The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-09-08
THE DRAFTING OF SANkEY,
How tho Singer Became Associated with
the Evangelist.

How tho Singer Became Associated will
the Evangelist.
While there are perhaps but a few
people in the United States who have
not heard Of Moody and his co-worker
Sankey, there are not many persons
who have heard the story of how the
two great religious workers first met
became acquainted and few months
later Joined their forces and together
started out into the world on the mis-
sion Of saving souls, says the Indian
apolis Journal. 1t was in the year 1870
that two young men journeyed to
indianapolis to attend the international
convention of the y. NJ. C. A. The one
was Dwight L. Moody, who came from
| Chicago, ILL.,, and the other was Ira
| ID. Sankey. whose home was In New
Castle, Pa. They had heard of each
| other, but had never met. Moody had
already gained some reputation as q
| speaker, and Sankey for his ability to
win souls by his singing Of hymns, but
neither figured prominently as lead
er OF the exercises Of the convention.
1t was announced that "Mr. Moody.
from Chicago" would conduct prayer
meeting on certain morning at six
O'Clock in little room some distance
away from the Academy Of Music.
Sankey determined to take advantage
OF the opportunity to see and hear the
man whom until that time he had been
- en- Doh NJ
Millen, whom he happened to know
quite well. asked Sankey to take
charge of the singing at the service,
explaining that there seemed to be no.
body present who could lead. Without
waiting for any further invitation,
young Sankey arose and sung with
wonderful feeling. When the meeting
was brought to close McMillen asked
Sankey to step forward and he would
introduce him to Moody. AS Sankey
drew near Moody stepped out and took
him by the hand.
"Where arcyou from?" Moody asked.
pennsylvania" replied Sankey.
married or single?'
Married. l have wife and one
child"
What do you do for a living when |
you are at homer"
81 am in the government service"
All this time Moody had been holding
Sankey's hand. Looking down into |
his face with his keen black eyes, he
said:
''Well. you'll have to give it up. |
You'll have to give up your govern
ment position and come with me. You
are just the man have been looking
for for a long time. l want YOU to
come with me. You can do the sing
ing and I'll do the talking"
Sankey was amazed at the propo-
sition. but promised to consider it. At
q moment when he was inclined to be
Moody sent him card. ask
ing him to meet him at certain street
corner at o'clock that evening.
Sankey complied, and when the two
arrived upon the scene Moody rolled
/ large stOrebox out into the street cor
Ter, and then. calling Sankey aside,
lsked him to get up and sing some
hing. Sankey complied, and after
me or two hymns had been sung,
Moody crawled up on to the box and
to preach. The working
nen were just on their way home
rom the mills and factories, and in
short time Moody had secured a
arge crowd. Sankcy says of him
hat he preached that evening from
hat storebox as he never heard him
reach since.
The crowd stood spellbound as the
lords fell from Moody's lips with
7onderful force and rapdity. After
e had talked for about Il min
ties Moody lenped down from the
OK and announced that he was going ,
} hold little meeting of his own at {
ne Academy Of Music, and invited
le crowd to accompany him there. ,
rm in arm Moody and Sankey
larched down the street. singing t
ymn after hymn as they went. The s
.owd followed closely Mt their heels, i
nd the men with their dinner pals v
,rgot to go home, SO completely y
arried away were they with the ser t
ION from the storeboX. il
The result of the meeting was that =!
ankey Joined forces with Moody, and -
le two started out on their career as s
For many years the two r
ere associated. and perhaps no other !.
70 men in recent times have aided
largely in changing for the better Fl
e course of SO many lives. b
A budding Genius. IL