POWER OF PERSONALITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 981, 26 May 1930, Page 16

POWER OF PERSONALITY

WOMAN LECTURER GIVES ADDRESS GREATNESS OF THE CHRIST “The Power of Personality” was the subject of an interesting address last evening in Balmoral Presbyterian Church, by Elsie Lincoln Benedict, lecturer and writer, at present on a second world lecture tour. There was not standing room, and the congregation listened to an address which lasted more than an hour. The speaker said that no person had any right to stand up before an audience, even for 15 minutes, who had no inspiration to give. After naming four of the world’s outstanding personalities Cleopatra, Floience Nightingale, Napolean Bonaparte, Julius Caesar —the speaker showed that in each case some weakness was displayed and some good characteristic left undeveloped. Jesus was the greatest personality the world had even known, and He was perfect. He \Vas born under difficult circumstances, and with a price upon His head. He lived only 33 years, but left the roots of the tree which has sheltered the whole world, and today He inspired millions after nearly 2,000 years. The speaker appealed to the congregation to emulate His life She quoted the saying, ‘‘lf your reli gion does not change you, you ought to change your religion.” “Why there are agnostics in the world today.” she said, “is partly due to the fact that there are people in the church who are not living examples of the Christ.” Every great personality must feel that he had a mission. Great personalities had never deceived themselves about their mission in life. Mrs. Benedict closed her address by stating that it was within the power of every one to make good. Jesus made good, and this led her to mention four “goods”: (1) Be good; (2) Do good; (3) Make good; (4) Look good. The minister, the Rev. William Gilmour, conducted the service, and the choir sang two anthems.