The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-10-19
MOODY AND SANKEY.
STORY OF HOW MOODY DISCOVERED
THE MEN TO HELP HIM.
IL Was at Il Meeting In indianapolis Thai
the Voice Of the Great Singer Vas First
Heard by the stirring Evangelist-Theil
First Work.

! j
/ displaying that zeal in evangelistic wol K
which subsequently made him famous,
though then his Efforts and his reputa-
ton were confined largely to Chicago.
| Mr.. Sankey's home was in Newcastle,
Pa, where he was then serving as an in.
ternal revenue utficcr. His father WIS a
banker and active III politics and held
under Lineoms appointment the impor.
taut position of collector Of inland rey.
enue for four large counties i'll western
Pennsylvania Young Sankey was then
a Christian, having been converted =
number of years before during Metho.
dist revival, and his talent of song had
already begun To be used for his Master.
Coming TO indianapolis to attend as a
delegate from Newcastle the national
convention of the Young Mems Christian
association, Mr. Sankey attended one
morning o'clock prayer meeting, held
in the basement of the First Baptist
church. led by Mr.. Moody. The singing
dragged, and Mr.. Sankey, at the sugges.
ton of minister who was seated beside
him, started up the familiar hymn,
LclV 10 IL iohiildlll llllth Will DlOOtl.
1t went well and was followed by Other
songs equally successful, and Mr.. Moody
became so interested that he looked
about to see whence the new impetus in
singing came. After the meeting closed,
with characteristic quickness of deci-
sion, Mr.. Moody hardly waiting for an
introduction, said to Mr.. Sankey:
tsNn,, 80 tba ,,a,, I lora baa,, looI,;,1
for for the last eight years. Come and
lunch with me- The invitation was
accepted, and later in the day the two
men got together, and the subject of a
future combination of forces was talked
over in downright earnest Mr. Moody
pressed upon Mr.. Sankey the duty of at
once joining him in Chicago, but in
Sankey's mind there were some prac-
teal objections arising from his bust
ness and family connections. Il am a
government officer" he said to Mr..
Moody, land may find it difficult to get
released" There is a better govern
ment to serve than this was the re
ply that flashed instantly out But,
persuasive as Mr.. Moody was, he did
iiob Ndii iAi' Ioliii tiitii anu iiitiN. MI E
Sankey took several manths in which to
consider the matter.
That very afternoon, however, the
first Moody and Sankey public meeting
was held, with no advertisement except
the singing as led by Mr. Moody's newly
found friend 1t was an outdoor gather
ing, and the masses We're there. Mr.
MnhI, lrIttfrlf ont 81 how from,
to Il favorably located street corner,
mounted it, and there short but fer
vent service of preaching and song was
held. At the close of this open air meet
ing the two evangelists headed Il pro
cession for Tho academy Of Music, where
the convention meetings Were held, sing
ing rs they lGarehed with the crowd in
to the Academy of Music, the convention
having adjourned the discussion of
"IIow to Reach the Masses" and gone
to supper. When the delegates got
back to the academy building, they
found it nearly half full of the very
Elapsed masses about whom they had
been discussing. Mr.. Moody cut short
his second address, dismissed the audi
ence and went out with Mr. Sankey to
get something to eat. Mr.. Sani;ey was
greatly impressed with these two meet
ings and said to Mr.. Moody, You are
reaching the masses while other people
are talking about them"
After the convention was over Mr..
Sankcy went back to Newcastle and
talked the question over with his wife
and family. He did not see his duty
clearly all at once, but Mr.. Moody kept
writing for him to come to Chicago and
at last persuaded him to 80 out for IA
week to look the ground over Arriving
III Chicago III the early morning, he went
first to Mr. Moodys house, reaching
there just as family prayers We're being
held. Almost before Mr.. Moody intro
duced him to his family he asked him to
sing hymn and thus contribute his
part toward the informal service of
praise. Then the two men went cut
into the streets of the city visiting the
sick and unfortunate
That day must have been notable
one in the personal history of the two
men, who afterWard commanded the
eager attention Of great audiences on
both sides Of the sea. On this occasion,
as two ordinary missionaries, they went
about from house to house, singing and
reading the Bible and speaking the word
of cheer and hope wherever it WAS
needed. This was their first days labor
together Evening meetings were held
during the week in the Illinois street
church, of which Mr.. Moody was the
head and leader
On Sunday Il large meeting was held
in Farwell hall and as the organist hap
pened to be absent Mr.. Sankey had to
sing without instrumental accolnpani-
ment, not having even a small cabinet
organ there. The effect Of the service
upon the people there was so marked
that Mr.. Moody turned to the singer and
said, "1ou see vas right There We're
that night not less than 100 inquiries.
The earnest preaching and consccrated
song had gone home to many "A heart.
From that time until the present these
men have been colaborers, and the story
of their career here and III Great Britain
is so familiar that it need not again be
rehearsed. --Congregationalist