S. D. Gordon

Samuel Dickey Gordon was born on August 3, 1859, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a Christian family. He was educated at the University of the City of New York and was a bright and sensitive young man. In the 1880s, he was drawn to the work of the Young Men's Christian Association and became a secretary of the association in Ohio. He was known as a speaker with a quiet and winning manner. He was converted in his youth and felt a call to serve in the work of the church. He lived in a time of great evangelical activity, with the revival movements of Dwight L. Moody.

In the 1890s, he had a health breakdown from overwork. He was in a state of exhaustion and spent time in rest and prayer. During this period, he developed a deep devotional life. He came to see that the true source of the Christian life is a quiet time of communion with God. After his recovery, he began to speak and write on the Christian life. He traveled as a lecturer for the YMCA in many parts of the United States and abroad. He spoke at colleges and at conferences. He visited Asia and spoke in India, China and Japan. He was a gentle speaker, who spoke conversationally and drew on stories.

He is remembered for a series of books, which he called Quiet Talks. The first, Quiet Talks on Power, was published in 1903 and was followed by Quiet Talks on Prayer in 1904, Quiet Talks on Service, Quiet Talks on Following the Christ, Quiet Talks about Jesus and many others. They were widely read and sold millions of copies. They were written in a simple and warm style, in short chapters, with a personal touch. They dealt with the practical matters of the spiritual life. Quiet Talks on Prayer was especially popular and has been read by generations. He was a friend of the great Christian leaders of the day. He taught that prayer is the greatest work of the Christian and that the world is changed by prayer.

He was a man of a modest disposition who did not seek to make a name. He lived a simple life and avoided publicity. He suffered from poor health throughout his life, and he was often weak. He was thought to be too quiet by some, and some critics thought that his books lacked depth and a firm doctrinal basis. He was also criticized for a tendency toward sentiment. He did not claim to be a theologian. He said that he wished to help the plain believer.