The American evangelists, D.L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey : in Great Britain and Ireland

Front matter

T shall c all on tfe;

Lord shall be sa¥e(i!:=

THE

Chapter I. The Instruments Employed

MESSES. MOODY AND SANKEY.^

Mk. D. L. Moody was born in the year 1837 in one of the 'New England States, in the district which was the scene of the great awakening, under Jonathan Edwards, about a hundred years before. He was brought up a Unitai and had not even heard the gospel of the grace of God till he was about seventeen ygars of age. Going, about that time, to Boston, to be trained for business in the establishment of an uncle, he one day went into the church of the late Dr. Kirk. There, for the first time, he listened to an evangelical sermon. It had the effect of making him uncomfortable, and he resolved not to go back. He felt

* Abridged from The British Evangelist^ edited by Rev. W. Reid M. A., and Rev. W. P. Mackay, M. A 1*

WOEK m CHIC AGO, that his heart had been laid bare, and he wondered who had told the preacher about him. Something, however, induced him to go back next Sunday, and the impression was renewed. A Sunday-school teacher, in whose class he had been, having come to see him and ask for him at his place of business, he opened up his mind to him, and he was enabled to enter into peace and joy in believing.

N'ot very long after this Mr. Moody left Boston and proceeded to Chicago, where he entered into business for himself. Being full of the desire to be useful, he went into a Sunda3^-school, and asked the superintendent if he would give him a class. In this school there were twelve teachers and sixteen pupils ; and the answer to his app^ation was that if he could gather a class for himself he would be allowed to teach them. Mr. Moody went out to the streets and, by personal application, succeeded in bringing in a score of boys. He enjoyed so much the work of bringing in recruits, that instead of teaching the class himself, he handed it over to another teacher, and so on imtil he had filled the school. Then he began to entertain the notion of having a school of his own. He went to work in a neglected part of the city, where

SERVICE OF SONG.

Roman Catholics and Germans abounded. Mr. Moody saw that, to succeed in such a population, a school must be exceedingly lively and attractive, and as he observed that the Germans made constant use of music in their meetings, he was led to consider whether music might not be employed somewhat prominently in the service of Christ. ITot being himself a singer, he got a friend who could sing to help him, and for the first few evenings the time was spent between singing hymns and telling stories to the children, so as to awaken their interest and induce them to return. A hold having in this way been established, the school w^as divided into classes, and conducted in the usual way.

This school became the basis of wider operations. After a time a lively interest in divine things began to appear among the children. This led to the lioldmg of meetings every night, and to the offering of prayers and delivery of addresses suitable to the circumstances of the children. These meetings began to be attended also by the parents, some of whom shared the blessing. Some of those young persons who were converted at this time remain to the preS' ent day the most valuable and active coadjutors in

FIELD DETERMINED.

the work with which Mr. Moody is associated in Chicago. In most cases neither the children nor their parents had hitherto been connected with any Christian Church. Mr. Moody began to find himself constrained to supply them with spiritual food. At first he encouraged them to connect themselves with other congregations. But it was found that in these they were next to lost or swallowed up ; they felt themselves strangers, sometimes unwelcome strangers, while they lost all the benefit of neighborhood, mutual interest, and combination in the worship of God. Gradually, therefore, Mr. Moody felt shut up to taking charge of them, and supplying them with Christian instruction. Both school and church continued to increase, the school amounting to about a thousand, and suitable buildings were erected through the liberality of friends. Mr. Moody had by this time given up business, so that he might be free to give his whole time and attention to the work. As he felt himself called by the Lord to this step, he resolved to decline all salary or allowance from any quarter, and trust for his maintenance solely to what it might be put into the hearts of God's people to contribute. Being quite destitute of private means,

THE CHBISTIAN C03IMI88I0N.

this resolution showed that his faith in a divine call to give himself to Christian work was capable of bearing a great strain. At the same time, while adopting this course for himself, he has never pressed it upon others, unless they should clearly see it to be their duty. And while believing himself called to a kind of supplementary work in the ministry, he is very far from prescribing the same role to others. On the contrary, he is the steady friend of a regular ministry, being fully persuaded that in "ordaining elders in every city," the apostles meant to set up the permanent platform of the Christian Church.

