The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-10-14

1t was at indianapolis in 1870 thai
these two men first made each other.
acquaintance. Mr.. Moody was alread,
displaying that zeal in evangelistic work
which subsequently made him famous
though then his efforts and his reputa
ton We're confined largely to Chicago
Mr.. Sankey's home was in Newcastle
Pa. where he was then serving as an in.
ternal revenue officer. His father was a
banker and active in politics and held
under Lincoln's appointment the impor.
tant 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 a
delegate from Newcastle the national
convention of the Young Mems Christian
association, Mr.. Sankey attended one
morning a 8 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 a minister who was seated beside
him. started up the familiar hymn,
"There is a fountain filled with blood"
It 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 al,
introduction, said to Mr.. Sankey:
you're the man l 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. 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 Il family connections. II 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
not carry his 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
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 were there. Mr..
Moody brought out a box from a store
to a favorably located street corner
mounted it, and there a short but fer
vent service of preaching and song was
held. AT the close of this open air meet
ing the two evangelists headed a pro-
cession for the Academy of Music, where
the convention meetings We're held, sing
ing as they marched with the crowd in
to the Academy 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
it nearly half full of the very
Elapsed masses" about whom they had
discussing. Mr.. Moody cut short
ais second address, dismissed the audi
ence and went out with Mr.. Sankey to
get something to eat. Mr.. Sankey was
impressed with these two meet
ngs and said to Mr.. Moody, You are
'eachlng the masses while other people
re talking about Them
After the convention was over Mr..
went back Il Newcastle aud
alked the question owe with his wife
nd family. He did not see his duty
learly all at once, but Mr.. Moody kept
for him to come to Chicago and
t last persuaded him to go out for a
week to look the ground over. Arriving
Chicago in the early morning, he went
.rst to Mr.. Moody's house, reaching
here just as family prayers were being
ED. Almost before Mr.. Moody intro
uced him to his family he asked him to
Ing a hymn and thus contribute his
art toward the informal service of
raise. Then the two men went out
ito the streets Of the city visiting the
and unfortunate.
That day must have been q notable
in the personal history of the two
len, who afterward commanded the
ager attention Of great audiences on ],
9th sides of the sea. On this occasion. !
> two ordinary missionaries, they went /,
bout from house to house, singing and ;
.ading the Bible and speaking the word :
cheer and hope wherever it was !,
eeded. This was their first days labor 8
Evening meetings were held :
nring the week in the Illinois street ,
,urch, Of which Mr.. Moody was the =
Fad and leader. :
On Sunday a large meeting was held .
Farwell hall, and as the organist hap :
med to be absent Mr.. Sankey had to :
ng without instrumental accompaui- :
emit, not having even a small cabinet :
gan there. The effect of the service =
BON the people there was SO marked =
at Mr.. Moody turned to the singer and I
id, You see I was right" There were :,
at night not less than 100 inquiries. .
earnest preaching and consecrated :
ng had gone home to many a heart.
-nvu fhof TINA ,nt,1 A., -