The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-09-20
MOODY AND SANKEY.
Glory OF HOW MOoDY DISCOVERED
THE MAN 10 E.ELP HIM.

,.vyas at a Meeting Ia Indianapolis That
.ho Voice of the Great Singer Was First
Eeard by the stirring Evangelist-Their
First Work.
# was at Indianapolis in 1870 that
these two men first made each others
continuance. Mr.. Moody was already
Jsnlaying that zeal in evangelistic work
which subsequently made him famous,
.+bongh then his effGrts and his reputa-
hon were confined largely to Chicago.
Mr.. Sankey's home was in Newcastle,
Pa. where he was then serving as an in
tornal revenue officer. His father was
banker and active in politics and held
rnder Lincoln's appointment the impor-
+8nt position of collector of inland rev.
enue for four large counties in western
Pennsylvania. Young Sankey was then
Christian, having been converted a
number of years before during a Metho-
dist revival. and his talent of song had
already begun to be used for his Master.
Coming to Indianapolis to attend as
delegate from Newcastle the national
convention Of the Young Mems Christian
association. Mr.. Sankey attended one
morning a 6 O'Clock prayer meeting, held
in the basement Of the First Baptist
church, led by Mr. Moody. The singing
dragged. and IIr. San2ey, at the sugges-
ton Of minister who was seated beside
him. started up the familiar hymn,
There is q fountain filed with blood"
1t went we'll 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 quicl1ness Of deci-
sion, Mr.. Moody, hardly waiting for an
introduction, said to Mr.. Sankey:
you re the man have been looking
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. AIr. 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 busl-
ness and family connections. Il anna
government officer" he said to Mr..
Moody, and may find it difficult TO get
released. There is s better govern
meut to serve than this" was the re-
ply that flashed instantly out. But.
persuasive. 8as Mr.. Moody was, he did
not carry his point then and there. Dir.
Sankey took several manths in which to
consider the matter.
That very afternoon, homever, the
first Moody and 6ankey public meeting
Vas held, with no advertisement except
Tie singing as led by Mr.. Moody.s newly
found friend. 1t was an outdoor gather
ing, and the masses were there. Mr..
Moody brought out box from q store
70 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
mg the two eyangelists headed a pro
ctssion for the Academy of Music, where
the convention meetings We're held, sing
Ing as they marched with the crowd in
10 the Academy of Music, the convention
having adjourned the discussion OF
How to Reach the Masses and gore
u supper When the delegates got
back 10 the academy building, they
found it nearly half full of the very
"Atsed masses about whom they had
been discuss ing. Mr.. Moody cut short
MS second address, dismissed the audi
ence and went out with Mr.. Sankey to |
set something to eat. MIR. Sankey was
greatly impressed with these two meet
nss and said to Mr.. Moody You are
reaching the masses while other people !
aFe talking about them"
Alter the convention was over Mr.. |
@Lkey went back to Newcastle and |
alked the question over with his wife !
ana family. He did not see his duty |
yearly all at once, but Mr.. Moody kept !
sflans for him to come to Chicago and !
last persuaded him to go out for |
seeE to look the ground over. Arriving |
CAlcago in the early morning, he went |
rS' to Mr. Moodys house, reaching J
IyEe just as family prayers were being
a'"' Almost before Mr.. Moody intro
suced him to his family he asked him to
aug hymn and thus contribute his |
saFt toward the informal service of
palSe Then the two men went out
w 4,O the streets of the city visiting the
aC * and unfortunate.
1aat day must have been a notable
re III the personal history of the two
~sl who afterward commanded the
~ scr attention of great audiences on
va Sides of the sea. On this occasion,
swo ordinary missionaries, they went
uu' Irom house to house, singing and /
4 'l, u the Bible and speaking the word
cneer and hone wherever it was