DR. SOMERVILLE'S LAST EVENING'S SERVICE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 624, 3 May 1878, Page 2

DR. SOMERVILLE'S LAST EVENING'S SERVICE.

The rev. evangelist conducted his last service in Oamaru at St. Paul's Church last evening, the building being filled in every part. The Rev. Henry Dowsbury opened the proceedings by a short prayer, and the Rev. Mr. Stevens read Revelations xxii., 11 to 15. The choir then sang a hymn very sweetly, and the Rev. .Mr. Somerville commenced his telling discourse, his subject being Jeremiah 1— verse 20. After the conclusion of the tirst portion of his address, a hymn was sung by the choir, and the preacher proceeded with the second portion of his address. The impression made upon the mind on first seeing Dr. Somerville, is that he is a man of strong feeling, and it could scarcely be conjectured that the stern, almost cross, looking old gentleman who walks with hurried and impatient step on to the platform, and acts with surprising abruptness in the conduct of the service, would be capable of securing the undivided attention of his audience by his impassioned eloquence. As on a wintry day, it would almost seem impossible for the sun ever again to burst forth and illumine the dreary face of nature, so does it seem almost miraculous that the features of the rev. evangelist at times could ever again be lighted up by a smile ; and yet it is ; and, what makes the transition more wonderful, it takes place so quickly. "When worked into a state of fury by reason of the importance of his subject, and when he is desirous of making his hearers feel the force of a weighty argument on an all-important subject, he is not the Dr. Somerville that Bpeaks. of the love of the Saviour. At one time he is full of gesticulation, and exercising Ins powerful voice to its fullest extent, whilst his facial expression indicates the emotions that are at work within his nature ; at other times his voice possesses exceeding sweetness, and he remains quiescent—but only for a moment—whilst engaging

PPmcT: these are g e after a burst of powerful eloquence:* Objection may be raised to. the peculia-1 rities that characterise his conduct of His special services; his gesticalations, and his abruptness; but these peculiarities are evidently the outcome of the earnestness of his nature ; and, on the other, hand, it cannot be laid to his charge that? he attempts, by holding his audience oven the " bottomless pit," to terrify them into an acceptance of the offers of Diving mercy. He is a wonderful man, and it will take some time to obliterate from our memory the impressive features and sayings of one whom we rank with the first religious advocates of the day. At the close of the discourse, anothor hymn was beautifully sung by the choir. The rev. gentleman then thanked the Evangelistic Committee for their efforts in preparing the way for him ; the Press of the district for the kindly manner in which they had written of him and the services ; the choir for their able assistance ; and the managers of St. Paul's for placing their church at his disposal. He then stated that he would on the morrow proceed to Dunedin, then to Tasmania, from whence he would go to South Australia, and by Sydney to San Francisco. He hoped that the prayers of all God's people would follow him in his work. The Rev. Mr. Todd thanked Dr. I Somerville for his visit to Oamaru, and said he believed that, in all his journeyings, he would be specially remembered by God's people, and followed by their prayers for God's blessing on his work. The benediction having been pronounced, a prayer meeting was held, to which a good number of persons remained.