The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-09

FROM the Catholic World.
In this spirit therefore, of one who
loves to sec a human soul on fire with
zeal for God Catholic can read the
life of Dwight l.. Moody and be moved
deeply with Che Same enthusiasm of re-
ligion cha moved thousands of souls tn
forsnke their lives of sin and devote
themselves to a right conscience with God
under the spell of his powerful person
Ality and pleadngs for faith. II is re-
freshing at al times, and especially in
this superficial and artificial age 10 come
in contact with a genuine soul. nature
50 sincere. so simple that it seems a mir
ror of nature herself-fresh like the
springtime: breathing perfumes OF flower
and grass, yet played upon and swept
by forces OF wind ond storm that one
may easily compare it with summer
landscape in the shroes of a tempest
Doubtless his energies and thrift would
have quickly made him rich man had
he so desired, but bis religious nature be-
came so awakened that he spent every
spare moment gathering the waits Of the
streets where they could he fed and cloth
ed and taught religion. This work was
the turning point of his life by and by
he abandoned all secular business and
devoted himself entirely to religious work
He called uDon the then Bishop of Chit
caGo during these early labors. who said
to Moody:
Your zeal and devotion are most COM
mendebe All you need to make you a
great power for good Is to come within
the fold Of the only true church"
But" replied Moody. II could no long
er work among Protestants" The Bish-
op assured him that he could: that he
could pray with Protestants as much as
ever Would you, Bishop pray with n
Protestant
yes. I would
''Wek then" replied young Moody. IT
wish You would pray for me now that
may be led Alright in this matter"
They knci in the han where they were
standing and prayed They were lifelong
friends thereafter.
Many Catholics who knew and loved
Mr.. Moody may perhaps have wondered
why so religious a man never at
tracted 10 the Catholic faith. The an
swer is doubtless to be discovered In
many of his published sermons. where he
avowed such strong repugnance to all
bonds of firth made by creed or dogma.
He believed that q simple promise 10 he
loyal to Christ was all-sufficient
MIR Moody Ind Catholic friend nameft
Healy, who painted valuable portrait
of him. and when the Chicago fire de-
stroyed nearly everything he owned at
the request of his wife This painting was
saved by him. He humorously described
his embarrassment at marching away
from the fire with this picture by mag
ming his friends meeting him and say
ing: Hello Moody. I'm glad you've
escaped. What's that you are clinging
10 so affectionately? "Oh, I've got my
own portrait" The portrait now hangs
on the walls of the family home in North
field
In 1872 Mr.. Moody was invited to preach
to some congregations in England. There
WAS begun those remarkable meetings in
halls and Kinks which, IN Great Britain
and America. spread over period Of
nearly thirty years. and enabled him to
exhibit his marvellous power over the
hearts and wills of men which has hardly
been equaled in the history OF English
speaking people II has been said. and
there II little doubt of the truth or t.
that he had preached 20 audiences OF over
one hundred million people in those ac-
tive years. or course. his audiences were
almost always composed of Protestants.
although his genius for pnipit eloquence
drew even Jews and Catholics TO hear
what they had so constantly seen descr.b-
ed in the public press.
His prevailing qualities were tireless
energy. amazing common sense. unques-
toning faith and a human sympathy
rarely equaled. These qualities. on fire
with enthusiasm and marshaled with the
brain Of military general. made him .
powerful leader of men. Professionalism
has lost its best apostle. and in the death
Of Mr.. Moody there is a conscious halt
IN its forces
Mr.. Moody in the closing years OF his life
called upon the Archbishop Of New York
He was preaching az Cooper Union him
self and his large audiences led him TO
think that If the Catholic people would
only hold Simultaneous services New York
might be shaken with religious fervor
This was the purpose of his visit. The
Archbishop explained the system Of mis-
s.ons pursued by the Catholic Church and
showed him how II was constantly do
ing what the Protestant churches did
only occasionally An hour was spent in
conversation, but the only result was a
friendly intercourse.
-s-o->-------T
The Russian Emperor has contributed
the sum Of q, 400 rubles from his own