The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-26
OF MOODY.
They Give an Insight Into the Famous
Preacher Character.

1898, from which the following bright
bits of wit, satire and repartee are
culled:
AS is Well known, Mr.. Moody had a
wonderful faculty. FOR getting money,
whether it was a simple collection TO
meet some current expenses or some
large subscription with which to erect
a new school building. Asked once as
TO the secret Of his success in this par
ticular line, the great preacher repli-
ed, Il urge people TO Civ until they
feel it, and then to keep on giving un-
til they don't feel IT."
II the course # In address delivered
one afternoon AT Mount Harmon, Mr..
Moody referred to a wooden
as ''Temptation Point" One of the
trustees remarked that he had never
fore.
Neither ave l." replied the speaker.
Why did you hit upon such a name
as that ?" came the inquiry.
OH" said Mr.. Moody, because /
thought that some day some one might
be tempted to erect a chapel for us OF
hat point"
His wish has since been gratifed for
a beautiful stone chapel now adorns
the little hill.
Not long g a man who claimed
perfection went to Mr.. Moody and COM
miserated him on his low level of
Christian experience. Mr.. Moody, in a
kind manner. asked his caller if he
never sinned nor did any wrong
No; / have not sinned for years,
neither have / lone anything hat was
wrong" was the prompt depiy.
We'll, I'm glad ito know it," said
Mr.. Moody, but before / am convinc-
ed / would like to ask your wife"
A few years ago. while Mr.. Moody
was preaching in a New England city
conspicuous for it's utilization with the
American Protective Associations Sc
-cret order hat f~Ourished some years
ago, having for its avowed purpose an
tagOnism to everything calculated to
promote THE interests Of the Roman
Catholic Church or any of its sup
porterS-he was asked when he was
going to preach against the Catholics.
just as soon as all the Protestants
are converted" was the evangelist's
characteristic reply.
When MIR. Moody was asked to con-
duct his first mission in London. in
1874, it was a comparatively new thing
to hold union meetings, and he was
asked to meet a committee of ministers
to explain his methods. Everything
went smoothly until a minister of the
Church of England asked Mr.. Moody
for his creed. Mr.. MoOdy's reply was
that his creed was already in print. A
nOnlDeT OF the Cl6TSyIHen SelZeu peIlCII
and paper, asking where 1t could be
found. I'm the f~fty-third chapter Of
Isaiah" Mr.. Moody answered.
On one occasion when Mr.. Moody was
addressing a crowd of rOughs a man
in the rear of the assembly kept shout
ing Ito the preacher, "Old Yer jaw,
therei" For some minutes Mr.. Moody
paid no attention to these insults, but
at length he deemed it necessary to call
the man to order, and on the repetition
of the cry he calmly responded: Don't
forget that example is behter than pre-
cept, my friend" The desired effect
was instantaneous
By "a :nistake 3 man was admitted
TO Mr.. Moody's room one afternoon
when he returned, very weary, from a
meeting. Lit did not take long to see
that the visitor was a fanatic on some
theological topic. He was entirely i'm
perviouS to hints and so persistent as
20 be extremely annoying, yet Mr..
Moody remained perfectly courteous.
When ait last there seemed to be no es-
cape MIR. Moody asked permission of
his caller to lie down listening,
as he was very tired. This just suited
the who now felt that he had
his victim at his mercy But his eX-
preston of exattatiOn soon changed to
one of dismay. for Mr.. MOOdy's regu-
lar. deep breathing soon showed that
HE was SN ttELEGA II AAANAbAN ~ NAG go
gumert.
Once while in Boston Mr.. Moody was
accused by some people of lowering the
pulpit because he advocated the
churches seeking those who did not
seek the churches. His reply was:
IF lowering the pulpit means bring
ing them to The people l would ito God
I COuId, II 7 wanted to hit Boston you
DON'T think I would mount my guns
on Bunker Hill monument and fire into
the aiR do yOu?'
One day when Mr.. Moody was giving
a talk to the Mortified seminary girls
ON card-playing, t~heatre-golng ana
dancing. one young lady made bold TO
ask him If he could not moderate his
and admit that dancing
among family friends was not only
harmless, but somewhat desirable, in
asmueh as it tended to add grace to
ones figure. Mr.. Moody heard the
young woman patiently and then re-
Piled: MY dear girl, l would a thou
sand times rather have you get more
grace in your heart and less in your
heels"
A few years ago, when Mr.. Moody
was preaching in the slums, he was de-
layed in leaving the hall till late in the
evening. The Exit was in a back street,
and as he left the building he found a
number of roughs waiting to annoy
him AS he walked along he heard
them say: Here he comes." and they
prepared to jostle him from the side
walk Mr.. Moody held u his over
coat, and, with s~ef-possession that
commanded respect, said
My. friend, won't you just help me
on with this overcoat? 1 am not quite
so active now as 1 was at your age,
and some day, when you are as old as
1 am. I'll be glad to do o the same
favor"
M bulIv was ever more completely
taken back with surprise. He held the
overcoat for the evangelist to get into
it. ana then, thanking the young man
for his hid, Mr.. Moody went along I'M
mOleSted.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, Are Blood Dis
eases-Cure Free.