CHAPMAN-ALEXANDER MISSION

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 62

CHAPMAN-ALEXANDER MISSION

TUESDAY-APRIL 9. "A THREEFOLD CORD." A very large and sympathetic crowd gathered in tho Brydone Hall on Tuesday night at the usual evening meeting. Dr Chapman referred to the fact that they had had in the mission almost since its commencement some very distinguished friends from across the sea. They were to leave the following day, and he did .not think they ought to be allowed to go without having some expression of the appreciation of the ministers, tho Christian workers, and the people generally interested in the mission. He would ask Mr Balfour to express this appreciation. Tho Rev. G. H. Balfour said it was impossible adequately to express their appreciation of the fact that they had had these ladies and gentlemen with them during these days. Sir Robert Anderson, as some of them knew, had been twice Lord Mayor of Belfast, and Mr M'Laughlin and he perhaps had larger business interests in Belfast than any other two men of that city. They were proud also to have Mr Robertson, "of Glasgow, a grand-nephew of the late Sir Henry Campbeli-Bannerman, with them. It ought to be known that these- ladies and gentlemen had oome all this way for one purpose alono —to be with the missioners and to help the work of this great campaign. It would be very ungrateful on their part if they did not express in some way their appreciation and their gratitude. They were distinguished in having these distinguished visitors among them. They were proud that they had come so far, and they had been uplifted bv their companionship. They wero grateful that they had thrown themselves so heartily into tho work. They had not been onlookers They had gene in {and! lout among the people here, helping them in every possible way, and there would be numbers in Dunedin who would always have cause to give thanks to God for these friends and for tho words they had spoken individually and from the platform. On behalf of the ministers of the executive and of the people of Dunedin who had been interested in this mission he was glad to say a word' of gratitude and appreciation for their presence and their great lielp. At Mr Balfour's suggestion all rose to greet the visitors, and then sang a vex-so of " All hail the power.!' Sir Robert and Lady Anderson, Mr and Mrs M'Laughlin, and Mr Robertson were heartily applauded before they were called on to reply. Sir Robert, who spoke first, said it had been the greatest possible pleasure to liavo been in any way associated with the mission. They ■ had been deeply grateful and thankful to Almighty God for the success of the meetings, and he had not the slightest doubt that great results would flow from tho mission. The work of preaobinar the Gospel was after all the noblest in which a man could be engaged. Ho hoped that, after Dr Chapman and Mr Alexander had left they would—as has been done in Belfast—carry the work into the churches, and that every congregation would receive great benefit and great blessing. Mr M'Laughlin said he did not see that they had the right to be thanked for coming there to the mission. They had had a pleasant voyage from Belfast with their beloved friends; but there was One who had come a very long journey for them and for him, "ere Ho found His sheep that wero Jest." He did not think they deserved any thanks. It had been a great joy to them to come and help. It was 40 years since lie becaire a Christian, and he was told then that ho would never get on in the world if ho was religious. He stood there as a testimony to the faithfulness of God. Christ had been his friend, and ho was glad to stand there and say that no one word of all His promises had failed. Even if their journey had been long a,r,d tiresome, they would do it over and over again if that would help to win some to tho feet of the crucified Son of God. Further singing, including the effective rendering of a solo by Mr Naftzge-r, preceded Dr Chapman's address. Dr Chapman took as his text the words in the Book of Ecelesiates iv, 12: "A threefold cord is not quickly broken." The speaker said that when God was giving a revelation of Himself to his chosen people in the Old Testament, tho sin of sins was idolatry. That was not the sin of to-day, or, at any rate, not the prominent one. When Christ came into the world men liated Him. Hatred was the predominant feeling. The people misunderstood Hie message and did not appreciate His power, and so they nailed Him to the cross. That again, however, was not the sin of to-day. Almost everyone who Him stall, whether thoy acknowledged His divinity or not, regarded Him with reverence and sincere affection. The sin of to-day was indifference to Him. Men said by their actions, if not by their words, " God may have loved me, Jesus may have died for me, the spirit may plead with me, but I am too busy and will not yield'." It was in this feeling of indifference