GIPSY SMITH MISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19419, 30 August 1926, Page 10

GIPSY SMITH MISSION.

THE OPENING "SERVICES. CROWDS ' BESIEGE THE HALL. IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER. Long before the opening services of tho Gipsy Smith Mission yesterday the doors of the Town Hall had to be closed, and th.e crowds turned away, both afternoon and evening, probably far outnumbered the immense attendances present at the two addresses. The evening service was broadcasted, and the experiment was reported to have been* a distinct success. The services, simple and impressive and largely taken up with the singing of evangelical hymns, were alike' in character. .The burden of the evangelist's message was that religion must be a matter of conviction and personal testimony. The greatest need, he emphasised, was prayer. "The Church has never had better preaching, never had more scholarship in the pulpit, never had better singing,' never had such beautiful edifices, never had more money; tho weak spot is the prayer meeting, and without prayer ■ the Church is dead!" There is little of the emotional about iipsy Smith. He marshals his facts quietly, with few gesticulations, and although there are occasionally declamatory passages, he depends for effect mainly on the simple stratagem of asking the audience often to signify its confirmation of a statement—which has tho result both of driving home the message powerfully and of establishing a personal touch with his hearers. The great choir, grouped on the platform behind the evangelist's high rostrum is called upon frequently.. Instead of the organ a grand piano is played by Mr. E. Young, and although the choir numbers 600, in the hands of this gifted pianist the accompaniment lacks nothing in dignity. It is, in fact, a notable part of the services. .. , Loud lcnockings on the locked doors testified to the disappointment. of those who, had not thought to take the precaution of coming very early. When the audience showed resentment the speaker showed how the occasion pointed a moral. '' Don't worry—yon are all inside!" he said. "Itis a good sign to hear people clamouring to hear the message of the Gospel. Don't get flurried!" When the collections were taken tip the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, who had charge of the services, explained that none of the money was for the Gipsy. All sorts of expenses had to be met, totalling £SO for every day the mission was held. The evangelist reminded the audience that many local citizens had signed guarantees and if • the audiences did not pay the guarantors would have to find the money. Gipsy Smith spoke against the. insin-, cerity of the Christian whose religion was merely a profession. "The world feels .insulted at such religion," he remarked, "and it has a right to, fof it is a notch pptch. But tho world has the greatest respect for 'the real thing'." Religion which costs nothing was a cheap religion, and like a cheap service, was not . worth having. The signing of decision cards occupied tho closing moments of each service, and '.this?, -the': Gipsy observed, was the vital part of the service. He begged -'of the audience not to leave the hall until the "■important business", had been discharged. "Do not insult the' Spirit,", he said, "and do not show bad" breeding:*? The; greater ; p'art of each audience' signed?.the;cards,' vhich, in . the words •of the evangelist, "committed them..to a • declaration for "Christ."';. _ . , ■ .'•. Mid-day meetings,' the first : one to be ■'i'eld to-day, will take place in the Opera liouse throughout'the mission. Each Sat-urday-night .thei'o will be , a -combined prayer meeting at the Unity. Hall, a young people's meeting for those' 1 between 1!) and. 25 only, will be held in the Town Hall on Friday, a childnsn's- meeting, to be addressed by Mrs. E. Young,; will take place in the Town Hall concert chamber' to-morrow afternoon, and at' thk Y.W.C.A. on 'Thursday there "will be a high tea for ■business girls and women, #ith an address by Mrs. 1 Young.- ■ ■ ■.' ; : 'V;