Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-11-03
MOODY AND SANKEY.
s,oav OF NOW MOODY DISCOVERED
the MAN TO nele MN.



Heard ~ che sssrrs.s Ivs.eeliss-rAe,.
Farss wosk. =
Il was at Indianapolis in 1870 that
these two rnen first made each others
acquaintance. Mr.. Moody was already
displaying that zeal in evangelistic work
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 Is IN IN.
tefnal revenue o0cer. His father was Q
banker and active IN politics and held
under Lincoln's appointment the impor.
tant position q collector Of inland rev.
enue for four large counties in western
Pennsylvania. Young Sankey was then
. Christian. having been converted
number Of years before during q Metho-
dist revival, and his talent of song had
already begun to be used for his Master.
Coming to Indianapolis to attend rs
delegate from Newcastle the national
convention Of the Young Mems Christian
association, Mr.. Sankey attended one
morning 6O'clock prayer meeting, held
in the basement Of the First Baptist
church, led by Mr.. Moody. The singing
dragged, and Mr.. Ssnkey, at the sugges-
ton Of . minister who was seated beside
him. started mp the familiar HYMN,
There is fountsin filed with blood"
Il went vel and was followed by other
songs equally successful, and Mr.. Moody
became 20 interested that he looked
about to zee 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:
You're the man have been looking
for for the last eight years. Come and
lunch with iae." The invitation was
accepted. and later in the day the two
men got together, and the subject Of .
future combination Of forces was talked
over in downright earnest Mr.. Moody
pressed upon Mr.. Sankey the duty Of at
once joining Linn in Chicago. but in
Sankey's mind there were some rrac-
teal objections arising from his bust
ness and family connections. Il am
government officer" he said 70 Mr..
Moody, land may find it difficult to get
released" There is better govern
ment TO serve than this" was the re-
ply that flashed instantly out. But,
persuasive IS Mr.. Moody was, he did
not carry Lis point then and there. Mr..
Sankey took several manths in which to
consider the matter.
That very afternoon, however, the
first Moody and Sankey public meeting
| hx.l1 ID
the singing rs led by Mr.. Moody's newly
found friend. II was an outdoor gather
ing, and the masses were there. Mr..
Moody brought out . box from a store
to . favorably located street corner,
mounted il, and there . short but fer.
vent eervice Of preaching and cong vas
held. At the close Of this open air meet
ing the two evangelists headed pro
cession for the Academy Of Music, where
the con SentiOn meetings were held, sing
ing As they marched with the crowd in
to the Aca6ls ny Of Music. the convention
having adjourned the discussion Of
''How 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. Er. Moody GU. short
his second address. dismissed the audi
ence and wCat cut with Mr.. Sankey to
get scmethin; to eat. Mr.. S;lnkey was
greatly impressed with these two meet
iugs and said to Mr.. Moody, "You are
reaching the, masses while other people
| are talking about Them
Il a.
Sankay went back 10 Newcastle and
talked the question over with his wife
and family. He did not see his duty
clearly all 1t once. hat Mr.. Moody kept
writing for him TO cone to Chicago and
ut last persuaded him to go oct for a
week to look the ground over. Arriving,
in Chicago in the carly morning. he went
first to Mr.. Moody's house. reacrins
there just as family prayers were l~ing
held. Almost before Mr.. Moody intro
duced him to his family be asked him 70
sing a hymn and thus contribute AIS
part toward the informal service O.
praise. Then the two men went out
into the streets Of the city visiting the
sick and unfortunate.
That day must have been y notable
y one in the personal history Of the two
!, men. who afterward commanded the
eager attention Of great audiences o.
both sides of the sea On this occasion
- two ordinary missionaries, they went
about from house to house, singing ani
reading the Bible and speaking the wore
Of cheer and hope wherever it wa.
needed. This was their FIRST days labol
together. Evening meetings were hel,
during the week in the Illinois stree
church. of which Mr.. Moody was tn
head and leader.
On Sunday = large meeting was held
in Farwell hall, and as the organist hap
pened to be absent Mr.. Sankey had 4
sing without instrumental accompani
ment, not having even small cabine
organ there. The effect Of the service