Mr. Moody had acquired a position of much influence in the United States in connection with Sunday-school and mission work, when the war broke out between N^orth and South. This led to a new turn being given to his labors. There was a large camp in the neighborhood of Chicago, to which he gave much attention, going there night after night and striving to bring the soldiers under the influence of Divine Grace. "When the Christian Commission was organized he was president of the Executive branch for Chicago, and nine different times he went to one or other of the scenes of warfare, remaining some weeks and working with

THE YOUNG MEN, all his might. These services with the army were of no little use, not only in producing direct fruit, but also in developing that prompt and urgent method of dealing with men, which is still so conspicuous a feature of his mode of address. With wounded men, hovering between life and death, or with men in march, resting for an evening in some place which they were to leave to-morrow, it was plainly, so far at least as he was concerned, the alternative of " now or never;" and as he could not allow himself or allow them to be satisfied with the " never," he bent his whole energies to the " now."

Mr. Moody's labors in the army were often much blessed. Of all his campaigns of this kind there was none on which he looked back with more pleasure than that in the State of Tennessee, in connection with troops under the command of General Howard. That General being in the fullest sympathy with Mr. Moody, their work together was very earnest and much blessed.

The war being ended, Mr. Moody had more time to develop his work in Chicago. To set others to work in the vineyard had long been one of his chief aims, and by means of the Young Men's Christian

CHICAGO FIRE.

Association, in which he took a great interest, he was highly successful. The hall of the association became one of the stated scenes of his own labors. The association was very unfortunate in the matter of fires — its first building having been burnt down in 1867, and its second in the great fire of Chicago, in 1871. Mr. Moody was accustomed to preach to his own people in the morning, to superintend a Sunday-school of about a thousand in the afternoon, and to preach again in the evening in the hall of the Young Men's Association.

j In October, 1871, occurred the terrible fire which destroyed a great part of Chicago. Mr. Moody and his wife and two children were roused in the middle of the night to find the fierce fire approaching their dwelling, and, leaving the house and household gear to their fate (all the property he possessed) had to hurry along to seek shelter in the houses of friends, i In one month after the fire a temporary erection for mission purposes was completed ! ISTo small energy must have been required to accomplish this, amid the confusion, the bustle, and the variety of things that had to be attended to. But reared the wooden building was, and it has served the purpose of church

SFW BUILDIXG.

and school till now, when a new and snbstantial building is sufficiently advanced to allow the basement story to be used for public services.

It was shortly before the fire that Mr. Sankey began to work along with Mr. Moody, who. happening on some public occasion to sit near him, was attracted by his beautiful voice. The thought struck him that Mr. Sankey would be a valuable assistant to him in many ways — in the Sunday-school, in the church, and in the training of the Young Men's Christian Association. He accordingly entered into an engagement with him to help him in his work by conducting " Tlie Service of Song.'' Mr. Moody has always been eager to secure music — and especially good music — as an aid in preaching the Gospel.

"When things had settled down after the Chicago fire, Mr. Moody began to think of permanent premises for his school and church. A suitable site was secured, and it was resolved to proceed with the erection of a large and commodious building, which, besides accommodation for the schools, will Iiave a hall or church, containing sittings for 2,500. A little while ago it seemed likely that the whole sum necessary would be provided, but the general collapse in business de-

IBA D. SANKEY.

prived the enterprise of some of the expected contributions.

