GIPSY SMITH’S MISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 33

GIPSY SMITH’S MISSION.

FINANCIAL ARRANGE. MENTS. AUCKLAND, September 10. The following official statement regard ing finance and other aspects of Uipsj Smith’s tour is made by the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, president of the Dominion executive of the mission and the Rev. A. J. fcseamer, the secretary “Gijwy Smith, who for years has been recognised as the Free Church Council evangelist of England, has been invited often during the past 20 years to vi3it New Zealand. He has at last been able to accept the invitation and is with us today as the guest of the Associated Free Churches of New Zealand. The financial arrangement is simple and clear. Gipsy Smith has neither asked for, nor been given, any financial guarantee, other than sufficient to meet the bare expenses of himself and Mr and Mrs Young, his helpers. Neither he nor either of his co« workers is in receipt of a salary from us, and 113 has no financial interest whatever in the collections taken up day by day at his meetings. The committee has decided, however, to give to him whatever freewill offerings are handed in for that purpose on the final day, next Sunday. The proceeds of his lecture on Monday night are, of course, his own. In addition to the very considerable period occupied in travelling he is giving a month of his time to Auckland, and all he will receive in fiancial recompense is as stated above. The amount will depend entirely upon what the people wish to give him, be it little or much. As a similar arrangement has been made by us with reference to Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Gipsy Smith and his party will receive a 3 remuneration for the four months’ work the amount of four days’ collections, and the proceeds of four lectures. “Recognising in Gipsy Smith a man trusted, revered and loved by the Christian churches throughout the world, honoured by his Majesty King George, and accredited uniquely as an evangelist the committee has undertaken to make suitable and adequate arrangements which have entailed very heavy expenditure in rents, publicity, etc. There was ample justification for this undertaking in realisation that this would he most probably Gipsy Smith’s only visit to this Dominion. There is now the additional satisfaction of knowing that these arrangements as to buildings, etc., have not been in any degree too optimistic. The collection taken have been arranged to assist in defraying these expenses. None of the local workers in the mission is receiving payment for the services rendered. Concerning the hymn books, we desire to state that probably no book has been sold in New Zealand with such a small margin above the actual expenses of printing and the purchase of the copyright. The conditions under which certain essential purchases of copyright were made precluded the issue of the book in cheaper form. It is anticipated that there will be a loss, not % profit on the sale of the hymn books.” ORGANISED RESISTANCE. In explanation of his statement that there is organised resistance, and that publicans and gamblers are behind it which was made on Wednesday evening was given by Gipsy Smith at his meeting last evening. ‘For the benefit of those who are here for the first time,” he said, “I will explain that there has been a certain amount of disturbance at some of the meetings Someone has been stepping on the Devil’s tail and he has been howling. 1 made a statement in a few words last* evening, and some folks have been attributing to me more than I said and more than I meaut.” Gipsy Smith said he would not hurt an opponent, and would not do an injustice to an enemy if one came along. If he found he had done so he would admit his fault at once. “I am built that way,” he added. ‘‘l want to be a Christian, aud I want to be a gentleman.—(Applause). When I referred to the opposition 1 said it was organised, and so it was. When I saidpublicans and gamblers were behind it I did not mean the licenced victuallers, for I never mentioned them. I meant that the opposition had been organised in an atmosphere of drinkers and gamblers. I do not blame Auckland for the opposition,” continued Gipsy Smith amid applause. “I do not blame you law abiding citizens I blame those who have got a strain of vulgarity in them, and were not well bred. If they were well bred they would never oppose a religious servica The first time I went into a service as a Gipsy bov I took my hat off. I did not even sit down I was so filled with awe and reverence.”—(Applause).