Missouri Valley times., 1899-12-21
Communicated.

| xV W0o mOtO Vu0u q OOZ0u years
ago that the first steps in the en-
terprise now embodied in the thor
oughly equipped institution at 80,
Institute Place, Chicago, were ta-
ken. A little missiou Sunday g, no,
organized by Mr.. Moody when the
city,was comparatively young, was
the seed out of which tree grew up.
The Sunday School became a
church,-now the Chicago Avenue
church, and in the church were
organized the periodical meetings
for the study of the Bible, whose
success inspired Mr.. Moody with
the thought that Bible Institute,
conducted on the most practical
lines, might be possible in Chica-
go.
In April 1883, the Chicago Evan
gelizatlon society was incorpora-
ted, under the presidency of Mr..
Moody. In the following October
the School was formally opened,
and during the first year of work
80 students were enrolled, 50 OF
them men, aud 30 women. The
institution occupied three houses,
and the building of another, a 8
story brick structure was begun
ut once. 1t was finished in Janu-
ary 1890. So the foundation was
laid.
The following year the ntten-
dance was nearly three times that
of the first year. Mr.. Moody ex.
pertinent has worked. Students
came from the ends of the earth.
They brought to the school every
sort Of religious opinion in Chris
tianity. Some of them intended
to study further after leaving the
Institute; some did not. Some in.
tended to be pastors; some merely
to strengthen their ability to work
in the ranks. They were all bound
together by intense zeal for work,
and they we're attracted to the In.
stitute by the simple and practi-
cal aim which underlay it's opera.
tlon, to give students gooc
working knowledge of the Bible,
in training them for practica
Christian work, and to stimulate
their spiritual lives.
The Institute has held upswer
vingly to these purposes, and the
following are some of the results
The attendance has increased from
year to year, and 1890 have stud
led ut the Institute during the ter
years; about 1000 of these ha,,
engaged in active Christian worl
d Fsince leaving the school; l58 hav.
Ibscome foreign missionaries, VOL
king in score of foreign cour,
|tries; three more buildings have
|been purchased for the Instituted
work; Colportage Association
has been established, which hal
published over 100000 books
and distributed hundreds of thous
ands.
The Institute is not theologi
cal school, in the sense that it dc
votes the larger part of the curri
culum to theoretical study, but i
; supliments and strengthens thu
work of theological schools.
The Bible is approached from
many points of view, thus, in thi'
years course, the Rev. r. A. Tor
ry, who is superintendent of tht
Institute, treats of the Bible doc
trine concerning God, Jesus Chris
and the Holy Spirit, gives an tan
alytical study of the Bible" ane
offers "study of the Bible fol
personal works. Prof. W. w
White treats of "The Bible Ide,
of God," and Mr.. W. r. Newell
presents cynthetic studies of the
Acts and the Pauline epistles.
Practical work IL given III cour
ses on methods, construction ant
delivery of sermons, etc, by Mr.
Torrey, on the use of the black
boards, by Kev. r.. .. Y. Pierce
and on children's work, by Mis-
: Mabel Hall. And all this is sup
plimented by drill in conducting
meetings, in visitation, aud in worl
! among the slums.
During the ten years history o
the Institute, prominent Chicas
men have interested themselve
in it's success, and such men as
: E G. Keith, president of the me
! tropolitan National bank, Rober
!, !, Scott, prominent merchant. At
! toruey John P. Wilson, and Fred
: erick Goodhart, are represented
! on it's board of directors.
e This is the fruit of the seed M
Moody planted in mission schoo
in Chicago less than score o
years ago.
There wasa curious doubl
:. = wedding IN Howard, Kan, fe,
los ooo 1ouao ond A ,l;con ~