A STRONG MAN

Evening Star, Issue 14632, 31 July 1911, Page 4

A STRONG MAN

IX AN OBSCURE CHURCH. A FEW IMPRESSIONS - OF AN ENGLISH PASTOR. Lcith Street Congregational Church is not a temple with arehiteettital splendor, forever thrusting itself tipo.t the humble day-by-day existence of the people. It has neither steeple .nor boll, and is apt to be overlooked bv those who have not been "admitted to meml*r<-hip." And yet its veiy humbleness, to be eiire, makes it a place where one would r.ot be surprised to there see, when the time conies, "cue like unto the Son of Man." A great gift seems to havo come to U now, a gift that shall make it n venerable place—the Rev. J. M'Olur-e Uiie.ii, ;ui English pastor of ripe experience- and approved service, who preached his inaugural sermon yesterday morning to a. small company. It certainly was not a heart-uplifting k-gui-nino- for one that had come to far. but out" did "not .need the gift of "t-econd fctght" to see that the stranger in the pulpit was not a man to bo daunted easily. In the yeais that Lie. behind him, no doubt, he oiten saw loss promising fields whiten for the harvest. And it is more than probable that before summer comes tbk little obscure church will net hold all those, eager to hear this man, and alto that " tluy'll a' be prood o' Robin." What manner of man k lie'.' It were casv to pkeo him to the satisfaction of Homeland folk, but somewhat difficult to co serve most New Ze-alandets. He has in his face and bearing a resemblance to Lord. Miluer, and not a"" lew of tiiOGO Empirebuilders whom fortunate people, occasion - allv ste in Downing street or Fleet street—-wholesome-looking 'men with intellectuality fitum'tcd upon them as plainly as » brand. His penetrating eyes, that look through a invokes, person, and theTirm jaw, f.lwvcd to the. bone, or near it. remind one of that vvnrrkr-pclitieian the late Major-general Want-hope, who shook the. Midlotrtian people's faith in William Ev.art Gladstone ills hair is nearer white than grey, and cropped, as was; Barcu Brampton's, like a prize-fighter's. In hk maimer _ and speech there are evidences of power in complete control, and of a something that makes one feel that in i-miTering and service he lais found, as Emerson puts it, ••reality, sharp peaks and edges of truth." He knows, life and the needs and frniltk.? of the human heart. In a word, Mr Uii'en is an earnest man, eager to serve, willing to endure. Though he is neat- man's allotted span of year*, he is not old toally, being as alert'and keen an a racehorse. Obviously, ho has learned that yuulMuineas is retained by a love and exercise of constant activity and contentment in useful service Those'who may he disposed to receive hire as an old mail who has tomo to the far country to warm his heait at the tire ot new interests, .so to i-pcak. can rest nsstuet. that they are a far pitch from accurate judgment. Measured in a worldly and popuho- balance, such a man gains little in New Zealand. He will give more than he will receive. And it is lxtssible that even in this hustling age theie are pastors like the reverend champion of 'The Deserted Village.' a- pious man "passing rich on fortv°poutuk a year." As a man ol'God amongst the people, Mr Uilki'is way v.-iiT be easy. What of his power as a preacher. Is he, Ui use Chalmers's famous test—"ls he a. man of weeht'k He i,; a. man of weight, and a little more than that, lie is a man of balanced weight, if first impressions bias unerring as a blind man's staff. Rut he is more a teacher than, he is a preacher. His motive- kto instruct. When listening U, it* clear and kindiv message one is more conscious of guidance than of being jrro.tchod at. A storm occasionally fits a certain mood, but stms'iiue is welcomed always. As Svdnev Smith (a couutiy parent hiineelf) puts it: "What can be more hid ic ions than an. orator delivering stale in<lignation and fcrv.tr of a week old "'.' Even when this veteran parson preaches, his. preaching is a.; soothing as a lragraut ointment. He