The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-04-27
SAVED LIVES left
SOULS TO GOD
"REMINISCENCES OF
THE LATE DWIGHT L. MOODY BY
ROBERT COLLYER.

I reported in ST. Louis to my dear old
friend DR.. Eliot who was giving his life
for the great cause; and then went
home to my church to leave them again
in February for Port Donelson. l shall
tell the story soon of what we tried to
do there. Early in April when the
news came from Pittsburg Landing of
the stern battles, we met swiftly again
ready to lend a hand. A larger num-
Der volunteered to CO. and we lost no
time speeding down to Cairo and then
up the river. They had elected me to
be captain of the company, because,
as they said, 1 knew the ropes.
Brother Moody with some ministers
in the christian Commission" was in
the company; and, as we went up the
river, he said to me: Brother Collyer
we are going to hold a prayer-meeting
in the saloon. viii you come in and
join us?" Gladly" 1 answered, and
went Early in the meeting he made
an address to us of which the burden
was that we were going to the battle
field to save souls, many of those men
would die in their sins He did not say
they would go to hell, but this was the
clear inference if we did not save them.
When he sat down, l rose to my feet
and said, Brother Moody is mistaken;
we are not going there to save the
souls of our soldiers, but to save their
lives and leave their souls in the hands
of God" Our work would be this we
had done at Fort Donelson; and l out
lined the work-to comfort them with
tender words, lay on the soft linen, and
cool water, wash them, and see by all
means to their help and healing. The
great first thing was the nursing back
to life, and this we mast do.
There was a dead silence when l sat
down and then a brother minister from
Chicago rose and said: This is the way
the Unitarians always go to work, from
the surface inward but we go direct
~ to the heart first, and then work
out to the surface, ending where they
begin. We must do the one thing and
not leave the other undone.-warn the
sinner, pray with him, and point him
to the thief on the cross"
1 rose on the instant when he sat
down and said: MY friends, we know
what those men have done, no matter
who or what they are. They left their
homes for the camp and the battle
while we stayed behind in our city.
They endured hardness like good sol
diers, while we were lodged softly.
They have fought and fallen for the
flag of the Union and all the flag stands
for, while here we are safe and sound.
1 will not doubt for a moment the sin
certify of my friend of years who has
Just spoken; but / will say for myself
that / should be ashamed all my life
long if l should point to the thief on
the cross in speaking to these men, or
to any other thief the world has ever
heard Of" And when / sat down there
was a roar of applause.
And now another memory links in
with this. About a year before Broth
er Moody was taken to his Well-won
rest and reward, ! was standing one
morning on a platform of the Elevated
waiting for a train, when a hand was
laid on my shoulder from behind, and
turning there was Brother Moody,
had not met him since that day ON the
way to Pittsburg Landing, There was
a smile now on his honest face, | was
glad to notice and, with no word OF
preface. he said, you We're am wrong
that day in the saloon" And / an-
sWered. "Old friend II I was ever AN
right n my life. 10 was iu that after
noon ON the Acamer and if $500 must
AN answer for the deeds done iu the
body, my answer win hn ready ANA
don't you forget lt' We parted then
and ] saw him 90 speak to him no