METHODIST BI-CENTENARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23436, 26 February 1938, Page 9

METHODIST 81-CENTENARY

VISIT OF REV. C. IRVING BENSON /A visitor to Dunedin this weekend will be the Rev. C. Irving Benson, of Melbourne, who was invited to the Dominion by the Methodist Church as the special bi-centenary speaker ‘for the conference held in Wellington during the past week. Methodists throughout the world are this year commemorating the twohundredth anniversary of the commencement of the work of John Wesley and his fellow-preachers, a work that wrought such a change in eighteenth century England.

Minister of Wesley Church, Melbourne, Mr Benson preaches to the largest regular congregation in that city.' His work as superintendent of a great city mission with extensive social services has given him an intimate, knowledge of the religious problems of the people and a power to ad,apt himself to all audiences Gifte,d with a fine speaking voice Mr Benson, who arrived in Australia 20 years ago, is now recognised as one of the outstanding preachers of the Commonwealth. His sermons have become a feature of Australian broadcasting, and are eagerly listened to by a vast unseen and scat-tered-audience.

Mr Benson is now touring the princioal centres of the Dominion, conducting inspirational services, and will preach in city churches tomorrow morning and evening, and in the afternoon will address a youth rally in the Octagon Hall.