MOODY AND SANKEY.

Evening Star, Issue 5589, 5 February 1881, Page 2

MOODY AND SANKEY.

Moody and Sankey still hold their own in San Franoiaoo. For one month they have preaohed nightly to uuch enormous congregation! that the church baa net been able to hold them. Mr Moody (writes "Silver Pen" ia the Auckland 'Herald ') is a finelooking man with ?.n earnest delivery and a cltar resonant voice. lie fa possessed of great magnetim, and holda his audience aa by a spoil. His teaching is simple and touching, and many converts have come into the fold. Mr Sankey is poscesßed of a hoiutiful voice. He baa a harmonium on the platform, and Blags the hymns aa aolos, the congregation joising in the chorus. The revival campaign will last throughout the winter, and religious society is mush exorcised over it; indeed, to see the overflbwing crowds who flock nightly to hear these celebrated men, no ona wculd believo that wo are living ia the most openly immoral city under the sun, whure rot a day passes without a murder or a suicide.

The meet interesting f«a-lnre of tho convention fcbuj far h%3 been the question .iiawer. Tho«e present were invited to put in writing a \y question of religious bearing which might occur to them, and pass them up to Mr Moody. Boforo the hour rai expired ho was constrained to tell the people that they need send no more, as he already

luil more than he could answer before rn : Then he took the folded flips 1 Mm affur ar.othcr, read them, and answered ( Un:ir i/ijiulioiiH iII hind. Many < f them v/<-i', <*ri ij'ioitionH of church discipline and urn iw< nifni, mil other tilings of interest < ii! : / \>> i huuv\ ],»:'.[)!«. Rome of 'he latter, i w..... tl»< i/ am'-with, «ro appended ; i fiAliliA'lH IMiHKCKA.TLON'. * How c&n w<; k<( p our children from Sab- ' ly»Ui if«-jin:r«iMon? Moke it the most inte- | t'it.y of tin) week at home, and keep ■ it your>!«:if. if ym g.j riding Sunday afternoon your ohildron will do the same, - and ia.ll into );a 1 o nipany and bad habitß, ' You oan't way to your b(,y " That'B the way '• to u,'>, but I'm going thin way." The boy ' will follow the example of tho father, as a ; general thing, especially if it is not a good ' one. i Q —Do you write your sermons ? A.—lf I did I couldn't read them.—(Laughter.) CHURCH SINGING. Q —How oan wo get our church people to sing ? A. Sing yourselves. Singing is oatghing. Mr Sadcey never likes to have mo sing near him, because I don't know one iuno from another, and he says I put him out. But when the whole orowd begins to sing I sing out something. I sirg the best I oan, and that's all anybody can do. Charles " Wesley's hymni waked up the world. Methodism sang its way around trn world in the first half of this century. When a church gets cold they don't want to singi and they hire half-a-dozen opora singers to go up in the organ loft and praibe God for them. I pity a church that never oings. The first impulse of a young convert ia to sing God'? praises. No man can praise God for me. I believe we want grand congregational singiDg. There are a few who want this artistic Hinging. I would let them have two or three a>day, but let us also have congregational singing, Q.— Can unbelievers lead 4n the praise of God ? A.—l don't believe they can. How are they going to praise him whom they don't love ? There is not much praise in an unbelieving heart. CHURCH FAIES. Q —Do ohurch fairs and suppers help the flnanoes of the churoh ? A.—ln the long run they dont; they hurt them. I never knew a churoh fair in my life that some one didn't get his feelings hurt. I believe they grieve the most spiritual of 6very ohurob, and you can't afford to grieve those who have the most power with God. They bring in a profane element, Men of the world—scoffers—will tell you thoy have paid fifty cents to help the church. They have probably paid fifty cents for an oyster-stew that cost the church forty cents, and the Church of God has made ten cents on the operation. I think it is very small business. Then the way they are conducted is very objeotionable. Ths idea that you can go around to the sanctuary, and by giving twenty-five centsvote whoisthe handjomest lady in town i And this in the house of God ! I tell you we have gone so far in this respeot that we don't know where we are. In one place I remember its being given out that any man might go in and kits the handsomest for twenty oents. And yet you wonder that the world scoffs at the Chnrch 1 How degrading it is. I think we had better rely upon God and the legitimate means for our finances than have drinking, licentious, ungodly men brought to our aid and company in this way. I say let us set our faces like a flint against all these things. SUNDAY FUNERALS. Q.—What is tho duty of a minister who is called upon to attend a fuoecal on the Sabbath, when it coujd be held Just as well seme other day ? A.—l would give them a good gospel funeral. There are some people you can't reaoh at any other time but a funeral. There is no use presehing a eulogy cf the dead, but preach to the living. Q.—What do you think of a Christian's going to the treatre ? A.—Go, if you oan do it for the glory (f God. You can go to the theatre, Aance, or anything else that ycu can do to the glory of God. That ia the test. If you are sincerely converted, and filled with the regenerating influenoe, you won't want to go. God don't set any of these things before you a,nd say ycu shall not go; but he offers you something better, so that you don't want them. I never desire these things, beoauss Gcd gives me something that mskes me happier than they eould, and if you are truly his child you won't want these things. Q—Do collections prevent people from coming to churoh ? A.—l don't think they do. Churohes have got to be supported, and the men who giutnble about the cas'Jiness of going to ohurch spend fivo times a3 much for useless indulgences uncomplainingly. Tho early Christians used to give on the first day of tho week as the Lord had prospered them.