SENSATIONAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR A SERMON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7658, 8 June 1886, Page 6

SENSA TIONA L ADVERTISEMENT FOR A SERMON.

The Poverty Bay Herald writes :—" In answer to the advertisement calling a meeting for the purpose of assisting young men to the •goldfields' about forty attended at the Wesleyan Church last Wednesday. Much disgust was experienced when it became known that the 'goldfields' alluded to were not the Kimberley goldfields. Instead of assisting young men to these fields, the Rev. Mr. Wills (chairman) exhorted those present not to go. Many those who attended left the building as soon as they found * Kimberley' was not the place to which they were to be assisted, not thinking for one moment that there was another and better ' goldfield' for them to reach. The person who published the announcement evidently thought that the young men of Gisborne were only to be tempted with something ' worldly' before they could be made to listen to something 'spiritual.' It is stated that many present last night had never crossed the threshold of a church for j many years."

So much indignation was roused by the ruße, that the Rot. Mr. Wills found it necessary to publish in Thursday's Herald the following explanation :—" Sir, — deeply regret that the people of Gisborne should bare been so led astray with referenco to an evangelistic meeting held by me last evening in the Wesleyan Church. 1 knew nothing of the advertisement until about haif-paat nine p.m. on Tuesday, and while I felt it was a great liberty for anyone to take, 1 did not at the time attach much importance to it, but I at once decided to disclaim all connection with it at the meeting. I am aware that Americans and the Salvation Army often advertise religious meetings under very sensational names to catch attention, and I suppose that this waß a very poor attempt at imitation, and I meant to take steps to prevent its recurrence, but when you called attention to the meeting in yesterday's paper 1 saw that you and the public had been deceived, and that my only course was to meet the gentlemen who might attend, and give them an explanation, which I did. Expressing my sorrow for what had happened, and hoping that this explanation will place all parties in their real positions, — I am dec, T. J. Wills."