“LIFE WITH A PURPOSE”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22713, 28 October 1935, Page 10

“LIFE WITH A PURPOSE”

LONDON REVIVAL CAMPAIGN DR SCROGGIE AND THE REV. L. FLETCHER. (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON. October 5. Both the Rev. Lionel Fletcher and Dr Graham Scroggie took nart in .the mass meeting at the Albert Hall to inaugurate the London United evangelistic campaign. Dr Scroggie was the chief speaker. “Life With a Purpose” is the slogan of the campaign, and the response ot youth, us represented by the proportion of young people in the huge attendance, was a striking rebuke to those who hold that religion has lost its attraction for them. They came in their own ears, big and small, in taxis, buses and charabanc parties. Quite 50 per cent, of the total attendance must have been well within tiie age limit laid down for “ youth ” at such gatherings—in other words, under 30. Dr Scroggie confessed himself profoundly moved by the sea of eager faces which confronted the speakers. He predicted that within the next five years one of two things would happen—either the greatest spiritual revival the world had ever, known, or the winding up of the present age of judgment and the return of Jesus Christ. . Appealing passionately for revival, Dr Scroggie pleaded that it should be fourfold, a revival of prayer, of Bible study, of soul-winning passion, of sacrificial e * Vinf: ' “I AM WILLING.” The Rev. Lionel Fletcher, restored to full vigour after a serious illness, delivered the closing address, basing it on the text, “ Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness” (Psalm cx, 3). In response to his appeal almost the entire gathering repeated aloud the pledge, “ I am Willing,” and ratified it by standing. An outstanding feature of the meeting was the singing of negro spirituals and other songs by the Spiritual Jubilee Singers, of Chicago, a quintet ot gated coloured misieians who are taking part in the campaign. ~ , Criticism of the “mental nudism of present-day students was made by the Rev. Hugh C. C. M'Cullogh, who declared that the British educational system was “ more pagan than Christian.” The students, he said, were in a state of “ mental nudism ” as far as spiritual ideals were concerned.