The Last of the Great Group

WHEN long time hath passed, some historian, recalling the great epochs and religious teachers of our century, will say, “There were four men sent forth by God; their names Charles Spurgeon, Phillips Brooks, Henry Ward Beecher and Dwight L. Moody.” Each was a herald of good tidings; each was a prophet of a new social and religious order. God girded each of these prophets for his task, and taught him how to “dip his sword in Heaven.”

In characterizing the message of these men we say that Spurgeon was expositional, Phillips Brooks devotional, Henry Ward Beecher prophetic and philosophical, while Dwight L. Moody was a herald rather than teacher, addressing himself to the com mon people — the unchurched multitudes. The symbol of the great English preacher is a lighted lamp, the symbol of Brooks a flaming heart, the symbol of Beecher an orchestra of many instruments, while Mr. Moody was a trumpet, sounding the advance, sometimes through inspiration and sometimes through alarm.

The first three were commanders, each over his regiment, and worked from fixed center, but the evangelist was the leader of a flying band who went everywhither into the enemy’s country, seeking conquests of peace and righteousness. Be the reasons what they may, the common people gladly heard the great evangelist.