that he found the greatest cause for alarm. It was a most difficult thing to get into men's minds the thought of eternity. The speaker referred to the strength of "a threefold cord when twisted together, and its weakness when tho threads were untwined, and he likened men's appreciation of ho God-liead to such a cord. They said God was three persons. This, however, was not so. The three persons were one, an<l, like the three cords, they swung between a lost world and the judgment. There was not a man in the building but had sinned against God. They had broken themselves against His law, scorned His love, turned their back upon Hie entreaty. He had given them all that made life worth living. and yet they scorned Him. They had sinned against Christ too. They 'had refused His sacrifice, the most wonderful ever made for sin, though Ho offered them strength for weakness, victory for failure, and said He would blot out their transgressions. There was, then, but one single oord left, the Holy Spirit of God. Tho Spirit had boen in the building night after night/ and was there still. It was the Spirit that made Mr Naftzger's singing effective, that stood behind Mr Alexander, and made tham feel the thrill of the service. The Spirit was in every word bo himself uttered which had persuaded men to turn to Christ, for no genius of his own could influence them. The Spirit had been calling them for years, and was still present waiting and pleading. He pleaded that they should not continue to resist, but that they should make submission, turning from tbeir sin and looking unto God for their salvation.

MISSION NOTES, perhaps had larger business interests in BelAmong the requests for prayer on Tuesday night Dr Chapman read a touching message- from Belfast, sent by a mother who is anxious to know the whereabouts of her son, who has been missing for some years. His name is Richard Arthur McDonald Williams, and he was last heard of in Australia. His mother wrote that she and his two sisters were praying that he might be led into one of Dr Chapman's meetings. " If any of the workers should come across him," 'she continued, " will they tell him that, no matter how bad he has been or what his circumstances are, his mother and sisters beg him to come home or write to them." WEDNESDAY -APRIL 10. A SOLEMN SCRIPTURE. The song service on Wednesday night in the Brydono Hall commenced shortly alter 7 o'clock. After the singing of " He lifted me," the audience stood and sang the 100th Psalm with great spirit. Dr Chapman then read a lesson from Revelation xii, 11, and engaged in prayer. Dr Chapman said he would ask their attention to a passage of Scripture, which to his mind was extremely solemn. It was Ecclesiastes xii, 14. " For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." A few nights ago they had had the other text, "It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment;" but they had following that text a word of They would, of course, understand that his reference was to the final judgment, although he could quite understand that there could be judgment hero. There was a judgment of conscience. Conscience was that something that approved when wo were right, and disapproved when wo were wrong—that something which made their faces whiten when they knew that other people had discovered their wrong, that made them afraid when he was speaking at that moment. Thero was a judgment in the experience ; of remorse, and some of them were facing it that night. There was the judgment, of the penalty of a broken law. There was a sense, of course, in which they could not break God's laws. They could as easily turn a planet aside from its course. Yet there was another sense in which God's law was broken. They had never broken a law in their lives without having to accept the penalty. If they had not done so already they would have to do so in the future. If they did not confess and forsake their sin then let them bo sure their sin would find them out. Even if there were no future ho had a right to speak that evening concerning judgment, because it was mentioned all through the Bible. There was. judgment here, and there was judgment in the hereafter, and the text of that evening was exremely solemn. They could not separate judgment from government. He allowed no one to go beyond him in preaching about the love of God. Why should he not declare it. He knew His love and he knew His mercy. It was from everlasting to everlasting. Ho know His patience. It seemed to be almost without limit. But he know His justice too. If they put in authority in this city a man who was all love and no law, no mercy and no justice, their lives and property would not bo safe. They could not lose sight of judgment when a world was concerned. Thero was no event so sure as judgment, and he knew who would bo there. The unbeliever would be there. God had impoverished heaven to make earth rich, and He would not come. And the wicked would be