SOLDIER AND EVANGELIST

Evening Star, Issue 18628, 8 May 1924, Page 10

SOLDIER AND EVANGELIST

"GIPSY” SMITH. Tn an interesting ghat with _ Captain "Gipsy” Pat Smith, tho evangelist, some details of his varied experiences, were furnished to a representative of tho Auckland ‘ Star.’ In answer to a query as to why he was called "Gipsy” Smith, when there is another and older evangelist of tho same name, the rejjly was : —" There are seven of that name, all of ns are true Romanys, but I was born in Glasgow, an my father’s tent, and, as far as I know, 1 have no relations with the other six. There is Gipsy Rodnev Smith, so famous as an evangelist; also his son, Gipsy Smith, junior, who is now a preacher in the (Jnited States. Then there is another, Gipsy S. Smith, cousin of the one preaching in America, and Gipsy Ezekiel Smith, his uncle, who was a preacher before the famous Gipsy Smith started his work as an evangelistand then there is myself. You see the Romany people give the title "Gipsy” to any member who takes up work out of tho ordinary run. I was born in a gipsy tent in Glasgow, and lived with my parents till I was sixteen years of age. I was the only lad in the tribe who could read, and I had but eleven months at school, and, looking hack, I often wonder at the work I have been able to do since I first started preaching when eighteen and a-half years old. When I was converted my father turned me out because I refused to tell fortunes.

Tho future evangelist had of a stricken field at the Somme. his war experience, the evangelist said : “ I volunteered on August 5, 1914, the day after the war was declared against Germany. I joined Lord Lovatt's Scouts. Ten months later I got my sergeant's stripes. Then I was sent recruiting, and got 1,500 men, mostly from places where I had been preaching before the war. Later I received a commission. . “ Sometimes I am asked what struck mo most while I was at the front, and I reply the machine gun bullets at the Somme, in tho battle July, 1916. I had a pretty good run till that fight, but it was the roughest bit of work I over was in. I got wounded by machine gun fire, an arm and a leg being fractured. •My leg is all right now, but my arm is two inches shorter.”

Touching upon tho fight, Captain Smith said ; “ The losses of our brigade were colossal. Out of 828 men and twentyeight officers we left 714 privates and twenty-three officers dead on the field, and the remaining 114 men and five officers returned all wounded.

“ As soon as the Armistice was declared I got out of the service, and went over to the United States. “Benm a Presbyterian,” ho said, “I need hardly add 1 am not an emotionalist in my evangelistic mission. I think a great deal of Jia.rm has been done by emotional evangelism, as the backwash is serious. I do not believe in working up the emotions by such hymns as ‘ Tell Mother I’ll Be There’ or ' Where is My Wandering Boy To-night?' A preacher should just give a straight message, and leave the rest in higher hands. An evangelist whose method makes it harder for the ordinary pastors afterwards does not know his wont. v