STRAIGHT TALKS TO MEN.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12764, 4 February 1910, Page 2

STRAIGHT TALKS TO MEN.

VISIT OF THE REV. H. S. WOOLLCOMBE.

By reference to the advertisement i columns it will bo seen that the Rev. H S Woollcombe, the men's nussioner, will conduct services or give addresses here to-morrow, Sunday and Monday. Mr Woollcombe comes to .Nelson with a reputation as a man of wonderful power and gift for plain speaking The "Dominion," referring to Mr Woollcombe, stated:— "He's a daisy* ain't he" was the remark of a listener at the Town Hall on Saturday night, when the Rev H S Woollcombe was in the full tide of humorous anecdote and breezy exhortation. Rarely have the claims of religion been presented more attiac-. tively than by this eloquent young leader of the Church of England Men's Society. He preaches brotherly love and drives home point alter jwiuf with an irrestible joke He mingles Scripture vrrth slang, and is at once witty and reverent. He has in abundant measure the girt ot numour and the gift of speech and he makes -it very clear that he takes and uses both as "gifts of the Spirit" Laughter and applause were ireqiient during his address, but it must have stirred many to serious th Thf Anglican Bishop ofWellington (Dr Wallis) presided. Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, and other clergymen supported him. The chairman stated that Jus Excellency the Governor had expressed to him his great interest in the meeting, and his regret that he could not be present. Mr Woollcombe, who was received with cheers, soon made himself at home with his hearers. He said that he was not sent out by the tofts of the Church, but by 80,000 of his fellow men, the members of the C E M.S. (Church of England Men s Society). He had part of the salary they paid him in his pocket. It 8 £200 a year," he added. "You may as well know what it is at once. I daresay you've been wondering. Ivs made up of sixpenny bits and suchlike It doesn't come from those who can easily give £25 for Woollcombe' s salary." Work and prayer were the mam themes of Mr Woollcombe' s address. No man had a right to blame God if the Church was weak. It was not God's fault, but man's laziness, slackness, and indifference. God's power was there, but man's co-oper-ation was wanting. - _ ,