DR. MOTT'S VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19321, 7 May 1926, Page 10

DR. MOTT'S VISIT.

Since he landed in Auckland on April 20, Dr. John 11. Mott has visited the Southern centres, and returns to-day for a series of meetings here. Among the world's commanding figures and gifted with unusual powers of public speech, it is nevertheless not his wont to address general concourses of people.' With admirable devotion to the speical tasks imposed by his various offices, he prefers to meet leaders of thought and action in church and university and social service. The arrangements for his stay here consequently give little opportunity to the general public of hearing him —a fact that has occasioned some disappointment. However, within the limits of these arrangements, his influence in the city is bound to be widely felt and deeply appreciated. In many ways his methods excite surprise in a world beset by noise. " 'Aig, 'e don't say much," was the wondering comment of one who admired Britain's commander-in-chief in the war; and, for an American and rt churchman, Dr. Mott curbs his tongue remarkably. Like a certain other general of renown, too, "he doesn't advertise." He moves about the world, almost incessantly, without any beating of drum. But his speech is golden, and this they know who have listened gratefully to his masterly marshalling of facts and penetrative analysis of human doings and cogent plea for wholesomely intense Jiving. Every good cause in our midst should be the better for his coining. This is his third visit to New Zealand. He came first in 1806 to found in our university centres the Student Christian Movement. Returning in 1903, he gave a further impetus to that activity. On this occasion, he has exercised a stimulating and unifying influence on missionary enterprise as it is undertaken in and by the Dominion. To his quiet generalship must be mainly attributed the recent institution of a national missionary council in New Zealand, designed to promote co-operation among the scattered forces of the Church. Auckland eagerly welcomes him and expectantly awaits his capable counsel in the spheres of his special interests.