GIPSY SMITH.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18855, 22 November 1926, Page 8

GIPSY SMITH.

FAMOUS EVANGELIST.

A PUBLIC WELCOME. "Do jrou want a revival!" asked Gipsy Smith, the famous evangelist, at the public welcome extended to him in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church on Saturday evening. "Yes, yes," answered his audience. "Well, meet the condition and you will get it," said the Gipsy, "God is in a delightful mood. Give God his may and He will give you a revival." The Church was thronged with an audience who camo away evidently greatly impressed with the evangelist's telling method of gaining converts. The Rev. E. D. Patchett, chairman of the Citizens' Committee set up in connexion with the mission, presided.

The chairman, in extending a welcome to the missioner, and Mr and Mrs E. E. Young, who are assisting him in his work, expressed regret that the accident which had befallen Mrs Young in the south, prevented her attendance. It was noteworthy, he said, that the Gipsy's visit to Christchurch synchronised with his conversion to Christ 50 years ago, the exact date being November 17th. 1876.

Mayoral Welcome. The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) said that he had been asked why he had not extended a civic reception to Gipsy Smith. Without desiring to blame anyone, he would state that the reason was that no one had asked for such a welcome. If they had he would have been pleased to give it. However, he was giving the evangelist a welcome that night, and he could assure him that it was a sincere and hearty one. There had been comment concerning the money that Gipsy Smith was expected to take away from Christchurch, continued the Mayor, but it would not amount to a tenth part ot what had been got from Christchurch by certain visiting entertainers. If he got ten times as much as those people had done it would be a better bargain for Christchurch. In any case his prices would be cheaper, and if one did not wish to do so one need not contribute to his collections. If their visitor was able to get a large amount of money from Christchurch he was welcome to it, said the speaker, who added that if the people wished to show their appreciation of his services and their sympathy and love in a monetary way that was their own business. (APP lauso ;> . H . e was glad to welcome the Gipsy to Christchurch in his capacity as Mayor, and also as a Christian. Minister. The Eev. T. W. Armour (Knox Church), and Mr H. Holland, M*., representing the laymen of the united i?ee Churches of Christchurch, also welcomed the visitor. Evangelist's Eeply. "It is a great delight to be in your City "said the Gipsy, replying, i have been looking forward to coming to Christchurch for 32 years I was m Australia-32 years ago, and hoped then to come to New Zealand, but a cable cITS me from m y homo stating that mv wife was seriously illr so 1 to* and was thus unable to come to New Zealand. Ever since then I had looked forward to jeturwng to Australia and visiting New Zealand, but this is the first time I have.had a chancTto come. lam not a labourer out of work. There is not a map m the world who is kept.more busy in Christian work than myself. Gipsy Smith, continuing, said that it they thought that the spiritual life of the City was low, that was due to themselves, and they could not blame the people ° f Wellington or Dunedm for it. They had no right to think that they could bring a, man half way round the world to save Christchurch.. The task could only be accomplished it they were prepared to shoulder part ot the burden. A city could not be saved by proxy. \, . , , Some people did not like revivals, he continued, because they considered them too exciting. Yet, he had known people get madly excited simply because some one Bent a bit of leather between two posts and because some one was able to knock down stumps with a ball. God had said that there was joy in Heaven when a sinner repenteth. "If they rejoice up there," said Gipsy, "surely there is room for a little legitimate excitement down here." It was a mistake, said the Gipsy before concluding his remarks, to regard a revival as nothing more or less than a flash in the pan. Pentecost had been a flash in tho pan, yet what had it meant to the world P General Booth's London mission had also been»described as a flash in tho pan. If these were flashes in the pan then all he would like to say of them was, "May the Lord give us a little more of them."

MISSION OPEtfS. LARGE ATTENDANCES AT BARRACKS. The strain of the hynifl, "Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus," sung by a combined choir of 400 voices, ushered in Gipsy Smith's mission in Ohristchurch at the King Edward Barracks yesterday afternoon. There was an attendance of approximately 4000. In introducing the choirmaster (Mr V. 0. Peters) Gipsy Smith said to the audience, "He is going to help inß on my mission, to sing ourselves nearer to Jesus, and you are going to help me, aren't you?" There wag an answer in the affirmative from the huge congregation, and young people, middleaged people, and elderly men and women, some sitting doubled and leaning on sticks, some even reclining in invalid chairs, fixed their attention upon the evangelist. "We are going to talk to God," said the Gipsy, and he delivered a prayer, those assembled filling the building with their voices as they recited "The Lord's Prayer" after him. The Financial Side. The Eev. E. D. Patchett, chairman of the committee set up in connexion with the mission, addressed those present. He said that he wanted the people to understand that every penny collected at every mission service would go towards the expenses of the committee. The people should not bo stinted in giving. "Love without sacrifice is a' very thin thing," ho said. "You have just been told that you are not giving to me," said Gipsy Smith, and added, "although I don t think you would object if you were. Looking over the heads of those present, he said that it looked as if the people of Ohristchurch were glad to have him. (Hear, hear, and applause.) He said that the mission was the best beginning he had made in any towiin the Dominion. He told the people that as soon as they had. contributed enough to cover expenses, there would be no further collection. The speaker commenced his sermon at 3.35 p.m., and the afternoon mission was brought to a close at 4.15 p.m. He spoke on Peter and John going to the