there, the man who in spite of the law plunged into sin, who in spite of mercy turned his back upon a father's love. And the drunkard would be there —he meant tho man who in face of all God's pleading was plunging deeper into iniquity, who in spite of 10,000 hands reached out to him had gone down with face turned away from every avenue of escape. Could any of them tell him the greatest sin in all the Bible? It was not drunkenness, nor impurity, nor dishonesty. The sin of sins written in God's Word was the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour. They thought they could resist his pleading because he was ono of their countrymen, that thoy could resist tho minister becuase he was a professional; that they could spurn the personal worker, because his plea was an impertinence; but did they not know that when they said "No, no, no!" they were spurning Him? Not ono E resent in the building would have stood y to seo Jesus crucified without rushing to His assistance, but God's definition of the rejection of His Son was " Crucifying Him afresh." If rejection was the sin of sins then when the door was opened let them enter, when the way of escape was pointed out let thorn walk in it. There was only one way of escape, and it was not the way of reformation or of resolution. He knew what that way was —" He who knew no sin was made sin for us." "Christ died for our sins accordnig to the Scriptures." The wages of sin wus death, and He met it. The penalty of a broken law was shame, and He was made a curse for us. " Ho was raised for our justification." Sin had left a crimson stain, but He had washed it white as snow. There was one way of escape, and ono onlv —" Believe on the Lord Josus Christ And thou shalt be saved." THURSDAY—APRIL 11 Thursday wus "Church Day" in connection with tho mission, and special morning services were held in tho great majority ot' tho evangelical churches in the city and suburbs. An excellent spirit prevailed in all these meetings which augured well for the stability and permanence of the movement commenced by the mission. "HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE?" Thero was a very largo audience at Thursday night's meeting in the Brydone Hall. JJr Chapman preached a brief but most impressive and also impassioned sermon from Hebrews, 2nd chapter, 3rd verse: '• How snail we escape, if wo neglect so great salvation?" Dr Chapman, proceeding along the lines of his text, said the wonder of wonders in this world was the wonder of salvation from sin. It was so wonderful that the men with the greatest minds in the world had novor yet been able to think their way through it. At the same time it was so wonderful that the smallest child knowing the differenoe between right and wrong could appreciate enough of It to b© saved The first chapter of the epistle gave a representation of God, who was above all great things; above the angels and above

all fellow beings. When the picture had been so wondrously painted, the writer of the epistle started in the second chapter, "Therefore we ought to give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." Somo time ago,"said the preacher, a steamer was crossing the Atlantic Ocean when suddenly there arose a cry of " Man overboard." An excited man sprang to tho ship's railing, and looked into the sea and then turned to the passengers and said, "I'll give £IOOO to anyone who saves that man. Ho is my brother." The lifeboat was launched and made for tho drowning man, and subsequently there arose a cheer from the watching orowd; the man, had been recovered. The man was brought to the ship's side, and was being hauled up to the deck, and just as hands wore reaching out to make his salvation sure tho rcpes slipped away, and the unfortunate fellow fell back into the boat and into the sea beyond the reach of human aid. " I have," said Dr Chapman, "known men and women nearer to the Kingdom of God) than that; so near that they imagined they were in, when suddenly they have been carried away by the world's deceitfulness and riches. So tho text comes, 'How shall wo escape if wo neglect so great salvation.' There were three words in the text — ' groat, neglect, and escape.' The first emphasised the greatness of the salvation of Jesus Christ; the second that if the people neglected to grasp tho golden opportunity of making their peace with God they could not escape tho penalty of sin The third word taught them that the only way they could hope to escape punishment was to accept tho salvation of the true and living God. It was a great salvation; and first of all it was great in its sacrifice. Christ, realising that they could not help themselves, came with bruised hands and a thorn-crowned brow and stood for them." "One day," said Dr Chapman, "I'll pass through the gates of that City, not because of what I am. but because of what He is." How would they escape if thoy neglected God? Ho did not know what else to say in ooncludin,g a most earnest appeal but that Cod would givo him some now arguments and more pathos in his pleadings. Ho wished that thero would bo ono person in the building who would sav "I yield; I can hold out no more." This was tho last appeal ho could make, " Turn ye, turn ye; foir why will yo die; God help you all." Tho service concluded in silsnb prayer. MISSION NOTES. A most interesting gathering, which Dr Chapman declared to be unique in all his wide experience, was arranged in Knox Hall on Thursday afternoon. This was a meeting of medical men and nurses, who were entertained by Nurse Toomb3, with whom the idea originated. There were about. 