A SANKEYMONIOUS SONNET "In religion, What damned error, but some sober brow Will bless it, and approve it with a text, MOODY & TWANKEY'S ENTERTAINMENTS BROTHER BENDIGO WILL GIVE STRIKING- MUSCULAR. CHRISTIANS N SUNG TO A MOODY SPIRIT. Hiding the grossness with fair ornam nt? Spurgeon now has found a rival, For old forms their power will lack; Don't be down when you feel poorly, Go ahead, make Sankey moody, Coarse epithets, vulgar punning, On your heels or on your head. Stir up lads and hold your candle, 4 OPINIONS OF THE LONDON PRESS. SENSATIONAL SERMONIZERS. All the world is just now talking of certain, more or less religious phenomena which have taken Liverpool and Manchester by storm, and are to try their influence in London on Easter Sunday. It has accordingly seemed to us that our subscribers would like to see the portraits of the actors in this strange drama, comedy or farce, and accordingly we give this week, faithful and accurate likenesses of the new evangelists, Bendigo, Moody and Sankey, before whose fame Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are, what Americans would call, very one-horse folk, while the bench of Bishops, with the Pope and Mr. Spurgeon to back them, are altogether "out of the hunt." Who Bendigo is, and was, everybody knows. The "great unconquered" ex-champion of England, who never sold a fight, and subsequently achieved the glorious position of captain of the Nottingham "lambs," the most ruffianly set of scoundrels in England, has made his name familiar through the police reports by means of his weakness for getting drunk and disorderly, and being locked up in consequence. Bendigo seems suddenly to have come to the conclusion that the Ballot Act made his "lambs" less valuable than of old, and, therefore, he has abandoned rowdyism and drink, and taken up with teetotalism, piety, and preaching. And, if we may judge from what we hear, he has found the change very profitable, and as one of the most powerful weapons in his Christian armoury is a challenge to fight any man who refuses to be converted, we may take it for granted we shall have many remarkable accounts of his success as a preacher. It is not every divine who can "wrestle with the devil" in this literal manner. Of Messrs. Moody and Sankey we know nothing, except that they are Yankee speculators, who have discovered that Godliness is wealth. Certainly we have read a biographical sketch of these entertainers, but as this was in a document containing numerous statements we know to be false, we use our own discretion as to believing that portion of which we know nothing. So, we repeat, we are quite in the dark as to the relations and antecedents of Moody and Sankey. This much, however, we do know, they are very clever showmen, and their "show" is in American parlance, very well "engineered." An appeal has been issued to the "Christian world" for contributions towards the London expenses of this really talented" entertainment," and already we hear that over £12,000 has been subscribed. This, however, we are assured is not enough, and, doubtless what more is required will be obtained. But surely it is strange that these two apostles, who are said to be" of the poor preaching to the poor," should require more money for a few months' starring engagement than would keep a hundred curates for a year. The appeal in question is signed by-among other peopletwo members of Parliament, who go in for piety, and thank God they are not as other men are. It is, how ever, curious that these gentlemen's names are signed to a document which contains a number of absolute and deliberate untruths, which, moreover, if they had ever read them, they must have known to be untruths. But in all probability they never did read them; they thought it consistent with their duty and their character to ask the public for money without looking at their persuasions, and to obtain subscriptions. Now, a jury could not agree on their verdict in the recent Oil Wells swindle, because part of the twelve were of opinion that the directors might have had a bonâ-fide belief that the statements in the prospectus were true. But no jury could suppose for a moment that Messrs. Morley and McArthur ever believed that. London contained 117,000 habitual criminals known to the police, increasing at the rate of 30,000 a year, when official records show that the number is only 3,487, and that this is decreasing at a rapid rate, being 1,452 less than it was ten years ago. There can be no doubt that if any person who had given sixpence on the strength of this appeal prosecuted Messrs. Morley and McArthur for "obtaining money under false ences," those honourable gentlemen would perforce be found guilty. Doubtless, in consideration of their motives, they would be strongly recommended to mercy, though we do not know why they should be. We have all heard that "Hell is paved with good intentions," and we can imagine his Satanic majesty starting a new asphalte pavement company out of the proceeds of the Moody and Sankey testimonial. Seriously, we do not believe that any good can come out of a movement thus bolstered up, which turns religion into ridiculc, disgusts all thinking people, and drives hysterical women into lunatic asylums, and for their own credit's sake we trust that Londoners generally will withhold their support from this American dodge for puffing the Bible and patronising the Omnipotent. London Clipper, March 13. MESSRS. MOODY AND SANKEY'S "REVIVAL." "Let us praise the Lord for what he is going to do for London!" With this request