The immediate cause of his visit to Great Britain was an invitation by two gentlemen — Mr. Pennefather of London, and Mr. Bainbridge of l^ewcastle. It was a singular circumstance that both these gentlemen died before or about the time of his arrival. In regard to the spiritual superintendence of the congregation, it is supplied in a large measure by members of the flock, with occasional help from other pastors. Mr. Moody trains his people to be independent in fact, as they are Independent in name. It may be stated, however, that in one respect the congregation is Presbyterian ; it is governed by a session, not by the whole membership.

MR. SAKKEY.

Mr. Ira D. Sankey was born at Edinburg, in the State of Pennsylvania, TJ. S., in the year 1840. He possessed the advantage of pious parents, so that, like Timothy, "from a child he knew the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto sal-

CONVERSIOJSr.

vation," and in his case the truth of the text was exemplified, " Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Although so religiously educated, it was not until the year 1856 that he experienced that saving change of heart, the new hirth^ which can alone constitute us members of Christ. In his earlier years he had not been without the strivings of the Holy Spirit, which at such times as the death of relatives, the conversion of companions, or at seasons of religious revivals, often visit the hearts of the unconverted.

The circumstances under which he was brought to Christ were as follows : — With some young companions he attended a series of special meetings held in a little country chapel, three miles from his father's home, and while sitting in a state of heedlessness and levity, the Spirit of God put it into the heart of an old elder of the church to go and speak to him about his soul. Evening after evening the old man would search him out after the sermon, and plead with him to give his heart and consecrate his life to Jesus. Fear of what his young associates would say kept him long from coming to the Cross of Christ. But at last, after a struggle, lasting

" ONE TALENTS seven days^ the experienced elder led him to Jesus.

He early displayed a taste for sacred music, and took an active part, after his conversion, in promoting the efficient training of Sunday-school children in the singing of hymns, and as soon as he became a Church member, he was invited to conduct the service of praise. In this department of Christian usefulness, together with superintending the Sabbath-school of his Church, and working in the Young Men's Christian Associations of his State, he developed his present power of rendering sacred song. Before meeting Mr. Moody, much of his time was devoted to conducting " Evenings of Sacred Song," and leading the singing at large Sunday-School Institutes, and Christian Conventions.

It was at a jtSTational Convention of Young Men's Christian Associations in Indianapolis, Indiana, that Mr. Moody was struck by his voice ; and, as, on further acquaintance, they found each other's views and desires in regard to energetic mission work identical in aim and spirit, they agreed to labor unitedly in evangelistic services.

For two or three years they worked together in con-

TE AGEING IN SONG.

ducting meetings at Chicago, as tlieir headquarters, besides occasionally visiting other towns and cities, such as Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and Springfield.

Mr. Sankey is fully persuaded that his mission is to stimulate and encourage the service of singing in religious worship. He is a strong advocate of good hearty congregational singing ; and approves of a large Christian Choir to lead, but not to monopolize the service of praise.

In regard to the solo singing, Mr. Sankey, in singing alone, does not propose to substitute this for worship or praise, any more than the minister does when he preaches a sermon. But his aim is to speak to men in hymns and " Spiritual songs," admonishing them that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.

The melodeon and songs of Mr. Sankey have played an important part in the revival. As a means of awakening the people, they have been most effectual. Many who w^ould not have gone to hear the preacher, have been drawn into meetings by reports of the sweet singing ; and nothing can exceed the impression produced, after some stirring address by Mr. Moody, by the sweet voice and clear enunciation of Mr. Sankey taking up and enforcing the same theme in song.

Introduction To England

IN YORK.

On Sunday morning, June 22(3, 1873, Mr. Moody preached in Salem Congregational Chapel to Christian workers ; in the afternoon, in the Corn Exchange, to about one thousand persons ; and in the evening in Wesley Chapel. Many were impressed and some brought to trust in the Saviour. Every evening the following week, Bible lectures were delivered in various chapels, each service appearing to awaken souls, but especially to quicken believers.

