Preface

The breathless interest given to Mr. Moody's anecdotes while being related by him before his immense audiences, and their wonderful power upon the human heart, suggested to the compiler this volume, and led him to believe and trust that, properly classified and arranged in book form, they would still carry to the general reader a rneagyre p£ their original potency for good. The best anecdotes have been selected and carefully compiled under appropriate headings, alphabetically arranged, making the many stories easily available for the private reader and public teacher. Mr. Moody's idiom has been strictly preserved. He tells the story. "Gold" will be found scattered through the volume, which includes Mr. Moody's terse declarations of many precious and timely truths.

The compiler acknowledges the benefit received from the extended reports of the Tabernacle meetings given in the daily press of Chicago, also the Hippodrome services reported in the New York papers,-and the volume of Addresses revised by Mr. Moody. With the earnest prayer that God's blessing may accompany the reading of these stories that have blessed so many thousands as they fell from the lips of the great Evangelist, this volume is dedicated to the public by the compiler,

January 30 , 1877.

J. B. McCLURE,

Chicago, Iii.

REVISED EDITION.

We retain in this, all that was in former editions and give forty pages additional of new anecdotes, properly classified, taken from the revival work in Boston and elsewhere. We also give engravings of Messrs. Moody, Sankey, Whittle, and the late lamented P. P. Buss, the four evangelists, who have so long and industriously labored together, and whose names conjoined, are household words throughout the land. The hearty reception already given by the public to this book justifies these improvements, which are gladly made, and which lead the compiler to hope that in this form the volume may prove yet more interesting and effective for good.

The engraving of Mr. Moody is from a copyrighted photograph by Gentile, used by permission. That of Mr. Whittle is by the same artist .

J. B. Mc.

Chicago, March 5, 1877.

DWIGHT L. MOODY.

Self-made, and conscious of the absolute truthfulness of every Bible declaration, Dwight Lyman Moody is to-day, perhaps, the most independent and powerful of living evangelists. Man, rather than books, and God, rather than man, have been his study, and made his life intensely individual, and one which has constantly increased in good works. In his twenty years labor for Christ, from his mission class of fourteen scholars in a Chicago saloon, down to the ten thousand listening souls in the Halls of Europe and Tabernacles of America, he has been the same faithful, persevering, original, and pungent D. L. Moody, with an unshaken faith in God, and a burning desire for the conversion of souls. At home Mr. Moody is cheerful and happy; in the social circle he is genial and companionable; in the pulpit he is Truth on fire. His native town is Northfield, Mass., where he was born, February 5th, 1837.

IRA. D. SAN KEY.

Ira David Sankey, now the inseparable, and for the last five years, the constant companion of Mr. Moody, was born in Edenburg, Pa., August 28, 1840. His musical talents were early developed. Political glee clubs at first monopolized his genius, but after his conversion in 1-85 7, the Sunday School and Church opened wider fields, in which he has since labored with increasing usefulness. In June, 1870, at a Christian Convention in Indianapolis, after a morning service, where Mr. Sankey led the singing, he met, for the first time, Mr. Moody. "Where do you live? Are you married? What business are you in?" at once inquired the Evangelist; "I want you." "What for?" "To help me in my work in Chicago." "I cannot leave my business;" replied the now astonished singer. "You must," said Moody. "I have been looking for you for the last eight years." And thus was Mr. Sankey "called" to be the companion and helper of the great Evangelist.

D. W. WHITTLE.

For many years D. W. Whittle has been engaged in evangelistic work, giving it all his time, talents and energy.' His first effort in connection vith Mr. Bliss, who afterwards became his companion in the cau ;e, was made five years ago in a small town near Chicago. It wa.i on this occasion that he told the story, "Hold the Fort," whivh the "Singing Evangelist" has rendered immortal. He is in the prime of life, and earnestly devoted to the Master's cause. His discourses are concise and clear, abounding with Scripture quotations, and, like those of Mr. Moody, with pointed anecdotes and illustrations. His preaching has been signally blessed wherever he has been called to labor.

P. P. BLISS.

Philip Paul Bliss, the "Sweet Singer," whose voice has been so recently hushed in death, was born in Clearfield County, Pa., in 1837. It was not until after he had reached the period of manhood that he "felt the stirrings of his musical gift." And then, under the inspiration of his wife, he entered upon the study of musical science, and laid the basis of his immortal "hymns," now sung around the world. In 1864 he removed to Chicago, where his musical talent and Christian character soon placed him in charge of the choir and Sunday School of the First Congregational Church, and where he made the acquaintance of D. W. Whittle, with whom, for the last five years of his life he labored in the great Gospel work. Deep spirituality and persuasiveness pcvade all of Mr. Bliss' musical compositions. It is doubtful if the world ever heard sweeter hymns. Had he lived longer we should have heard more, but God, who raised him up for the work, called him.

• "For those who sleep,

And those who weep,

Above the portals narrow,
The mansions rise
Beyond the skies—,
_;'i We're going home to-morrow.^M

D. L. MOODY'S CHURCH.

Corner Chicago Avenue and La Salle Street, Chicago, III,

This edifice, recently completed, had more helping hands in its erection, than perhaps any other similar building in the world. After the great fire, which laid in ashes Moody's Illinois Street Mission, he at once called upon the Sunday-School Scholars of Christendom to contribute each "a brick" only, in this good cause. The response was hearty and general. In came the money and up went the new church structure which stands to-day a noble monument of child-love and liberality. It is 120 x 100 feet, with nine rooms below, and a large auditorum and galleries above seating 2,500 persons. The entire cost was about $100,000. The Society now has a membership of 400 and a Sunday-School of 1,000 scholars. Wherever Mr. Moody journeys in this, or other lands, his eye still rests on this church.

"I love Thy church, O God,
Her walls before Thee stand."