THE AMERICAN EVANGELISTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12445, 30 August 1902, Page 8

THE AMERICAN EVANGELISTS.

THEIR QUAIXT SERVICES. {Fbox Oue Own Correspondent.) "WELLINGTON, August 29. Unusually largo audiences are assembling hero each evening to hear the American evangelists—Dr Torrey and Mr Charles Alexander. Last night the Skating Rink, the largest hall in Wellington, capable of holding 3000 people, was packed to tho doors. No doubt a largo number o[ those, present attended out of curiosity (says the Post), but it could be said with truth that most people.left the meeting with the impression that they had been' privileged' to listen to an. earnest religious, if somewhat quaint, service. The building began to fill as early as 7 o'clock, and at half-past 7, when the scats were quite filled, Mr Alexander, conductor of the musical portion of the sorvico, came to the front of the platform and announced that the meeting would not bogin until 8 o'clock, "But," he added, " there is goiflg to bo a clioir practice just to see how things go, and so that we may get acquainted with one another." A few directions to the ushers, to the choir, and I to tho audieneo, a nod to the orchestra, represented by Messrs Ilarkness (of Bondigo) and C. Collins at two concert grand pianos, and Mr Georgo at the organ, and the massed choir struck up the revival hymn "Old-time religion'Tis the old-time religion, but it's good enough for mo"— a rhythmio melody that seemed to sing itself to the wave of the carluctor's hands. It was amusing to listen to his quaint, free, and easy methods of encouraging the audience. " You tell mc you can't sing. I don't believe you. Anyone who has got a mouth can sing this song. Now, listen—" and the choir sang the verse again.' " Everybody who is good-looking sings; now, ladies, now men, come down off your dignity and dig; it's a nice little rattle-bang air, as you hear." So the lesson proceeded, and the volumo of sound swelled and swelled until presently it was evident that he had the great choir wholly under control. They passed on to another hymn, "The glory song"—-"Oh, that will be glory"— sung in something approaching waltz time and having a pretty, catching refrain. The persuasive methods were repeated. "Everybody in Australia i 3 singing this hymn, as you mil be singing it' in this colony directly." Ho tried the choir alone. He placed the. women in competition with the men. The women's voices sounded sweet, but low. "Tolerably go<sd," was tho comment, and then he appealed, " Now, men, don't go back cn me,", and they didn't. Finally lie tried all together, and this extraordinarily interesting singing lesson- closed. This was the man who, at the reception tho same morning, had told a story about his having been four (fays, in bed on the trip across, a victim to the turbulent sea. "And tho Doctor (referring to Dr Torrey) would come along every meal hour with tho menu card. Oh, it was low, real low." Towards tho close of the service Mr Alexander sang as a solo in a pleasant baritone voico the hymn "Would you believe?" Dr Torrey can hardly be correctly described as a mag(notic spoaker, but he is earnest, plain, and forceful. He talked to his audience in "United States," as ho put it, expressing J. ho hope that he»0"0uld pick up a little New Zealand as time went on. He took as the text for his sermon Daniel viii, 27: "Thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting." A graphio description of the _ memorable feast of Belshazzar and the writing on the wall led up to a powerful exposition of tho failings of mankind generally. All would some time or other be weighed in the balances of God. Had they considered in what respect' they were likely to be found wanting?. Not in their opinion or in public opinion, but in tho opinion of God. He dissected tho Ten Commandments, dwelt earnestly upon the wonderful philosophy contained in them, and, applying them to everyday life,' commented upon the sin of profanity, so shockinglyprevalent; of immorality, of gambling, drinking, and minor evils, and of'the'undue worship of everyday gods before the God Almighty. Finally, he besought all to seize the _ opportunity for ropentence and have Christ in the balances with them when, they were weighed.

United meetings for special prayer in connection with Dr Torrey's visit will be held on Thursday of next- week at Knox Church and also at Cargill Road Weslcyan Church; It is requested that all who attend will bnng Sankey's hymn book and join in •u koth seryices a collection will be taken to cover necessary outlay.