The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-17
MR.. MooDY's WEAPONS.
A Change which Has Taken Place In the
Public Mind. Concerning Religion.


a Change which Has Taken Place In the
Public Mind. Concerning Religion.
Baltimore Amcrlcln: The New York
Tribune calls attention to the wonder
full change that has taken place within
twenty-one years In the size and CHAR
acter OF the meetings held by Mr..
Moody, the evangelist Twcnty-onn
years ago Mr.. Moody created an un-
paralleled religious excitement in New
York City, while to-day he prudenuy
advertises that his purpose Is ito talk
10 those who nrc already Christians,
and send them back TO their respective
churches aglow with zeal and enthu-
slasIn." In other words, lse Is not now
snatchinS brands from the burning.
but endeavorinS to arouse the earnest
ness OF those who ought TO be engaged
In that work The Tribune seems TO
ind the reason for the charge In the
marked alterations which have occur
red In the public mind concerning re-
llgson. This Is probably correct. AIR.
Moody IL n remarkable man. and has
done 4 wonderful amount OF good. Nor
Is there any reason 10 suppose that dis
vitality and magnetism have been I'M
him to sway his audiences are old-fash-
Ioned Il Is like cutting wheat with
cradles or threshlng 1t with falls.
1t Is possible that the Salvation Army
and kindred organizations may have
cut into his work 10 some extent, but
scarcely probable. The splendid audi
enccs stirred up by Mr. Moody twenty
years ago were not the material upon
which these organizations work. They
represented fully the average intellI-
gence and worth OF the country. They
were the kind OF people to seek en-
liGhtenmcnt upon all subjects, and. OF
course, would be impressed hy the re-
liciouS controversies which have been
so frequent of late. The gradual dis
appearance OF 4 personal devil de-
prives Mr.. Moody OF one OF his most
powerful weapons. Mr.. Moody Gtill be-
Iicves In him, but the majority OF those
who listened TO the evangelist twenty
years ago. are not So Credulons. Fire
and birthstone. the horrible fortunes OF
the damned, under the supervision OF 4
maliEn being who spends his leisure
moments IN tempting the weak and
thoughtless, are terrible weapons In the
hands OF Il sk!llful rhctoriclan and ora
tor. who has worked his hearers up to
the proper nervous tension, nor have
/ they ceased 10 be effective. except upon
certain class OF people.
A bitter controversy Is being wag-
| ed In Germany at this moment over the
signature Of his satanic majesty. 1t
has divided the church. and Is being
discussed with acrimony in several Of
the secular papers. Some sort OF con-
tract was drawn up in 4 Masonic lodge
In Italy, to which the devil, who was
present. affixed cnbalistic signature.
Several church dignltar!eS veDtured TO
deny the genuinencss OF the signature.
and hence, the dispute. We scarcely
think that It will extend to this coun-
Try or that Mr. Moody would regard
thu dispute seriously. and yet 81 there
is d personal devil roaming around
seeking whom he may, GeYour. there
can he no valid reason urged why he
should not niliX his signature to
contract made In his interest. It Is very
certain, however, that the majority OF
those who ilocked to hear the great
evangelist twenty years ago Will not
believe this story OF the contract and
the devils signature.
Popular opinion has undergone
change regarding other things that
were important aids to Mr.. Moody In
his mighty REVEALS. Daniel In the den
Of Hons. and Shadrach, Mcshach ard
Abednego In the fiery furnace, are in
cldeRta that are now questioned by
many eminent scholars In the church,
and by great body OF people in and
out OF the church. SO far as human
proof awaits. It has been discovered
that the Book OF Daniel was written
about l75 y. c., instead Of about GOO Il.
c., and that 1t Is In reality an attack
upon AntIochus E.pIphanes. There IL no
ri nf n n
but the things charged TO him were
actually done by AutOchus. md pro-
duced serious rebellion against his
authority. The book shows a remark
able knowledge nC the period 1Ij d. c.,
but very little Of the period Goo Il. C.,
OF which 1t purports to write, and the
language ard idloms are. those of the
later period, and not OF the earlier.
number OF the words not having been
In existence In COO T. C. Scholars re-
gard It as n political satire upon An
tlochus. written to excite the Jews
against that sacri!lgiOu3 king, and that
Is what It seems 10 have done.
Mr.. Moody still believes In the most
literal Interpretation OF the bible. and
regards those ~ inildcls who question
such Interpretation, His life during
twenty years has been mainly devoted
20 evangcllzatlnn, and he has done an
immense amount OF good. for this for
tunntcly does rot depend upon mans
| faith In the story Of Jonah and the
whale or the lJQuacity OF Balnam's ass,
| lie has probably had no time TO keep
abreast, Of discovery and research. But
| he has absolute faith In himself. and
| he has the chrEsStncs9 OF conviction
| and tho love OF his fcllow-man. With
such forces ut his command, whether
| his aullIrces DE reduced or not, he
| will continue to do good and to de-
serve the commentator OF the public