and the Hundredth Psalm, Mr. Moody has begun the regeneration of the British Metropolis. The American revivalist's perfect security as to the nature of the intentions of Heaven will sound a little presumptuous to those who cannot understand the preacher's peculiar way of regarding Divine dispensation. But of such the audiences at the Agricultural Hall are not composed. The people to whom the Evangelists address themselves will go with them blindly, enthusiastically, throughout their services, through the psalm and hymn singing, the five minutes' silent prayer, the sermon, the pious telegrams from America, and the rest. The curious excitement which the two Evangelists have brought with them is highly contagious, and they need never fear to address naked benches in London. Nor need LIVES OF THE YANKEE REVIVALISTS. their popularity be deeply deplored. Their theological views are much less peculiar than those of the majority of their predecessors, their sermons are more sensible, their hymns more grammatical and less flighty. They are, doubtless, perfectly sincere, and believe in their heaven-born music. But we must, nevertheless, regard their project of purifying London as a chimerical religious illusion of the most flagrant kind.. The manner in which Messrs. Moody and Sankey have set about their task is offensive to reasoning Churchmen and independent thinkers alike. Apostles should not come heralded, like music-hall singers, selling numbers of their own hymn-books, and raising funds to advertise them and their works. They should not rely for the conversion of sinful London on pseudo Spurgeonesque sermons, harum-scarum airs, and somewhat over-passionate hymns. The assertion that "God gave Moses a blank cheque on Heaven" may have some effect on the minds of a few uneducated women, and crowds may be attracted to hear sacred subjects thus originally dealt with, but it is not the kind of illustration will breed reverent ideas in most men's minds. Nor is the hymn, "Safe in the arms of Sankey," a composition likely to revive the religious spirit of London; while the prayer announced "from some Christians in Russia for the eighty millions around them," seems to us, considering that Russians are Christians, a most gratuitous piece of insolence. Messrs. Moody and Sankey have nothing new to tell us, whom they intend to convert. Truly, hymnsinging and familiar discourse on religion have been tried many times in other communities, and by far morc eloquent and authoritative preachers than the Islington Evangelists. They rely for effect on multitudinous advertisements, on a certain novelty in style and manner of service, and on the "holy calm" of their season of 1875, which may induce the public to make its amusement for a time from very indifferent materials. But the effect, when produced, is little better than that of a successful acrobat who has been much puffed. They preach hysterical religion against the religion of reason-the faith of the Quietists, the Flagellants, and Shakers against that of a Maurice, a Lyell, or a Tyndall. And we have made up our minds as to which will operate most strongly for the purification of TDS -Dispatch, March 14, THE AMERICAN REVIVALISTS, Who have set the gospel world on fire, are just now drawing crowded houses in London and the suburbs; people flocking in thousands to hear Moody's oratory and Sankey's songs. A few incidents connected with the careers of the parties in question may interest our readers. MR. D. L. MOODY is in his 38th year, and was born in America. He was brought up an Unitarian, and received his "call" 5 He at a congregational church in Boston, where ministered the Rev. Wm. Kirk. Moody, who was hit very hard by the reverend gentleman, shortly afterwards set up a boot store at Chicago, and it was here that he first began his ministrations as a preacher. got up a Bible cla s, and by dint of hunting up the gutter children of Chicago, filled the Sunday School there. This being done, Mr. Moody was struck with a happy idea as to making his band of pupils atten. tive to his teachings. He procured the assistance of a musical friend, and by the aid of music and stories, he was very successful in reforming the young varmints. Moody then held services in a dancing saloon, and shortly after this, gave up the boot and shoe store and went in for preaching entirely. During the war that ravaged the United States, Mr. Moody took a conspicuous part and was of great service to the wounded. On the cessation of hostilities, Mr. Moody put up at a chapel in Chicago in 1871, where the influence of his good work was not sufficient to save the structure from the flames. Mr. Moody is a man of remarkable energy, and wears a bushy dark beard and moustache. He has a good voice, and speaks with the regular American twang. IRA D. SANKEY, Like his colleague, commenced in the Sunday School line, and is now thirty-five years of age. He was brought up in business; but being the fortunate po sessor of a fine voice, he was, after he had received his "call," in great request at religious meetings. He came across Moody at a big gathering in Indianopolis, and the two struck a bargain, and from that time acted in "consort." It was owing to the entreaties of a London Methodist preacher, named Pennyfather, and a merchant of Newcastle, that the preachers were induced to make a tour in the United Kingdom; but both the merchant and Methodist died before Moody ad Sankey opened mouth on British soil. They arrived here in the middle of July, 1873, and commenced operations in York; but they failed to "draw" until they established their platform at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Here they attracted great attention, and they subsequently visited Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Greenock. The ce they went over to Patland, and shortly in Belfast, visited Dublin, and Londonderry, after which they returned to Eng. land, and at Manchester and Sheffield were received by large audiences. Mr. Sankey is great as a vocalist, plays his own organ, and varies the entertainm nt with some solos of his own. It is this portion of the entertainment which "draws," and greater attention is paid, we fear, to Mr. Sankey's musical abilities than to his colleague's elocution. 