PASTOR MULLERin HAWERA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1901, 11 April 1888, Page 2

PASTOR MULLERin HAWERA.

Tbe general interest felt in the life, methods and work of Pastor Miiller was abundantly evidenced by the crowded condition of tbe Presbyterian Church on Tuesday evening. There were persons present from Manaia, Okaiawa, Normanby, and as far north as Eltbam.

The other day we gave a short biographical sketch of the pastor, so that we need not refer to tbat again. In stature he is a little above tbe medium height, spare in habit, features indicative of strength of purpose. His voice is yet strong, and his utterance distinct, and one can easily imagine tbat in tbe largest hall he would be beard as distinctly as he was in the little church on Tuesday evening. He cannot be described as eloquent, but in his style and manner there is an undefined something tbat enchains the attention, and at once places his audience in sympathy with him Just a trace in momenJ.B of warmth of the foreign accent, not sufficient to disturb the attention, but enough to remind his hearers of. his nationality. Of himself be necessarily speaks much, but manner more forcibly than words disarms tbe criticism : egotism. With four score and three years over his head, during " sixty-two years and five months " of which, as be repeatedly puts it with exactness, be has planned and worked out great scb ernes for obtaining the necessary means for which be has relied, not on calculations, but simply on an abiding faith that the Master, whose work he has undertaken, would supply the requisites, be stands up to tell bis audience with simplicity, bub with fervor, what his experience has been in order that they may obtain comfort and assistance from the relation of hie experience.

Taking for his text Heb. xi., 8—" By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." — the pastor gave an earnest, impressive discourse on faith. Noah, he said, did not argue or ask questions. God spoke. Noab listened and obeyed. He simply took God at His word, and tbat was faith. Faith has nothing to do with feelings, impressions, reasonings, probabilities. It might exist in opposition to them. Faitb was taking God at His word, and just renting on His word ; and, if a man based his faith on bis feelings, his impressions, his reasonings, and what seemed to him probabilities, he was not simply taking God at His word. Having defined faith, he pointed out methods of increasing and sustaining it. He advised his hearers to study their own conditions, to recognise their feinfulness and their need of salvation, and then to 6tudy God's revelatiou of His character, long suffering, pitiful, helpful. Let them remember God's methods of discipline, sickness, and adversity, and when they find themselves under His hand just let them " Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord," in faith that " all things work together for good to them that love God." For G2 years and five months he had experienced the faithfulness of God. Troubles and trials he had always had, but under none of them had he suuk. Personally, in his family, in his pastoral work, in all his efforts, he had been severely tried, but never had he found his faith misplaced. There had been times when the last coin had been spent, when the last food in the house had been consumed, but help had always come in answer to prayer. He had been permitted to establish G7 schools, for which he had required hundreds of teachers, and often had been pressed for helpers, but he had never, either in secular or religious newspapers advertised for one. He had prayed to be guided to the right persons, and ho had been. Sometimes he had had to wait weeks and months, but in God's own time He had sent him exactly the man or woman required. Christians often wanted their prayer answered in their own time, not in God's ; there was the weakness in their faith. Pie had been permitted to found the greatest orphan institution under heaven, and he had carried it on for yeara ', to send forth into various parts of the world over a milliou copies of the Holy Scriptures printed in different languages ; to distribute millions of copies of tracts and publications ot various kinds in different languages ; to help missionaries in all parts of the world ; for the last thirteen years he had travelled in every continent, this being the forty-second country he had visited ; he had during the course of his life spent in all, for the purposes he had mentioned, the enormous sum of i-1, 140,000 ; and never had he appealed to ..'an for money. He had put his needs before God, relied on God's assistance, and had never been disappointed. He said this not by way of boasting, but simply for the glory of God, and to encourage Christian workers. What God had done for him, a poor, sinful man, He would do for all who would throw their cares upon Him. Nor did be think it was unscriptural, much less sinful, to appeal to Christian men and women for means to promote God's work ; but he bad adopted tbe other principle in his work because he thought the great need in these days of scepticism and unbelief was a proof of tbe realities of " things unseen," evidence of the power and efficacy of faith and prayer. For sixfcytwo years and five months God bad justified his faith and answered his prayer, and in spite of all bis trials and difficulties he had always been a happy man, and stood before them that night 83 years of age, transcendently happy in his knowledge of God, and entreating bis bearers to trust Him in tbe darkest of difficulties and trials, confident that patient faith would never be found to have been misplaced.

Prior to the commencement of the lecture, Rev. A. McLean read a chapter and offered prayer, and the choir led in tbe singing of several Sankey and Moody hymns. It was announced tbat this evening the discourse would be upon " Prayer."