New-York tribune., 1896-12-13
Mr. MOODY AND HIS WORK,


II is evident that Mr. Moody, who has just
closed a series of revival meetings In TINS cn!'
,os os mich power rs ever over an audience.
Indeed. there are many who VIII sa! '''a' Nv
was never so effective as he is to-day. lie Is
rarely gifted with what is called persorai n''S
pe,ism for want of better name. But That
alone would not long hold hearers If he were
NOT also n man of deep piety. downright
earncsness and. I'm most matters. aDundaht
common sense Though he does not possess
the culture of the schools, he is one OF 'le
most forciblc and effective public speakers IN
the country. When we add to these quaillic'-
,ons that he comes before any audience today
with an international fame and with an almost
UNPARALLELED record of evangelistic work. 1t is
not strange that thousands are anxious 10 near
him. and that he is listened to with rapt at
tentiOn.
The great cyang list says that he is gratiied
at the successful results OF the New-lorh "''e'-
inqs Ills intention was to strengthen the I'M
pulses and stimulate the zeal OF ChristIan p'o-
rIc and he thinks he has done So Yet there
is reason 10 fear that even in this respect the
success Of the meetings was not as great as IL
ought 10 have been. With possibly few eN-
ccptons the clergy who are regarded as the
religious leaders Of the churches IN thls c''!
took no active part in cooperating WITH Mt.
Moody Nor. so far as the public Knows o'"
any of the religious denominations give an Oh
fetal Endorsement to his work. There was
some tnl, about the Episcopal Church's join
ing in il through its Parochal Missions society
hut nothing seems TO have come or IL. '" ""'
was the cause of this abstentlon we cannon uh'
derrake 10 say: but Two reasons have Deen sug-
gesred The clergy and the churches hesitate
to commit themselves to a religious movement
tho head Of which is an unOrdaincd man. Ana
tho sensationllism. blasphemy and vulgarity
of certain evangelsis have preJudIced many
conservative Christian people against all
evangclistlc work. While 1t is true that Mr.
Moody Is not that kind Of an evangelist. he -
made TO suffer for the sins of some OF his CO.
workers in the field.
II must also be admitted that Mr. Moody :
own utterances have stood in the way OF
larger recognition of his good work. lhere
are clcrgymcn in this city. the revered pastors
of great churches. who. IN consecratloh anu
devotion 10 the teachings OF Christ are M least
the equals of Mr. Moody, but who do not be-
licvc literally in the story OF Jonah ana 'he
whale and the sun standing still nj the com
mand of Joshua. They would be glad to co.
operate with Mr.. Moody. but how can they 90
80 when he tells them that they are rejecters
Of Christ and Christianity: Moreover, Mr..
Moody has indulgcd in Incorporate remarks
thai sound strange coming from n mar OF such
usua, good sense In his opposition to anT sort
Of n Sundiv paper. no matter how COOL it may
be- he fails TO carry with him large number
Of Christian people and when he says he has
made his sons swear vengeance 10 sunday
newspauers he forgats his own Bible. which de-
clarcs: "V,ngcancr Is mine; viii repay satin
the Lord" lie says all the news Of the Mon
day PAPER could he prepared on SATURDAY But
suppos. his fine school buildings al Mortified
should burn down on Sunday. how could the
no reporters should report his addresses to-day.
would he not regret the silence OF the Mon
day papers concerning him:
I'm another statement the other day he ran
counter 10 TN. belief Of Christians that the
world is growing better. Mr. Moody thinks II
is growing worse, thus taking his stand with
,hc millenarans some Of whom seem TO re-
iolrc over the wlckcdness Of the world because
II Indicates the speedy coming OF Christ 10
reign on the earth or course. the world is not
growing worse but better. To believe other
wise is 10 arragn OmnlJ otence and deny the
rcgencraiing power OF Christianity We do
not for n moment imagine that Mr.. Moody secs
this But il is a curious fact tha; the greatest
evangelist Of the age should agree with the
hor,l, of iniide pcsslmists who see no glenm OF
progress or hope in the history Of the world.