6 SPURGEON TO THE RESCUE. It is, however, with the Methodist sect that they enjoy the largest share of popularity, although on all sides they are received with more or less favour. Ned Wright and brother Bendigo are quite cast in the shade by the American Revivalists; and no won der, considering that Mr. Sankey has published a song-book containing "seventy revival songs." Nevertheless, we opine that a certain section of "society" prefer Ned Wright's "soup suppers" to the ministrations of "Cherubim and Seraphim." If we give Messrs. Moody and Sankey these appelations, surely we ought to dub the veteran BENDIGO an "Archangel" in disguise. Bendy, however, has about had his day, and although we may doubtless continue to hear of the ex-prizefighter, his recent performances at a pigeon match (which we alluded to last week) has about wound him up. The portraits of the American Revivalists are most excellent likenesses, and our artist made a careful study of the gentlemen before he put them on the wood. The figurehead of "Bendy" speaks for itself, and is an exact portrait of the ex-champion bruiser in his old age. Clipper, March 13. SPURGEON ON DR. KENNEDY'S PROTEST. Some time ago we called attention to a pamphlet against the work of the American evangelists, written by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, a distinguished minister of the Free Church in the Highlands, and at the same time we noticed Dr. Horatius Bonar's reply. On the same subject, Mr. Spurgeon writes as follows in this month's number of his magazine : "We are very sorry that our esteemed friend, Dr. Kennedy, issued a pamphlet severely criticising the labours of Messrs. Moody and Sankey, whom we judge to be sent of God to bless our land in an unusual degree. Dr. Bonar's reply strikes us as amply meeting Dr. Kennedy's strictures, and needing no supplement. But we are sorry to read every now and then the most bitter reflections on Dr. Kennedy, as though he were an enemy of the Gospel. Now, we know him to be one of the best and holiest of men, and quite un deserving of severe upbraiding. Nothing but zeal for the truth has moved him, we are quite sure. He is fearful lest the doctrines of grace should be forgotten, and he is jealous for Divine sovereignty. He is also fearful that the work owes more to music than to the force of truth, and is more the work of fleshly excitement than of the Holy Spirit. Is it altogether an unpardonable sin to feel such a sacred anxiety? We think not. At the same time we do not fee Dr. Kennedy does. Had the revival under our American friends been what he thinks it to be, and what most similar ones have been, his remarks would have been timely and useful, although they would even in that case have been fiercely resénted. As it is, there are many things suggested by his pamphlet which it will be well for the people of God to ponder, and in so doing they may be saved from grievous disappointments. We feel sure that Mr. Moody does not count Dr. Kennedy an enemy, nor wish to silence him, and we trust. that others will learn the same moderation of temper and speech. Convince Dr. Kennedy that the Lord's hand is in the work, and his powerful voice and pen will be secured, and he will not be slow to issue a retractation: but to denounce him as an opposer of the Spirit's work is unchristian, and to those who know the man it is a monstrous libel. We cannot expect all men to scc alike, and we ought to admire the courage which enters an honest protest, even though it be a mistaken We wish that the religion of this age had more in it of the deep, heart-searching, devoted, and unflinching piety of our Highland brethren; while we also wish that some of our northern friends were more joyous in heart, and less severe in their judgment of other servants of the Lord. The matter ought to end in both sides quietly learning something from each other, and resolving that if they cannot agree in each other's views, they will at least abstain from ungenerous judgments and angry replies. The work which God is doing is so great and manifest, that it cannot be injured by any man's comments upon it; those engaged in it can afford to turn such things to profitable account." one. STARVATION, AND THE COST OF MEETING PLACES. The estimated cost of the meeting-places in London is £15,000. Of this amount £12,500 have already been subscribed. The usc of Her Majesty's Opera-house in the Haymarket has been granted to the committee for a series of services. This, too, while thousands of our fellow countrymen are starving through the Lock Out in South Wales. Why do not Messrs. Moody and Sankey first feed, and then convert the half-starved colliers? That would be true Christianity. RELIGIOUS MANIA. There has been a conversation on this subject at the Salford Board of Guardians, consequent on the reception into the workhouse of two