speaks dnvrly and dearly, as though in sympaihy with vc:u;e! age and i erpiexed vouth. And ids message w;ts worth a place in one's mind. When it ha<l been given one was glad to .have been theie -a, r-it'tiiilcant confession from one who earns his grain of wheat by battling vdlii a tumbling ocean of words. Belief on the goodness, which i-s God was, the fonttdiition "i hk discourse. And how .strong and sfmudating ic hi.s bebel ! ILs iird words were heralds of honesty: "My friends, it k natural that you should ask : What has this, man to say, who corner._fo us as a minister of Jems Chrkt v Ik.s he a witness, to bear, and if en. it'.'" Then he answered, saying: "'To the i|;:estion thus simply and t-.-rsdy put I think 1 have an aleqimt 1 and. J trust, an iivpirationa! re))iy. it i.s the word of Paul'(as recorded in th" 12th verse of the first chaotrr of littit, Apost'n-k second eoisth- us Tirtu'thy) : " I know whom 1 have believed, and an. persn:td<-<! that, he ic able to keep thai which J. have committed unto him against that day !" Such a word was, to be expo-ted from a man of God. to whom had come the glorv of Gel. end in whom was tho response' to n-t bei'ote men a \i:.al and \i!.alki;]"- L f o.sii'd. And smii was \'w gospel hc/tcK,. hoped to |><-e;ich. The u-si. ho h;id chot.-en ,-idv.iitkd of simple analysis, ami its points were ,-tidi as wcty oasifv iipprchended and remomh'-jed. There thsv had reference to ktt.-.wl: due. bdii-1. assiirame. II- sj;ok- of the k:e.w ledge that ii<-s at tie- lc.se of our acti\ it...-.-. the knowledge of Him whom Paul ttdoi '■!. - 1 know Him in the vender of His grnc : 1 know flini in the might of ilk p-twof : 1 know ilini in the actuality of His p'-e----srn. e. A man of G'-d. a trn-- d-s----cipie, walks with Chtist in whit-' ••\-cry dav." T!l(n lie spel.c of the . 0.0m0.l ,:..:■<! of I'hn.i. Kin,; wet! as 5.,vi0,0 . entlii-oncd uiion a throne of powv. -....-.- dum. iiTdgment, and j:race---a th.-one to whieh"al! i'r.'v invited to g<i. not willi faltering feel, nol witii doubiiii'j hearts. but with coofideu-o in His ma ivy. And vim aiiMiigst ti.s did net liortl mercy 7 bi the days .if youth, in the <iay ; of opening manhood, and in the winter of i:fc mail needed ilk help. We k'\c live barl-v loaves, but lie makes <>f them en ample fea,t. Not with the emphasis of the Aposlle could he epeak. bttl !:- ; -on!d echo, even though it might be but f.-'i-ii!\. the same- word. Then attention v.ts given to Ike !:eefif-ilv for belief. And liou ei'iVctiv..' were his illustrations ! lie ,e----cttlled th" mtinner in which peace came to Lady Henry- Scire r.-ot. "one of the greatest of England's wttineii—,gi-rat in iibibiy, great in sympathy, great in service." I : pon ib'"' lhre.-ho'd of he ,:•'■'•'• the uood ladv was an honest seeptie. Sis<!!<l not know thai, .-he wanted 1- know. A iter par.siii'.- throusb a menial and nin-d nt-!i biohe-n. km dis'itictlv heard a v.,ice saying : " A.-t as thoti-h 1 wen-n and lliou shall know that i am." We mutt believe on the bold .Jo-o-s ('hri.,l. [_! v.as tii« proiCiS <>i the Apt-st!'-'-:; e:-;p'.-ri.'iice : and it. was the proccrs of the t ;-;pet km-e of every man of God. It was the meijn dof t!tO' scientist. and it was the method ot tin? faint. We wei-e here to overcome ! lie world, to overcome it physically, un-.-iiiy. at;d s.]iit:tiia.iiy. Wl'V ■dj<l men come ite-.-e from the. KanHjaa ' Not because they knew, but lieci'.ii.-..- they believed: and having exercked faith, knowledge followed. Then we had ne-fd of as-uran.-.' that "lie is able to keep that v-hidi I have rnmmitted uiitn. Him again:-;! ili-t! day "--the day of revelation. We led tvi'commit ourselves itn'o Him win-n w had baliev.'d linlii t hi:, dav of n:t::n;0c and c.tmpleto freedom. Such v.as tinwitness had had to bear, lie had come to preach the gospel of the Living God. And he need not bo dismayed. Go. labor on : 'Tis not for nought ; Thy earthly loss is heavenly .gain ; Men'heed the-3, love thee, praise thee not; The Master prsis-os—What/ are men'.'