The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-08
DR.. M'LEOD ON MOODY
Reviews the Work that the Noted Evangelist
Did In This City.
The PRINCE OF EVANGELISTS
Moody Has Tact, Wisdom, Piety and
Knows the Bible and Human Nature
Annoyance that He Met With
Here-Tent Services Referred to as
the Grand Feature Of the Campaign.

Last weeks issue of the New York
observer" contained an interesting
article by Rov DIR. James Mcleod. pas
tor Of the First Presbyterian church Of
this city, upon "Mr. Moody IN Scrsn-
ton" Among other things Dr. Nc
Leod says:
From any, and indeed, from every point
of view Mr. Moody is an interesting study.
He is the prince Of modern evangelists.
Other evangelists that we have met have
their excellencies. They are well developed
in spots, but Moody is full orbed. He has
tact, wisdom, piety, the gift Of utteranee
and whole-hearted conservation. He knows
his Bible and he knows human nature. He
loves his Master aud he is loyal to him to
his hearts core and therefore, he loves SIM
ners and pleads with them with all his
soul to come to Christ for salvation. He
Is level-headed; he does not slop over.
He does not allow his enthusiasm to run
away with his reason. He does not take
any stock In sickly sen tImentalsm, nor
does he preach the gospel Of gush. II
he should lend man his coat and the
thief refused to return 1t, he would not
ask him to take his coat also. He
does not understand the sermon on
the Mount, and therefore, he does not
misinterpret or misapply it. He is not a
communist either in the pulpit or out Of
it. He does not array the poor against
the rich, nor does he indulge in the silly
clap-trap OF those who preach that it is
heinous sin for any man to accumulate
large fortune. In his teaching and preach.
ing, and in his intercourse with men, he
succeeds when Others fail, because he has
what they have not-an ample stock OF
sanctified common sense.
ONE ANNOYANCE.
In his evangelistic work, Mr.. Moody sets
great store by singing. He believes in
music as a moral and spiritual force. He
wants a large choir, and he urges every
body to sing He wants "all people that
on earth do dwelp to ''sing to the Lord
with cheerful voice." 1t pains him when
they refuse. He believes that gospel
hymns are In many cases more effective
than gospel sermons. Whether his ideas
OF music be right or wrong, it is most
impressive and inspiring thing to hear
great congregation with heart and voice
praising the Lord. 1t grieves Mr.. Moody
when the music does not SO to suit him.
Sometimes 1t Is the fault Of the choir,
sometimes of the organist, and sometime
Of the congregation.
A case occurred not long ago, when the
organist sorely tried him. The great con.
gregation was assembled; the chorus and
its leaders were in their places; the hymn
was announced; but the organistl Where
was her He was gone. In fit Of temper,
he locked the organ and put the key In his
pocket-as II the organ was his personal
property-and then he coolly walked out
Of the church. His explanation was that
he hated the leader of the chorus more
than he hated the devil, and, therefore, he
would not play. Mr.. Moody was grieved
as we'll as disappointed.
hope Mr. Moody has received the hum
bic apology Of that organist. think l
may assure him that there is no other Or
ganist In the Christian world who would
II in his senses-be guilty of such an act of
discourtesy towards him. But though Mr..
Moody was both grieved and disappointed
he maintained his self-possession, and the
meeting was grand success. only refer
to this incident because 1t happened re-
Gently, and because while it may be the
only incident Of the kind, in all Mr..
Moody's evangelistic career it shows that
evangelists, as well as settled pastors, are
sometimes disturbed by what occurs in
the organ loft.
THE TENT SERVICES.
must not overlook one grand feature
in connection with the "Moody campaign
in the Wyoming valley and that is the
services conducted by four or five of his
co-laborers, who have been preaching in
tents. These tents have been erected in
well-selected localities, where the masses
could easily reach them, and they have
been crowded at almost every service.
Messrs. Whittle. Bliss and Schiverea as
preachers. and Messrs. Stebbins and
Weeden as singers. have carried on this
work for several weeks, and these tent
services will be held perhaps for month
longer. All classes and conditions of peo-
pie have flocked to these tent meetings.
Already more than 2, 700 have expressed
desire to live henceforth Christian life
and let US hope that many; yes, let US
hope that all OF these have been truly con.
verted.
The experiment of holding these tent