women suffering from religious mania, alleged to have been caused by their attending the meetings of Messrs. Moody and Sankey. Dr. Knowles stated that several cases of this character had been sent to the Prestwich Asylum, where it was BROTHER BENDIGO AT A PIGEON MATCH. The now become quite a common thing for the officers to say, "What, another Moody-and-Sankey!" Rev. W. Doyle and other members of the Board thought these rumours should be taken cum grano, and contended that, before they could safely arrive at any definite conclusion, they must first ascertain the antecedent condition of the patients. Mr. Rudd said he knew of cases of religious mania happening in the denomination to which he belonged; but he did not believe that real religion would drive any man mad. Altogether the tone of the conversation seems to have been highly creditable to the Salford Board.-Christian World, March 5. THE INQUIRY ROOM. At the east end gallery is situated the "inquiryroom," called so from the fact that there the Evangelists "inquire" into the condition of men's souls. To that gallery many went last night. Young men from the shop and the desk were the chief persons seeking spiritual advice from Mr. Moody. Not one woman went to the "private inquiry-room;" but Mr. Moody was busily engaged with his male penitents up to ten o'clock. BENDIGO AT NOTTINGHAM. We hear from Nottingham, that a report having been circulated that Bendigo, formerly champion prize-fighter of England, and recently a Methodist convert, had been at a local pigeon-shooting match, and not only had bet on the birds, but had also used bad language; the case has been investigated. On Sunday last a great open-air service was held, when Bendigo appeared on the platform and admitted having been at the match and bet upon a bird, but he denied having used bad language. He said when he found he had done wrong he went home and told God, who had forgiven him and taken him back again. After this confession there was a general rejoicing, when Bendigo, assisted by the congregation, sang the following verse : "The devil had me once, but he let me go, Glory Hallelujah! He wants me again, but I don't mean to go, Glory Hallelujah!" TONY LUMPKIN'S SONG. Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain, Good liquor, I stoutly maintain, Gives genius a better discerning, Let them brag of their heathenish gods, Their Lethes, their Styxes, and Stygians: Their quis, and their quoes, and their quods, They're all but a parcel of pigeons. Toroddle, toroddle, toroll. When methodist preachers come down I'll wager the rascals a crown, They always preach best with a skinful. I'll leave it to all men of sense, Then, come, put the jorum about, And let us be merry and clever ; Our hearts and our liquors are stout; Here's the Three Jolly Pigeons for ever. Let some cry woodcock or hare, 7 Your bustards, your ducks, and your widgeons; But of all the birds in the air, Here's health to the Three Jolly Pigeons. Toroddle, toroddle, toroll. -Goldsmith. THE FRUITS OF LISTENING TO MOODY. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF A RELIGIOUS MANIAC. During the service held in connection with the visit of Moody and Sankey to Liverpool, the publicans and the drink traffic have been much condemned, not alone by Mr. Moody, but by the various clergymen who have taken part in the Revival movement. Mr. Moody's address had reference to drunkenness, and among his audience was a beerseller, who, as soon as the service terminated, jumped into the river Mersey. Numbers of persons witnessed the act, and the wouldbe suicide was eventually rescued, the first words he uttered being, "I have lost Mr. Moody and the Holy Ghost." He was taken to the hospital, and made a rambling statement about Mr. Moody, winding up by declaring, "my last chance is gone." BROTHER STIGGINS. "My friends," said Mr. Humm, holding up his hand in a deprecatory manner, to bespeak the silence of such of the stout old ladies as were yet a line or two behind; "my friends, a delegate from the Dorking branch of our society, Brother Stiggins, attends below." Out came the pocket-handkerchiefs again, in greater force than ever; for Mr. Stiggins was excessively popular among the female constituency of Brick Lane. "He may approach, I think," said Mr. Humm, looking round him, with a fat smile. "Brother Tadger, let him come forth and greet us.' The little man in the drab shorts, who answered to the name of Brother Tadger, bustled down the ladder with great speed, and was immediately afterwards heard tumbling up with the Reverend Mr. Stiggins. "He's a-comin', Sammy," whispered Mr. Weller, purple in the countenance with suppressed laughter. "Don't say nothin' to me," replied Sam, "for I can't bear it. He's close to the door. I hear him a-knockin' his head again' the lath and plaster now." As Sam Weller spoke, the little door flew open, and brother Tadger appeared, closely followed by the Reverend Mr. Stiggins, who no sooner entered, than there was a great clapping of hands, and stamping of feet, and flourishing of handkerchiefs; to all of which manifestations of delight, Brother Stiggins returned no other acknowledgment than staring with a wild eye, and a fixed smile, at the extreme top of the wick of the candle on the table: swaying his body to and fro, meanwhile, in a very unsteady and uncertain manner. "Are you unwell, Brother Stiggins?" whispered Mr Anthony Humm. "I am all right, sir," replied Mr. Stiggins, in a tone in which ferocity was blended with an extreme thickness of utterance; "I am all right, sir." |