250 present, including Dean Fitchett, Dr Waddell, the Rev. R. E. Davies, and several other ministers. Mr Alexander, with Mr Naftzger and Mr Harkness, eonducted some very hearty singing, in which the hymn " God will take cure of you " had pride of place. Mr Davies introduced Dr Chapman, who delivered a most appropriate and effective address, with a view to in-< spiring doctors and nurses to the highest Christian ideals in the work of their profession. At the close Dr Waddoll expressed to Dr Chapman and the othors of the party the thanks of Nurso Toombs and of all those present. FRIDAY—APRIL 12. Perhaps the most impressive sermon delivered by Dr Chapman since the inception of tho mission was that preached by him in First Church on Friday afternoon in the presence of a very largo congregation. lie took his text from Psalm 45, 8. During tho course of his address ho drew a word picture of Christ. Ho showed how Christ so to speak stepped ■ down from the " Ivory Palace," and then traced His steps to Nazareth, and thence to Bethlehem. Tho language employed by the speaker was of such en impressive character, and the solemn and earnest manner in which he dealt with the subject could not but have appealed to even the most hardened person present. The most pathetio portion of tho address was that where ho related the story of the treatment of the Son of God by the people with whom He came in contact, which culminated in tho cruoifixion on Mount Calvary. The speaker told of the beatings inflicted upon Christ when He struggled under His burden of tho cross, but did not utter one word of complaint. Dr Chapman said that if anyono present was told that a son or daughter or a.nyone dear to them was to die within a certain time, they would wish that it would take place at onoo. rather than endure the suspense. When He left the " Ivory Palace" Christ knew all that was to befall Him, yet He braved it in order that the redemption of the world should bo accomplished. THE CALL TO THE MINISTRY. Friday night had been announced as " home night," a service specially for parents and children, and a huge audience gathered in tho Brydono Hall. Dr Chapman took his text from tho forty-sixth chapter of Genesis, eighth verse, and also from tho seventh chapter of Revelation, forty-first verse: " And thoso are the names of tho children of Israel." " And I heard the number of them which woro scaled." Dr Chapman said that between the two portions of his text elapsed a long stretch of years. Tho first portion introduced to them an aged man who had come to the end of his career, and he summoned his household to givo them his blessing. Tho second text introduced them to One who stood before them as Christ. His head was white as snow and as silken wool. History seemed to have reached its climax, and four-and twenty elders with crowns upon their heads came unto tho face of Him, tho Lamb which had been slain, and they took off their crowns and cast them at His feet and said, " Thou art worthy to receive favour and dominion over us for | Thou wast slain." The story he wanted to present to them was a family story. " I heard the number of them which were sealed." It was a great human picture of a homo that was always powerful. It did not matter whether j for good or evil there seemed to be no middle ground between sin and salvation. Dr Chapman said he had noticed in a newspaper recently an account of two families in America, one of which had always lived upright lives, and the other was steeped in sin and degradation. The difference was brought about by_ tho influence in the home life. The picture he drew in the first portion of his text was ' of Israel, and there wore many lights ana j shade* In it, and thero were also lights and

