A New Horizon
Chicago offered Dwight the opportunities and elbow room he was looking for. But, of course, like any city full of young people far removed from the moral jurisdiction of their families, Chicago was also rife with saloons, brothels, and gambling dens. That the young Dwight sought out a church and prayer meeting within the first week of arriving in Chicago – not falling prey to any of the popular vices – is evidence that his conversion was more authentic than the deacons at Mount Vernon had recognised.
A Boon for Business
Dwight also found his faith to be a boon for business – his integrity and friendliness made a great combination for salesmanship. Within two days of his arrival in Chicago, Dwight had secured another job selling shoes through yet another Holton uncle, Calvin. As a salesman he was a zealous and tireless worker. Dwight soon proved that he could earn the same amount in a week in Chicago than he could in a month in Boston.
A Calling
Chicago also offered great opportunities for loaning money and profiting from real estate two other enterprises in which Dwight began to speculate rather successfully. Yet something besides the desire to earn money burned within him – the desire to save souls. Dwight was convinced that Jesus was the answer to everything that plagued the human heart, and he felt he was called to apply that cure to as many hearts as he could.
A New Church Home
Dwight transferred his membership from Mount Vernon to Chicago’s Plymouth Congregational Church, where, because of his growing affluence, he rented a pew of his own (he rented one of the pews in church). Dwight took a different view of pew rentals than most; however, he did this not for prestige but because it was now his pew to fill every Sunday! And, according to his son’s biography, ‘He would hail young men on the street corners, or visit their boarding houses, or even call them out of saloons to share his pew.’
A Passion for Souls
Whether the novelty of the invitation or the irresistible earnestness and cordiality of the young man induced a large number to attend, the object was at any rate attained, and before long he was renting four pews, which he filled every Sunday with his strangely assorted guests. One church did not seem sufficient for Dwight. Before long, he was attending meetings at three churches: Plymouth Congregational Church, the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and the First Baptist Church. Every evening after work, Dwight would find a prayer meeting to attend.
Spiritual Mentors
It was at the First Baptist Church that he would meet “Mother” H. Phillips, who would take him under her wing as a spiritual son, as well as Emma Revell, the future Mrs. Dwight Moody. By 1857, Dwight was rooming and taking meals at Mother Phillips’s house, and every meeting together became a chance for her to encourage him in prayer and solidify his faith. She also taught him the importance of Bible study and Scripture memorisation, as well as ministering to children and discipling converts.
A Revival
A revival of sorts broke out in Chicago in 1858, and Mother Phillips was near its epicenter. Urban missions began to spring up to reach the derelicts of the city, most of whom were alcoholics, opium addicts, or prostitutes. Just as Mother Phillips was Dwight’s spiritual mother, J. B. Stillson was his spiritual father. Stillson worked among the sailors along the Chicago River; and, when he met Dwight, the two found kindred spirits in one another. Stillson would take him to minister in places women dared not go. It was Stillson who loaned Dwight a copy of George Mueller’s A Life of Trust, a book that would influence him significantly for years to come. TO BE CONTINUED…
Tale Tuesday 073
Date: 30th January, 2024
Title: : Dwight L. Moody – The Greatest Layman (Part 5)
Source: God’s generals- The Revivalists
Author: Roberts Liardon
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