The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-15
DIR. SMITH BAKER.
Addressed v. VI. CA. o. Dwight 4.
Moody.

N. q. A. yesterday afternoon on the late
Dwight l.. Moody. Assembly hall was
crowded with men young and cid TO hear
this address. SecIetary Garland stating
that 1t was the largest attended meeting
on sunday afternoon for o long time.
The singing, with which these services
were opened. was of an unusually dne
character. Mr.. A. b. Hall conducted
the congregational singing In which the
entire gathering Joined with will.
Mr.. Hall sang 1.-THE Bird with the Brok-
en- Wing" In q most pleasing manner.
after which DIR. Baker was introduced.
He spoke for over an hour and gave not
only a most entertaining oharactsriza-
ii on Of the great evangelist, but q helpful
and instructive talk as we'll.
He began by referring 10 the great
things which have marked the century
now ciosine,the progress made In art and
in science, the uplifting Of the political
rights Of men end the advance along edu-
oational lines, but this osntury has teen
marked because Of the greatest advance
made In ouganiasd Christianity since the
beginning Of tine Christian era.
DIR. Baker then spoke of some Of the
great men which this century hos pro-
ducei. In the political world Of Webster.
Gladstone and Bismarck. In the pulpit
Cardinal Newman, Charles II. Sturgeon,
Henry Ward Bsechsr and Philips Brooks,
who have been this greatest men In the
ministe rial profession the century had
seen. But In the line of lay labor
Dwight l.. Moody has attained an emil
nence which no other man has equallsd.
Few men had an intimate acquain-
tanoe with Mr.. Moody" said DR.. Baker.
"I knew him, but do not profess TO
have been an intimate friend OF his fer
few men were intimate with him. He
was q reolusive man and never took any
one into his confidence. Born OF hum
BILE parentage on New England farm
amid circumstances calculated to bring
out the strongest traits In bis character
he had few opportunities for education.
As q hoy he was not profane. AMI Inn
pure or inteinrerate, rs / have read In
some newspapers. He was a pure mind.
cd. rough, upright and exclusive sort OF
boy with a stirring New England char
aoter, the best In the world.
MIR. Baker then gave brief sketch OF
Mr.. Moody's early struggles, OF his life
as a clerk In u Boston store, of his re-
movai to Chicago and his awakened in
terest In Christian work. He hogan by
hiring pew and then four psws In
church for the poor children. Then he
started q Sunday school which grew rap
idly In size and WAS the foundation for
Grace church. All this time Mr.. Moody
was self sustaining. He was never
religious tramp and though he made
thousands Of dollars In the course of his
life he spent the most Of it In uplifting
the church and humanity. Then In
Chicago, Mr.. Mooiy's great abilities rs
an evangelist became apparent and he
entered upon that career which has made
his name immortal.
DIR. Baker. In a graphic and highly In
teresting manner. went on to tell how
MIR. Moody founded schools. published
books and started the great volunteer
missio pary plan and aided the Y. III. U.
A. 1t Is estimated that in the course OF
bis life he spoke to over one hundred
millions of people, more chan any other
man now living or who has ever lived
has addressed. he saved over 20 900 souls
and led them to Christ. 10 sum up the
labors of his life Mr.. Moody did the great
est WORT that has been done since the
beginning Of the Christian era. He
was an unique man. He was Dwight
l.. Moody and that Is all you can say
about him. He WAS no better .man than
many others. but he WAS holy man
His will power was great and had he de-
vo: led himself TO any other line Of work
ne would have succeeded because Of this
fact. His perception was quick. and he
was possessed of good common sense.
There are those who have spoken
sligntingly of Mr.. Moody because he did
not have a classical education. You
know there are some OF us ministers who
are 40 narrow minded that the man who
has not classical education can never
bs reckonsd as upon our plane. These
ministers who entertain this view are
preaching today to half filled churches.
MIR. Moody was rebuke to those who
| believed a classical education necessary
for successful Christian work and also a
rebuke to those who do not believe In ed
ueation. Deeper down than any Of these
things, however, Was this: When he gave
himself to God he gave himself entire.