CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 15138, 20 March 1913, Page 10

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

1813—DAVID LIVINGSTONE—I9I3. A mass meeting under the auspices of tho London Missionary Society was held in Moray Place Congregational Church last night to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Dr David Livingstone, the simple Scotchman who won undying fame by carryi tire torch of God’s mercy into Africa when that great continent was a vast lair of wild beasts and wilder men. Though this is not an age of hero-wor-shippers, there was a splendid attendance, including an almost notable representation of men. Mr Peter Barr, president of the Otago Auxiliary of the L.M.S.; presided, and had associated with him on the pulpit platform the Revs. Professor Hewitson (representing the Presbyterian Church), W. Saunders (Congregational), W. Slade (Central Mission), and R. S. Gray (Hanover Street Baptist Church). The Rev. W. M. Grant, of Port Chalmers, led in prayer, the chairman read a Scriptural lesson, and combined choirs sang an anthem. The speeches were exceptionally good, each speaker having selected a special phase of the wonderful life and work of the “ Blantyre laddie wha gaed to Heaven on his knees.” The Chairman, in the course of a brief speech, said it was inspiring to think that as the evening shadows fell behind the ever westering sun hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of people of different nationalities, tongues, and colors would that night gratefully celebrate the humble birth of David Livingstone because of his great character, his nohilitv. his unswerving faithfulness to his ideal, which was God's purpose. Livingstone, by Ids travels through and across Africa, lad in the cause of Christ traced upon the map of the * Dank Continent ” a rough cross, and had. like Christ, laid down his life on that cross. Ho trusted that as a result of the meeting all present would be inspired with something of tho spirit of David Livingstone.

The Rev. Professor Hewitson made a charming speech, in which he stirred imagination to rare flights in order that it might soar to the white nobility of David Livingstone's character, which was the character of .John Henry Xewman’s perfect gentleman-one that never causes pain in others. The professor’s subject was Livingston: the -Missionary,' and ] le benm ' ? - lk f e a P r . ofsssor eager to impart beneficial information. He started from the tombs and memorials in Westminster Abbe\, and traveled backwards over the gulf of y ears and through the tangled jungle to the lonely hut where LivV stone gaed to Heaven on his knees® After quoting the familiar words on the memorial slab in the venerable AbbeyBrought by taahful hands over land and ■sea, here lies David TuvingstonoVmission ai_>. traveller, and philanthropist tho professor said that of the three aspects of Livingstone s_ life the fundamental one was that of missionary. That was the foun datmn mid also the coping stone of his In' , Me , l was missionary first 0 f all through all, an, l. b-, of -JL H. ' "l travelled in a*-: ‘• onal 3- Livingstone , OI Ltuist, His missionary- yvork took two forms. At first he din-i-r- c . . mst oe was an orwr,‘i 0 Wan? of nus6lCi nary, manual woik at different stations; then ho became the missionary statesman, exploring STJLSTSt' *-«■* h “"L stations. am j converting vidual men to faith, in Jesus Christ': Ho believed in a pure church, and was more concerned about the spirituality- 0 f hers rather than about their numhers One speakei, that there never had been another man- who had exercised a greater domination over the .minds of the' native race than had David Livingstone, The professor pictured m moving terms the I:™ 1 ;,,? lov ® on th* part Of Livingstone's ii,:v ~° ( or , ei sht months carried their masters body through perils and d.fhctahes immeasurable to the sea coast )150V Va ri the , SOUI : c oof Livingstone’s ].ov.«r. It was his character. He recogn.seo that gcod manners yvero as necessary ameng the natives of Africa as in the best homes in England. _ And he surrendered hm/self to God m simple, absolute childlike trust—the secret of his life. The Rev. W. S lade spoke of Livingstone ns a traveller, ami sketched with a flowing wealth of detail tho great plains, the dense tropical forests, the mighty rivers, and the expanses of still waters the explorer had traversed, and the perils from climatic influences, from poison—laden mosquitoes amidst dead things, from hostile tribes of natives,- and from yvild beasts in the flood and forests he had to encounter in a country that w as roadless.

The Rev. W. Saunders glowingly, and 'nth fine sympathy, spoke of Livingstone, the philanthropist. Livingstone served because he loved. Philanthropy was not a passing impulse to help. It meant a<n abiding passion for man's welfare. That Livingstone was one of the greatest of philanthropist s was written in his deeds, as it must he always. He had been appalled hy the miseries he had seen in Africa, and had given his life to alleviate them. -Mr Saunders concluded with expressing the_ hope that his hearers would translate their admiration of David Livingstone into imitation. (Applause.) The Rev. B. S. Gray, who was cordially welcomed by the chairman, did not tread on the tails of the preceding speakers’ coats. He broke fresh ground, so to speak, and referred to David Livingstone as a typo-man a pathfinder. Livingstone was produced as the best types wero always produced, by selection, by suppression, and by intense cultivation. Hunger, weakness, perils, lonely death had mad© him a type-man. Living he was dying; dying he lived. Mr Gray went on to speak of the rich harvest that had been reaped from Livingstone’s efforts in equatorial Africa—efforts which were God-sown seeds. In 1877 there was only one missionary in equatorial Africa. To-day, in Southern and Central Africa, exclusive of Cape Colony, the Transvaal, and the Orange Free State, there wore some 250 separate mission stations. In Uganda the Native Missionary Church had 75.CC0 members, with 2,000 teachers, preachers, and evangelists. “ Livingstone’s body lies mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on.” (Applause.) During the evening the choir, conducted by Mr D. Cooke, rendered several anthems. A collection was taken up in aid of a special Livingstone memorial fund.