chapel at the hour of prayer, and the gift they bestowed upon T the cripple outside the chapel. When the cripple asked for aims,-he was given the use of his legs. Gipsy Smith broke off to say, "Oh for a revival of Bible?reading," and soveral women near the front of the hall murmured, "Amen." When he said that people did not know how to pray, a voice at the rear of the hall cried out, "Hallelujah." Gipßy Smith: "It, is a wonder to me that yon don't all say "Hallelujah." "The Jazz Craze." Mr Smith spoke on "This eternal rush after a thrill." He said that it was a mad jazz craze. He did not be? lieve that the people knew what they wanted. "They are longing for something,\they don't know what," he said. He said that people had told him that they had gone to church, and no one had spoken to them. He asked if that was true of Christchurch. In one voice thoße present cried out, "Yes." "Then it is your disgrace," he said, "If they went to the beer shop someone would speak to them." After tell? ing of how he had been working for the people for fifty years, Gipsy Smith leaned over the railing of the platform and whispered, "But the way of the cross leads -home." ("Halle? lujah.") "Your Lord is my Lord," ho said. "If you love me, show it, Those who would pray with me, stand up," and all those who could -stand stood up, others sitting o* lying in invalid chairs and holding their hands above their .heads.

Bread and Butter Only. . "When he appeared before a much, larger attendance in the evening, Gipsy Smith was greeted with applause. Ihe choir opened the proceedings with the hymn, "Love Lived in. Me.' The Rev J. Robertson.said that the cost of the hall taxed the faith of many, but he thought that it would not tax the pockets of those present. Lhe> smallest contribution was welcome. "Before you feel in your pockets, let me have a word," said the evangelist. "I'm interested in this; I am here to help you to raise the money topay, the expenses. You are giving to God, and not a penny will come to me. I expect I'm in it to the extent of some bread and butter. If you went to a picture show you would have to pay to get in. If you go to church and put threepence in the plate, you don't love Jesus much. ... "Now, if I came down there with the plate, you would change what you have got in your, hand. You need seven or eight/hundred pounds to pay for the mission. You ought to give £l5O to-night. You are dressed • well enough, if your clothes are paid for. The metallic sound which rang through the building above the voices of the choir as the song, "Jesus Won My Heart," indicated that the Gipsy s appeal was being responded to. The Miseioner's Address. Mr Smith' took his text from the second chapter of the GosjpeJ of bt. Luko.' It was a story e-f a iost J'hfUJt, he said. "1 am God's messenger, ho continued, "and I dare not hold the message back. God helping mo, IU try to tell you. What about the slime and stuff and smut you listen to and tell? Why. I defy an angel to come down and keep the company some or you kept last week and remain pure. Mary found Him where she lost him, but she had to go back." If possible, a deeper silence fell on the large assembly as Gipsy Smith asked those present to bow their heads and pray. As he prayed over their heads, asking for help for thoughtless people, sobs and a low murmuring of "Amen" were the only sounds other than Gipsy Smith's voice.

MEETINGS THIS WEEK. The services of the mission will be continued in the King Edward Barracks each evening of the week, commencing at 7.30, with the exception that no service will be held on Saturday. A daily noon-hour meeting will be held from 12.30 to 1.30 in Trinity Congregational Church. A local minister will give a ten-minute tali and the missioner will take up his theme and follow on. The speaker to-day wilj be the Rev. E. D. Pachett, chairman of the Campaign Committee. Op Tnqrs, day evening a special service wflj Be held for young people. A large number of ticlets has been issued, ensuring seats up to 7.15 p.m., but after that hour the building will be opened to the public. Something in the nature of a memorial service will be held on Friday evening, when Gipsy Smith will Rpeak on "Three and a half years with the Boys in France." A number of ex-service men will be his guest* on that occasion.