OFFICIAL WELCOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25814, 9 April 1945, Page 6

OFFICIAL WELCOME

CEREMONY IN FIRST CHURCH First Church was filled on Saturday night when an official welcome was extended to Mr Fletcher. Canon W. A. Hamblett, who occupied the chair, l said that 15 years previously he had been privileged to be associated with Mr Fletcher during an earlier mission. He also expressed the indebtedness of the Campaign Committee to the Rev. W. A. Stevely for placing First Church at its disposal for the first three meetings of the mission. Before extending a welcome to Mr Fletcher on behalf of the city, the Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) said he was deeply indebted to the churches for the cooperation extended to him in his work as Mayor. Visitors were always welcome to Dunedin, and Mr Fletcher was especially welcome because of the need for his mission. Mr Cameron said he believed that Mr Fletcher, being a man of wide spiritual experience and vision, could do a great work in bringing blessing to the churches and the community. He hoped the mission would be successful in the highest sense, by leading men and women to a true knowledge of the Saviour. The Rev. W. A. Stevely, on behalf of the churches of Dunedin, extended a warm welcome to Mr Fletcher, and said that Christianity must evangelise or perish. His prayer was that Mr Fletcher s visit would be of the highest enrichment to the citv and province. Mr Fletcher said he was deeply moved by the genuine warmth of the welcome extended to him by the Mayor, church leaders, and people. His purpose in coming to New Zealand was that he might be used of God in these days of moral decline to bring men and women back into a right relationship with God. The wickedness that was sweeping the world would have to be combated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.