shades in the home life of to-day. The lights generally went with the mother. Ho remembered a mother in America who, on one occasion when a school took fire, went to her daughter and told her not "to be afraid, and sang songs learned in her infancy and stroked the child's head, and when tlio people camo to rescue her they found ono of her arms burned. Her light had, however, shown her child not to be disheartened. Shadows sometimes took the lives of those of them who were fathers busy gaining reputations and standings amongst men; their children never hearing them speak the name of Jesus in prayer. They were like one of his countrymen who was standing on tho railway line mad with drink holding his two little sons by their hands. The express train came down the track, and in a fewminutes he was a mangled heap, and one of the little sons was killed, while the other died within a week from the injuries received. Home lifo depended very largely upon the fathers and mothers, as also did the futures of their children. Was there anyone present who would take his household in his a item and say, " I have not done what I might have done," and then pray to God to give them light in his home and help him to live in Buch a manner that on the Great Day the family circle would be unbroken? Ho pleaded with parents to think of what home life meant to the children. He concluded with an earnest prayer for tho people and their homes. Dr Chapman then directed his pointed and practical appeal to the younger portion of his audience. Addressing the young women first, he asked how many wished to say, " If God calls me to the mission field at home or abroad I can say in the presence of God and the office-bearers of the church, so far as I know my own heart I will respond." Many young women rose in different parts of the building. He then asked every boy and young man who could say, 'As far as I know my heart and life at all, if God calls me to the ministry I will respond," to rise to his feet. They rose for a moment in all parts of tho building. Dr Chapman offered prayer, and addressed a few words to the fathers and) mothers in his audience. Then his voice rang out in clear tones: " I want you young men who rose to come right down 'here and face me. I want to look at you." The response was instantaneous. They made their way with' considerable difficulty through the crowd surrounding the platform till close on 200 men and boys had gathered about the steps near Dr Chapman. All knelt while solemn prayer of consecration was offered by the Rev. J. Chisholm. Then Dr Cliapman pave out some short pregnant advice to those who liod come forward. They must take counsel, he said, with thicee office-bearers, their ministers, their parents, and they must wait upon God. But if the call came to them as it came to him, would they respond'' With right hands raised they twice gave the response, " I will " SATURDAY—APRIL 13. SALVATION ARMY NIGHT. On Saturday evening the song service did not commence till a quarter to 8. The Salvation Army Band and soldiers in full force occupied scats on the platform in front of the choir. Dr Chapman said he would speak only a very little while, because it was their rest day, though it had not been much of a rest day. His subject was "How may I Know that I am Christian?" and the text with which they would start was I John v, 13: "These things have I written unto you . . . that ye may know." The things referred to were what had preceded in this Epistle of John If they wanted to be perfectly suro of their salvation let them read this Epistle of John. If they would be perfectly suro that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. let them read John's Gospel. Whenover a man doubted whether he was out of the kingdom or in the kingdom it was always at personal loss. If they were not sure of their acceptance with God they were not having continual victory. They manifested their lack of assurance in their prayers and in their living. They might know that they wero saved first of all by their confidence in God's Word. I John iv, 15: " Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is tho Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." I John v, 1: " Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." They must not rest upon their feelings, but must stand upon God's Word, and, standing upon that, they might change and shift, but the foundation was sure. They might know they wero Christians by their obedience. " Hereby we do know that wo know Him, if wo keep His commandments '' His commandments first of all were these, " Follow Me." If they obeyed Him they would have no more lack of assurance. He had never known a man who was a personal worker drift. He might know no was a Christian by his habits. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin," or, as Weymouth's very literal translation had it, " No one who is a child of God is habitually guilty of sin." If they wero Christians and were sinning again and again at the same point he would advise them to go back to Christ. If they would know they were children of God and would have doubt taken away, then let them keep close to Him and away from sin. He offered them the sure foundation of God's Word to stand upon. Speaking to young converts, he urged them to choose a church that honoured Jesus and was loyal to Him If they did not identify themselves with a church or some body of Christians, there would come testing times, and they would slip and fall. In concluding, Dr Chapman urged each one