The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-10
THE MOODY MEETINGS.

D. l.. MooDY's meetings at the Au-
ditorium last week were attended by
enormous crowds. At each of the
eight services the immense building
was filled to OVERLOOKING, every avail
able seat and foot of standing room
was occupied by eager and expectant
listeners. No such crowds have at
tended any public assemblage in
this city since the Columb ian EXPOSE
ton. Thousands of people blocked
the streets and sidewalks adjoining
the hall and vainly sought admit
ance. Chicago has seldom seen such
throngs of people and never before
at religious meetings. So far as
numbers were concerned, the Audi
forum meetings were successful be-
yond precedent.
Mr.. Moody is apparently in vigor-
GUS health and never appered to bet
ter advantage. He handled his vast
audience with unequaled power. He
was master of the situation in every
way. The great chorus choir on the
stage and the singers in the topmost
gallery were allresponsive to his will,
and the vast audience melted before
his touching appeals. Hundreds OF
able and eloquent clergymen we're
before him, but he was undismayed
and apparently needless of their
presence. Hestruck out right and left
and made many telling hit against
the apathy of the clergy and the
churches. If there is any virtue in
the plain, heartfelt words of thoro-
ughly sincere, eloquent and earnest
man, filled with the spirit of the Cos
pei, and alive to the need OF larger
interest in things of religion, and a
more direct following Of the Master,
then we must conclude that Mr..
M oody's services were of incalcula-
BILE value to the many thousands who
listened to him at these memorable
meetings.
Mr.. Moody's theological opinions
are we'll known. He is a believer in
the plenary inspiration of the Bible,
the Trinitarian idea of the Godhead
and the various doctrines of the
sacrifcial scheme of theology. He
preached with no concealment of
these particulars of his individual
faith. But the emphasis was not I'M
duly laid on any doctrinal ideas, and
his most effective appeals we're for
the religious life, and the turning of
the heart to Christ as the begin
ming of the regenerated experience.
We have no sympathy with Mr..
Moody's peculiar doctrines, but we
are sorry for any man who cannot
recognize the transcendent import
ance of this appeal and the power by
which it is enforced and brought to
the attention of the needless multi
tudes who stand in so much need of
divine uplift. All criticism of Mr..
Moody's methods and opinions must
surely fall before the commanding
and all engrossing force of his sub
lime enthusiasm for righteousness.
In one of his sermons he declared
that he cared nothing for theology
and only sought to win the heart to
God. The decision once made, the
Gospel would be found to do the
rest-it would give comfort, peace
and blessing to every believer.
Moody was emphatic also on the
need of the Christian virtues in
the homes and social life of the PEG.
pie, and in his sermon on the Ten
Commandments he Numbered as
Savonorola of old in Florence, against
the sins and corruptions of society.
That sermon alone was worthy of
the most unstinted praise as embrac-
ing needed words for the hour. Chi
cago has never before heard more