Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-25
THE MOODY MEETING.
The Former and Coming Visits Of The
Evangelist 10 Richmond.
SECRET OF HIS POWER.
How He Won the Peoplc-Some Of His
-. CharacterIstics-Sankey tho
Sweet Singer.
rWritton for the Dlspalch.)

written for the Dlsp1tch)
Mr.. Moody, the evangelist. Is coming
to Richmond. This announcement thrills
thousands of hearts with delight. He was
here once before. and the SAVIOR OF that
visit still abides. 1t was In January. 1855,
that Mr.. Moody held his meeting at the
Armory, on the corner OF Marshall and
Seventh streets 1t was truly memo
rable time In the religious history Of the
city. Ministers of all denominations
rallied to his support, and In that way
were brought into delightful fellowship
with one another. The spiritual life or the
churches was aulckened In a remarkable
degree, and many persons-among them
not few prominent citiZens-were con-
yerted and united with our churches.
But the meeting was held under many
disadvantages. For one thing, the
Armory. as an auditorium, was failure
and a trial 1t was a strain To speak
in It, and the echo made 1t wellnigh
impossible to hear. AS a committeeman
It was my duty to sit Just in the rear
| OF the speaker. and the echo was so loud
and distinct that l had to listen to that
rather than to Mr.. Moody. These ac-
coustical bothers were quite trying TO Mr..
| Moody. though h. bore them with charm
| ing patience. but when the brethren from
Richmond called on him in Washington
the other day in reference TO his making
| another visit to Richmond, he let fall
remark which indicated that he had re-
| collections Of the Armory which were rot
entirely agreeable. 1t Is understood that
we are to provide him a place for his
meeting in March which will be more
comfortable. and also CAPABLE of holding
about twice as many persons as the
| Armory.
THERE WERE MANY DOUBTS.
Many will recall that when II was made
! known that Mr.. Moody was coming TO
Richmond the first time the fact did not
meet with universal favor. Some OF the
most influential and conservative people
in the city regarded his coming with
| serious misgivings, for w to that time
| Rchmond's experience with evangelists
had not been altogether satisfactory. Be-
| sides. there was quite fierce AMI defiant
attack made upon Mr.. Moody on account
| OF certain things which It was alleged
| he had said against the South. These ac-
cusatlons were published again and again
in the city papers. though not IN an edl-
| torial way. They made quite 4 deep i'm
preston on the public. Even one Of the
Committee of Arrangements for the meet
| ings was SO alarmed that lie actually
proposed to withdraw the Invitation Al
ready extended to Mr. Moody, AID Mr..
Moody himself. hearing how the excite
| menf was running, wrote saying tnvr II
| the reports concerning him ware believed,
| he desired TO cancel the engagement. No
such prejudice will contest his coming
this time. All the evangelical denomra.
| TONS OF Richmond have united in ASKING
! MN 10 come, and every door WA be
WEB open to welcome him.
| Another fact is worthy of brief mention
| Mr.. Moody's first visit was made in the
| midst of a fearful winter His opening
| service was held at 9 o'clock on an ex-
ceedingly disagreeable Sunday morning.
Inc streets were covered with ice the
slreet-cars and private conveyances were
unavailable. and 10 walk was to risk limb
| ana HE. 1 swung on TO a 1.-THE and elias
| TIC young man, and by taking the middle
| or the cdr-track managed, after many q
! slip. 10 reach the Armory. IL was about
one third filled, and everything had a
| grim ana desolate look. Those who were
| present looked with "A somewhat uncertain
| Keeling upon the portIy stranger who had
come 10 hold the meeting. There viii be
no misgivihgs when he gets here I'm March.
Be the weather what It may. there Will
be sunshine and gladness in thousands of
hearts as he enters upon his work.
WHY BRING MR.. MOODY?
vat
sary to bring Mr.. Moody TO Richmond?
We have many churches, well organized
and manned with gifted. devoted and
ehcient pastors. Few cities can compare
TO Richmond in the number and excellence
OF its Christian institutions. Then WHY
bring Moody again?'
we may well rejoice that he is coming
because OF his personal character. Iwould
not speak In terms OF exaggeratlon Of
TINS man OF God. He needs no eulogist
But IL Is no harm TO tell the truth. Mr.
Moody Is one OF Gods princes. He Is SO
simple, so transparent and so earnest
that II Is not possible for an honest man
10 See and hear him and yet not believe
III MN lie Is the essence of simplicity
ana truth. One cannot touch him without
Deihg quickened In all that Is true, manly.
ana cody. His coming will revive our
humanity and stimulate our faith I'm each
other. He will put a new ferv1r into our
minister's and new purpose TO live well
in our people.
well recall hoH he won tn, Richmond
people when lie was hero before JItn
reaching here he was evidently troubled
lest the prejudice existing against him
would interfere with the work which he
came to do. At his fist public service
on that gloomy sun lay morning he seem
ed little awkward and confm ed. He
was not sure that he had the cnnfidcbce
or his brethren, and spoke with hesitation.
But that afternoon, just as the time cane
Tor him to begin TO preach. he stepped out
before the people and said about this: INV
brethren Of Ricim.rl, you have h,nrI
some unpleasant things about me. AMI
you may not feel much confidence in me.
You have heart that 1 have N the INST
said some bitter things against the South.
and while do not think that hayc said
the evil things which il has been CHARGED
l know we haze been through a great
and bitter war. and IL ! ev~- lid ssy a1y-
thing evil If the South God knows that
am sorry | ever did II. AMI I hope Won
VIII all forgive me for It," The people
We're taken by surprise. His childlike
spirit. so simple and yet so manly. ccm-
pietely melted the audience, and there
broke out an applause so instructive and
affectionate that he knew at once that
they loved him. He is coming % do good
to all as he has opportunity, and we must
welcome him.
MIGHTY AS A CHRISTIAN WORKER
But. besides. he Is so mighty az n
christian worker. For nearly a quarter
or a century he has been doing the
work OF an evangelist. He has held meet
ings In every prominent city in this
country, and in many of the cities he
has labored repeatedly and always. with
out one exception, with manifest tokens
or the Divine favor. He has also spent
much time preaching In the British Isles.
and dissenters, churchmen, lords. and
ladies' have sustained and cheered hin,
In his work. He has usually had build
ings In which to hold his meetings which
accommodated from 5000 to 1890 people
Think what opportunities he has had for
bringing the people to a knowledge of the
gospel. He usually breaches several
times every day except Saturday, which
Is his day OF rest. At every service he
has new people TO hear him. Besides he
often associates with himself other gifted
laborers. and through these he multlplies
his own power. He has also rare genius
for putting others TO work. During the
late exposition In Chicago Mr. Moody
brought together In that cftv the iaad