to chooso ono special text of Scripture and ground his faith upon that After Mrs Alexander had led in prayer, the Salvation Army sang " Blessed be tho Name." and all took uo the chorus "I am walking every day." A quarter of an hour or more was then devoted to bearing sentence testimonies from Salvationists, interspersed with more singing. One of the speakers—a deaf visitor from Oama.ru —caused no little amusement by expressing his* goodwill to " Mr Alexander and his helper." No one enjoyed the reference so much as Dr Chapman himself, who said: "I'm awfully glad to have him put it that way!" A new chorus composed by Mr Darkness that afternoon was learned m a very short time, and tho meeting closed with the chorus of " God be with you." Staff-captain Nowby pronounced the benediction. SUNDAY—APRIL 14. In the early part of the afternoon a meeting for women was held, at which tho attendance was very large. At th« conclusion of the women's meeting one for men was held, and though not

so numerously attended, there were a great many present A similar musical and devotional service was conducted and 1 a similar appeal for subscriptions was made. A TRIUMPH OF ORGANISATION. It goes without saying that the closing meeting—or rather meetings, for two overflow meetings on Sunday night were quickly crowded out—of the mission which has been interesting such a large section of the community for nearly a month past, was the climax of all. The advertised time of starting was 8 o'clock, but the crowds began, to gather at an early hour, and shortly after 7 o'clock the doors of the great building had to be closed against the public. The three halls at one time must have held somewhere about 7000 people, but the crowds remaining outside in the streets were still so large that it was deemed advisable to send for the police to have them dispersed. This was effected with little difficulty. As closely as can be estimated' between '9OOO and 10,000 people must have sought admission to the meeting at one time or another; and the perfectly orderly and successful handling of this huge crowd was nothing short of a triumph for the generalship of the missioners, supported by the ceaseless, tactful activity of the stewards. . . . , ~ „ Before commencing a brief address Ur Chapman, on behalf of the mission pauty, made reference to a few of the helpers to whom they considered they were specially indebted. They had very greatly appreciated the four weeks of privilege they had had in Dunedin. They would never cease to be grateful to God for making it possible ±o stav 24 days rather than 12. as had been first planned. He thanked all members of the executive, making special mention of Mr E Rosevear (the treasurer), the Rev. G. Heighway (the secretary), tho Rev. H. B Gray (who had had charge of the personal workers), Mr F. G. Oumming (superintendent of ushers), and all those who had toiled so faithfully in the interests of Remission. He went on in grateful terms lo tho attitude of the daily papers), which had most generously supported them, and to the religious papers which had devoted almost their whole space to the mission. For the Rev. R. E. Davies, chairman of the executive, and for all associated with him,, they had the sincercst affection and the greatest admiraion. Dunedin had started them well on their 15 months' Australasian mission. They had come almost in fear and trembling, but they went away with their hearts singing. To everyone. who had made these days for them days of heaven upon earth, again they said "Thank you, and God bless you." He took as his text for the address, which ho said was to relievo him of his final responsibility as the speaker of the mission, Acts 26-28: " Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." He refused to accept the interpretation which regards these words as sarcasm intended by Agrippa merely to humiliate Paul. Ho thought ho knew men well enough to know that a man with a heart of stor.o would have been moved by Paul's pleading. Agrippa was almost persuaded, and there were other men like that in the New Testament. In terse, vivid language Dr Chapman proceeded to sketch the crises in the lives of Herod, Pilate, Judas. Isoariot. and Felix when they, too, wore "almost persuaded." A man who heard the truth and) did not heed it could not remain the same, but his heart would be hardened. Some of them had been trembling, and had all but faced the judgment. Herod failed by holding to one sin; Pilate failed because he lacked courage. Some of them feared what men would say if they became Christians. They had better fear what God would say if they did not. Some of them had stood so near that just the lifting of their hand — if the will went with it —would have meant life. They had preached and sung and pleaded nnd prayed and wept and waited, and the last moment had come. To-day if they would hear His voice, let them not harden their hearts. He pleaded with them to accept Christ then.

