The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-13
HIS FAREWELL SERMON.
IrLEAST FIVE 7HOUsIND COLORED
PEOPLE GREETED MN. MOODY.
The singing was Unusually Fins and "Koll.
Jordan, Roll" Drowned the Instru-
msnts-Ths Gospel Good News.

NJ. 1oouy closed his meetings In inc
tabernacle last evening by preaching TO
large gathering OF co,ored people. and
Immediately after the service quietly left
the building and took the night train for
Chicago.
Mr.. I. II. Jacobs and his great choir
were in full force, and Mr.. Jacobs tested
fully and satisfactorily the ability OF
colored congregation TO ring out
chorus. When he sang Throw out the life
line he made the choir desist and the
ooiOred voices take up the chorus. They
sang with fine spirit. and both Mr.. Jacobs
and Mr.. Moody seemed to enjoy their
hearty voices. There were at least 5000
colored people present. and the ushers
complimented them highly on the orderly
manner In which they conducted them
selves. Col. Phillips, chief of ushers. said
1t was the most easily handled congreSa-
ton which had assembled IN the great
building. Mr.. Moody invited the colored
preachers to the platform. About dozen
responded and formed a line on the
platform in front OF the choir. represent
ing every shade of color. from that Of
the dark negro skin to that Of the bright
mulatio.
GREAT MULTITUDE.
Among those present were Rev. ]. II.
Holmes, Prof j. f.. Jones, Rev. f. Davis.
5. {. Burrel, general secretary OF the
colored Y. VI. c. A.. Rev. John II. Beane.
Rev. George l.. Morris. Rev. Thomas
knight. Rev. William w. Browne. Rev.
II. Iribbey, Rev. a. i. Smith. and others.
1t was, perhaps. the largest congrega-
ton of coiored people who ever assem-
bled together in this city, and It was
composed Of the best element Of the col
ored people in Richmond.
Mr.. Moody asked to have some singer
from their own ranks, and William Thorp.
a noted singer In the churches. was called
TO the platform, and led the great throng
in their favorite and grandly inspiring
song "Roli, Jordan, Roll" Then for the
first time the great evangelist appre-
ciatel the peculiar gift of the Southern
negro for song.
Those who had heard this swinging old
hymn before had an agreeable surprise in
IT'S great volume, and the possibilities OF
the old time tune was shown when the
5000 voices took the strain and fairly
drowned the instruments in an avalanche
Of melody.
After the singing OF several other
hymns, Miss Cross was called for, and
n young woman Of light color came for
ward and sang steal away" with a
voice whose notes were very sweet
and bugle-lke in their clearness and
penetration.
She was accompanied on the instrument
by Mrs. Jones, wife OF Professor J. Il.
Jones. of the colored Theological Semin-
airy, in this city.
Rev. J. H. Holmes. pastor Of the First
Baptist church (colored), was called on
TO pray, and he poured forth a fervent
and imprisoned supplication for the d.
vine blessing.
After more singing Rev. William w.
Browne offered an earnest prayer
ENJOYED The sINoNG.
Mr.. Moody seemed to enjoy the music
very much, and invited other singers
whose names were given him. 10 the
platform. j. Andrew Boiler then took
the lead, and afterwards sang tenor
SOLO
Professor J. i. Jones then offered an
eloquent and earnest prayer.
Mr. Moody read part Of a chapter
from Pauls Epistle TO the congrega. lion.
and announced his subject. He preached
a simple, but powerful sermon on the
Gospel, and had he ministered 10 the
negroes all his life he could not have
selected a subject or treated it more
effectually to arouse the religious feel
ing which they naturally possess to a
marked degree.
Said he l want TO tell you tonight
what the Gospel is My text Will be the
one word, Gospel" An Irishman asked
me once, What is the Gospel? ! was
taken by surprise. and said it IS coming
to Christ. No such thing, said he, 1t
is good news
And il is the best news that ever came
to man on this earth; that is the Gospel.
When Christ came the Gospel came
on the wings Of song, "Glork be to God
in the highest, and on earth peace and
goodwill towards men,"
GOOD NEws.
Christ has come TO save sinners-that
is the Gospel-that is good news. There
are many people in Richmond VINO would
think you were a lunatic If you went
about saying the Gospel is good news.
A man went down the street crying
two behring's for a penny, and a man
paid him TO take them down the street
and give them away He cried out,
Fresh herrings for nothing" Nobody
took them, and he was greatly surprised.
Why? They did not believe him. That Is
what is the matter with you to-day. You
don't believe you can get IL for nothing.
Ii is as free as the air. 1t Is a gift You
can't get a gift by paying for it, Come
and get III Tor nOtnlng. III IS Tor you. III
is for everybody.
He told of an incident when The news
came TO Libby prison during the war
that one officer was to be liberated, and
all were interested 10 know who was the
one to be released. IF Gabriel were TO |
come tonight and say one OF you was
to be saved. would you not be interested |
to know who it was. ] know you would. |
and you would not sleep tonight, you |
would be so anxious.
"Well, be satisfied. God will save every |
one of you tonight. He says whosoever |
will may come and take Of the water OF |
life freely.
FOUR THINGS FOR SIN.
"There are four things God said he |
would do with sin. That he would put |
them away. If you believe on his son |
they are already hidden and laid away |
on the shelf. That is good news. is 1t
not?
"He said he would bury them in the \
sea. Old Satan would get drowned If he |
went under the water after your sins. |
Is that not good news? lie said he would |
blot them out with. cloud. Is not that |
good news?
And. fourthly he said he would put F!
them as far off as the east is from the |
west God takes our sins and casts them
Dut into such great space that the devil |
can't find them. Is not that good news?"
nurino those INTERPRETATIONS voices would