THE SOUTHAMPTON CAMPAIGN,
Mr Moody left Sunderland on Wednesday night, spent Thursday with his family in London, and travelled down with them to Southampton by the 5 o'clock express. His secretary was a little concerned on going to the Southampton West Station at 7 o'clock to find no Moody in the train. From inquiries of the guard, however, it appeared that he had gone on to the Docks Station, and when 7.30 arrived and there was no sign of him either at the hotel or at the Skating Rink, where the audience were waiting, it looked as if he was going to break his record. The meeting was advertised for 8 o'clock, and it was pouring "cats and dogs." At last, however, Mr Moody appeared at the hotel and sent word asking Lord Radstock to give out the opening hymn and call on Rev Mr. Jacobs (vicar) to engage in prayer. Before the clock had finished striking the hour Mr Moody was seen ascending the platform.
It is quite proverbial how seldom he fails to be "on time," considering the number of trains on which he is dependent. Happily on this occasion his hotel was not more than 200 yards distant, for the rain was coming down in sheets, and it is an open secret that an umbrella is not one of the articles included in the evangelist's wardrobe.
The meeting was, of course, small compared with what it would have been had the weather been favourable. Those who did come were amply rewarded. Mr Moody himself says he always likes to meet an audience that will come out on such a night. They must be in earnest. His address was to Christians, "The work of the Spirit."
In giving out the notices, Mr Moody remarked, "Some will be surprised at there being no service on Friday night. Well, that's the last night my wife and family will be in England, and I am going to spend it with them." Mrs Moody and the family left on Saturday by the Augusta Victoria for New York.
Our Special Correspondent writes:- As soon as it became known that Mrs Moody, with her daughter and younger son, were, to sail for New York by the Hamburg-American line, on the 20th inst., and that in all probability Mr Moody would visit the town to see them off, a committee was hurriedly called, and a warm invitation despatched asking him, if possible, to prolong his stay sufficiently to conduct a mission, however brief.
Accordingly, four days were promised, and, although the notice was very short, the arrangements were carried through with considerable efficiency.
The building selected was the Skating Rink, on account of its size, as it was capable of seating over 3,000 persons. Its only drawback was its glass roof, through which on one occasion the lightning vividly played, and on others, especially on Sunday, the rays of the sun penetrated with such intensity that parasols, etc., had to be called into requisition! It was, however, well-lighted and well ventilated and except in one or two portions, its acoustic properties were good.
A very excellent choir was in attendance, and the rich-toned singing of Mr A. J. Mayers, of Wandsworth, who voiced the Gospel message in song, rang out with deep effect.
On the platform were Lord Radstock, Major Evered Poole, and ministers of various churches in the town, as well as, on some occasions, Canon Barker, who was paying a brief visit to Southampton.
The audiences fluctuated somewhat but were at all times very large. Some had expressed a conviction that the time of year and the shortness of the notice would make it impracticable to hold a mission at all. But the visit of the evangelist to our shores has demonstrated again and again during these months that the people are as willing, yea, anxious, to listen to the Gospel as ever, and will come out in crowds whatever be the weather or the time of year. And here they did listen as Mr Moody preached with all the power that God gave him. Fearlessly he denounced sin in all its forms: faithfully he set forth the way of salvation; lovingly he held up to view the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world, as the only source by which deliverance can come.
Two meetings were held on Thursday, one Friday, one Saturday (owing to Mrs Moody's departure), and four (with two "second" meetings) on Sunday. One of the most striking addresses was given at the early Sunday morning gathering when the children of God were urged to acquaint themselves with the "Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Dealing with various sceptical objections to the authenticity of the Book, he ridiculed with fine sarcasm the impracticability of acting in everyday life upon the principle of "not believing what one cannot see nor understand." He drew special attention to the literal fulfilment of the prophecies uttered against Babylon, Tyre, and Egypt, and claimed that the Book must have come from God.
But time and space prevent even a mention of the hundreds of good things he said. Suffice to say there was ample evidence that they found a lodging place in many and many a heart; the full results will be made manifest "before the throne." He uttered the words, but God was the speaker.
One thing was noticeable. In exhorting the children of God how to live and work for Christ, he touched the secret spring of his own power - communion with God. The man is lost in the message; the ambassador is but the voice of the king. "As long as God can use me I will do his bidding; when He can use me no more I pray that He will lay me aside and put another in my place, that the work may go on." So he spake, so; we believe, he felt. Oh, that all workers were similarly pliant in spirit to the finger of God.
From, "The Christian," August 25th, 1892.
The Ice Rink was created by Charles Knott, but it was closed down in 1988 and new housing built on the spot. One of the roads was named after him.