The visit of the evangelist to this thriving Berkshire town was short but distinctly fruitful. The first arrangement was that the meetings should only cover two days, but Mr Moody was prevailed on to extend his stay so as to embrace Sunday last. The main gatherings were held in the large new Town Hall; the smaller hall was used partly for overflows, but chiefly for the inquiry meetings. The local friends entered very heartily into the special effort...
the interval, have been raising the cry of unbelief, and asking what has been the result of the work It is not easy to differentiate the Reading Mission from many that have gone before it. There were the "eager anxious throngs" coming from town and district; the same spirit of hearing shown by people of all sorts and conditions, the same enjoyment of Mr Moody's happy unrestrained fashion of conducting the meetings; the same rapt attention to his fervid appeals and presentation of the way of life; the same responses to his calls for instant decision, and the same solemn dealing with stricken anxious ones in the after-meeting.
Mr. W. R. Lane took charge of the overflow meetings, and was cheered by many tokens of God's presence and power in these assemblies. The department of Gospel song was well to the front. The local choir was extremely hearty in its rendering of the tuneful melodies,
by sending qualified missionaries to live amongst the your representative, though there was the tendency to rush through the music at a breathless pace...
Sabbath was a full and deeply interesting day. Mr Lane spoke with power to a large body of Christians in the the early morning. At eleven o'clock the church was crowded with non-churchgoers and others, when Mr Moody discoursed on the love of God, and many hearts were melted down by the strong sunshine of that glorious truth At three in the afternoon, while Mr Moody rested, Mr Lane was preacher to another full congregation, taking for his subject the solemn one of future retribution which he handled with mingled fidelity and tenderness. In the evening the hall was crowded by men about an hour before the advertised time, and Herod's spiritual concern under the preaching of John the Baptist was made the topic of thrilling appeal to procrastinators. At the same hour Mr Lane spoke to more than full audience in the Kings Road, Baptist Church, the pastor of which Mr Davis, was very hearty in his sympathy with the mission.
After-meetings were held forenoon, afternoon and evening, and they were all of a very hopeful character. So far as human judgment could extend, there were many clear decisions for Christ. The Reading friends have a great opportunity now in following up and carrying to its flood the tide of spiritual concern awakened. We understand the special meetings are to be continued in the churches.
From, "The Christian," November 17th, 1892.
Although these meetings do not so interesting, they were part of a huge mission around the country by Moody that were very successful and I believe it was the same here.