Mr. Moody

He had no title and he had no right to affix initial letters to his signature. He never missed them, though if he had possessed the learning which they are supposed to represent his popularity, and the brightness and magnetism of his personal presence might have prolonged the vogue of evangelists. He understood very well the art of putting an audience into a good humor before asking favors. He was an inimitable storyteller. He had the same temperamental comradery that May Irwin has. Like her he was big and wholesome and intensely human. But except for the emotions which a generous, loving, magnetic temperament can cause Mr. Moody's usefulness was over with the passing of the evangelists. Among lecturers and preachers he was what a collection of anecdotes is among books. His power was the power of temperament. His diction, though not pure, was nearly always lucid. His fancy played on the surface of things. He was a vivid colorist, he understood the dramatic force of contrasts. He had a wonderful memory and as he went to and fro on the earth he gathered a unique and valuable collection of anecdotes and his addresses consisted of these anecdotes strung on a slender thread of exhortation. Ills appeals were made more direct and tender by the songs written in the first and second person. These Moody and Sankey tunes with the words have the rythm of negro melodies and the same undertone of threatening to the unrepentant and of golden streets or golden slippers to converts. By exploiting his temperament and a generous use of the songs Mr. Moody was able to induce the larger part of any audience to rise either in the group of Christians or sinners, into which he invariably divided his hearers. By these means he was able to pick out those who really needed assistance and there is no doubt that scoffers were more immediately rescued by this, apparently, rather impertinent method. Although many of the Moody converts slipped back Into evil ways as soon as Mr. Moody's encouraging voice had ceased to sound in their ears, there are thousands and tens of thousands who owe their spiritual beginnings and their present spiritual evolution to Mr. Moody. The fashion is past and we are of a different way of thinking now but Mr. Moody helped the world along. It is better because of him. Ho was the inspiration of thousands of good deeds. Men and women think of him with gratitude and sincerely mourn his death. He delivered the message faithfully and according to the best of liability. Many a man with a larger brain and more culture has lived and died and left no human being to say—"because of him I am better." The faith which was absolute and never wavered was another source of Mr. Moody's influence. He was sure that his thoughts of God and Heaven and his interpretation or the Bible were correct. He believed in the verbal inspiration of the scriptures and ridiculed any other belief. Whatever his opinion, on any subject he was sure it was right and positivism converts by its own force to whatever doctrine the positivist cares to teach.