Democratizing access to the best data on religion since 1997
US RELIGION
US RELIGION

Explore Timelines:


Explore Entries

Timeline Listings:

Events:

Biographies:

Movements:


View all Timeline Listings
Credits

Search Timelines


Moody, Dwight L. - Timeline Biography

Time Period

02-05-1837 - 12-22-1899

Description

Dwight L. Moody was one of the greatest evangelical revivalists of the 19th century. With the help of singer Ira Sankey, they began a two-year tour of Europe. Returning home as international celebrities, they began touring every major northern and Midwestern city. Moody’s preaching was simple, business-like, and unemotional, but nonetheless effective. He stressed that individuals could find salvation with God’s guidance, and that this salvation could rectify society’s problems. "I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel," he once said. "God has given me a lifeboat and said to me, 'Moody, save all you can.'"

Moody helped found the Northfield Seminary for girls (1879), the Mount Hermon School for boys (1881), and a Chicago Bible training school later named the Moody Bible Institute (1900) after his death. Although cordial with theological liberals, his evangelism helped spur a movement of militantly conservative evangelists that later became known as fundamentalism.

Interactive Timeline(s)

Prominent Religious Events and People

Browse Related Timeline Entries

Prominent Religious Events and People
All Entries

Narrative

Dwight Moody was born in Northfield, Massachusetts on February 5, 1837. Although he was never ordained, he became an evangelist in 1860 after quitting his shoe salesman job. During his time as president of the Chicago YMCA, he would visit more than 600 families in the city in hopes of conversion. These efforts earned him the nickname "Crazy Moody."

After a Chicago fire burned down his YMCA in 1871, he began a career as an itinerant preacher and became one of the greatest revivalists of the 19th century, preaching to more than 100 million people. With the help of singer Ira Sankey, they began a two-year tour of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Returning to the United States as international celebrities, they began touring every major northern and Midwestern city. Moody’s preaching was simple, business-like and fairly unemotional, but nonetheless effective. He stressed that individuals could find salvation with God’s guidance, and that individual salvation could help solve many of the world’s problems. "I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel," he once said. “God has given me a lifeboat and said to me, "Moody, save all you can.'"

Moody founded three educational facilities, including the Northfield Seminary for girls (1879), the Mount Hermon School for boys (1881), and a Chicago bible training school later named the Moody Bible Institute (1900) after his death. He also established the Northfield Conferences in 1880, which later gave rise to the Student Volunteer Movement for foreign missions. His desire to publish inexpensive Christian literature led to founding of the Colportage Association in 1894.

Although he maintained cordial relations with theological liberals, his evangelism helped spur a movement of militantly conservative evangelists that later became known as fundamentalism. He died in Northfield on December 22, 1899.

Religious Groups

Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Independent Fundamentalist Family
Independent Fundamentalist Family: Other ARDA Links

Events

Niagara Bible Conference

Movements

The Third Great Awakening

Photographs

Dwight Moody portrait 2- Internet Archive
Dwight Moody portrait 2- Internet Archive

Dwight Moody preaching- Internet Archive- from Life and Labors of Dwight L. Moody by Henry Davenport Northrop
Dwight Moody preaching- Internet Archive- from Life and Labors of Dwight L. Moody by Henry Davenport Northrop

Dwight Moody driving- Internet Archive- from Dwight L. Moody by Edward Leigh Pell
Dwight Moody driving- Internet Archive- from Dwight L. Moody by Edward Leigh Pell

Dwight Moody preaching- Internet Archive- from A Full History of the Wonderful Career of Moody and Sankey by E. J. Goodspeed
Dwight Moody preaching- Internet Archive- from A Full History of the Wonderful Career of Moody and Sankey by E. J. Goodspeed

Dwight Moody portrait 2- Internet Archive- from The Life of Dwight L. Moody by William R. Moody
Dwight Moody portrait 2- Internet Archive- from The Life of Dwight L. Moody by William R. Moody

Book/Journal Source(s)

Melton, J. Gordon, 1991. Religious Leaders of America Detroit, MI: Gale.
Queen, Edward, Stephen Prothero and Gardiner Shattuck, 1996. The Encyclopedia of American Religious History New York: Facts on File.
Reid, Daniel, Robert Linder, Bruce Shelley, and Harry Stout, 1990. Dictionary of Christianity in America Downers Grove, IL.

Web Page Contributor

Benjamin T. Gurrentz
Affliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Sociology

Our Sponsors

Our Affiliates

US RELIGION
WORLD RELIGION
DATA ARCHIVE
RESEARCH
TEACHING
CONGREGATIONS
ABOUT
© 2024 The Association of Religion Data Archives. All rights reserved.