On Sabbath-day, June 29th, Mr. Moody preached in two other chapels, and also twice in the Corn Exchange to audiences numbering about one thousand each. Every week-evening service was preceded by a service of song by Mr. Sankey. Prayer-meetings were held every noon, at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, and many there offered themselves and others for the prayers of God's people.

SUNDEBLAXD.

The congregations were from the first increasingly large: all denominations opened their chapels and gave their presence and help, various of the clergy also heartily bidding them " God speed." ^

From York they proceeded, during the month of July, to Sunderland, and commenced their labors in the Victoria Hall, a place capable of holding about three thousand souls. The evening meeting was a large one, and very successful.

At the close of the meeting, a large number adjourned to Bethesda Chapel (Rev. A. A. Eees) ; much prayer was offered up, and many anxious souls were pointed to Jesus, several finding everlasting life through His precious blood. The meetings continued every night for a week, and at all the meetings souls were awakened, and some at all the meetings found peace.

On Sunday (July 27), they were again at the Victoria Hall. In the evening the attendance was enormous, every seat being occupied, and the aisle and the lobbies crowded^; upwards of three thousand souls were present. The audience was very deeply impressed. An adjournment was then made (as be- * Reported by Geo. Bennett, Sec. York Y. M. C. A.

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. . 23

fore) to Bethesda Chapel. Here a very touching scene occurred. A young man, who had long backslidden, came up the aisle to his father and mother, who are godly persons. He first put his arms round his father's neck, and kissed him, asking his forgiveness with many tears ; then kissing his mother, and asking her forgiveness ; afterwards kissing his younger brother. Several other backsliders returned to the Lord, giving hope that their repentance is truly the Lord's work.

IS'ewcastle, built, as its name implies, on the river Tyne, is a thriving, populous town, in which the coal and iron give employment to great multitudes of operatives. It w^as now approached.

The minister of the John Knox Presbyterian Church, in l!^"ewcastle-on-Tyne, among many others, placed his church-building at the disposal of the Evangelists. Good meetings had been held in the Baptist Church edifice here, Mr. Skerry co-operating heartily. We shall allow the minister of the John Knox church to give his impressions of the work up to 9th September, 1873 :

For some time before the meeting commenced, the church was densely crowded in every part, inmq UIE Y-MEETINGS.

eluding aisles, stairs, and side rooms, with persons of all sects, from town and country, while many were obliged to go away who could not obtain admittance. I have not witnessed such proofs of the Holy Spirit's saving power for several years. Mr. Sankey was at E"orth Shields, where an interest in spiritual things has been awakened in the hearts of many, Mr. Moody preached. The pure, full-orbed truths of God's Word came in close and certain succession from his lips, and fell with telling power on the hearts of the throng. The impression produced was too deep and true to show itself in violent ebullitions of feeling. The dense mass seemed at every point the subject of intense solemnity and awe.

" A large mass of people waited for the second meeting, and seemed quite unwilling to go away. Many convicted ones were prevailed on afterwards to retire to the vestry, where Christian friends were in readiness to point them to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world ; others received instruction in the pews of the church. All that were addressed personally retired, so far as I could see, rejoicing in God their Saviour.

" This town has not been blessed in the same man-

''BY ANY means:'

ner since I knew it, and for many years before tliat, according to the testimony of older inhabitants who are quite competent to judge. What amount of fruit will remain we must wait to see, but for present things God's people have very abundant reason to thank God and to take courage.''

Special addresses to Christians, a sermon in the " Friends' meeting-house," at the request of members who had been deeply impressed ; meetings at Gateshead for those whose salvation was a matter of deep concern to their relatives; addresses to the factory workmen in the Tyne Theatre at their own request, formed some of the means employed in this great northern center, and on which the Divine blessing richly rested.

As many as thirty-four meetings were arranged for one week, and the interest in the noon-prayer meeting was unprecedented.

