Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-12
THIS HIS LAST DAY.
Mr.. Moody to Close His Work Here
With To-Day'S Meeting.
GREAT INTEREST LAST NIGHT.
A Fine Sermon Hoard by an Audience
That Packed the Tabcrnacic-Dis-
course on Trusting.

Mr.. Moody Will close his work In Rich
mond-and It has been great and Plo-
rious work--with the two meetings to-day.
The afternoon service will be the last
ono for white people, and tonight the
great evangelist will preach TO as many
negroes as the tabernacle will hold. The
choir. ministers. and press representa-
tives viii he the only white people adj
mit;ed to the building.
There has been a good deal OF tad
weather since MIR. Moody came to Ri,h-
uond. but he has had good congregations.
Indeed very large ones. throughout the
two weeks and more that he has been
here. lie leaves tomorrow for Chicago.
and will 20 from there To his home
at Mortified. Mass. lie will carry with
him the best wishes and earnest prayers
OF the Christian people Of Nirginia's
capital
THE GROWING SERVICE.
Last night was distinctly the red-letter
one Of the Richmond meeting. This was
the last opportunity that all classes
would have to hear the wonderful
preacher. and all who could do so heard
him. Every available inch Of space In
the large tabernacle was occupied. and
many applicants for admission were turn
ci away at the doors. The vast audience
listened 70 the great evangelist with rapt
attention. and apparently hung on his
every word.
The great congregation presented
Grand spectacle as viewed from the rOs-
trum. and must have impressed Mr..
Moody as he cast his eyes over the null
ttudc OF upturned faces the light OF IL
t,liccnce shining from thousands of eyes
MS they gazed IN interested Intensity at
him. ........
OPENING SERVICES.
The services were opened by Rev. r.
H. Rice OF Alexandria, with prayer,
and Nr. Jacobs sang a solo. Rev. Dr.
cooper then lei the congregation In The
Lords Prayer. after which the choir SAM;
"I,srS save Me" DR.. Hatcher an.
nouncsi that Mr. Moody would close his
services 10 the white people at the 3
o'clock meeting to-day. and that he
will preach 10 cO!Ored people tonight IN
Ga. tabernacle. Dr. Hatcher asked that
an heads Of families try ami arrange 10
allow their servants to attend this meet
n-
lie stated that the Finance Committee
had reported that they were short on
thc amount necessary to pay for the
tabernacle and made an earnest appeal
for large and liberal contributions.
PUT IN THEATRE MONEY.
Nj Moody said: Before the ushers
take up that collection want 10 say
word. How much does IL cost TO 10 to
the theatre here?' Or. Hatcher answered
that he had not been for so long that he
IL. xf..fHH in -
choir answered: $50" How is that
asked Mr.. Moody SO Well l don't
know how many people 20 To your thea
tres. but II you Christian people who 70
20 concerts would stay away from them
and give Us the money that YOU would
pay for the concerts you would be help
ing in a glorious cause. Leave the pre- ach-
ing out II you only came here and heard
the singing yoa would be fully repaid
III venture to say that you will hear
better singing here than at any of your
concerts. Now you Methodsts cry
Amen. you Presbyterians nod your
heads. you EpsCopalians put your hands
down in your pockets"
voice: What about the Baptists?
"Whv the Bapiists come in. OF course.
Don't Jet the ushers overlook them"
During the Offertory the choir sang sew
oral Gospel hymns very sweetly. After |
Rev Dr Hoee offered up devout prayer |
az thanks for the blessings that have |
been showered on the meetings. After |
Mr. Jacobs had sung Some Time Wen |
Understand" the choir sung God BE IS |
You" This Mr. Moody styled as DIT !
Hatcher's hymn, saying that he ala not
know Il was in the book until he heard |
II sung here. and that it had awakened |
him, lie then requested the choir 70
chant Il VIII Lift Up Mine Eyes" the |
l2lst Psalm.
Mr. Moody read Mark xii. 2S and after |
the rendition OF God BE With You by |
the congregation. took his text from |
Mark XII. 81: Thou art not far from |
the Kingdom OF God" In this 18th chap |
Ter of Mark. there had been two at |
tacks on Christ
ONLY THE EXTERNA1-S.
MANY men to-day" Mr.. Moody said. |
''are taken up only with the eXternals Of |
religion but don't know what ii Is 10 |
have God In their heart. In the vast |
crowds that have been fiocking here for |
the past two weeks there are many men |
and women who have not had Christ In |
their heart. From the time that the news. |
papers announced the fact that these
meetings were to be conducted. reople |
have realized that II was another attempt !
on the part Of Christ TO draw men to |
God
1T is a sad thought TO me that so many |
of YOU who have been attending these |
meetings are still unconverted. You ere |
near the Kingdom. but you are not In 1t. |
II Is sad. indeed. for me TO think Il at |
within forty-cight hours these meetings |
will be over. ] will leave you. and will |
40 far away from you, probably never |
10 meet YOU again this side OF Heaven.
Now the question IS. are you going TO [
meet me in the Kingdom of God, on |
the right hand Of God. the Father"
JOHN AND THE PRESS.
The minister referred TO the life Of |
John and said that he thought he was |
one Of the most glorious characters in
the Bihlp In this connection. he spoke |
~ the work done by the city press in
sending his sermons broadcast through |
the country lie went into a picturesque
description Of Johns first sermon. and
painted glowing accounts Of the Apostles
announcing Christ. lie told how
Horol had listened 10 John. and drawing
on his Imagination pictured Herods de-
termination to have John beheaded. and
how he was gradually converted TO Johns
way OF thinking
LISTEN FOR YOURSELF
"po you know that II is a great thing
10 listen for yourself? Don't listen for
other people. Listen for yourself. a
man tpil me To-Day lu~t ne Was All flSnE
because he belonged 10 the church. What |
folly Your church membership won't |
save YOU II you are "a drunkard. all OF
the popes. ministers. priests. and churches
IN the world can't save you unless you
g.Ve up your cups.
Continuing on the subject of Herod's |
conversion. Mr.. Moody said: I'VE are
told that Herod did many things. DO |
YOU know / think he gave up whiskey. |
4 drinkaru can't 10 10 Heaven lie gave
up gambling. lie gave up taking brides. |
EITHER GOOD OR HARM.
"People say that they will come |
TO these meetings and say that |
they can't do them any harm. Don't |
YOU believe IT, II some Of the men who /
are here tonight had have heard me |
preach this sermon nine years ago. they |
would have been moved. To-day 1t doesn't /
touch them. The hardening process has
gone on.
Mr. Moody pictured the arrival OF the |
Messiah while John was preaching, and |
OF his command 20 John To 'baptize Him. |
and ~ the great excitement that pre-
vailed there when II was announced that