make him fit it,
Men have been spoiled IN that way and he wants TO
develop them, not to spoil them. Some students he
will take TO Chicago from the boys and girls semi
naries here and others VIII be found in all parts Of
the country. Teachers and students of Just the type
he wants not common, but he expects 10 ind
them and thus TO organize tremendous force for
gospel work
Whatever special faculty a student has, that he
hopes TO develop. Hc would not spoil good car
penter 10 mako a poor minister. Each student IS TO
be given that sort Of training which will bring out
the special power he has ia work among the
Of the common people. II tho peculiar faculty
TO be for visiting the sick, then the training viii tend
particularly develop that. Should the gift be for
public speaking then that viii receive attention. If
II is for music, then trainer will try TO make the
student effective evangelist possible in tho
way of singing at public meetings. II # is probable
that the student Will be full of tact and helptnlDess
for people in their homes, then tho training win be
TO develop this power for use in house to house v
taton- Mr.. Moody believes tlat host of people in
the cities unable to go to the churches, and he
wants 10 develop faculty for visiting them In their
homes, and TO train up large number OF effective
workers in this field who VIII meet the great need.
These workers must be women for 1t is TO the women
IN the kitchens. women who tied al home, hope
less aud discouraged that thcir mission lies Such
visitors must be ready to render material service
syo help 10 the SICK child. or bring in the doctor
lend hand wherever aid seems TO be needed, ami
cheer I'D the cherries tenement. BY developing tho
tDcclal gifts OF his studensand his aim Is 10 secure
oh