At a meeting of the Personal Workers' Association on Saturday evening the following -were elected as a committee : Messrs S. F. Benton, Hughson, D. Finlay, T. W. White, C. T. Wilson. G. W. W. B. Hughes, and Captain Strang. represent the following denominations: Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, Primitive Methodist, Baptist, Salvation Army, and the Brethren. Mr John Gray was elected chairman of the association, and Mr C A. Hutton is local secretary. Mr C. H. Denison, of New York, has consented to represent the association in organising similar associations in other Australasian centres. Dr Chapman said they expected to have no fewer than 5000 men pledged to personal work in Australasia, and the beginning of this was in Dunedin. MONDAY—APRIL 15. FAREWELL MEETING The Chapman-Alexander Mission party which has been so actively engaged in evangelistic work in Dunedin for almost the whole of the last four weeks, took final leave of the city on Monday morning. A farewell meeting was held in First Church, commencing at 7 o'clock, and the building was almost completely filled with friends of the mission party who desired to express their gratitude and wish them "God speed." Dr Chapman and Mr Alexander were seated in the pulpit with the Revs. R. E. Davies and G. H. Balfour, while the other members of the party and a number of city and suburban ministers occupied places in the choir seats. Mr Harkness presided at the organ, and Mr Alexander conducted the singing. The opening hymn, ''When I survey the wondrous Cross," was followed by the chorus "Travelling home," which was sung once sweetly by a group of Braemar House girls The Rev. R. K. -Davies said iie would speak not specially on behalf of his own church or congregation, but as president of the Council ot Churches, lie believed he was correct in saying that the whole city had received a great blessing, and hundreds had received a new outlook and a new vision. He was assured by those who knew the city that never before in its history had such a spiritual movement parsed through it as at this time. The work of those who remained began that day, and it would bo very strenuous if they were to conserve the great work that had been dorip. in (lie citv. The Rev. G. H. Balfour, speaking on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, said they were profoundly thankful for what had been done during the past days. They looked upon evangelistic work not aa a reflection on the work that was done in congregations, but a.s a work which God had ftpeciaUy ordained and for which He had

chosen special blessingß His had said before Dr Chapman came that he was possibly the greatest evangelist in the world. It would be hard for them to | imagine anyone who would do more effective work than he had done. The Rev. P. W. Fairclough expressed gratitude to God for personal blessings during the mission for happy conversions in his congregation, and for ihe general spiritual uplift in his church. Dr Chapman had been an object lesson to them as an oxamplo of how plain, blunt truths told, and for his genius for illustration. When ho thought of the vast number of meetings Dr Chapman had undertaken for such a number of days in succession it seemed 1 that he did not have the word "Mondayish " in his dictionary, and some of them would have it printed smaller after this. The Rev. W. Saunders said the key-note of the gathering was ''Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love." From tho very beginning they had looked on the mission party as warm friends. Dr Chapman might say with all sincerity as Paul said when taking farewell of the Ephesians, that he had called them to repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ," that he had not sought any man's tilver or gold; and the ministers there must bear witness that he was free from the blood of any in this city. The secret of their Euooess had in large part been their loving hearts. The attitude of the mem- . bers of the party out of the pulpit had in '■ every case been a recommendation of what | they preached and sang. On the work of \ the"ladies none of them could look unmoved i and without admiration. Tho Rev.' C. Dallaston spoke on behalf Jof the Baptist Churches of Dunedin. His first word would bo a word of praise to God from whom all blessings flow, and then of sincero heartfelt thanks to the missioners who had given them a new vision of life. After the singing of " Blessed be the Name," Staff-captain Newby, of the Salvation Army, expressed tho deep gratitude of his