The Springfield herald., 1899-12-29
DWIGHT l.. MOODY
CAREER OF THE EVANGELIST
Soted for His Energy. Common Sense and
BELIEF In the Bibie-Had Great Inhu-
ence Over Rich Men.

Dwight Lyman Moody, the evangel-
list. WAS born in Northheld. Franklin
county, Massachusetts, February .,
1887. He received II limited educa-
ton. and worried on II farm till he
was II years old, when he be-
came n clerk in n shoe store in Bos-
ton. He united with IL Congregational
church soon afterward, and in 1906
went to Chicago, where he engaged
with enthusiasm in mission work
among the poor, and In less than year
established n Sunday school with
more than 1000 pupils. During the
Civil War he was employed by the
Christian Commission, and subsequent
ly by the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation of Chicago as n lay mission
ary, A church was built for his con-
verts, and he became its unordnined
pastor In the fire of 1871 his church
and Mr.. Moody's house and furniture
We're destroyed but a new and much
larger church has since been erected.
In 1873. accompanied by Ira ID. San
key, he visited Europe and Instituted
series of weekly day religious ser
vices in England, Scotland and Ireland,
which resulted in great religious awak-
enings in the principal cities in these
countries. The evangelists returned TO
the United States in 1879 and organized
similar meetings in various parts OF
the country. In 1883 they again visited -
Great Britain, and since that time havt
been engaged in evnngeliStlc work
there and in their own country.
Bishop Ii. w. Warren says of Mr..
Moody:
"'The first thing that strikes one in
thinking of Mr. Moody is the
prodigious extent of his influence. In
the field of authorship his books by
the dozen are in such demand that
newsboys on nearly all trains carry
them. AS n speaker, on both sides of
the Atlantic. he had addressed audi
ences limited only by the size of the
auditoriums and armories. And this
not few times but month after
month. year after year. As an educa-
tor his three schools at Mortified.
Massachusetts,. and one in Chicago. are
amazing successes. For seventeen
years he has brought scholars and pro-
fessors from all parts of the learned
world to his summer conferences and
Bible lectures. His influence over men
of wealth was extraordinary. Al his
request men gave up large accumula-
tions of II life time for philanthropy
and religion.
He would be very distinguished
man-author. professor. lecturer, lit
erary. scientific. historical or humor-
ous-who could have Il moiety of this
mans influence in any one of his de.
partments.
1T must be remembered that this
man rose out of humble life. received
n very meagre education. worked on Il
farm till he was IL years of age, and
never went to school thereafter.
what is the secret of his success?
Aside from the push of his strong will
and the clearness of his common sense.
what of the influence of the environ
ment to which he related himself?
He spoke the language of the com =
mon people As Luther largely made
the German language by unweariedly
seeking the speech of the common peo-
pie and embodying it in his translation
of the Bible. so Mr. Moody so spoke
that. like his Master. the common peo-
pie heard him gladly
He must have uttered what ap-
pealed to the human heart rs true amt
adapted TO meet its needs to have Sc
cured the Endorsement of such Il hear
ing. His utterance of truth compelled
many n mans conscience to say, That
means me
But especially, above all other
things. two reasons for Moody's intiu-
ence must be stated.
''First-He believed thoroughly and
emphatically in the Bible as reliable
record of Gods dealing with men. past.
present and future. He was troubled
by no doubts. entangled by no higher
criticism, appalled, by no impossibili-
ties. He thought what was impossible
with man might be possible with God.
in the Word as in the world
''Second-He believed that God was
as really n helper of his humble and
obedient instruments to-day as ever in
the past"