The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-23
PASSING AWAY OF MOODY
THE EVANGELIS DIES SAILING
"GOD rs CALLING ME.0

10 be Held Next Monday--A Spot ON tho
Seminary Grou nds % be the Prem Oh er,s
Last Resting PIace-W ork of Moody In
New Haven.
East Northfield, Mass. Dec 22--With
the words God is calling me-" Dwight
l.. Moody, the evangelist whose fame
was worldwide, fell asleep in death ut
his home here at noon to-day. The
passing of his spirit from a body which
had been tortured with pain for some
weeks to the rest beyond was as gentle
as could be wished for. His family
We're gathered at his bedside and the
dying mans last moments were spent
in comforting them and In contempla-
ton Of that reward for which he had
so long and earnestly labored. He knew
that death was near, but its sting to
him was lost in the unfolding to his
mental vision of beautiful scene, judg-
ing from his last words The gathering
Of the family around the bedside OF the
great evangelist was a scene that will
be referred to many times in years to
come as Mr. Moody's work is carried
forward Besides the family there were
present also Drs Schofield and Woods
and the nurse.
Early in the day the evangelist realiz-
ed that the end wac not far Off and
talked with his family at intervals, be-
ing conscious to the last except for a.
few fainting spells. Once he revived,
and, with wonderful display Of strength
in his voice, said in a happy strain:
What's 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 free
ly to his sons saying: II have always
been an ambitious man--not ambitious
to lay up wealth, but to leave you work
to do" and urged them to continue the
work of the schools at East Northfie1d
and Mount Hermon and of the Chicago
Bible Institute.
Once the stiffness of the chamber was
broken by the anguished cry of Mrs A.
+. Fit, his daughter, in the words,
Father we can't spare you.'' The re-
ply, so characteristic Of the man, was:
Il am not going to throw my life away
Ii God has more work for me to do, I'll
not die" AS the noon day hour drew
near the watchers at the bedside noted
the approach of death. Several times
his lips moved as if in prayer but the
articulation was so faint that the words
could not be heard. Just as death came
Mr. Moody awolke as if from sumber
and said with much seriousness: II see
Earth receding; Heaven is opening; God
Is calling me-, and moment later he
had entered upon what one Of his sons
described as "triumphal march into
Heaven"
The death Of Mr.. Moody was not un-
expected, although hope for his tempo
rary recovery from illness was looked
for, not only by friends near at hand,
but by those who had listened to his
words and teachings on both conti-
nents. In the family there was tear
that death was not a long way off. The
cause of death was a general breaking
down of his health, due to overwork.
His constitution was that of an ey-
ceedingly strong man, but mis- u.ltiring
labor gradually undermined his vital-
ity until that most delicate of organs,
the heart, showed signs Of weakness.
His exertions in the west last month
brought on the crisis and the collapse
during the series of meetings at Kan
sas City An early diagnosis by emf
nent physicians made 1t evident that
Mr.. Moody's condition was serious Hnd
his engagements he returned
to his home in East Northfield so
near the greatest achievements OF his
life. On reaching his home the family
DR.. N. P. Wood, took charge
of Mr.. Moody. and for some days bull
letins as to the patients condition were
issued, all having an encouraging tone,
but unerringly pointing to
the evangelist's work on earth was
about finished. Last week a change
for the worse prepared immediate
friends eor what was to come.
This week. however, the patient im-
proved steadily, until yesterday, when
he appeared very nervous This symp-
tom was accompanied by weakness
which much depressed the family,
who were anxiously watching the sui
ferer Last evening Mr.. Moody appear
ed to realize that he could not recover
and so he informed his family. During
the night the patient had spells of ex-
treme weakness and at O'Clock this
morning DR.. Wood was called at the
of Mr.. Moody in order that his
mghe be noted. hypo-
iermic injection ow strynicha cause the
heart to- become stronger Then Mr..
Moody requested his son-in-law, Mr..
Fitt and DR.. Wood to retire. Mr..
Moodys eldest son, Will r. Moody, who
1ad been sleeping the first Of the night,
spent the last half with his father.
At 1850 this morning DR.. Wood was call
ID and when he reached Mr.. Moody's
'oom he found his patient in a semi
conscious condition. Then it was that
he family were called to the bedside,
where they remained until death came.
The arrangements for the funeral
lave not yet been fully completed, but
he services will be held next Monday
Ltternoon at 3 o clock in the Congrega-
ional church. The burial will be on
This is spot on the semi
larry grounds near Mr.. Moody's home
OF, which has become famous in con-
lection with the summer meeting and
N which hundreds of student gather
ngs have been held many of them con-
ucted by Mr.. Moody himself. On this
ccount 1t seemed to the family fitting
hat the burial should be at that spot.
'he Mortified, the summer hotel con-