Religious.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1033, 18 December 1891, Page 28

Religious.

ISAAC SELBY’S LECTURES. Mr Selby, who was once well known as a Freethought lecturer, having embraced Christianity, and is now an orthodox minister, is on a tour of this Colony, and at his several lectures in Wellington drew crowded audiences. Judging from the applause by which be has been greeted he has boon exceedingly popular in Wellington.

On Thursday week he lectured in the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church on Footprints of the Creator.” Mr Dodgshun presided, and the building was crowded to the doors. At the close of the lecture a number of questions were put aud answered.

On Friday last he lectured to a crowded audionce iu the Christiau Chapel, Dixon street, the title of the lecture being “ Darwin and Moses, or Have we Come from Monkeys?” Mr A. F. Turner was in the chair. At the close of the lecture Mr Selby was subjsctedto a string of questions, which protracted the proceedings for threequarters of an hour.

On Sunday Inst he lectured to a crowded meeting at the Opera House. Every seat was occupiod, aud many persons were comoclled to Btau , 'l. The subjects of tho leoture were Charles Spurgeon and Charles Bradlaugh. The discourse was listened to with much attention by the large audience, and was frequently applauded.

The Christian's Chapel, Dixon street, was well attended on Monday on the occasion of his lecture, entitled “ Reminiscences of Secularism, or the utory of my Spiritual Pilgrimage.” It was frequently applauded, and was followed by the usual fusillade of questions.

Mr Selby gave on Wednesday, under the auspices of the Freethought Association, and before a large audience, his lecture, “ From Atheism to Christianity,” Mr J. W. Poynton presiding, A pretty long discussion followed, the proceedings being marked by good spirit on both aides. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Poynton, Selby, and the owners of the Dixon street. Christian Chapel for lending it for the evening.

The Rev J. J. Lewis preached a very in teresting Bermon at the Wesleyan Chapel on Sunday evening on “ The Massacre in China.” Commencing by giving an interesting account of the natural features of tho country, he mentioned that the peculiarity of their religion was that it tended to form the people into sceptics and crass materialists. He went on to pay a high tribute to the solf-denying and painstaking labours of tho China Inland Missiou, with whom several previous members of their own Churob were connected. Thence he wens into a description of the massaerfs which have from time to time been made public in the cable messages, aud said that at last matters had got BO bad that the Chinese Government had to send &□ army into the field to put the rebels down. What, he asked, were the lessons of that great massacre? Well, the first was that the grand old gospel of Christ could inspire such heroism aud lead to such noble self-sacrifice as exemplified in the pereons and actions of the missionaries, men and women who wont to this country on behalf of their God and Master, and the second was that if they really meant to do good and extend Christ’s Kingdom they must be prepared for such trials and tribulations as He might allow. Tho call to the Christian church was “send reinforcements, let your power bo felt theirs were bloodless victories, but they were victories nouo the less, and they could take vengeance by giving a purer gospel to the persecutors and bringing them to the full understanding of the mercy and love of Christ. At St. Jolm’a Christian Fellowship meetiog Sunday morning there was a large attendance of members, Mr G. A. Troup in the chair. The subject for talk was “Jacob’s vi-don at Bethel.” and was aoly introduced by Mr Alex. Monro, who dwelt a good deal on the selfishness of Jacob and of human nature at the present day. Several members joined in the subsequent discussion. Next Sunday the subject for consideration is “ Labour and - apitol,” Gen. 30 and 31, aud will be introduced by Mr G. McCartney. The Wesleyan Church, Taranaki street, was well tilled on Wedceiday <n tho occasion of tho performance by the choir of Gaul's well known cantata, “Ruth.’’ The performance was in every respset highly satisfactory, especially when the limited strength of the choir as regards numbers is taken into consideration, and the organist, Mr Harland, is to ba congratulated on a suoosss which is mainly dua to his exertions in the choir into such excellent form. The sopranos were Misses Hill and Bragg, contraltos Misses Fletcher and Sebright, while Mr Hemery was tho only bass soloist. Where all were so good any comparisons would be out of place, but we cannot refrain from mentioning that the trio, “ Farewell,” entrusted to Misses Hill, Fletcher and Sebright, was the gem of the evening, being sung in excellent tune and time, and with great expression. Mr Hemery rendered tho bass solos in a very creditable manner, and the choruses, without exception, were taken with spirit, finish and expression. Tho performance was much enjoyed, as shown by the frequent outbursts of applause, aud a collection at the close resulted iu about £5 being contributed to the choir fund.