Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-19
MOODY AND SANKEY.
Preparing for the Reception of the
Noted Evangelists.


the singing,
Mcssrs. Dwight H. Moody and Ira y. |
Sankey, is an event which is eagerly |
looked forward 10 BY the different churches
of this city and that Wilmington has been
able TO secure them is n cause for cOngrat. |
ulatiOn BY those who have the Welfare
moral and spiritnal-uf the city " heart. |
There is great demand on both sides Of |
tho Atlantic ocean for them and many |
cities are striving to have q visit from these !
men Of God, on whose yisitatiOns always |
result in the conversion Of thousands and |
the good OF the community.
The career Of Mr.. Moody is n remark |
able one. and has had few parallels. He |
WAS buru in Sorthlic.d Mass, in 1881, |
Ills father died When he was child 1 |
years old, leaving for the support Of the |
widow and seven children the oldest Ot |
whom was but IL years, n little house on |
Me mountain side with an acre ur two Of |
land, and that chrumIrrri. The family |
was Unitarian, and a. fast rs the children
grew III they were sent To church. Thor |
Chief instructor WIS his mother a woman !
Of energy aud noble resolves. Daring his |
hoyhoud Mr. Moody vent to a little dis
trct school but at the age Of II the sum
total Of his scholastic 1ttIinmeuts was not
very imposing. ~ the close Of his school
days hr went to Boston, where he became
q salesman IN n boot and shoe store Of his
uuclrs, and found u home III u Christian
family aud attended Sunday-schUol and a
Congregational church. He was sharp
observer of human nature and
went about his business duties with
sincerity and emery, but sometimes with.
out much consideration for the feelings of
Others, His transition from sin to grace
was gradual and after his conversion lis
first step was to apply for admission to the
Congregational Church, although during
the first few months of his connection he
gave no evidence of the great spirit that
was within. In 1856, moved by Il strong
impulse he struck ont for the west. and
having obtained situation Joined Ply
mouth congregational tn lrch. Chicago
and at once commenced his career us d
home missionary. His first effort was to
rent four pcw5 in the church. which he
kept lull Of Young men ON Sundays. lie
became Interested in Sundav-suhuOs and
il Was not long bnrnrr he commenced one
of his own and rnl g i his fold Of Chris
lail work. His Wlulr soul being now
given up to the good work, his talents ana
missionary efforts we're felt and acknuwl-
edged IN every corner nj the land. In
every city and town thousands ilJcScd TO
hear him and his CI-wOrkcr. Mr.. ~ankcy.
MIR. Mnudys styie is plain, straisht,ur-
ward and devoid OF ornament. his object
being 10 inspire confidence aud to insure
conviction lie deals with the gospel in
AL It's simplicity. lie is simply worker
in the vineyard without producing Or pab.
fishing any work Of q literary or theulugi-
cal character
During nine months Of The year Mr.
Moody IS en- grusscd in the arduuus
cyangeliStic labor which he considers the
principal mission Of his lite. In June he
returns to Mortified, his home, ANA
plnngcs into the business pertaining to his
schools. Having always lamented the
deficiencies Of his own education, he was
unable to see the young people of the
village and vicinity grow up under similar
disadvantages without considering whether
II would not be within his power to i'm
prove their opportunities. Being well
| aware OF the demand for Christian women
| rs city and foreign missionaries Mr..
| Moody began to devise liberal things. At
| the outset he never dreamed of the dimen.
| Sinns 70 which the work he was thus led to
| initiate was destined 90 attain. Institutions
| in which over half a million dollars have
| been invested, and which are, perhaps,
| only the earnest Of what shall be. Had
| he accomplished nothing else ii would
have been wonderful that so many build
| ingS could nave been reared and so many
| forces set in motion within So short a time.
Yet all these weighty and multitarious
occupations have been, 50 to speak, but
The pastines Of the play-hnurS Of 4 giant.
In 1881 MIR. Moody Instituted a series Of
meetings at NOrthiicld for the study OF the
Bible. lie probably little realized to what
proportions it would grow and that it
! would finally become an aunua and per,
| lnlnent uiflr known throughout tue
civilized world, ana to attend which
people come from the remOJcSt corners Of
The earth. Wherever the English language
is spoken or read the Moody Bible con-
ference is known and the annual pil.
grimagc to Nurthiield is looked fOrwnri
TO, and the brightest and profoundcst
thinkers of the world are annually
gathered tat Mortified
The lelln,t irelandl HUacSS Of Nnyem-
her 4th, lSl2, speaking Of MIR. Mpoiy's
meetings IN that city whore he had been
preaching says "ln the evening the ms
SION Is seen to ita greatest advantage.
Night after night a dense crowd Of G,UNl
people il packed into tile biz, wooden tent
10 worShip sod. Look over the crowd.
IN the main If course, it consists of we'll
dressed respectable men and women,
thGre arc judges and queens counsel, Of
llruTs in the army, titled nublcmcn and
ministers OF all denominations merchants
and their wives. and masses Of the great
respectable mddie-Class. But besides
these Hru many Of the poorest OF the poor,
hundreds swept in OH the streets Of
gathered ont OF the slums. Even IN the
inquiry room at the close Of the service
there is hardly night When there is not I
contingent Of poor fallen men ami Wuucl
III whose faGes sou really see the records
OF sin. The large wuDdcn hall vibratc,
with the notes Of music and il isuwondcr
fully thrilling experience To hear tht
familiar hymns sung on By a spien,il
choir and ihe vast congregation and roll
ing in waves around the nFCHe,i and lluteJ
building. tut Mr.. Moody $ address is thu
main part 81 the programme.
The meetings viii begin in this CITY
sunday. january I'D, and viii be lela il
the rink, Eleventh aud Madison streets
III addition TO Mr.. Sankey's charming
musical work there vii. bc a large Chui
0! about 10 voices under the direction o
Mr.. j. 4. Clymer. mnsica. director OF tbs
l'Grd t'ullmer Male Chorus,