“The reward of service is more service,” was a favorite saying of Mr. Moody’s, and it perfectly indicates his life-work. Having little education himself, he was impressed with the value of an education. One day soon after returning to his native town, while driving with his brother Samuel near Northfield, they passed a lonely cottage, far from any town or neighbor. Sitting in the doorway were the mother and two daughters, braiding straw hats. The father was paralytic and could do nothing for the support of the family; the burden rested upon the women. But the father was an educated man and he had an ambition that reached beyond their present narrow horizon. The limitations of their condition and the apparent hopelessness of their future deeply impressed Mr. Moody. The sight of those women braiding hats in that lonely, out-of-theway place resulted in his determination to meet the peculiar needs of just such girls in neighboring hills and communities. Mr. Moody’s determination was soon put into action. One day in the fall of 1878 he stood discussing the project with Mr. H. N. F. Marshall, of Boston, when the owner of sixteen acres of adjoining land passed. They asked him if he would sell and learning his price asked him into the house, made out the papers, and before the owner had recovered from his surprise the land had passed out of his hands.
Three or four adjoining lots were purchased during the year, all without their respective owners realizing that their barren farmlands had any special value. These purchases increased the estate to one hundred acres, most of it sandy hillocks, useless even for pasturage, but suitably located and commanding a pleasing view of the Connecticut Valley. On this land the Northfield Seminary for Young Women was opened on November 3, 1879. Classes were held in the dining-room of Mr. Moody’s home until the recitation hall was completed the following December. The two girls that he had seen in the mountain home were among the first students. So intelligent were they that they soon justified Mr. Moody’s effort in their behalf. Ground was broken for the first dormitory, East Hall, in April, 1880. In the following September the building had been completed, and the first Christian Workers’ Conference was held here. At the dedication, after the singing of a few hymns, Mr. Moody spoke, saying among other things: “You know that the Lord laid it upon my heart some time ago to organize a school for young women in the humbler walks of life, who never would get a Christian education but for a school like this.
I have hoped also that money might be given for a boys’ school, and now a gentleman who has been here for the last ten days has become interested in my plans, and has given twenty-five thousand dollars toward a school for boys. And now, as we dedicate this building to God, I want to read you the motto of this school.” Then turning to Isa. 27:3 he read: “ ‘I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.’ ” In 1879 a farm of 175 acres
was secured for a school for boys. Later another farm was purchased, making the entire property a tract of 275 acres. Mr. Hiram Camp agreed to contribute twenty-five thousand dollars to this work, and at his suggestion the school was named “Mount Hermon School for Young Men.” Mr. Moody did not have mere charity in view; hence these schools did not offer their privileges gratuitously. But the cost was made so low, only one hundred dollars a year, that those of very moderate means could afford to attend. Mr. Moody’s educational work was not confined to Northfield. On December 31, 1886, he began a four months’ campaign of evangelistic services in Chicago, going from one church to another and utilizing the roller-skating rinks. During these meetings plans for the “Training School,” as it was called, were being brought into shape, but unexpected hindrances appeared. At the last noon meeting of his stay, Mr. Moody asked, “How shall this work be carried on when I am gone?” Someone called out, “Get a tent.” “All right,” said Mr. Moody, “I’ll give the first hundred dollars. Who next?” Money was at once raised, and a gospel tent eighty feet in diameter was secured and pitched in a district so wicked that it was known as “Little Hell.” The tent was manned by an evangelist with a corps of assistants, Bibles in hand. This tent was moved from place to place in the city. Summer and winter the services went on, in the winter being held indoors. In May, 1889, a “Bible Institute” was held in the Chicago Avenue Church, and Mr. Moody found nearly two hundred persons present, where he had looked for twenty. Large sums of money were raised, properties purchased and remodeled, and on September 26,
1889, the Bible Institute was formally opened to the public. Students attended the Institute from all quarters. Like all the organizations and institutions that owe their birth to Mr. Moody, the Bible Institute Colportage Association grew out of a need that he observed as he traveled to and fro in his evangelistic work. He was holding meetings in a western town in 1894 and wanted some books to give away. He called at a local bookstore, but although the shelves were loaded with fiction of all kinds, not a single religious book could be had. Determined to do something to remedy this situation, Mr. Moody returned to Chicago and consulted prominent Christians, who said, “People won’t buy religious books; they are too expensive.” “Then their price must come down,” said Mr. Moody. In 1895 the plan of the colportage association was formulated and put into execution. Through this plan, which has since been copied by other religious movements, millions of books have been distributed, many of them free, many at the mere cost of printing, and many souls have been reached with gospel literature who otherwise would have had to remain in ignorance of God’s plan of redemption.