MR FRANK T. BULLEN AT ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13640, 9 July 1906, Page 5

MR FRANK T. BULLEN AT ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

A crowded congregation, necessitating extra forms and chairs, greeted .Mr Builcn's appearance in St. Andrew's Church pulpit, yesterday forenoon. Mr Bullcn conducts a. servico in. a, quiet, reverent, and sympathetic maimer, and his stylo of reading tho Bible is entirely natural, bearing out. his conviction previously expressed, that tho Ijiblo should not bo treated with a special Bible altitude, but should ho well-known and familiarly handled. Tlio children's portion of tlio service coirsistcd of a, pleasant lalk lo Ihe boys and girls on tlio incident relatfd in tho twenty-first, chapter of John. His sermon to the congregation was on the Book of Jonah. Ho slated at tho outset; that, a; his hearers niobalily knew he disclaimed being a. preacher, and was not, accustomed in addressing Christian, survlivs to use. a set form of words, having found by experience that" the .-pentaiKotis'iiietho.! suited him best. And what followed win a homely, interesting, and helpful talk on his subject, which, while a treat to listen 10, does not readily lend itself to a. summary. Mr Bullon said he regarded Ihe Pro!: of Jonah as one of the most wood'--ful in the Bible, and it. was astounding that this book should have been t i often chosen a- the ceir.ial point uf sittnc'by anti-Christian writers. He consideivl that it more (ban any oilier bco!; confirmed Ihe Bible and 'proved the Pivhi. origin of Ihe Word of CoJ. In a irraphie way ho fetched tb,. incidents in the cam-v of the prophet, whom !>/> described as |!;.. lirsl. pr-al mis.-ionary ol Ihe lielrews !o 11: • Cerilih ■;. attd pointed oei Ihe various lessons lo b<> draw 1 !! Iho.-efrom. Many of us w«e doing the same thing as Jonah. We were fleeing from l',-,'. pursuing a cerla : u course ihough we hicw ii to be direc'y conirary io His will. Mr Biiih'i! may k> considered an ruth-Sly on whale?. ' and when _!■/> rime (o l]ie whale ineidenl in donah's hi-.i.iry. he s.-ccod io anticipate that, probably seme nf his h.earors wonl i expect a, deliverance from him on lids mueh-dehalod nuc-tion. He. however, did not. gratify any cmiehations in that direction, but. slated (hat !e nuno--.<d leaving out that pari which ■.••mi" might expee; him lo touch limn, a.- he was not an exponent of the' Higher (VilHsm. and it had no bearing o;i the slorv. He then dealt; will; Ihe innrvclV.i.» cH'ecl of Jonah's me-.'ago lo the inhabitants of the great Assyrian city. There was probably never a briefer nor ba'dor sermon preached than that delivered by this weary, wav-wom traveller. But it was (he power of God that gavo it effect. Auolher feature of ibis aniav.injr story was the revelation of ilia lender and loving way in which Cod reasoned and dealt wilh the reealcilraul propltet, and, in this connection, Mr Bullon referred to Iho erroneous idea often nrnaclicil flint ihe lnvimr side of God had not, been known until Christ came, and io the extraordinary misconception of Pip?!-. appeasing Cod. (hereby separati'mi Christ, from Cod. But Cod wns in Christ. It seemed almost as if God bad become nllerly weary of men's ideas of Him as desiring Ih"ir destruction, and so, in (ho person of His Son. not merely as a divinely ordained man. camp to earth lo 101 l tlinin a different story abotil Himself. Mr Bullon concluded by an nopeal to those who had not, yet accented Christ; and (n those win. bad decided for f'hrist long ago ho appealed that they should deal send'- with tho*.-* whom (hoy mieht. regard as hoimr without tho pale, and give such (lie messaen direct from tho Word of Rod. Mr Bidlo.n evidently desires sincerity above all things in religious services, and, in giving; out (he Inst hymn (" Jc.sus. I my cross have taken''l, said, "Let me ask tho-e who do not mean it to refrain from singing. It is a pily la toll a lio in Cod's house."