GIPSY PAT SMITH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 4

GIPSY PAT SMITH.

HIS DUNEDIN CAMPAIGN. CROWDED EVANGELISTIC MEETINGS. 1110 noted evangelist. Captain Gipsy Pat Smith, continued his Dunedin campaign most successfully yesterday afternoon and evening. Trinity Church having proved last week too small to accommodate the afternoon gatherings, the 3 o’clock meetings are now being held in First Church. The church was filled in every part when tho service commenced with scrupulous punctuality yesterday. Tho preacher, Captain Smith, was accompanied in the pulpit t>y tho Rev. Dr E. N. Herrington, minister of First Church, and the Ror R. 11. Knowles Kompton (Hanover Street Baptist). THE AFTERNOON ADDRESS. The service opened with tho hearty singing of the grand old Paraphrase, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” After a few moments of silent prayer, Dr Herrington offered spoken prayer, and another of the greatest nyrims, “Jesu. Lover of My Soul,” followed. ’The Scripture lesson from John xv (“I am; the true Vine, and My Father is tho Hssbandman’’) was read by Mr Kemplon. Captain Smith’s address was a continuation of his Friday afternoon address on the conditions laid down by Christ for better service in the future. On Friday ho dealt with the first of these conditions, “Cleansing,’’ and yesterday ho spoke of the second, “Abiding,” He prefaced his address by singing tho chorus. Tie Will Hold Ale Fast,’’ made familiar hero at tho time of tho Clin pm an-A loxander Mission by its author, Mr Robe; t Harkness. Captain rimith said that ho believed “abiding” dd not mean so much a man’s living close to Christ as a man’s living in such a cleansed condition as to allow-of tho sensitive Spirit of Christ living close to him. Ho described in detail tho extraordinary delicacy of some of tbo explosives known to modem science, and added that no known explosive could compare in sensitiveness with the Spirit of God. “Abiding’’ meant that a man recognised Jesus Christ as tho senior partner.in his life. What a lot of trouble and loss men and women would be saved if they consulted Christ first upon all occasions! From his own experience ho illustrated in racy, humorous fashion tho fact of God s guidance in the great tilings and the small of life. Christ’s third and last condition mentioned in this passage was obedience. ‘Ye are My, friends if ye do whatsoever ] comnand you.” Constant obedience meant < mtinual power. By the analogy of electricity ho .showed that there must he constant contact with the source of power if there was to be continued efficiency in service. The power they had lost and the keenness and enthusiasm they used to have in the days gone by was just where they loft it and lost it. They could turn again and go to Christ for forgiveness, knowing that they would receive that forgiveness. The meeting closed simply with the Benediction, “MY FIRST SERMON.” In tho evening every available seat in Knox Church was again filled well before the time for tho starting of the service. A large, number of seats were reserved for tho office-bearers, who had been attending the ten given by the Presbyterian officebearers of the city to Captain Smith. The interval before the commencement of the meeting was occupied with a song service effectively conducted by Air V. T. Drew. Captain Smith on his arrival led in the vigorous singing of “Who is on tho Lord’s riide?” and afterwards the Rev. Tullceh Yuillo led in prayer. Tho hymn, “Hallelujah! What a Saviour!” followed, different sections of tbs audience responding enthusiastically to Captain Smith’s leadership. The Rev, G. Miller read as the Scripture lessen tlie story of iho first Christmas, as recorded hi the -ccond chapter of Luke. All joined in singing Ihe leader’s favourite chorus, “Be Like Jesus, 'this My Song.” Captain Smith sang with fine effect the solo, “I Have a Saviour. Ho Died for Me,” after relating now it came to bo written by Mr Robert, Darkness.

The subject of (ho address was “'My First Sermon.” Captain Smith related how this first sermon was preached in an old hotel that was being turned into a. mission hall. There wore it few' men and women anti children in the audience, but more dogs than anything else. Ho first, got; his text. 3>uke ii, H; ‘‘Unto you is born this day in the oily of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” He was in great distress how he was to make h-s sermon, which must last 35 minutes, until he got the idea of making an acrostic of tire name “Saviour.” “S,” first of all, lie was a sinners’ Saviour. He name not to call the righteous hut. sinners to repentance. The worst; insult His enemies could hurl at Him was the best news that ever came to mankind —“He receiveth sinners.” A representative of the liquor traffic had asked in the House of Commons why all tliis fuss about prohibition when only 2 per cent, of thp men in tho army and navy drank to excess? That meant 145,000 men destroyed by the, traffic, but this man thought them not worth worrying about. Christ died for the one lost sheep, not for the ninety-and-nine just persons. “A”: Ho was an atoning Saviour. He came to reconcile us back to tho Father. There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin. l ‘V”: lie was a victorious Saviour. When He died on Calvary He uttered the cry of a conquering hero, “It is finished.” That cry entered the battlements of Heaven, and all Heaven rejoiced (bat the salvation of man was accomplished for ever. “I” : He was au immediate Saviour. “ ’Twi.xt the saddle and the ground was merev sought and mercy found.” Christ’s cures were always immediate. Everybody believed in sudden conversion, though they might deny it. It was tho easiest tiling in the world to prove that. Ho told a story of a man who had been .stealing £IOOO a year, hut, believing in “gradual” conversion, decided lie would steal only £SCO that year and then £250, and so on, till be was finally converted. There was no other kind of conversion than sudden conversion. And yet. though it was sudden to them, it was not, sudden to Christ, who bad been seeking them all through their lives. “O” : He was tho only .Saviour. Ho was the way, tho truth, and the life, and no man came to the Father but by Him. Neither was there salvation by any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby they must bo saved. Christ was the only one who could give fallen humanity power to rise again. Ho rover failed, and He was the only hope. “U” : Me was a universal Saviour. There was nothing so wonderful as the universality of tho,claims of Jesus Christ. ll© reached out to all mankind. The preacher referred to the wide variety of nationalities among those converted at missions in which ho had taken part. lie had found 22 different nations represented in one meeting of 200 in New York. “R,”: Ho was a rejected •Saviour. Many men to-day rejected Him and crucified Him afresh. If they stepped out of that building without accepting Him that night, they would bo crucifying Him afreph. But he was a returning Saviour, ami one day Ho would be a reigning Saviour. If they shared with Him to-day in His rejection to-morrow they would reign with him. Whatever they did with Christ, that night ho vvoulu do with them to-mor-row'.

At the close of 'the Address a number of people in different parts of the building indicated by raising the bund that they had decided to live the Christian life. Simplicity, quietness, and naturalness marked all the service, which closed with the singing of the hymn, “Just As I. Am.” and the Benediction pronounced bv the Eev. C. Balhielon. COMING MEETINGS. At the afternoon service in First Church to-day Captain .Smith will speak on the subject of “The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.” The evening subject in Kno>: Church will fcc “Shipwrecked.” On Wednesday evening tho meeting will tc specially for young people of the ages from 14 to .35, and tho subject will bo “Three Steps Down.” To-rnorrow Coptain Smith will hold' a lunch-hour service with the workers of the Eoslyn Mills.