Moody in a Billiard Hall.--A Remarkable Story
Illustration★★★★In a meeting recently a man got up. I didn’t know him at first. When I was here he was a rumseller, and broke up his business and went to the mountains.
This is how it happened. When I was here before, he opened a saloon and a grand billiard hall.
It was one of the most magnificent billiard halls in Chicago, all elegantly gilded and frescoed. For the opening he sent me an invitation to be present, which I accepted, and went around before he opened it.
I saw the partners and asked them if they would allow me to bring a friend. They said certainly, but asked me who it was.
Well, I said it wasn’t necessary to tell who it was, but said I, “I never go without him.” They began to mistrust me. “Who is it?” they again inquired.
“Well, I’ll come with him and if I see anything wrong I’ll ask him to forgive you.” “Come,” said they, “we don’t want any praying.” “You’ve given me an invitation, and I am going to come.” “But if you do come you needn’t pray.”
“Well,” said I, “I’ll tell you what we’ll do, we’ll compromise the matter, and if you don’t want me to come and pray for you when you open, let me pray for both of you now,” which they agreed to.
The point
Moody is invited to a billiard hall opening, boldly insists on praying there, and later encounters the converted owner who closed his business to follow Christ.