EVANGELIST DROWNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19803, 31 May 1926, Page 8

EVANGELIST DROWNED

NOTED WOMAN PREACHER. SENSATION AT LOS ANGELES. LOS ANGELES, May 19. Mrs Aimee Semple M'Pherson, a noted Baptist evangelist, was drowned in the surf here yesterday under somewhat mysterious circumstarfces. Miss Emma Schaffer, her secretary, accompanied her to the beach for her daily afternoon swim. Mrs M'Pherson going into the surf, while the former waited ashore. Almost immediately she disappeared from sight, and Miss Schaffer, becoming alarmed after watching for some time, notified the police. Legion of Mrs M'Pherson’s followers last night flocked to the beach and prayed that she might be found alive. At midnight, however, her death was announced bv radio from KFSG, whence the Los Angeles newspapers first obtained the news.

This powerful radio station is connected with the Angeles Temple, Mrs M'Pherson’s so-called “million-dollar soul-fac-tory.” It was in this temple, which she called “‘The House That God Built,” that she conducted daily •meetings which were attended by thousands. During the last three years Mrs McPherson operated a Bible school, training scores of men, women and girls as missionaries to preach her “four-square” gospel in all parts of the world. She possessed great personal magnetism, was an accomplished swimmer, and recently officiated at a “surf wedding” near the spot wher she was drowned. Her body has not been recovered.

The trustes of the Angelus Temple have decided to offer a reward of £IOO for the finding of Mrs M'Pherson’s body. They have also appointed her 15-year-old daughter Roberta to carry on her ; work. Mrs M'Pherson, /ho was born in Ontario in 1890, began her evangelistic career at 17 years of age, subsequently touring the United States. Canada, England, and Australia. She settled in 1918 at Los Angeles, where she founded the Echo Park Evangelistic Association, and built an auditorium seating over 5000 persons.