The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-06
A VIEW OF MOODY
The Great EvangpIisps Work
Considered BY The Roman
Catholics.

loves 10 see a human soul on fire with
zeal for God. a Catholic can read the
life Of Dwight l.. Moody and be moved
deeply with the same enthusiasm OF
religion that moved thousands OF souls
10 forsake their lives OF sha- and de-
vote themselves 10 a right conscience
with God under the spell OF his power
full personality and pIeadings FOR faith
IL is refreshing at all times, and es-
pecially in this superficial and artificial
age, to come In contact with genuine
soul; a nature so sincere so simple that
IL seems mirror Of nature herself
fresh. like the spring time. breathing
perfumes OF flower and grass, yet play
ed upon and swept by forces OF wind
and storm that one may efusily compare
IL with q sumner landscape in the
tihroes OF a tempest.
Doubtless his energies and thrift
would have quickly made him a rich
man had he SO desired, but his religious
nature became so awakened that he
spent every spare moment gathering
the waits of rhc streets where they
could be fed and clothed and taught re-
ligion. This work was the turning
point OF his life. BY and by he aban-
doned all secular business and devoted
himself entirely TO religious work.
He called upon the then bishop Of
Chicago during these early labors, who
said TO Moody:
Your zeal and devotion are most
commendable. 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
longer work among Protestants." The
bishop assured him that he could; that
he could pray with Protestants as much
as ever Would you, bishop, pray
with a Protestant"
Yes. l would
well. them" replied young Moody,
81 wish you would pray for me now
ter
They knelt I'm the hall 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 was never
attracted 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 faith made by creed Or
dogma. He believed that a simple
promise TO be loyal 10 Christ was all
sufficient
Mr.. Moody had a Catholic friend
named Healy. who painted valuable
portrait of him, and when the Chicago
fire destroyed nearly everything he
owned, at the request of his wife this
painting was saved by him. He humor-
marching away from the fire with this
picture. by imagining his friends meet
ing him and saying: Hello. Moody
I'm glad you've escaped. What's that
you are ciDging TO so affectionately
"Oh, I've got my own portrait The
portrait now hangs on the walls OF the
family home in Mortified.
In 1872 Mr.. Moody was invited to
preach TO some congregations in Eng
land There was begun those remark
able meetings in halls and Kinks which.
In Great Britain and America, spread
over "a period OF nearly thirty years.
and enabled him 10 exhibit his marvel
GUS power over the hearts and wills or
men which has hardly been equalled
in the history of English speaking
people. IL has been said. ard there is
little doubt OF the truth OF IL. that he
had preached to audiences OF over one
hundred million people in those active
years. or course his audiences were al
most always composed OF Protestants,
although his genius for pulpit eloquence
drew even Jews and Catholics to hear
what they had 50 constantly seen de-
scribed IN the public press.
His prevailing qualities were tireless
energy, amazing common sense. un-
questioning faith and human sympa-
thy rarely equalled These qualities,
on fire with enthusiasm and marshalled
with the brain of a 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 at Cooper
Union himself. and his large audiences
led him to think that II the Cathoic
people would orly hold simultaneous
services New York might be shaken
with religious fervor.This was the pur-
pose of his visit. The archbishop ex-
plained the system of missions pursued
blythe Catholic church. and showed him
how II was constantly doing what the
Protestant churches did only occasion
ally. An hour was spent i'm conversa-
tlon but the only result was a friendly
intercourse World.