The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1891-07-31

$3.50 GAAC&
house. Having been converted in Bos-
ton under the ministry Of the celebrated
Dr.. Z. ". Kirk and by him trained in
the sturdy Calvinism imbibed by DIR.
Kirk az Princeton, Mr.. Moody naturally
united with a church OF like faith In his
new home, where be began his great work
of saving souls. II may be both instruc-
tive and encouraging for some OF us TO
know that Mr. Moody's first efforts were
not very we'll received. Indeed, some of
his friends suggested that he could best
serve the Lord by silence. Time, how
ever proved their mistake. Suffice to say
that Mr. Moody was appreciated BY 9TH
ers, 80 that from a Sabbath school teach
er he became a city evangelist, leaving
the shoe trade and devoting his entiIe
time to his new work. His converts nat
nrally gathered round him, and he soon
found himself at the head of a DEVOTED
congregation OF $50 souls, for which a
house Of worship was soon erected. In
1871, the great fire, which in the end
proved so advantageous to Chicago, swept
away all the buildings connected with
DR.. Moody's labors. Although his peo-
pie were mostly the poor, Mr.. Moody was
not cast down. Erecting an immense
frame tabernacle for immediate use, he
began at once to plan for the erection Of
a permanent church building. He re-
sorted to the plan Of calling upon all the
Sabbath school children in the land to
contribute each a ''brick" in this good
cause. The response was hearty and
general, and the present commodious
building on the corner OF La Sale Street
and Chicago Avenue arose, ga noble
monument to child love and liberality."
To this building, accompanied by a
friend, l bent my steps on a recent Sab
bath afternoon, 1t is quite a large build
ing, 120x100 feet, built of brick and
painted red, with a low tower and belfry
at the corner of the two streets. II must
be confessed that externally it ia no very
progressing, and is more imposing in
the picture seen in the albums Of city
views than when seen with the eye; but
it is never theless very convenient, which
is more important, az a church "drawsn
more by the preacher than the building.
1t has nine rooms on the ground floor,
and an immense auditorium above, seat
ingswith the galleries $500 persons. BY
side windows and sky-light, excellent
ventilation and light is secured. The
circular form of the room and sloping
floors enables everyone to see the minis
ter, who stands before a slight desk on the
front Of a large platform, while behind
him with a reed organ and immense con-
cert grand piano, is seated a large choir.
On the wall above the pulpit on n side
Is printed in large letters the words,
"Christ died for our SINS" and on the
other side, "Christ rose for our justi6ca-
ton" These texts are Indicative OF the
evangelical preaching heard from this
pulpit. I noticed a block of desirable
pews reserved for strangers" On the
church bulletin at the entrance of the au-
ditorium, il q statement that "the church
was composed of the people, built by the
people and for the people" This was
evident from the general aspect of the
congregation, and indeed from the rather
plain appointments of the building. But
as I saw these Sons and daughters OF toll
gladly gathering TO hear the "joyful
sound" | was reminded of the words of
u Lord, pls ed above gifts and miracles
as the sublimest proof of the divinity of
His mission: ITO the poor the gospel is
preached" 1t was the hour for Sabbath
school exercises when we reached the
church. The main auditorium seemed
occupied by the primary department,
while several other departments were in
operation below. Polite ushers stood
ready to receive visitors, and from n of
these we learned that Mr.. Moody was in
Scotland. We decided then to attend the
bible class of Prof. Tory, who is coming
into some prominence now in connection
with Mr.. Moody's Bible Institute on
Pearson Street. He lectures every Sab
bath afternoon on the International Sun
day School lesson and has a class of $50
average attendance. The lesson for the
day being the quarterly "Review," he
gave what he called a "bible reading"
but what was in reality a gospel sermon
on the plan of salvation. IT was very
much after the style of Mr.. Moody's adj
dres SEES, presenting the sublimest truths
in the simplest manner, Astounding In an
ecdotes and illustration, warm, pointed
sticking to the word of God at every step,
and closing with a pressing personal APP
plication. From references to history
archaeology and his travels, Prof. Torrey
Is evidently a man of education and cul-
ture. The singing throughout the SER
vices was excellent, the prayers natural
and earnest, and we felt fully repaid Tor
our visit. From the size of Prof. Torrey's
bible class, we were prepared to learn that
the entire school numbers over 1000 peo-
pie. Some years age. the membership OF
the Society was 400 persons, but it is
probably much larger now. 1t is congre-
gational in government, although hold |
ing no connection with any denomination
and in Mr.. Moody's absence ia In charge
of a resident missionary or pastor
Wherever Mr.. Moody journeys, in this or
other lands, his eye still rests IN this
church. In every department OF its work
this master mind has left his impress. |
Here are taught those doctrines of sin
and grace held by Mr.. Moody, which
were first taught by Christ and his Apos-
ties, which have been baptised by the
blood of the martyrs and con5ecrated by
the devotion of Gods saints in all ages-
those sturdy doctrines -consclentiously re-
iected by many, ignorantly slandered and
ridiculed by others, but which neverthe-
less are held by four-ffths of the entire
christian world. In the peculiar meth
ods OF reaching sinners, and especially
the masses, this church follows Mr.. Moo
DIV, who uses a little more machinery than
some OF us are accustomed to, but, who,
nevertheless, does all things "decently
and in order" The style OF preaching
heard there, like that Of Mr.. Moody, is
and clear; but while adapted to
the populace, it il entirely free from the
vulgarity, slang and obscenity in use by
some so called preachers and evangelists
of the present day who thereby desecrate
Gods word, lower the sacredness of the
pulpit, repulse sensible persons and thus
in the language of DR.. Chalmers, put Al
FOOLS cap on the Lords work." One can
not haln hainr farnrahlY imnrnsaad with