The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-23
MOODY CALLED TO
THE HIGHER LIFE
The Great Evangelist Dies at
East Northfield.
DEATH DUE TO OVERWORK
HIS HEART HAD BEEN WEAK
FOR SOME TIME.
HE BROKE DOWN IN KANSAS CITY, MO,
His Last Words Yesterday, Spoken in Tones Of
Deep Joy, Were, Il See Earth Receding;
Heaven is Opening; God is
Calling Me-"

Calling Me-"
East Mortified, Mass, Dec 22.-
Dwight L. Moody, the evangelist, whose
fame was worldwide, died at his home
here at noon today. His family were
gathered at his bedside and the dying
mans last moments were spent in conn
forting them.
Early in the day Mr.. Moody realized
that the end was not far off and talked
with his family at intervals, being con-
scious to the last, except for few faint
ing spells. He revived and with won
derful display of strength in his voice,
said in a happy strain:
whats the matter? What's going on
here:''
One of the children replied:
Father, you have not been quite so
well and so we came in to see YOU"
A little later Mr.. Moody talked quite
freely to his sons, saying:
Il have always been an ambitious
man, not ambitious to lay UP wealth,
but to leave You work to do, and You re
going to continue the work of the schools
in East Northfeld and Mount Herman
anu VI the IlDle lllSCtlute.
AS the noon-day hour grew near the
watchers at his bedside noted the APP
proach of DEATH Several times his lips
moved as if in prayer, but the articu-
lation was so faint that the words could
not he heard.
Just as death came Mr.. Moody awoke
as if from sllmnIber and said with much
joyousness:
SGT oYIk pocos1;no. haa
ing; God is calling me- and a moment
later he expired.
HIS DEATH UNEXPECTED.
1t was not expected until yesterday
by the members of Mr.. Moody's family
and immediate circle of friends, that
death would be the result of his illness.
The cause of death was a general break
ing down due to overwork. Mr.. Moody's
heart had been weak for a long time,
and exertions put forth in connection
with meetings in the West last month
brought on a collapse, from which he
failed to- rally.
The Evangelist broke down in Kansas
City, Mo, where he was holding SER
vices, about a month ago, and the seri
BUSINESS of his condition was so apparent
to the physicians who were called to at
tend him that they forced him to aban-
don his tour and return to his home
with all possible speed. After he reached
Mortified eminent physicians were con-
suited and everything was done to pro-
long life. A bulletin issued last week
communicated the tidings to the public
that MIR. Moody was very i'll, but that
little Improvement was noticed. This
week the patient showed Il steady gain
until yesterday, when he showed symp-
toms of nervousness, accompanied by
weakness which caused the family much
anxiety.
This morning the weakness continued.
and at o'clock Mr.. Moody called his
wife and children, telling them that the
end was nots far off. The family re-
manned close by the bedside all the fore
noon. The evangelist was almost free
from pain and occasionally he talked
with apparent ease. About the last
words he was heard to utter were: Il
have always been al ambitious man, not
to lay up wealth, but 10 find work to do"
Just before II o'clock the watchers
saw that the end was approaching and
at exactly noon the great preacher pass
ed away.
SKETCH OF MOODY'S LIFE.
Dwight Lyman Moody was born in
Northheld, Mass, February 9th 1887
He received q limited education and
worked ON farm until he was II years
old, when he became a clerk in BoS-
ton shoe store. He united with a Con
gregational church soon afterward, and
in 1856 went TO Chicago, where he en-
gagged with enthusiasm in missionary
work among the poor and in less than
Il year established a Sunday school with
more than 1000 pupils. -
During the Civil War he was EN-
ployed by the Christian com
mission and subsequently by the
Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion Of Chicago as Il lay mis-
siOnary A church was built for his
converts, and he became its ordained
pastor. IN the fire Of 1871 the church
and Mr.. Moody's house and furniture
were destroyed. but new and much
larger church was then erected.
In 1873 accompanied by Ira ID.
Sankey, he visited Europe and instituted
series of day religious services i'll
England, Ireland and Scotland, which
resulted in great religious awakenings in
the principal cities i'll those countries
The evangelsts returned to the United
States in 1876, and organized similar
meetings in various parts of the country.
In 1888 they again visited Great Brit
ain and since that time have been en-.