Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-01-24
SABBATH READING.
Mr.. Moody Says Many Families
Are Not Reached by
the Church.
4 NEW TRAINING SCHOOL.
The Evangelist Thinks That ministers
Are Often Educated Aluay From
the People,"

Mr.. Dwight L. Moody, speaking of
the recently published article over the
signature of the Rev. d. r. Breed,
says it is in the same line as number
OF other criticisms by representatives OF
various denominations, and that Mr.
Breed is laboring under misappre-
hension. Concerning his plan for Chris
tian work, Mr.. Moody continued:
"I found hundreds of families in
cities like this, never coming in contact
with churches or their representatives.
The bulk of our church members are
taken up with their own household and
business cares, and unless some per-
sons are set apart and trained for this
work, I do not see how it can be done.
It seems to me that we ought to havela
corps of men and women who shall
make this their business, as is already
done in the Church of England.
My idea is not to originate new
church enterprises, but rather to fill up
the present churches. Men who fire.
quent saloons and such places will
never be reached by Sunday meetings.
Even if they strayed into such meet
ings, any impression which is made is
all dissipated before next Sunday. If
we are are going to reach these classes
we must have some places open every
day in the week. There is class of
people that practically have no homes,
and they go out IN the evening into
some places where they have genial
companions and amusement. This isa
source of vice and crime. My thought
has been to establish places of meeting
open every night for these people, where
they might find some uplifting inhu-
ence. Then they will find their way to
the churches.
"There is far more demand for
trained lay workers than is commonly
apprehended. This mornings mail
brought me eight applications for such
workers, and could place fifty if / had
the proper persons to recommend"
"What studies do you propose shall
be pursued in your .training-school?"
asked the reporter.
Mainly three. First, I shall aim to
have given sufficient knowledge of the
English Bible; so faras may be, prac-
teal mastery of it, Second, 1 would
have workers trained in everything that
will give them access practically to the
souls of the people, especially the neg
lected classes. Third J. would give a
great prominence to the study Of music,
both vocal ard instrumental. I believe
that music is one Of the most powerful
agents either for good or for evil.
"How are the workers to be main
tanned while they are in the school?'
There are few people who have de-
veloped any fitness for Christian serv-
ice who have not either some means of
their own or some friends who would
be glad to assist them in obtaining
higher fitness, OF whom the churches to
which they belong would not willingly
assist for a time by their gifts, in quail
flying themselves for a life Of service I
see no practical difficulty in the way of
their support any more than in the way
of trained nurses"
what is your idea of affording
women equal facilities with men for this
work?"
II have found women to be equally as
effective workers as men. Women can
only reach women in many cases. Be.
sides this, great many Of these women
will become the wives of Christian men
and be mothers of children, and can be,
in their way, better helps to their hus-
bands and better trainers OF their chill
dren by the education for Christian
work which they received in this
school,"
"What did you mean by saying that
the ministers are often educated away
from the people?'"
THAT there is large class of the
community whom the ordinary educated
minister does not and cannot reach. For
instance, there is large class of me-
chanics: they are busy through the day
and cannot be seen except at their
shops. In the evenings they go to the
saloons and places Of amusement. None
of the churches reach them. Since
they will not go into the churches let lis
go into the highways and hedges and
SO COMPEL them to come in. Again
there is large class OF mothers in such
city as this, who, if they are to be
reached at all, it must be by carrying
the gospel to them and by cottage meet
ings in their homes.'
Did you mean any assault upon the
educated ministers, as such?"
Not at all. Ibelieye,they have their
place and are necessary to church life
and growth. But there is class Of peo-
pie whom no man can reach success
fully. except one Of their own number.