D. L. Moody’s mother, Betsy Holton, was born on February 5, 1805. She married Edwin Moody on January 3, 1828. To this union were born nine children, Dwight being the sixth. Dwight L. Moody was born at Northfield, Mass., February 5, 1837. He preached personally to fifty million people in forty years of ministry. He labored in England, Scotland, Ireland, Palestine, and America. He gave up a good salaried position to enter the ministry without any guarantee of support. D. L. Moody promoted and assisted in establishing Y.M.C.A.’s in this and other countries. He established universities for boys and for girls in Northfield, Mass. He established in Chicago, Ill., the Chicago Bible Institute. He established the Moody Colportage Association in Chicago, which distributes millions of copies of gospels and religious books all over the world. Moody established Sunday-school conventions over Illinois and in many other States. He was the first man to introduce the idea of uniform Sunday-school lessons, upon which the present system of International Sunday School Lessons was established.
But there is no earthly possibility of appraising the life and work of D. L. Moody. Eternity alone will reveal the good he has done. There, heaven will contain thousands that were converted, either directly or indirectly, through his efforts. Thousands of ministers and gospel workers, college men and women, fathers and mothers from all over the world, have been touched and helped through his labors. And may the young men and women of this and future generations emulate the example of this great man and bring many souls to Christ.