1883-09-22ij

On Saturday September 22, 1883 , over 2,000 people assembled in the Drill Shed on James Street North in anticipation of an appearance by the noted evangelist Dwight L. Moody, the meeting held under the auspices of the local corps of the Salvation Army. About 8 p.m., a large contingent of local Salvationists marched to the drill shed, but the celebrated evangelist was not among them.

Earlier in the day, a Spectator reporter went to the Grand Trunk Railway’s Stuart street station to meet the 1:30 train, which was expected to bring Moody to Hamilton. A reception party had been put together for Moody’s arrival, but he was not on that or any of the subsequent trains which arrived that afternoon.

On investigation, the reporter discovered that the letter, supposedly from Dwight L. Moody, offering to address a mass meeting in Hamilton, had been sent on September 18, 1883, from Cedar Falls, Indiana, the day on which Mr. Moody was holding a massive Christian convention in Chicago, Illinois:

“The whole affair may be a practical joke. If it is, the perpetrator has reason to be proud of his work. It is to be hoped that Mr. Moody will arrive on the evening train, as the officers of the Salvation Army went to some expense in announcing his arrival and attendance at their meeting.”¹

¹ “Dwight L. Moody Expected ; The Great Evangelist to Address a Meeting in the City Saturday”

Hamilton Spectator.   September  24, 1883.

The assembled people who had gathered at the drill shed were aware of the possibility that Mr. Moody might not arrive and so, when Lieutenant Mottashed announced the non-arrival of the evangelist, the news was received in silence.

Reverend Doctor Burn was the first speaker to address the meeting. He expressed his sorrow that Mr. Moody would not be present. After a short speech detailing the accomplishments of Mr. Moody’s career, Rev. Dr. Burns expressed his hope that all present would contribute towards paying the expenses that the Salvation Army had incurred in preparing for the meeting:

“A collection was then taken up. It amounted to $40, and more than indemnified the Salvation Army for their outlay.”¹

The Salvationists attempted to relieve the disappointment of the assembly by singing a number of their campaign songs and delivering gospel addresses in their characteristic style. After the efforts of the Salvationists, another collection was taken at the door after the meeting was dismissed and nearly $10 more was raised.