New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-27

urs a the Holy Spirit may direct" while the
love Of many is waxing cold" he says, and the
unity of the faith is disturbed by conflicting
voices and strange doctrine in these perlous
times we do we'll to give earnest heed TO the
warning words Of Christ, uttered with seven-fold
emphasis: He that hath an ear, let HIM hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Never
before have there been so many applications from
those who desire Communion, refreshnent and
rest" But as it has always been found possible
to accommodate the crowd however great it may
have been, there is doubt that all who come
will find hearty welcome awaiting them and
accommodations nearly desirable as the time
of their applications would warrant.
THE SPEAKERS AT THE CONFERENCE.
A programme for q Mortified conference is
thing unknown. but Mr.. Moody has announced
that the first Tuesday will be given up to foreign
missions and that on the following day there will
be addresses on home missions, especially city
generalization number of speakers
nounced, but no one. with the possible exception
Of Mr. Moody, knows the day the hour when
they will be called upon. Among them is the Rev.
DR. F. B. Meyer, of London, we'll and favorably
known in this country through his writings; DR..
a. J, Gordon, of the Clarendon Street Baptist
Church of Boston; DR.. Russell H. Conwel, DR..
Arthur T. Person. and Dr. L. w. Munhan, all OF
ley Street Baptist Church of Boston Major d. w.
Whittle and the Rev. A. R. Torrey, superintendent
of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. There
will doubtless be as many more selected from the
visitors at the conference. for any man who comes
10 Mortified with a message, whether he expects
TO deliver it not is drafted into the service by
the leader, whose slightest wish no ever thinks
of disregarding, During this conference Mr.. San
key and his friend Mr. Stcbbins, will lead the
singing. Mr.. and Mrs Stebbins have Just returned
from India, where they went to help DR.. PentecOst
start his evangelistic mission. After seeing this
work successfully begun, the singing evangests
made tour of the Empire with Bishop Thoburn
and others.
After the conference adjourns there will be
Bible lecture every day through the summer, so
that those who wish TO rest and study may do SO
1t is Mr. Moody's intention 10 perfect arrangements
SO that the church building at Mortified will be
open every day the year round, and he hopes that
his example will be followed by many other
churches lie sees no reason why thousands of
dollars should be spent for church edhces that
used only two or three hours week. He does
not think that any business enterprise conducted
on such principles would continue long, and while
be believes in having good deal more religion in
business than he sees to-day, he would be very
glad 10 have a little more business in religion.
Mr. MOODY'S EARLY STRUGGLE.
The story of Mr.. MOody's early life has not often
been told but it is generally known by those who
visit Mortified that his aged mother, now in her
eighty year, is still living at the old home
with one of her sons, and still shows much of the
energy that carried her through great difficulties
half a century ago. Mrs. Betsey IIoten Moody,
or as she is known by the students. Grandma
Moody" was born in Northfeld. and on the death
of her husband, Edwin Moody, she was left on
little mortgaged farm 10 support her nine children
With Characteristic courage and determination
She maintained the home and kept the little ones
together until the sons in turn could assist her III
this task Her family and that of her husband
came of old Puritan stock, their ancestors beng
among the earliest settlers of Massachusetts. Mr..
Moody owned a comfortable farm house and a few
acres Of land, and when the building trade was
brisk he worked as a stone mason spending his
leisure hours in cultivating his little farm lie
died suddenly in ls4l, when his son Dwlght was
Tour years DID, and the shock of that bereavement,
he SAID, made an impression upon his young nina
which has never been efiaced. The death OF the
father was followed by the birth OF twin boy
and girl few weeks later. Thus Mrs. Moody was
burdened by the care of seven sons and two daugh-
tiers, her eldest child being a son only seventeen
years old.
When the present evangelist was seventeen years
old lie left Mortified, with his mothers Dernis-
sion, 70 seek employment in Boston, where his
uncle was in business as a shoe merchant. Mr.
Holten engaged his country nephew with some re-
luctahce. and on two conditions: The lad agreed
10 be governed by his advice and 10 attend regn-
larly the Sunday-school and services of the Mount
Vernon Congregational Church. His pastor was
the eloquent and learned DR. f. n. Kirk, himself
q successful evangelist. Mr. Moody believes that
hand picked fruit is the best and it is not surpris
ing. therefore, TO read that he was not greatly
impressed by the sermons, but was converted
through the personal efforts of Edward Kimball,
his Sunday school teacher The seed thus sown