GIRL PREACHER

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1923, Page 7

GIRL PREACHER

REVIVALIST SERMONS. “1 want to bring men to Christ,”, says Miss Wvnibwell, the eighteen-year-old evangelist who has created a sensation in Nottingham. 1 found her in the vestrv of the Forest Road Primitive Methodist Chapel when she was about to conduct the last of her revivalist meetings, writes the correspondent of a London journal. A packed congregation was waiting for her. Miss Wombwell is a remarkably pretty girl, with a face like a Raphael Madonna. Her hair is in short dark curls. She wore a black tam-o-ishanter carelessly flung over

them, and a black velvet frock with a white lace collar. Two or three years ago she worked in a local factory. “When I left school at the age of fourteen I wanted to be an actress,” she said. The dream of going on the stage was always with me, until about two years ago at a revival meeting at my home, conducted by a Mr Brice, I felt a call, and became a Christian. From that day I dedicated myself to Christ. The first service that 1 conducted was at Nottingham Baptist Tabernacle, which contained 2000 people. I have never felt the least nervousness, for all .1 think of when 1 am in the pulpit is to, draw the souls of my congregation to the Lord. • ! never use a written sermon. Occasionally I have a few notes, but generflly 1 wail until I am in the pulpit, and once there the words have to say How to me. I leave it to those who invite me to preach to give me what they wish by way of a feeWhen Miss Wombwell mounted the pulpit the congregation was singing hymns with great enthusiasm. 'Pho girl preacher’s manner with her congregation is decidedly authoritative. She gives out the numbers of the hymns with precision, and leads her congregation without hesitation. While men bowed their heads she delivered a remarkable extempore prayer for (he souls of those within and without the building. Iler delivery is intensely dramatic; she shuts her eyes with her face uplifted and her body sways with the rhythm of her voice. It is easy to see that slut is under the influence of strong emotion. Although her accent is Ilia! of an uneducated girl her voice in turn is domineering, appealing, passioiia le, ami lender, rising ami falling with great dramatic effect.