THE CHURCH AND THE WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 6

THE CHURCH AND THE WORKERS.

LIVELY MEETING IN POST OFFICE BQUAREi QUESTIONS AiNIJ ANPWRUH. Tlio midday mission nervlco In Tout Office Squnrs «n Thursday, I'Widmilrd )i,V dio lioVi 0. B. litephcasoiii AKglisnn vicnf of l'etone, was full of life nnil iiitriTsl, The csprcss from which Mr, Kl.=pliem«ll §polie wns Eurrcniiu'.cd by it 1»« im-owil. nearly nil of whom were \yorluiitf men hi llrelv working clothe?, nml m> oiu» w>lllll kvfl wished -fui , ll Keener or ft fjilwr audience. Air. (jtonlieiipun In u olfctillshuven vomiß man, who looks even yoiuiKcr than'he is, nml ns hi. stood up in Iho express to open the proceedings ho appeared to (ho onlookers as swirerly out of his bovhood. Ho is a churchman of .New Zealand make, Whik Won born at Auckland, and trained nt bt. John s Loi-

lege. Hβ has had a most successful university career. Ho took the B.Sc. degi'eo in 1901; Natural Science honours (first class) in 1902; and the M.Sc. degree in I'M". His juvenile appearance and evident keenness assured him from the outset among a British crowd of n fair and sympathetic henring, and lie got it. On the first two days of the mission services thu speakers had declined to answer questions. Whatever may have been tin; reasons for this course, it was felt that, in tlio circumstances, a mistake, had been made, and on Wednesday tlio lfnv. 11. Ci. Blaekburne, vicar of Kilbirnic, announced that he would bo prepared at the close of his address to reply to questions on points ho hud touched upon, but only one question was put. At Thursday's meeting, however, things livened up considerably, and Mr. Stepheuson teemed glad to hilvo it so. In his address, he spoko of the life after death, and tho bearing of this belief rii some of tho most difficult and perplexing problems of our present life. Ho pointed to man's sins ami sorrows, and weaknesses, and then declared that God had come down to help us. We don't, ho said, belicvo in a God who sits safe up in heaven, seeinß us making a mess of things and doing nothing to help—One who just looks on and gives advice. Then ho pointed to Jesus Christ—His love, and His work for man, and asked: "Can't you lovo a God liko that?" The speaker was listened to with close attention from start to finish, an occasional interjection serving to show that his points were not being missed. . Then came question time, and an animated time it was. Mr. Stephenson had all his wits alwut him, and needed them all. After a few preliminary shots from here and there in tho crowd, which brought out prompt replies from the man in tho express, matters resolved themselves largely into a duel between the young parson and Mr. Freeman, a well-known advocate of Socialism. It is not necessary to go into details; it: is sufficient to say that the questions wero hardly out of the questioners' mouth before, the answer came. Mr. Stephenson was quick, and right to the point. Ho niado it clear that he was not there to attack Socialism; indeed, ho was keenly interested in social questions.. Ho gave his opponent every latitude; ho allojved him to make speeches as well as nsk questions; and when some of the crowd appeared to think that Mr. Freeman was occupying too much time, the parson appealed to them to givo tho questioner a fair chance- to have his say. Tn this way the meeting was prolonged for nearly a quarter of an hour beyond the prescribed time. Hero are two illustrations of the question and answer process:—

Mr. Stephcusou was asked to provo Hie existence of God. After pointing out that this was one of the assumptions which he had expressly made at the beginning of his address, he went on to say that there are many unseen things which cannot be absolutely proved by any process of logic. We simply know them. Then turning straight to tho questioner, he asked: "Can you provo that your wife loves you?"

Ho was then questioned about salvation and damnation, and was asked to justify the text. "Many are called, but few chosen." The effect of his answer was this: "Now look here, Mr. Freeman. You must admit, as a Socialist lecturer, that you have called a great many; but how few have responded? Thero you have it." The crowd laughed good-hiim-ouredly.

Mr. Stephenson. who wits encournjjed by applause and sympathetic interjections, appeared to enter into the spirit of Hid thins, and to really enjoy himself. He showed that lie hml a keen sense, of humour, but he also know when to strike Hie serious note, and did so very effee. tively. At times Mine ran p li'it hkh anions? a section of the crowd, but tliinu.s ended up all ritjht, and (he crowd dispersed in excellent temper.