HENRY
MOORHOUSE, the English
Evangelist, "the
man who moved the man (D. L. Moody) who moved
the world," whilst "sowing his wild oats,"
had many
escapes from death. Once he
tried to poison himself, and
again and again was on the verge of everlasting woe.
But God's eye was on him, and a career of usefulness
was marked out for the profligate youth, soon to be
changed in an unexpected way. Passing the Alhambra
Circus in Manchester, where Richard Weaver was
preach-
ing, hearing a noise within, and thinking a fight was going
on, Henry buttoned his coat and rushed in, ready for the
fray. As he entered he was arrested by one word--
"JESUS."
The glorious name shot from the preacher's
lips went home as a bullet and as balm to the heart of the
wanderer. His early childhood, reckless career, and awful
danger rose vividly before his vision, the "glorious
Gospel" (2 Cor. 4. 4) message
went home to his heart, and
he who had entered to fight remained to praise and pray.
Thus suddenly and soundly converted to God, he entered
heartily into the service of his new Master. His first
services were chiefly in the open air, at local and national
gatherings, and in special places of concourse. From
morning till evening his joy was to spend his time dis-
tributing tracts, speaking personally with individuals
wherever he got an opportunity, or crying aloud in the
street or market-place, urging multitudes to "flee from
the wrath to come[.]"