
Old stones, made strong again
Dwight Lyman Moody was among the most well-known Christian evangelists of the 19th century, traveling and preaching in the United States and abroad.
He was born in Northfield on Feb. 5, 1837, in a house that still stands on the Northfield campus. His father died when Dwight was 4 years old. His mother, Betsey, despite poverty, kept together her family of nine children. Moody was baptized in a local church and attended school in the town of Northfield.
At age 17, he left home and moved to Boston to work in his uncle's shoe store. In 1855, he was "born again." As D.L. himself said: "When God waked me up ... I could not sit still, but I had to go out to preach." Within the year, he moved to Chicago, once more successfully working in the shoe store business.
In mid-19th-century America, hundreds of thousands of Americans, along with new immigrants, moved to cities to reap what they anticipated would be their share in the industrial revolution. Many were unable to cope with the temptations and disappointments of urban living. Young Moody felt compelled to preach. "I went out one Sunday and got hold of 18 ragged boys," he said. "That was about the happiest Sunday I ever experienced." He started teaching informal Bible classes in the most ignored and dangerous neighborhoods of Chicago.
Moody's listeners grew in number. His commitment to evangelism became a full-time occupation. During the 1860s, he preached to civilians, soldiers, and prisoners; he served as president of the Chicago YMCA; and he made the first of his many long and famous evangelical trips.In 1870, Moody met Ira David Sankey, hymn-singer, song-leader, and composer. Moody needed a singer to fill the intervals between his sermons. Together, Moody and Sankey expanded and professionalized urban revivalism, campaigning for Christ in, among other places, England, Scotland, Jerusalem, Ireland, Italy, Egypt, France, Switzerland, Mexico, and across the United States.
When Moody founded the Northfield Seminary for Young Ladies (1879) and Mount Hermon School for Boys (1881), he selected students who were talented but from impoverished backgrounds. They came from all over the world, from all over America, and from every race.
Dwight Lyman Moody died in Northfield on Dec. 22, 1899. An estimated 3,000 people came to campus for the funeral. Moody is buried on a hill called Round Top on the Northfield campus, the site of both his birth and death
Old stones, made strong again
From coal miners in Ukraine to President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, this journalist will ask anyone anything.
We're hyper-connected. Does that make us hyper-vulnerable? The cybersecurity expert explains.
He helps young athletes from college to the pros, but he’s not a coach. He’s a lawyer.
Shred the gnar, pay the bills.
Making native cultures central to tourism
Design. Make. Play.
Putting organic waste to work
Retired CIA agent, best-selling author of spy novels
Behind the scenes at the PyeongChang Olympics
On what hard work looks like
Charter school founder on building a better school
Senior advisor, and early mentor, to President Obama
Olympic gold medalist
Freed from an Iranian prison after 41 days
Giving girls a boost by showing “the power of she.”
Student activist says, “Stay woke.”
This environmental lobbyist wants to talk to you about climate change.
Youngest female chief to serve on U.S. side of Mohawk Reservation.
His race for Olympic gold started at NMH
A visit with the literary pioneer and Beat poet
On how smartphones can help mentally ill people
Dogfish Head’s founder writes the great American beer recipe
Her art is genius
Saving lives in Calcutta
A young peacemaker among giants
A pioneering, socially responsible investor
Respected international banker leads by example
A star has risen
Ice cream lover turned entrepreneur
Smashing glass ceilings as a legislator
NHL hockey scores this NMH alum
“Great desserts are important”
Rap what you know
School teacher turned politician
Making wellness accessible to all
Getting dressed, pesticide-free
On how your environment changes the way you think and feel.
"A papaya grows in Holyoke"
My philosophy is: Fail early, so you can eventually succeed.
Struggling in a class doesn't mean that you are not good at it.
I want dance students to engage their own memory and intellect.
NMH bridges gaps and makes it real.
Science isn't just talk, but it certainly helps.
I love teaching AP Bio. The kids are highly motivated.
“The best thing about NMH is the connections you make.”
“NMH challenges students to innovate and persevere while keeping in mind the effects of our actions on the community."
“This community gives me the resources to grow as a student and discover passions I never knew I had.”
“I am confident in myself and my abilities to succeed, thanks to NMH.”
"I love the freedom I have to explore what I am passionate about."
"NMH gives us space to experiment and gradually to grow into ourselves."
"I noticed how welcoming everyone was when I first came to campus.”
“The first step to excelling at NMH is embracing your own individuality.”
“I appreciate the bond faculty and students have at NMH.”
"The community at NMH is unlike any I’ve ever known, and for that I am grateful.”
"NMH allows me to be myself in the classroom and ensures I am an articulate, curious, and courageous student.”
“I was initially surprised by how relaxed, yet academic, the environment is."
"The curriculum here is hard, but it’s the right amount of hard."