REV. GEORGE GRUBB.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 117, 18 May 1892, Page 5

REV. GEORGE GRUBB.

THE OBJECT OF HIS TOUR.

The arrival of the Rev. George Carlton Grubb and party, who wero passengers by the steamer Manapouri from Gisborno today, has been looked forward to with much ■interest and a good deal of curiosity. It is unusual, in the first place, for & party of evangelists to be travelling around the colonies, much after the style of a joint stock company, formed for the salvation of souls, and the experiences of Mr Grubb both in Australia and New Zealand have also been rather unusual. In Geelong, it may be remembered, a vast audionco of people were so carried away by his eloquence that they poured forth donations of gold and silver jewellery, watches, tho title deeds of land, etc., in Btich profusion that tho event was regarded aa of sufficient importance for cabling to tho New Zealand papers. Demonstrations of a similar characterhavo also been rdade at MrGrubb's meetings elsewhere, and his fame has preceded him. At Wellington the Rev. Mr Grubb met with some opposition from a section of the Anglican clergy, and after hw mission had closod the Ray. MrCoffey severely scolded mombcra ct tho Church of England for running after tho evangelist. All this indicates that the Key. Mr Grubb ia a reruarkablo man. In appearance he is very tall, and rather slightly built in proportion to his height. He has a decidedly clerical appearance, and his demeanour and conversation are characterised by much enorgy and precision. On arrival of tho Manapouri, Mr Grubb was met by Mr W. 11. Smith, of the firm of Smith and Caughey, and was driven by that gentleman to his. private residence. Prior co leaving the steamer, the reverend gentleman was interviewed by a Star reporter, and some information was obtained as to the evangelist himself, his party, tho object of their mission, and the manner in I which the crusade is conducted. Asked for a brief biographical sketch, Mr Grubb said: "I was born on May 21st, 1056, at Kabir Abbey, County Tipperary, Ireland, and I am the youngest son of the late Robert Grubb, of Kahir Abbey. I was educated in Waterford, Clifton, and at Morafe Col' Jege, Switzerland, and entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1574, and graduated in 1879. I worked in Limerick and in Kerr until ISBS, anS then acted up to tho post of Missioner to the Church of Ireland Home Mission. In 1887 I waa working for the Church Missionary Society, and visited their station in India in company with my friend Colonel Oldham, of the Royal Engineers. Much blessing followed these efforts. Since then I have continued mission work in various parts of the world. I have been twice in India, three times in Ceylon, twice in the colonies and once at the Cape. " You have a party with you," observed the reporter.

" Yes," replied Mr Grubb, and he mentioned the names Mr and Mrs Millard, both of whom have worked in China, Mr Ewbank, who has also, been working in the China mission, and Mr Robinson. There are four others connected with the party, but thoy are conducting evangelistic work elsewhere. What are the objects of your tour ? This ia really our seoond tour. The party was originally formed for evangelistic purposes by myself, and I have gradually associated others with myself in the work. Can you describe the character of your meetings ? Thsy are practically evangelistic services —not missionary services. As I am a Church of England clergyman, naturally all my services have been held specially in connection with the Church of England, but all denominations are most cordially invited, and in every place we have been the people of till denominations have come to our meetings. . There was an exceptional instance in Wellington, was there not ? Yos ; the Rev. Mr Coflee did make some unkind remarks, but that was after my departuro, and I would rather nob take any notice of them. We had tno3t successful meetings there, aa indeed we have had everywhere throughout Australia and New . Zealand, and in every other place I have had the co-operation of the clergy. Will you have the cooperation of the Church of England clergymen here ? Oh, yes ; I will have the most hearty cooperation of both Bishop and clergy. How is your mission conducted with respect to finance ? We never have any col'ection at any of our services. If any of the people who attend during the season feel disposed to contribute towards the mission, the donations are received, but wo never make a collection of any sort. We have no h'nanco connected with the mission at all. We go about from place to place. The expenditure is great, and after that is discharged, any surplus we have we can devote to Mission work elsewhere. We . have been occasionally helped in this work by the Keswick Convention in England. Though I am a missionary for tho Church of Ireland I do not receive any money from it, my work being quite voluntary. I have been asked to come to. the colonies, and I have done co at mv own risk. I don't hold the public responsible for a single penny. I have asked ladies and gentlemen to come with mo, because I believe them to be suitable for the work. We started out in faith that our wants would be supplied, and they have been suplied. If we receive special donations, we make use of them for this mission work. You had a rather remarkable meeting at Geelong, had you not ? Yea. That news seems to have preceded us everywhere, but that is nothing unusual. At the close of our mission in Geelong, numbers of people gave watches and jeweli lery, and grants of land, towards the mission work, but we did not pet a penny of that. That was a missionary meeting, ft is only incidentally that we hold missionary services, and then the proceeds go to missionary work. This concluded the interview, and\ the Rev. Mr Grubb drove off with Mr Smith to hi 3 residence in PonEonby. Mr Grubb is to conduct a mission here at the City Hall, comruencinq; at 7.30 this evening.