GIPSY SMITH MISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19197, 13 June 1924, Page 5

GIPSY SMITH MISSION.

WOMEN’S RALLY. A women’s rally in connection with Ihe approaching visit of Captain Oipsy Pat Smith’s mission was held in Trinity Mothoclist Church yesterday afternoon. There was a good attendance, and Mrs H. 11. Driver presided. 'The mooting had special reference to the Pocket Testament League. After the singing of two hymns and tho reading of a chaplcr of Scripture, Mrs Driver said she regretted the absence of Miss Frances J. Ross, who was to have spoken. Miss Ross had written stating that her absence was due to the inspector's visit to Golumba Golle,ge. Her sympathy and interest was with the Pocket Testament League. Mrs Driver then went on to speak of the Pocket Testament League movement, which she described as a great and mighty movement. It was one of the mightiest movements of (he present century. The membership of the league was now 3,000,000. The movement was launched about 15 years ago. It, was Dr Chapman who initiated the scheme in the city of Boston, and it was taken up with great enthusiasm, and thousands of men signed the pledge, attached to the Testament. These Testaments were worth 2s sd, but were bought by the league at Is. The great Chapman-Alcxander mission, which was hold in the city of Dunedin was a most inspiring missions It was certainly an inspiring sight to see thousands of our people found their way into the inquiry room. Chapman and Alexander subsequently made a world tour, and this mighty movement went on amazingly; even in faraway Korea she knew of a case where 10,000 Testaments had been ordered. It was difficult for a woman, or girl to carry a Testament about with her owing to the absence of pockets in her garments. They had, however, slightly altered tho pledge concerning tho carrying of Testaments, and made it read “where it is possible.” They expected Captain Gipsy Pat Smith and his wife to visit this city shortly, and they expected a glorious time of revival. The attendances ut Captain Smith’s meetings in Auckland and Wellington, she said, had been highly gratifying. The queues at tho picture theatres were nothing to the queues which wore witnesses in these cities in connection with the Smith missions. In Dunedin they bad arranged for meetings for men, meetings for women, and meetings tor girls. The latte'r would be held in Burns Hall. Reverting to the Pocket Testament League, in Australia tho league there had been able to distribute 205,C00 Testaments amongst the young people of the commonwealth, while tens of thousands had declared for Christ. It was understood that there were 100,000 children in the dominion who did not go to Sunday school. She contended that the extension of the Pocket Testament League movement would go a long way towards getting into touch with these girls. She believed it rested with tho women of the dominion to carry this project into effect. It was the intention of the league that each convert at the mission should bo given a copy of the New Testament. She had much pleasure in calling on Ensign Coombs, of the Salvation Army, who was the female probation officer for Dunedin. She (the speaker) said she had a great love for Ensign Coombs. She had the pleasure of being present at the annual meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children recently, and she heard the senior magistrate for the city say that Le was always pleased to sec the Ensign in tho City Police Court. She was a power for good among those who had the misfortune to come before tho courts. As a matter of fact, no one could have spoken more highly of Ensign Coombs’s services than did Mr Bartholomew. —(Applause.) Ensign Coombs, who was loudly applauded on rising to speak, said she only wished she could give her hearers a little peep into the underworld. She then proceeded to describe in a highly interesting manner her work in the prison and elsewhere in the city. She was present, she said, at a Salvation Army conference in Wellington a snort time a<ro, and she. felt that if the women present there that afternoon could have heard the experiences of their brothers from India they would promptly .•nswer the call for service among those benighted people. She appealed to those present to get into touch with erring girls in this city* many of whom had been cradled in sin. Bhe considered the furtherance of the objects of the Pocket Testament League would go a long way towards furthering God’s Kingdom.—( Applause.) Mrs Guy Thornton said that after listening to the touching address delivered by Ensign Coombs it was unnecessary for her to say mud.. The Ensign had spoken to them‘of the inhabitants of the underworld ard urged that the reading of the Scriptures would do much to uplift, them. She had everv sympathy with the conditions of those people, but thought there was an equal need for getting bilo touch with the girls attending thejr high schools, Technical College, Training College, private colleges, and University. An effort should be made to see that a copy iff the Scriptures was given to each of tnese girls. She concluded by giving her experiences of the good done by perusal and study of the Scriptures. As the result of an appeal by Mrs Driver promises wei'fe given, for the purchase of 330 copies of the New Testament by those present. , . . The meeting concluded with the singing of the Doxology.