The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-30

SAID, that made his stories full of life.
Take for example the story he told of the
ca shier who had fled from his home u de-
f4ulter.tsHe was safe. lie was beyond the
reach of pursuit. but the spirit of q cd
touched him, lie WAS converted and &c.
turned home. lie went 10 his own bopsn
uncer the cover of the night No one
thought Of his coming back, it may be thai
no one desired his return, but there he
and 10 the Christian wife the converted
husband told his story, and how he had
come home uncertain what to do, but anx-
ioUs to do what the Lord would have him
dc. Mr. Moody was sent for, and the bur-
den OF the il hearts rolled on his. what
shall doF' said the man. What should
my husband dor" asked the woman. There
were the little children still sleeping. What
a situation that was. to burn itself
into the very life of who stood there
said 3Ir. Moody. He did not venture 10
decide for them. He prayed. what else
was there for him to do. and left them.
The contest in the soul of the ex-cashier
led to his giving himself up, to his trial.
and to his sentence to prison. Mr.. Moody
told that story without the least attempt at
effect, it was a story that needed no such
attempt to make it impressive, and that
was only one of the many perso nal Incl
dents that scattered through his addresses
made Them SO impressive.
| eMr. Mills lacks, of course, that wonderful
| richness of unique experience that made
| the words of Mr.. Moody so powerful in
many instances, and yet lacking that, his
control over his audience has been as great
as hat of Mr.. Moody.
Mr.. Mills has many advantages that Mr..
| Moody lacked. He is impressive of speech,
| he has the advantage of that higher educa-
| ion that makes his faith in the Word douh-
| ly fortified by all that science has to offer.
| MIR. Moody had to be content with the ac-
cepted translation of the bible, while Mr.
Mills has the originals to fall back upon.
| Mr.. Moodys sermons seemed based on
diagram Hell is there. Heaven over here.
You are in this place. This mark stands
for time and the rest of the blank space for
eternity. Repent"
! Mr.. Mi Is on he other hand makes every
sermon an argument. He is more in touch
with lie world. He has made more care
full studyE OF social problems. He would
never say when the poor complained of
their lott
SHOULD the worm be chooser. the clay
| withstand,
The shaping will of the potter's hand"
He believes thoroughly that this is Gods
world, and that all his children have the
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness" He embodies tho declaration
OF independence in his sermons, and
breaches Christian socialism, TO those who
would not listen to any other pI oclaimer of
that doctrine in any form, Christian or
| ragen. lie rises o greater eloquence than
Mr.. Moody ever touched. He lacks Moody's
thrilling earnestness. his devotion to one
| idea. MIR. Mills may be said to have i'm
pressed his one listener at the reporters
able, who from the same vantage ground,
listened to Mr.. Moody, AS being a far broad
or man, but rs lacking Mr.. Moody's tre-
mendous power of concentration. Moody
brought all the power he had, all the elo-
quence that Was his down to a single
/ pOlnt-RepeDt, Mills reaches the same
level but ON the way he calls attention 10
some important points. What are you go
ing to do after you have repented?'' e
asks. lie is willing to invade any depart
m-nt or amy loon, ii ii be the study OF
some doctor of DIVINITY, when in search
nforina ton. even If he does feel reasonably
certain that the uoc.or of divini hao
much rather he should keep out. or in
stance he insists on knowing what the
churches propose TO do with me CONVEX
who are led out of the MOI Id. He las
strong interest in his spiritual ehilirsn.
He breaches go pei that he expects wild
be taken by men CT business 10 their count
slsts shall oe kept IN remembrance curing
the enIlIe seven days of The week.
Mr.. Moody was great big, bearded Mar
tina troubled about many things" He
wanted conditions right. lie wonted the
reporters to go back into the audience 1T
tin es, having he thought q special ines
sage for thom He wanted this man 10
kneel here, and another there. and still
o hers to, go about among The sinners
present. MI. Mills is patient Mary intent
rather in letting the Lord have his own
way. to bring about his own results. He
has no special message to any one ella SIS.
and it matters nothing to him where any
particular sci of men are or are not seate d
except hat he doesn't like to see church
members crowding out those 10 whom he is
expected to preach. lie is more self-con-
tanned man.
ii was no disparag ement to say that at
times General Grant had to hold Sheridan
back. or to spur up some other commander,
and nothing mere written is intended as an
unfair comparison between these leaders
of tssem MI S;,,s as pr Dr. Merrill SO we'll
sinmandeIs. both are lnen of great persona
power, both can hold an audience spell
bound, to use a term that is perhaps worn
out by reason of long servi.e. they like
and yet unlike. Alike in the end sought.
the port when the voyage is done the har-
phe storm y past 1d IN M else
perfer' " true should it be said tnat when
tine shall h.ve done its work, when there
shall in the case of Mr. Mills the same
richness VI experience that made the words
of Mr.. MOO! ~ come freighted deep down
with human sorrows, he will do greater.
things han Mr.. Moody has been able to do.
Mir. Moody stood out from among his sup
porting ministers and workers, but still
they we're close behind him; MIR. Mills on
tor of the campaign. Mr.. Moody seemed to
md comfort in The immediate presence of
his supporters, while Mr.. Mills gives the
iaea of one with God.
Up to Tuesday the question was, ''will
the great service that brilliantly. per-
haps it would be better to say from the
Cfo 1f1r.nIT oft let
ly, closed the Moody meetings he ouplicat-
ed or exceeded" Time answered tbst
question, and Nj. Mills will remain apart
from his word an interesting study. just as
Mr.. Moody was an interesting study to
hose who sat at the reporters BILE, and
!, who tried 10 give fair and perhaps pic
turesque report of the events that filled The
brst series OF revival meetings at city hall.
f.