Let the following incident, reported by Mr. Henry Moorhouse, illustrate the feeling among the poor and needy :

A gentleman passing down a street in Gateshead heard some one knocking at the window of a cottage. He stopped and a respectable woman came to the 2

HOPING GREAT THINGS, door, and said : " Come in ! " He said he could not then, as he was going to a meeting.

" Oh, sir, for God's sake come in, and tell me something about Jesus, for I am wretched."

" What is the matter ? " said my friend.

She said, " I am lost ; oh tell me what I must do to be saved. I have been standing at my window all the day to see if a Christian would come along, and if it had only been a beggar who loved the Saviour, I would have called him in.'*

She had been at a meeting a week before, and had been in a miserable state ever since. A Christian lady called to see her and told her about the love of Jesus. She trusted, and was saved. I saw her to-day," said the speaker, " as happy and bright as possible."

At so early a date as October, 1873, Mr. Moody had faith enough to lead him to say to the daily prayer-meeting, at which nearly nine hundred Christians of all ranks were present, that they were on the eve of a great work, which might cover Britain, and make itself felt in America. God would bless them, were they willing to let His Spirit work through them, and to place their influence wholly at His disposal. The daily prayer-meeting must be maintained

DAILY PRAYER-MEETING.

and cherished if directly evangelistic efforts are to be wisely conducted, and be accompanied with a stream of true life. To his own soul the daily prayer-meetings in America had been a source of unspeakable blessing — nay, had done more to refresh and fit him for evangelistic enterprise than all other means of grace put together. The prayer-meetings in his own city had kept his soul on edge from the date of its commencement, fifteen years ago, to the present time. " Why," said our friend, " may the fire not burn as long as I live ? When this revival spirit dies, may I die with it !

The extent of this work around l^ewcastle is thus described by the Rev. Mr. Skerry, minister of one of the Baptist churches, already mentioned.

" Thus it will be seen that, from the common center of Newcastle, which may almost be regarded as the base of Messrs. Moody and Sankey's spiritual operations, there has spread throughout the neighboring towns and villages this powerful spirit of earnestness, and longing for the glory of God to be seen in the quickening of Christian people and the salvation of sinners — a spirit which we trust will grow to more and more fully developed dimensions, until the whole

PBE VAILING PBAYER.

of Tyneside, with its vast industry, and the whole of the north of England, with its sin and sufiering, and with its deep and widespread need, shall have come beneath the reviving touch of the Spirit of God.

Truly God has been good unto Israel, and we render to Him all praise and thanksgiving for sending to us, by the hands of our honored American brethren, this blessing from on high. For these brethren and their work we also pray most heartily. Wherever their feet may turn, we beseech the God of grace to go before them, and prepare their way, inclining the hearts of Christian workers to sympathize with and help them with their self-imposed and arduous though glorious task, so that in many a town and district the work of the Lord may prosper abundantly, and many precious souls may be won for the dear Lord and Master."

In the might of such blessing as these prayers bring down, the brethren proceeded, after two months of earnest and fruitful work, on which they had entered with little introduction, to other fields, such as Bishop Auckland.

There all the non-conformist ministers and their people had devoted a week to prayer for the blessing

ST0GKT0N-0N-TEE8.

of God, on their visit. The Rev. Thomas Boyd, Presbyterian minister of the place, after describing the meetings in the Wesleyan Chapel, says, after the evangelists had gone :

Such has been the number of cases, and such many of the parties, that had it been told to any Christian friend a fortnight ago, he would not have believed it. Even with all this before us, so wonderful is it, that we almost feel as if we dreamt. God's Spirit still works powerfully. Every night souls are aroused, and, under the guidance of Christian friends, led to Jesus."

