THE REV. KEMP’S MISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19311, 24 October 1924, Page 11

THE REV. KEMP’S MISSION.

The subject of the Rev. Joseph Kemp’s addiess at the Hanover Street Baptist Church yesterday afternoon was “The Tragedy of the Jews.” Mt Kemp traced the history of this people who had exercised such a marvellous influence in the course of human history. He referred to the enormous dene the world owed to the Jews for tho knowledge of God which had' been imparted to them and diffused by them among all nations. They were chiefly indebted to the Jews because from the sprang the Messiah, Jesus of Nazaretn, the Redeemer of men. The tragic sufferings of the Jews throughout the centuries wore briefly detailed, and their future destiny was outlined. A large and representative audience was present m the evening, when the Hanover Street Baptist Church Choir led in singing popular gospel hymns, in which tho congregation heartily joined. The Rev. C. iioilaston offered prayer, and the evangelist read St. John s Gospel, chapter 19. The address was based on St. Luke 23-33: “The place called Calvary .... and Jesua said, Father, forgive them for they known not what they do.” Historic scenes, said tho evangelist, had a tremendous fascination for people. Tho burial places of famous men attracted many. Ho had himself felt the inspiration of visiting tho church where I>r A. J. Gordon, of Boston, had hold his great ministry. Ho felt that if he were ever called to his church he would abandon everything else to accept it. He had stood in the pulpit in which George Whitefield, tho most eloquent evangelist England ever had, preached his last sermon, and had gone down to the crypt in which the remains of the seraphic nreacher lay, and had felt the thrill of his glorious example. But there was no place with such peculiar ami fascinating attractions as Oalvary. The reason was that Calvary was the place of unparalleled suffering. Jesus Christ was in the prime of his young manhood when He enoured the agony of deat.h on tho Gross. He suffered unutterable loneliness. Solitude was essential to the development of strength of character, hut Jesus, because ot IBs unique personality, had no need of such solitude as Moses, and Elijah, and others had experienced. Jesus knew the loneliness which shame caused. He endured the Cross despising the shame. He knew an anguish of mind which we could not imagine. As the thick shadows gathered over Him and the hour of desolation and dereliction came Hia pure soul was filled with horror. The title placed upon the Cross by Pilate was intended to indicate the contempt he felt for the criminal whom he had condemned. Yet the name then despised had become the sweetest on human lips. The sufferings of crucified persons were indescribable, yet amid them all Jesus had prayed that those who crucified Him might bo forgiven, and that they might all share in the great pardon which His atoning death had made possible.