CHAPMAN-ALEXANDER MISSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16193, 20 March 1913, Page 2

CHAPMAN-ALEXANDER MISSION.

TENT AGAIN CROWDED. Long before the hour for commencing the Gnapman-Alexander mission last night tne huge tent in Tuam btreet was crowded. A considerable proportion of the seats were intended to be reserved for ltangiora and Kaiapoi visitors, liut these were early rushed, and the officials had difficulty in clearing them. The choir, which at previous meetings had been terraced on the gallery behind the preacher, was removed to a place on the floor, and its place was taken by the officers of the mission, so that the scene in the gallery for this night was deprived of its diversity of colour, by the absence of ladies. Mr Alexander opened the proceedings with the singing programme, “ Onward, Christian Soldiers,’' and “Where is My Wandering Boy To-Night f” being prominent among the hymns sung. When the preliminary service had concluded, ana Dr Chapman tools charge the tent was crowded in every part, and both sides of it had been raised to allow the outside crowd to share in the service. . ... Dr. Chapman, at the beginning of his address, said that the Mayor of Rangiora had complained to him that an old hymn had been omitted from the new book, “ When the Roll is Called Up Yonder,” and he asked Mr Alexander to sing the hymn to show the Mayor that it had not been forgotten. The hymn was sung with great vigour bv the whole of the immense audience, everybody apparently taking part. Mr Alexander called the Mayor of Rangiora to the platform, and that gentlemen led his fellow townspeople in one verse. . , . Dr Chapman took his text from Joshua 11., 11-12-13. He said the home to the true man and woman was a type of Heaven, and throughout the whole of after-life the home dwelt in the memory. He drew a brilliant picture of Jericho in its glorious position in the valley, and though it was at the time of the text a doomed city a doom pronounced by God —the doom bad not yet been met. Its people had heard the history of the Israelites, and now the army of this great people was drawing near to the walls of the doomed city. From the . sto lJ ° Jericho the preacher pointed tlm lesson “ Whatsoever a man sowetli that shall lip also reap.” He made reference to tho'shelter by Rachab of the Israelites spies, and to the promise that she wrung from them before she lowered hem from the wall. He montnmed the token of the scarlet cord which Rachab had to uind in her window as a notice to the conquering armj that the promise of the spies had to be .fulfilled Then a description was given of the attack upon the city, when the walls fell down at the■soundl of the soldiers’ God-commanded shout, and reference was then made t° the salvation of Rachab by the scarlet cord The preacher told his hearers that God was the true refuge and no wanderer from t o path of righteousness was beyond Rescue He g L several instances of answers to prayer and the return of wanderers to the fold. He closed his sermon with a prayer for those who had wished tr be specially prayed for. The after meetings were well attended. - ■