At Stockton-on-Tees, in which the early part of November was spent, the result is thus described by an intelligent observer on the spot ; and once for all we call attention to the union of prayer and Catholic feeling before and in the work :

" This work has been very great ; and in examining, for our own future guidance and the guidance of others, into the apparent causes of success, we are struck with the following : First, the preparation of united^ helievmg prayer. Mr. Moody said, that on coming into the first meeting, he and Mr. Sankey felt that they were amongst a praying people ; and to this and the next cause, viz. : the united action of the

QUIETNESS AKD CONFIDENCE, ministers of the town^ he mainly attributed tlie fact, tliat in no place which they had visited had they witnessed such evident results in so short a time. It was very delightful to see, at each of the services, eight or ten of these devoted pastors, most of them in the vigor of young manhood, strong-souled, intelligent men, representing various shades of denominational belief, but merging all differences in mutual affection, and the common desire to aid in the glorious work ; and many hearts were constrained by the sight to give thanks for such a ministry in Stockton. Another very important feature was the absence of noise in the meetings. The experience of the past few days will, we think, have convinced them that the best and most successful prayer-meetings ever held in Stockton have been the quietest, reminding us of the old lady's description, ' God Almighty was so near that nobody had to shout to Him.' "

The Convention, in some degree an American institution, has been introduced into Great Britain, the first of any moment in connection with this movement having been held at Is^ewcastle-on-Tyne, on "Wednesday, November 12th, 1873. The topics discussed were of immediate interest, such as :

EFFECTIVE MEETINGS.

How to reach the Masses, How to Conduct Prayer-meetings, How to Conduct After-meetings, How to Secure the Young for Christ, What are the Hinderances to the Lord's Work ?

Fifteen minutes were allowed for the introducer of each subject, and to other speakers five minutes each, Mr. Moody keeping time by means of a small tablebeU.

On prayer-meetings the Eev. Mr. Haigh said : " Special objects should be stated, with appropriate Scripture promises, and special requests ought to be sent in to the president. On Sunday evenings the one subject ought to be the salvation of souls. Prayer should generally be short. A woman once said to a man who was circumlocuting in prayer, ^Ax Him summat, man ! ' The best means of putting down a man who prays too long is to speak to him privately. In all meetings there ought to be moments of silent prayer. Singing in a meeting ought to be subordinate to prayer, and partake of a petitionary character. Mr. Spurgeon had said, ' The prayer-meeting stood in the same relation to the church as the engine did to the factory. If it decline, all our efforts wiU be abortive.' "

IMPRESSION MADE.

Mr. Moody gave a few words of advice. Get the people close together. Bury all stiffness. When the leader comes in with formal dignity, and is very stiff, no one can pray. There should be good ventilation. A change is good ; a word of talk is good.

The Rev. W. E. Skerry recommended young people's prayer-meetings, and in reference to prayers of excessive length, said : " As regards long prayers, a man once said to a person who prayed very long — and it is sometimes true — ' Brother, if you prayed more at home, you would have less to say when you come here.' "

Nowhere in England can there be found a more practical, stolid, and unromantic people than the men of JSTorthumberland and Yorkshire. The judgment they formed of the leader at these meetings is concisely put:

"Mr. Moody's tact in conducting is marvelous. Common sense stamps all his earnestness and all his plans, and this wins in a remarkable manner the confidence of all who come in contact with him. Whatever else may be said of him, no one can call him a fanatic; and this gives to his steady, invincible, untiring self-sacrifice such irresistible power. By bod-

IZV CABLISLE ily vigor, and mental and spiritual endowments, he seems to be peculiarly a vessel unto honor meet for the Master's use."

The border-town of Carlisle is next approached. The evangelists are nearing Scotland. The place where, in former days. Englishman and Scotsman used to meet in desperate feud, becomes the scene of victories of another kind. The truth is the weapon, and the Victor is Jesus Christ. This none would more readily own than the instruments He employed.

Carlisle was reached on Saturday, 15th November (1873), and the following week spent there. All denominations were represented by their ministers, let a local laborer report the result, as he follows the American brethren, with a prayer, to Edinburgh: