The last quarter of the 19th century is fondly remembered by the evangelical world as the era of Moody and Sankey. It must have been wonderful for so many Christians to rejoice in fresh demonstrations of God's power, as successive waves of blessing came behind those of 1859 and the 1860s, in the United Kingdom and North America. As the populations of many American cities rapidly increased, fuelled by mass emigration from Great Britain, Ireland and continental Europe, Gospel campaigns were held in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Chicago. All were fruitful fields, but our focus will be upon the three memorable visits of Moody and Sankey to the United Kingdom.
The First Campaign, 1873-75
Moody made his second visit to Britain in 1872. He wanted to profit from the ministry of respected Bible teachers, and he attended a number of meetings, including the Mildmay Conference. There he met the Reverend William Pennefather, who suggested that he should make an extended visit. Equally warm invitations, with the promise of funds to meet costs, came from Mr Henry Bewley of Merrion Hall in Dublin, and Mr Cuthbert Bainbridge of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.¹ Moody had not intended to preach while in England, but was urged to speak by the pastor of a north London Church. The Sunday morning service gave little encouragement but, in the evening, the atmosphere seemed charged by the Spirit of God. During meetings lasting ten days, several hundred persons professed salvation.
Encouraged by this, Moody returned to England the next year. He and Sankey landed at Liverpool on 17th June 1873. Expected funds had not been forthcoming and, after their arrival, the reason became apparent, since all of the three friends who had promised support had recently been called Home to be with the Lord. It seemed an inauspicious beginning, and Moody remarked that if a door did not open they would return to America. That evening, he discovered in a coat pocket an unopened letter he had received before leaving New York. It was from a Mr Bennett, Secretary of the YMCA at York, who had heard of Moody's work among young men, and asked him to visit York if he came to England. Moody felt the door was ajar, and considered that the Lord was leading him to York. Bennett said the town was cold and dead, but meetings began. F B Meyer (the renowned devotional writer) then invited Moody to preach in his chapel in York, where they had a fortnight of "most blessed and memorable meetings." Daily prayer meetings were held at noon, and apathy and formality dissipated as Christians were encouraged and several hundred sinners were converted. Meetings followed in Sunderland, where a local pastor noted that Mr Moody was the "Mercurius" of the pair, while Mr Sankey was the "Orpheus". Newcastle was the next port of call, and the mission there extended over many weeks. The city became the birthplace of Sacred Songs and Solos, the first edition of which comprised 16 pages, including hymns that Sankey had been singing in Chicago and elsewhere. Within Mr Sankey's lifetime the collection of hymns rapidly increased, and the hymn book became widely used in all English speaking lands. Henry Moorehouse joined Moody in Newcastle. He observed three notable features of Moody's preaching: "he rests on the simple story of a crucified and risen Saviour; he expects when he preaches that souls will be saved, with the result that God honours his faith; and he preaches as if there was never to be another meeting."
In November Moody and Sankey arrived in Edinburgh and, during the weeks following, the city witnessed a remarkable demonstration of the Gospel of Christ being "the power of God unto salvation". The Free Church Assembly Hall and other large buildings were filled to overflowing, but the numbers were not the most remarkable feature. It was the presence and power of the Holy Spirit; the solemn awe; the prayerful, believing, expectant spirit. One minister was struck by the variety among inquirers. "The old man of seventy-five to the youth of eleven, soldiers from the castle and students from the university, the backsliding, the intemperate, the sceptic, the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated." He felt it was a sacred pleasure "first to hear the cry of conviction, then the joy of reconciliation and peace."
Blessing flowed into 1874, in Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. Ireland was visited in the autumn, when meetings were held in Belfast, Londonderry and Dublin. Moody then returned to England, and meetings were held in many large provincial cities. On 31st December 1874, the first meeting in Sheffield began with the singing of a new hymn written by Dr Horatius Bonar, "Rejoice and be glad, the Redeemer has come". In Birmingham, a witness observed that "the people were of all sorts, old and young, rich and poor. Tradesmen, manufacturers and merchants, cultivated women and rough boys who knew more about dogs and pigeons than they knew about books." The final mission was to London, where meetings began on 9th March 1875. Four large venues were secured in different parts of the city, and a tremendous work was done as folk from all strata of society heard the Gospel. Mr W E Gladstone attended at least one meeting, and the Lord Chancellor declared "The simplicity of that man's preaching, and the clear manner in which he sets forth salvation in Christ, is to me the most striking and the most delightful thing I ever knew in my life." It is difficult to imagine such a statement being made by a public figure today.
The Second Campaign, 1881-84
Moody's second great British campaign commenced in the autumn of 1881, with meetings held in Newcastle. As before, he then moved to Scotland to preach in Edinburgh for six weeks, after which he laboured in Glasgow and its environs for five months. A new feature was the convening of special meetings for children on Saturday mornings. Moody then travelled throughout Scotland, and preached in many of the smaller towns. The winter months of 1882-83 were fully occupied by missions throughout Ireland, Wales and England, concluding in Liverpool in April 1883. Moody then sailed to America to meet responsibilities there, promising to return for an extended mission in London. This began on 4th November, and continued for eight months. In 1875, meetings had been held in a few very large venues but, in 1883-84, temporary halls were erected at 11 different sites, the object being to get nearer to the people, especially the poor in their crowded districts. During these months Moody spoke at least twice each day, and on occasions four or even five times. It was estimated that he spoke to over two million people, and it was a time of great blessing.
The Third Campaign, 1891-92
The third lengthy visit to the British Isles was made in 1891-92. Again, Moody preached in many parts of the country, from Wick in the north to a concluding mission in the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. The students of Spurgeon's College were called upon to assist. One of them, F W Boreham, recounted a deeply interesting reminiscence:
Each student was allotted a little block of seats. We were carefully instructed as to the way in which we were to shepherd the people in those pews. We were to see that everyone was comfortable; that everyone was supplied with a hymn-book; and that, without undue button-holing, those who needed individual counsel could readily find it. I like to remember that, among those who attended the afternoon meetings, and who occupied a front seat in the section apportioned to me, was a stately young lady in black who listened to Mr Moody with marked reverence, and the very closest attention. We knew her then as Princess May, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Teck, but I have lived to see her become, in turn, the Duchess of York, the Princess of Wales, the Queen of England, and the venerable Queen-Mother – an altogether regal figure, universally honoured and greatly beloved.²
How pleasant it is to gain this insight into the influence of the Gospel within our Royal family, and to remember the wonderful times of blessing those many years ago.
¹ Cuthbert's father, Emerson Bainbridge, a staunch Methodist, was founder of a large department store in Newcastle. At a time when shop staff worked 15-hour days, six days each week, he allowed time off to staff: one evening for courting, and two if they regularly attended prayer meetings.
² F W Boreham, My Pilgrimage, pp 96-97.
