The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-04
SANkE TELLS
OF MOOD Us LIFE
Interesting "reminiscences of the.
Great Evangelist.
THEIR FAMOUS COMBINATION
Stories Of Henry Drnmmond. The Chi
cage Fire and Other sidelishts
Upon the Moody
Biosran,y.


with the religious work of the late evan
gelEst- Dwight j. Moody, than Ira D. San
key, the Gospel singer. Peculiar interest
attaches. therefore, to Mr.. Sankey's reml-
I1scenees OF the life and work OF his for
mer friend and co-iaDorer. sfr. Sankey
ADDS a great many extremely interesting
s'delghts 20 the Moody biography, which
has just come from the press.
The day following the death of the IA
nous evangelist, AR. Sanisey was offered
ten thousand dollars to write biography
OF tlas IorTner co-worlzer- When he learn
cd, however. that Mr.. Moody had ex
pressed a desire that MS own son should
write the story of his life, Mr.. Sankey
promptly declined the tempting offer This
adds interest to these stories OF Moody
which the book, written by William X.
Moody. suggested 10 the famous singer
HOW MOODY AND SANIlEY MET.
Many interesting incidents are con-
Tlected with my first meeting Mr. Moody
said MIR. Sankey. We met at an early
morning przyer-meeting in Indianapolis,
IN $50. The meeting was brought about
by the odd circumstance that was urged
10 sing a Gospel hymn by a psain-sinsins
minister.
The Rev. Robert Mcmillan was this
ministers name. BY mere chance 1 hap
pened to sit down beside him as l entered
this meeting. Mr.. Moody was leading
the meeting. As 1 sat down, AIR. Nc
MILAN touched me on the elbow and
whispered: Mr.. Sankey, I'm glad you've
come. The singing here this morning has
peen aooaninarle, and when that man
gets through praying 1 want you to start
up a Gospel hymn" for us When the
prayer was over, i started UP There Is
a Fountain Filled with Blood. At the
close of the service some ministerial friend
sand to me- L want TO introduce you to
Mr.. Moody. as j think tle would like to
know you
What took place, Mr.. Moody's son tells
in the biography. Mr.. Moody asked me
a number Of questions about my family
ties and occupation, and then he
nounced, in his characteristic fashion:
We'll. you'll have to give that up, You
are the man I've been looking for, and 1
want you to come TO Chicago and help me
with my work
Thus was formed relationship which
continued until AR. Moody's death, nearly
thirty years later. II seemed that Mr..
Moody and I Were peculiarly fitted by our
previous religious training 10 work in
concert, and ! believe that this pre-
lfminary training was one OF the great
secrets of our success.
MIR. MOODY AND THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH.
Most readers Will be greatly interested
-oftenttmes astonished, perllaps-at the
references in the Life TO Mr.. Moody's
relations with his friends Of Inc Catholic
C.hurcil For example, few persons are
really aware that "a definite proposition
was once made to Mr.. Moody to enter the
Catholic denomination. This incident took
place in Chicago.
Mr.. Moody was conducting a series
of meetings. and had been greatly worried
by Interruptions of Catholic boys in the
11eighloorhood He called upon Bishop
Duggan, of that diocese and after the
bishop had told him that the boys Were
of the worst element in the Church he
said: Your zeal and devotion in behalf of
these people IS most cornrnendabe. All
that is needed to make You a great power
IS to come within the fold of the only true
Church
Then occurred a most remarkable con-
ver.sation. Mr. Moody told the bishop that
whatever advantage becoming a Catholic
would give him among Catholics them
selves would be offset by the fact that he
could mo longer work among Protestants-
Why, certainly. you could still work
among the Protestants,' replied the bishop
But surely You would not let me pray
with a Protestant if I became a Roman
catolic' Yes said the bishop, you
could pray with Protestants as much as
ever
Well. didn't know That said Mr..
Moody. Would you. Bishop. pray with a
Protestant Yes, i would. replied Bishop
Duggan. Then said the Young man. 4
wish you would pray for me now, that
may DE led Alright in this matter. And
they forthwith knef where they had been
standing in the hail. They were warm
friends after that.
This incident was typical of many 9TH
.srs Mr. Moody had a great heart and a
broad mind While ne stood for the sound
est orthodoxy. yet ne was able to see
good in everything and in almost every
body The most marked eXemplification
of this was his relationship to The mem
ber,s of the Catholic Church Of his native
village. While he did not agree in any
sense with the tenets of the Catholic
CellIrci1 he felt. and often said that ii was
much better to be a good Catholic than a
poor Protestant.
Mr.. Moody often gave employment TO
Catholics in tile erection Of the build
3ngs at Mortified. Mass The Catholics
there Believed in his Christianity. and
many of them Would have given their
lives Gn his defense, Of necessary. When
the little Catholic church was built al
Northfield, some Of ats members called
alIson Mr. Moody for financial assistance
TO get "a new organ. He as once said:
q am a thorough heliever in good music
and good singing. and I vail furnish you
an organ myself for your new church.
'-Ogle of the most trying times OF Mr.
Noody's life. ais Isl Indicated in the bsog-
raphy. was that Of the Chicago fire in
ISL The great cont1asration took place
on an October Sunday night. Mr. Moody
and ] were conducting a meeting an the
old Farwell Hall. shall never forget
Eale occasion. Mr. Moody had preached
q moving sermon. Then sang:
To-day the Saviour calls, for refuge
tls,
The storms of justice fan, and death is
nisa.
Scarcely had the echoes of the song
died away IN The auditorium when the
sound of the old courthouse bell was
Heard ringing the death-knell of the city
Strange condolences, The noise and con-
fusion were 80 great that we had 30 close
the service. / went outside and stood
watching the flames. with AIR. Moody
al my side. Next morning Farwell Hall
end most of the city were In ashes, and
did not see Mr.. Moody again for a
month. He then sent for me to return
70 Chicago. saving that ne WAS conduct
Ing a meeting' there and wanted help.