THE CHAPMAN – ALEXANDER MISSION.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 300, 23 June 1909, Page 5

THE CHAPMAN - ALEXANDER MISSION.

Our Sydney correspondent writes: Great crowds present themselves to hear the preaching -of Dr Wilbur Chapman, and the singing of "Mr Alexander, and there can be no doubt that a powerful impulse to good living is being, imparted. • Tho question, however, ' irresistibly presents itself : . "Why is not this impulse steadily and consistently maintained by. the ordinary preaching of tlie Churches? Why should ii bo necessary to import preachers from abroad, and to resort to extraordinary measures in order to fan the dying embers into a flame ? Is the fault in the teaching, is it in the ministers, or is it in the people ? There is no parallel to this fitful, precarious condition of affairs in any other department. The object of the mission is to reach the depraved and outcast. To the extent to which the vast congregations are really and sincerely affected this object will be attained, for every day they, come into contact with those to whom their example and their care may be beneficial. But the congregations themselves consist almost wholly of churchgoers. No others irould be so amenable to suggestion, so wholeheartedly obedient to the directions from tho platform, or such docile students in Mr Alexander's singing classes. Once a man, not a very good singer, was induced to get on a chair, and attempt to sing one of the verses as a solo before thousands of amused and ] interested listeners. These things may lie good in their place. But they don't seem calculated to present very overpowering inducements to "the depraved and the outcast;"