DEAR SIR, -Now that Messrs Moody and Sankey have left us, and I can calmly look back upon their work here, I am more than ever struck by its reality. We have had thousands at the various gatherings, and hundreds in the inquiry rooms. But the reality of the men in their earnestness to win souls has impressed itself upon all who have taken part in the movement. Everything tends in the mind of the evangelist to an overwhelming longing for souls. Lifting up Christ before the people; he expects conversions, and God gives him the answer to his faith and prayer.
It may seem early to speak of the reality also of the work itself. But when we saw officers and soldiers, and sailors, men and women of almost every grade of society, young and old, pressing forward with the same earnest question, "What must I do to be saved?" we all felt that it was the work of God. Moreover, we hear of these same converts going home and confessing Christ, persuading others to come, giving up sin, and taking their stand at once among the people of God. Their very faces seem changed, and their friends tell us that their characters are changed also.
I was also greatly impressed with the simplicity of the work. The one evangelist sang and the other preached, but without any other thought than the Master's glory. The addresses were remarkable for their simple and clear statements of Scripture. Illustration after illustration was drawn from the Word of God, and the thousands of listeners held in rapt attention to the relation of some Scriptural story which they had often heard before. The secret of Mr Moody's success is in his baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God seems to hover over the assemblies so that the people become like clay in the hands of the potter. Hungry and thirsty, they seem to be made ready to receive the truth and to go on their way rejoicing.
Of course, I would not have you suppose that we had no scoffers or impenitent ones in our meetings; we had plenty of them. But out of the ten days' work came converts by hundreds, rather than by tens; and in all parts of our "Three Towns" it may be said "there was great joy in that city." The work of nursing the young life now falls on the different Churches in sympathy with the movement; and if the Lord gives loving and warm sympathy to the various ministers, I have no doubt that in the Last Day, it will be revealed that many hundreds were born into the Kingdom of God during this visit to us of Mr Moody and Mr Sankey.-Yours faithfully,
GEORGE F. HEAD.
15, Woodland-terrace, Plymouth.
The work of the evangelists in these towns, which ended on Friday last, may be said to have only begun. Plymouth, Stonehouse, and Devonport are aroused, and the "glad tidings" proclaimed by Mr Moody and Mr Sankey have fallen with irresistible power upon the ears of thousands of all classes and ages. Mr Moody attributes the wonderful results of the ten days' work, and the strong feeling in the town, to the earnest, trusting prayer of God's children, and to the noble manner in which they had toiled at home and abroad for "many days," on behalf of those around them. In the inquiry meetings, the workers have marvelled at the power of sovereign grace. Delicately reared women and cultivated men, as well as those who cannot claim such epithets, have been convinced that they were lost sinners in the eyes, and according to the Word of God. Many have had sufficient moral courage to pass down through the standing audience into the inkey might and have been dealt with. As a worker might be talking with some young man, another would come to listen, remark, with the half-apologetic remark, "You don't mind me hearing, too, sir?" Then another, and yet another, until there have been witnessed in the Drill hall little groups of bent heads and seeking hearts.
During the past week, there were as many as five and even six meetings a day in Plymouth. Those at the Drill hall have been conducted by Mr Moody. Lady Hope, Mr Sankey, and Rev C. B. Sawday have had great overflow meetings in the Guildhall. Nightly services for children have been most successful under Rev. H. Drummond: and further overflow meetings by Mr E W. Bliss of America have been held at King Street Chapel.
On Monday afternoon Lady Hope took Mr Moody's place at the Drill Hall, as the preacher was indisposed. This caused some disappointment to the large audience; nevertheless, if they came for edification, Lady Hope's earnest address based on the words "One Thing," could not fail to give it.
On Tuesday evening an eager crowd of men came to hear Mr Moody's answer to the question, "Can a drunkard be saved?" Before I speak," said Mr Moody, "I am going to ask for a witness on this point." He then introduced Mr E W Bliss, of New York, who told the story of his fall through drink and his reformation with great earnestness. His experience gave such a lever to Mr Moody's discourse that any poor drunkard present must have quailed under its truth, for the speaker's "arrows were very sharp."
Mr Moody alluded at both of Thursday's meetings, to the nearness of his and Mr Sankey's departure from among them. In the afternoon address to women, he remarked, "To me it is very sad to think that in forty-eight hours these meetings will be broken up, and we may never meet again. I have seen sights in this town that have cheered my heart. I have seen ministers go down from the platform and plead with you. I have seen here women weeping over their children, and children weeping over their mothers." There was manifested at this service a great sympathy between preacher and people. Mr Moody alluded again at the men's meeting in the evening to the cheering effect that the Plymouth work has had upon him and his colleagues. Specially referring to the effect of Mr Bliss's testimony as to there being salvation for the drunkard, the evangelist stated that he had received many letters from men who had received benefit, and begging that Mr Bliss might repeat his experience.
Mr Sankey, who it was known would sing for the last time on Thursday, put forth all his power, both at the Drill Hall and the Guild Hall, singing many of his sweet songs by special request. The last meetings were not so crowded as one would have expected, but few country people come into Plymouth on Fridays. At the women's meeting, Mr Moody urged them to assist with all their powers the work of the preachers during next week. At the mixed meeting at six p.m., he again desired every man to do his best, and, as an encouragement, the preacher said the meetings at Greenock were continued for three months after he and Mr Sankey had left. There had been some fifty inquirers every night. His last address was upon "Sudden Conversions." In the course of it he suddenly remembered that a brother in Egypt had telegraphed to a brother in Plymouth "to be at this meeting tonight." I hope that brother is here. I want to say to you, dear man, you ought to thank God you have got such a brother. When speaking of the little captive maid in Naaman's household, Mr Moody pointed to a little girl before him. "That little child is not too young to come to Christ." A woman's voice replied, "She was converted two years ago, sir," when she was eight years old. Mr Moody then affectionately invited all workers and anxious ones to step into the inquiry room for a few minutes before he proceeded to the train.
"The Christian," 12th October 1882
The Drill Hall no longer exists.