While Moody was conducting the Stepney mission in the east of London he announced that on a given evening he would specially address himself to skeptics and atheists. It was at the time when Charles Bradlaugh’s influence was being widely exercised, and it is alleged that he himself urged the members of various “free thinkers” clubs which he had organized to attend. It was indeed a unique audience for evangelistic meetings. Moody spoke on “Their rock is not as our rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.” So earnest and urgent was his appeal that the attention of the great body of men was riveted on the speaker from first to last. It was less an appeal to reason than to the heart and will. Moody simply assumed the verities with which all who have been brought up in a Christian land are familiar. The fact of sin and the need of strength required no demonstration. At the close Moody gave out a hymn and announced, “While we sing the ushers will open all the doors. Any who must leave may do so. We will then have the usual inquiry meeting for those who desire to be led to the Savior.” One who was present writes: I thought all will stampede and we shall only have an empty hall. But instead, the great mass of a thousand men rose, sang, and sat down again. Moody then simply spoke on “receiving” Christ and challenged anyone who would respond to His call to speak out bravely. A number responded. Then someone shouted, “I won’t.” With evident emotion Moody exclaimed, “It is I will’ or I won’t’ for every man in this hall tonight.” Then suddenly he turned the whole attention of the meeting to the story of the Prodigal Son, saying, “The battle is on the will, and only there. When the young man said, I will arise,’ the battle was won, for he had yielded his will; and on that point all hangs tonight. Men, you have your champion there in the middle of the hall, the man who said ‘I won’t.’ I want every man here who believes that man is right to follow him, and to rise and say I won’t.’ ” There was perfect silence and stillness; all held their breath, till as no man rose. Moody burst out, “Thank God, no man says “I won’t! Now who’ll say I will?” In an instant the Spirit of God seemed to have broken loose upon that great crowd of enemies of Jesus Christ, and five hundred men sprang to their feet shouting, "I will, I will!" the whole atmosphere was changed and the battle won.
"D L Moody," by William R Moody, 1930