The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-09
DR.. STEEL ON MOODY.

The Most lscnarl1a bic and Influe mt a
Preacher of this Period.
. Rev. DR.. S. A. Steel preached on Les
sons from the Life of D. L.. Moody" at
Centenary church Sunday night, before
an immense congregation. Many people
were coMrreiled to stand and others could
not get into the edifce. r.
DR.. Steals text was taken from Kings
II. g. He. began by saying that the his
!toran of the future would doubtless say
that Dwight L. Moody was the most re-
markable and influential preacher of this
period. He further said that although
1t was not given to Mr.. Moody 10 estab-E
lish a seperare denomination, and while
the results were. therefore. not so visible.
he had, perhaps. done ever, a greater
werls than John Wesley. the founder of
the Methodist Church. Proceeding to dis
cuss the prominent characteristics Of Mr.
A1oody's life and work he spoke first of
all of his intense moral earnestncss.1 ex-s
en1plifed as 4 boy in his importunate.
appeal to his uncle for a position in the
.)atter's store in the city of Boston, and
thereafter in every act of his Distinguish.
ed career.
IS In the next place he spoke Of Moody's
faith, his implicit, absolute faith in God,
j in the Bible as the word Of God, and in
every promise therein contained. In illus.
trations he cited the fact that upon one
occasion while Mr.. Moody was on a YES
sci which had stranded off the Irish coast
and when the officers of the ship were i'll
doubt as to whether or not the vessel
would be saved, Moody said that he could
go to heaven just as easily from that
place as from any other, and SO retired to
his berth and went peacefully to sleep.
Again he said that Moody was Il man
Of prayer. and cited many instances to
show how wonderfully his prayers had
been answered.
ability of tle man as illustrated in his
meetings and his power to handle large
crowds.
TENDERNESS AND SYMPATHY.
The next point discussed was Moody.s.
tenderness and sympathy with those in
distress. In illustration Of this DR.. Steel.
mentioned a. most pathetic incident IN MS
own life. He had had great sorrow and
Moody had heard of it. He and MI
Moody were warm friends and the latter
not only wrote him a letter OF tender
sympathy, but sent to England for a lit.
tie poem which fitted the case and which
he believed would be of great comfort to
his friend. He afterwards net DR.. steer.
went with him to q private room, read to
him the poem, and finally prayed with
him. asking God to bless the sorrow to
his friends good.
He referred also to Moody's great cath
olicity, how he labored with the workers
Of all Determinations without clash and
all for the glory Of God. In the last
pl,oe ne spoke enthusiastically Of Moodys
grea. liberality, citing the fact that al
though the royalties from the Gospel
Hymns amounted to s1,2oG.c00, every cent
OF that vast sum was used to promote
Moody's work for God. and that the vast
sums of money which he received Others
wise were used in the same way. DR..
Steel then drew a parallel. between Moody
ard Wesley, pointing out that each had
died without estate, that each had been
ambitious-not ambitious to make money.
but to do good as Moody had avowed in
his last n>ements.
Dr. Steel thought that one great lesson
taught by Moodys life was that God
was not shut up to a trained ministry,
but that he could raise up, on any occa-
sion. great preachers from the humblest
walks of life to spread the gospel. Re-
CURING at last to the text he expressed
the wish that "a double portion of
AIoody's spirit might fall upon the reli-
gious world.
In conclusion, he said that Moody had
first been attracted to Sankey, when the
latter led in singing at one of Moody's
meetings and that the hymn which Sankey
had sung was the hymn beginning There
is u fountain filled with blood" ! He re-
quested that the congregation join In
singing that hymn as a tribute to the
memory of this great man and the hymn
was sung with great spirit and visible
emotion. Altogether it was one Of the
most impressive services ever held in
this city.
A most impressive feature of the SER
,-;ce. tho cinoinfr of Miss Cav
Rasland. 1t was pronounced simply
magnificent by all who heard it. The
work of the choir was spirited and excel
lent