REV.D. RUSSELL'S MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14373, 17 November 1908, Page 5

REV.D. RUSSELL'S MISSION

: MW.TINGS'IN DUNEDIN.

Tho Rev. David U'usse'll, from South Africa, who is at'present on a'.visit'to New Zealand, in connection, with the Y.M..C.A. movement, cumine'ncw) his.series of,meet-' ings in this city-yesterday morning by holding a .meeting of ministers, deaconesses, and other Christian ■• workers in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, Stuart street. The attendance was ■ not so large'as would no doubt have been the case had 'church workers been less engaged in' other directions, hut although the number present was not large,' thoso present ' represented earnest Christian .workers who have taken a- prominent part in the Y.M.C.A, movement. Mr E. Aslin, who presided, apologised for the absence of Mr G. M, Thomson, president of the association.

The Rev. H. U. Gray and Mr Duncan ■\V right engaged iii prajer,, after which The Rev W. Saiindeis extended a cordial welcome to Mr Russell on- behalf of tho churches of Dunedin, and remarked that he was afraid he had_ come at an unfortunate time, as Christian workers wore earnestly engaged in many ways, and the jiiind.i of the people were occupied with other important subjects. The Congregational Church, through its connection with iho London Missionary Society, took a great .interest in- missionary work in Africa. He was sure Mr Russell's work in Dunedin 1 would be tho : means of advancing God's kingdom.—(Applause.) j i'i'ho Rev. Mr llussell said he was awaro be had come to-Dunedin at. a time .when momentous issues were being fought out, and at a time ,whon a great Church Assembly was, meeting, but >ho trusted that, although his attendances might suffer, bis work would be of soni'e service. Tho effects of civilisation and',. Christianity on the natives of Africa were idwelt upon in an interesting, manner. Keferri'rtg to the question of' attendance at- churches ■ throughout Christendom, he said they .'would find it"in Protestant churolics.i'.tliey..would find it in tho Roman Catholic churches. The question of how to get men.to attend' was aJi important one. Ho'was convinced that the' remedy lay along .the- lines adopted by tho Y.M.C.A. in America. '-There it was the custom to address tho men at thoir work when they were unable to get them, to go te the churches ,Thc speaker described several meetings 'that lie, had taken', part in during the dinner hours. His connection with the" Y.M.C.A. gave him the right of ontry jii extraordinary places, and ho had the open door to toll the'story of the Cross. At an' evening, meeting'.' in the' Choral Hall, Mr Russell specially'addressed himself to boys. Mr N. Piitc-rsdn presided, and (Mere was a fairly largo attendance of'boys and Christian workers, the upper hall Icing about half full. The Chairman said it was very good of the hoys.foi give tip tho. attractions of the street to.eomo there that evening; .and lie felt suro they would not die disappointed because of the sacrifice thoy had niadc. Ho had the' pleasure of having Mr Russell as a guest -in his hoitse,. and lie had kept the family highly, interested there—3o interested, indeed, that he. (Mr Patcrscn) had omitted to prepare any remarks for that evening. It was a good thing to come into contact- with good-people; it was .an inspiration for their own lives. Mr Russell had been a groat. traveller—ho had, travelled up and down all South Africa," Ho had known the late President of tliat Republic—tho President they had heard so much about,—and had coine into ;contaot' with fdl kinds of people ■ there (k-affirs- and others), and for tho last tvfo years and a-half he had been travelling roiindthc. world, and had a fund of information and things of interest to relate. lie called for a hearty reception to Mr Russell, a request that was responded to in a- vigorous manner by the boys' present.' '.

The Rev. Mr Russell said he was pleased to see so many boys present, which he took as an evidence'of- the' excellent Christian teaching they were receiving in tho beautiful Dunedju. : '. He Wished to lalk -totho hoys' I 'about'-: (< Character, and.How to Make It." Someone had said: Sow a thought and you will rqap an action', sow an action and/yo'u will '.reap a habit, sow a habit and you will'reap a character/ and sow a character and you will reap an eternity: Thoughts - formed habits, and habits'.termed character, and character was either; good,, bad, or, indifferent.. The question of character was a very important subject, and tfts .one .which the" apdstlo had empjiasised.jii.'JtheJSecond:.epistle'-'-to Peter. The physical,' •'inehtal, ' ahVl'-'morai nature of'children and 6f mankind was hereditary to a large' extent, and the apostle had , set out that they might' also partaiko of the nature of God. They were told how they were to build up a Christian character. Those who were diligent got the prizes at school and'also in business; and earnest men made their successes bv diligence in ;everv; Walk Jot lif&.. As instances of what diligence would cVfoo mentioned tho career of Andrew Carnegie, who commenced life by sweeping out an office and, licking -atamps., He also; traced griofly tho military" career 'of - Lord Roberts—a Christian niah.andagreab' ■'soldierV- L and said the siicoess of that marvellous man was due to diligence;■' He urged boys and yoiing men to write that word deep in their hearts. To, this they should add faith in God and fait-lr in. Jesus' Christ, and this, combined' with faith in themselves, ■ would ensure the building up.of a good character. Virtue, knowledge, and .temjierancc—tho last being a big word', much bigger than no-license, as ;it meant solf-control—were also necessary to the building up of character. An impressive address to ;the boys was concluded by the lianding .out of cards plcdg-, ing those who signed them to lead Godly and Christian lives. '•

()n Friday evening next in tho Alhambra Theatre _Mr Russell will deliver hi 6 celebrated illustrated' lecture entitled "Rom the Cape to She Zambesi." Mr Russell's lecture is spoken of in American and Australian, papers in terms of greatest praise,, the. pieturcs'ibobig.exceptionally fine. .