Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1899 — DWIGHT L. MOODY DEAD. [ARTICLE]

DWIGHT L. MOODY DEAD.

The Famous Evangelist Expires at His Home In Northfield, Mass. Dwight L. Moody died at his home in East Northfield, Mass., at noon Friday. The end came suddenly, though the great evangelist had been ailing for some time. A few weeks ago he was compelled to give up his work in Kansas City, Mo., and go to his hbme. At that time he recovered somewhat and his physician for a time had hopes of his complete recovery. Dwight L. Moody, the greatest of revivalist, was born at Northfield, Mass., Feb. 5, 1837. He received but little education, and, if reports are true, was averse to 6tudy. When Mr. Moody was 17 years old he left the farm at Northfield and became a clerk in a shoe store in Boston. His fatheredied when he was 4 years old. Moody was one of nine children, and the mother had a hard struggle to keep the family together. From Boston Mr. Moody went to Chicago in 1856, clerking again in a shoe store. Here he displayed the practical energy for which he had been noted all his life long. Mr. Moody’s first missionary work was done in’' Chicago, where he commenced his famous North Market Hall Mission school, now developed into Moody institute. It was in a tough district. The old hall was used on Saturday nights for dances. After the crowds left Mr. Moody and one or two of his associates would spend the early hours of Sunday morning in cleaning up the sawdust and filth and putting the room in order for Christian work. This thing was kept up for six years. Then Mr. Moody rented a saloon that would accommodate about 200 persons. He boarded up the side windows and furnished it with unpainted pine board seats. It was a dismal; upventilated place, and during service it was necessary to have policemen guard the door and building. Besides Moody institute in Chicago, two well endowed educational institutions have grown up at Northfield, Mass., under Mr. Moody’s fostering care, the one for girls, the other, Mount Hermon school, for young men. The Mount Hermon School for Summer Workers was established in 1880. There Mr. Moody spent his summers with his family. One of his sons is the editor of a church paper and the other is a boy yet at school studying for the Congregational ministry. He has two daughters, both of whom are married. His wife was Miss Emma C. Revell, of Chicago. Mr. Moody was as well known and respected in England as in America.