The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-23
Death Was Result of
Overwork.
Career of Americas Most Widely
Known Preacher.


fame was world wide. fell asleep In death
a, his home here Mt noon today. Ihs
passing Of his spirit from body which
had been tortured with palm fer some
weeks, to the rest beyond, was as gentle
as could bs wishs1 fer His family were
githsrtd at his bs(iidl and the dying
mans last moments were spent in CON-
forsiug them and IN contemplation OF
that re ward for which he had so long and
earnestly lahoIsd. He knew that death
WAS nea-, but its sting to him, was lost
In the unfolding to hi, mental vision CT
a beautiful scene. judging from his last
words.
The passing away of Mr.. Moody was
not unex 'oted by the members of his
family and immediate circle OF friends
although all had hcpsd, until yesterday,
that he might survive the attack OF tbs
disease for some months. Ths cause of
death was general breaking down Of his
health, due to overwork. His heart ha !
ben weak for n long time, and his eIer-
tins In the west last month brought on
a relapse from which is was in possible for
him to rally. The evangelist broke down
in Kansas City, No., where he was ad-
dressing series of meetings last month
and the seriousness of his condition was
SO apparent to the physicians who at.
tsndsd him, that he was forced to aban-
don his tour and return TO his home
Eminent physicians were consulted by
DIR. n. p Wood, the Moody family dog
tor, and everything wRs done to prolong
his life. A bulletin issued last week oom-
municsted this tidings to the public that
Mr.. Moody was very sick man and that
little improvement was shown.
This week, however, the patient In
proved steadily, until yesterday, when he
appeared very nervous. This symptom
was accompanied by weakness which
much de pressed the family who were
anxiously watching the sufferer.
This morning, the weakness continued,
and at eight o'clock Mr.. Moody told his
wife and children that the end was not
far of. The family remained close to tho
bedside all the forenoon. The evangelist
dill not suffer much pain. and occasional
ly he talked with apparent ease. About
the last words he was heard to utter
were; II have always been an ambitious
man, moi to lay up wealth, but to find
work TO do"
just before twelve o'clock, the watchers
raw that the end was appro aching and
exactly at noon the great preacher passed.
away. He was 81 years of age. A widow,
two ssns and daushtsr survive.
MIR. Moody was known to the peopls OF
m a ia,, a.. 4
began his career in Chicago when about
nineteen years of age and from that time
until a few weeks ago, when he became
i'll at Kansas City, there had besr practl-
oally no interval In his activity. From
teaching class of ragged boys, whom he
had found In the streets, in 1856. he be-
came the most famous evangelist of his
time, and the head of system OF re-
l'gious instruction OF greatest importance.
The arrangements for tie funeral have
not as yet been fully completed but the
services will he held next Monday after
noon at three o'clock in the Gopgrega-
tionaI church. The burial will be on
Round Top.
Dwight l.. Moody was born at North
field. February 8 1897. He was the sixth
of family of seven sons aud two daugh-
tiers. Mrs Moody belonged to the sixth
generation OF direct descendants Of the
HoltoDs who help,d to found Hartford,
Conn. Moody ate rded the village school
winters only. about dozen terms in all,
the last one being when he Was In his
seventeenth year. Then he left home and
went TO Clinton. Mass, TO become clerk
In store owned by his brother. Not
liking this work, he went to Boston. Al
ter wandering about for week without
finding any thing 80 do he entered the en-
ploy Of his uncle, Samuel Holton, boot
and shoe dealer. in a short time the new
clerk was selling more goods than anyone
else Ii the store.
Young Moody's uncle put him under
very rigid conditions, one of which was
regular attendance at the Mount Vernon
Congregational church. MIR. Moody was
of rather hsAdstrong disposition and he
soon began to show his spirit in the
church meetings. Shortly his uncle was
called upon to ask him to hold his tongue
until he could "edify' the people with
what he said. This, his uncle refused to
do. Ultimately Mr.. Moody applied for
membership In the church, and after
much discussion the privilege was
granted with the condition of six months
probation. He was received into the
church on the May communion in 1895
In 1856 MIR. Moody went west. full Of
ambition. He landed In Chicago where
he entered the employ of Mr.. Wiswall In
the same business as in Boston. AS soon
as he reached Chicago, Mr.. Moody joinsl
the Plymoueh Congregational church. II