SALVATION ARMY LEADER

Evening Star, Issue 22579, 22 February 1937, Page 14

SALVATION ARMY LEADER

THE MARECHALE'S SUNDAY PROGRAMME The Marechale—Mrs Booth-Clibborn—-commenced her mission in Dunedin yesterday with a morning service in the Salvation Army Citadel. Mr W. T. Wilson introduced the speaker, and a prayer was offered by Mr E. A. Israel, organiser for the Marechale’s Dominion missions. , , The subject dealt with was the outstanding incident in the Book of Esther, dealing with Mordecai and his niece, Queen Esther. Exceptional and original lessons were drawn in the Marechale’s characteristic manner. Mordecai and Esther were shown to be types of present-day characters, and the Bible a most up-to-date Book. _ The Army Band rendered good service in accompanying special hymns. The Rev. Thomas Miller, chairman ot the Marechale’s committee, introduced the evangelist at the afternoon meeting in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. He said that grace nas not hereditary, but it tended to move in families, and that was well exemplified in the case ofthe Booth family. It also was passed on To future generations. The Marechale was affiliated with the Mildmay movement. He gave a description of the movement. and that such men as the Rev. Lionel Fletcher were attached to it. The Evangelical Bible League was at the back of the mission, and it was representative of all the evangelical churches of the city. The Marechale stated that while she was affiliated with the Mildmay movement, she did not receive any payment from that body. A number of former converts from her missions had made it possible for her to visit Australia and New Zealand. She was glad to be in the Dominion, for it was a beautiful country, as far as she had seen it. The speaker referred to the unsettled state of the world, stating that two members of Parliament had spoken to her just before she left England.. They declared they could not tell what was in the immediate future; anything might happen any hour. The Marechale went on to speak of the Christian life as a vocation. Paris, she said, set the fashions for dress; so ought Christians set the fashion for moral and Christian conduct. She was not a fanatic or a mere emotionalist. The importance of the definite note in Christian profession was stressed. The Bible was the only Book which spoke with authority on the past, present, and future. She had known Edison. His inventions and work were wonderfulbut there was something more wonderful than science, and that was the work of salvation. At the evening meeting every available seat was occupied. The Marechale’s subject was ‘ If Ye Knew,’ or • The Tragedy of Ignorance.’ Her address was based upon the incident of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, as found in John iv. Jesus_ was always tender, she said, even in his condemnation of the worst, while His followers were often harsh in their judgment. Audiences composed of Communists and Anarchists were led to take hats off and cigarettes out of their mouths with gentle treatment.' The Samaritan woman did not know who Jesus was, but He knew her and led her to a conviction of her sin by gentle methods. Jesus said: “ If thou knewest Who it is that speaketh unto thee, thou wouldst have asked of Him.” The speaker told how she had spoken to 1,000 students of a sceptical turn of mind, and impressed them with the statement that all their knowledge was futile if they did not know Jesus. The next morning a professor and five students visited her to seek this knowledge. . , , , . Mr C. E. Ross, assisted by a choir, rendered a number of new hymns; which were composed by the Marechale and her husband. , . „ _ The Marechale will speak in the Concert'Chamber of the Town Hall to-ninbt at 7.30, and her subject will be ‘ The Holy Spirit.’ A prayer meeting will be held in the retiring rooms.each evening at 7 o’clock.