MR. MOODY AT BOSTON, LINCS.
The mission at Boston proved an unqualified success. The congregations were the largest that ever assembled day after day in the town. Mr Moody's opening meeting was in the Corn Exchange, the largest public building in the town, and it was filled to its utmost capacity, several hundreds being unable to gain admission. The acoustic properties of the building, however, were such that Mr Moody resolved to hold his future meetings in the Wesleyan Chapel, which had been placed at the service of the mission. Enormous congregations awaited on his ministry there. Mr W. R. Lane conducted large overflow meetings Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.
Mr. Moody's John-the-Baptist-like unsparing rebuke of the sins of the day-drunkenness, uncleanliness, perjury, dishonesty, and nominal Christianity—could not fail to awaken the slumbering souls of many, while his uncompromising teaching of the doctrine of repentance, faith, and regeneration, will, we believe, reverberate for ever in the consciences of his hearers, and turn, in days to come, to the salvation of those yet undecided.
The part Mr Stebbing took was very spiritually helpful. His rendering of the hymns was soul stirring. One of the special features of the mission was the Wednesday afternoon meeting. Wednesday being market day, a service was set apart for visitors from the country, and fully 2000 from the surrounding villages and towns availed themselves of this opportunity of hearing the evangelists. A large inquiry meeting was held in the Congregational Church at the close, and many, it is believed, were won to the Lord, and returned home to become centres of influence in the villages and towns whence they came.
The co-operation of Mr W. R. Lane was most valuable. He attached to himself at once the affection and confidence of all the Christian workers, who remained throughout his willing and cheerful supporters. From the first he found no difficulty in gaining an audience, and as the mission continued, after Mr Moody left, the attendance at the services was exceedingly good, the two closing meetings filling the large Wesleyan chapel. He was honoured of God in the conversion of souls and the blessing of the righteous was upon him.
Up to the time of writing, more than 160 have given in their names as having come to spiritual decision during the week's mission, and there are many who, like the woman of Gospel story, healed by the touch of faith, have concealed themselves in the throng without public confession. The spirit of Christian unity which prevailed through all the meetings and committees was not one of the least of the blessings of the mission. We believe that all the centres of religious life in the town will carry on this evangelising work more energetically in days to come as the fruit of the mission.
Rev. C. B. Sawday, of Leicester, held a two-day mission in the town last week and was blessed of God in the salvation of souls.
From, "The Christian," November 3rd, 1892.