own people to God for the privilege of sharing in some little way in this great work of rescuing men and women Tho Rev. G. Lindsay, Moderator of tho Presbyterian General Assembly. said .ho had seen a number of missions in ] the Old Country, and in this country, but 1 no mission had touched him so greatly | as that conducted by Dr Chapman and Mr Alexander and party. He trusted the minister* I would rise to the great responsibility that j had been placed upon them and seek with j God's help to carry on the work. Mr Alexander, who rose first to respond, ' said it was a great pleasure to come back I again to Dur.edin. They were people who kept true to their friends. The friends he left here 10 years ago were just as warm when ho met them again as they had been when he left bhem. The mission would grow and bear fruit in years to come. j He had met several young men hero now ' preaching the gospel whose start was made in the Torrey-Alexander mission. Let them ! look at the hundreds that had started in this mission. There were far more this j time, because the mission was longer and '; in a larger hall. Dr Chapman thanked the speakers for what they had eaid about all the members of tho party. He asked them to make the ' most of what God had done, and urged the ministers to follow with extreme care those who had made a profession of faith. He wanted them to give every support posgiblo to this band of personal workers formed among the business men. They hoped to leave behind them 5000 of these in Australasia. He wanted tho ministers to give special thought and work and ■ prayer to that organisation. The ministers and friends here had given them great ioy. Ho hnd not been consoous of a singfo minister in the city, so far as ho had met them, who was other than sym pathetic. The office-bearers and the business men had cheered them and made them glad. He hoped they would follow the party with their prayers, for the strain of 15 months' mission like this would be I terrific. Mr Alexander and he were extremely grateful for any offering they I might turn over lo thorn. He did not j know what it might be. and he did not ! care. It had been their pleasure to put . all they possessed into this work, and somoj times they had e\en to meet a great part lof the expenses. They held what they had as stewards, arid all their influence and \ strength was dedicated to this work. AT TOE STATION. j Practically tho whole audience from Firit Church, with many more, made their way I down to the station to see the very last : of the visitors as they left by the south • express. There must have been about 1000" J people near the carriage, when somebody started, "God will take care of you." Mr Alexander mounted the rail between the carriage platforms, and conducted in the best of good humours. Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P., from the carriage platform spoke briefly of the mission from the point of view of a layman who had been associated with Christian work in Dunedin for the lost 40 years. They could I not let their dear friends go, he said, with- ! out giving them a very hearty send-off I He wanted to bear testimony to the splenj did work they had done here. He had i watched, the mission, and he knew thev I would all agree that Dr Chapman had not j only helped the laymen, but had strength-. i ened the ministry of the church immensely. • He prayed that the work would bear fruit ; through the succeeding years, and that j they might have a building up of the church 'life such as they had never known before. ! The chorus of " Walking with Jesus" : was taken up vigorously, but a hush fell as Mr Naftzger stepped forward and began to sing the verses. Mr Alexander declined all suggestions that he should sif'ir • on the ground tliat ho would have to be singing all day. All sang, "God 1 be with you till we meet again," and Mr Alexani dor asked suggestively. " Who ivould you like to hear?" "Dr Chapman !" was immediately shouted in reply: "I have not anything to say." raid Dr Chapman, "except just a word of thanks. We have to spea.k and sing nil day. Stand by the ! ministers; stand by the churches im<] the Chris!ian organisations, and God will biess you." Dr Chapman then -offered brief prayer. The dbxology was followed by the' " Glory Song." "Takes more than 10 years to forget that f' was Mr Alexander's comment Then came iho chorus, "It is heaven," and as the whistle blew, " Hallelujah! What a Saviour!" was started, ' and to itn strains repeated again and t'.gain the train moved off into the distance.