AN EVANGELICAL FUNCTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13662, 28 March 1908, Page 3

AN EVANGELICAL FUNCTION.

WELCOME TO REV. J. FLANAGAN

THE COMING MISSION.

REV. S. GTJY ALSO WELCOMED. There was a fairly large gathering at the Queen Street Primitive Methodist Church yesterday afternoon, when a public reception was extended to the Rev. J.. s Flanagan who is to conduct « week's mission in New Plymouth. The meeting also afforded an opportunity of welcoming the Rev. S. Guy, the new superintendent minister of the circuit. The Mayor, Mr E. Dockrill, presided. He was supported by' the Rflsrs: Flanagan, S. Guy, T. G. Brooke,' S. S. Osborne, and H. J. Lewis, and Messrs Stephens (the singing evangelist who is accompanying Mr Flanagan), H. Okey, M.P., and O. E. I^ellruiger. The- chairman expressed the great pleasure he felt at being able to extend to the Rev. Mr Flanagan a hearty welcome to the district. He bad no doubt -he would carry away with, him many .pleasant recollections of his brief sfcßy jwre. He trusted the mission would ,<Jbo very successful, and that Mr Flanagan would bo able to look back with tho most, pleasant memories of the good work he, had accomplishoc whilst in New Zealand.

The Rev. T. G. Broofco, on behalf of Whtteldy Memorial Church, expressed p]pasuro in being able to stretch o\\\ a welcoming hand to his old friend the Rev. Mf Guy, and pleased to have the opportunity of stretching out a welcoming hand to the Rev. Mr Flanagan,; whose name was known through all thej Cijurofees, and whoso work cverywheiv bol<p testimony to the great devotion Hvith which he had consecrated himsfclf to it. He rejoifced in the work Mr Flanagan had boen able to accomplish, and he was more than pleased that the reverent! gentleman had reached New Plymouth. Those that livod in this partf.or-T3he Dominion remembered that hero Methodism had been early cradled ■ — that before there was a solitary white man here as a settler, a Methodist missionary was on the ground. They thanked God for what Methodism had done for this place. There was not another town in tho whole of this Dominion .in wliich Methodism had so strong a bold. But while they were thankful for this, they felt they must in tlie future make greater efforts for the extcmsion of the Redeemer's King«om - He prayed that the blessing of tho Mos.t High might be with the missioher *iv all his work and that they might see in this immediate neighbourhood a large number of men and women won for Jesus Christ.

The #cv. H. J. Lewis, on behalf of the Baptist Church, cordially welcm :ed tho Rev.. Mr Flanagan and Mr Stephens, whose reputation preceded them wherever they went. . Ho referred to! the creat success of tho united prayer meetings that had been held during tho »*?s week. He trusted the Rev. Mr FiaAigSa'n's mission would make such an impression on tho town that would never bo- forgotten and prove to all around that < there wai life in the "old fcvrth «et. Ho also wo^oincd the Rev. Mr fJuy, and trusted that his labours in. thw. district would be abundantly blessed.. » The Rev. S. S. Osborne welcomed the Mov\ Mr Flanagan on behalf of the Presbrterjan Church, and trusted that tho mission might Tie Qbnndantlv blessn ed by Abmfehty Gof ; H* (Mr"Flan,U gamtraff come to a rather bard field irt f^^^t t6 Ta T anak '- Ministers here iiart jefr peculiar difficulties tn contend witlf, and sometimes wore at their wit's end.. He hoped Mr Flanagan might be one of God's instruments and thnt »Mg mission might help greatly in building up and consolidating the Kingdom pf Jesus Christ in this place. He also had great pleasure in extending a [>v«jlcome to the Rev. Mr Guy. Anything he could do to nssist him in his work trdnH be readily done.* MR. FLANAGAN'S RESPONSE. a ,?■ J * Flanagan said he sup-* posed bjs friends did not want a long meeting on such a miM afternoon in this beautiful country where they were fwuw&'tlie sun shone so much and so Jong , but where sometimes they had pther kj'nds of weather not quite up to the Old Country even,. They bad had it sampla of it at Stratford and Eltham and in 'writing home he had said it was raining, raining, raining, raining, —-< Laughter). He was glad nevertheieas to T>o in New Zealand, which wos po full Qf fresh interests to one v,ho had had the privilege of seeing other countries besides his own. Every country seemed to carry its own characteristic charm/ There was something in New Zealand which he had not found anywhere else, and the other day. he and his friends saw one of the most remarkable pictures he had over looked upon. Jt was »ot at Rotorua or in the lake district, andtho sea was far away, but ,fo* wild dissolution and rugged natural' gr**duer he had never, seen sitch tracts df' country anywhere. He was deeply grateful to the Mayor and the representatives of the Churches for I thoir words of welcome. He had his own -Church and believed in his own denomination. He had not one particle of. sympathy with those men who came about and who were so broad in their views that they Were unable to acknowledge any personal responsibility to any particular Church or branch oft faith. He had his. 6 wn beliefs and wa*i carrying on the work pf God in a particular Church; but as a mission preacher he forgot his own distinctive denomination, and they would find that ho preached a gospel that all could get round — that he tried to get as near the heart of Jesus as he possibly could ; and, no matter whore tie began, he always,, God helping him, finished up at Calvary. The success of a mission depended largely upon the people, and ho was glad to learn they had had large united prayer meetings. If no other results were reached in this mission than those already realised ho declared it to be a success. He did not expect "his mission to result in a great gunpowder flash,' to cause a big sensation and then send the spiritual level lower than it had been before He was too old a hand in God's service. During his thirty-six years' service he had seen enough of these gunpowder revivals. They had sickened him sometimes, and no wondter ! For the man on the street fought shy of anything in the nature of a special mission afterwards. He had noticed this almost in their own midst. The very last place he was at he went one night to preach and saw around tho door peeping through every little opening about fifty men. They were looking around for himself as sonw kind or specimen of tho animal world such at; they had never seen in theiv lives. They were looking for Flanagan as though he was some curiosity and there he stood in the middle of them. He said, "God bless yon feller, whal aro you hanging around tho door lik* this for ? Do, Von think it is a wild boast show, artq that yt>u have to pay a certain amount to see a lot or strange performing animals on the stage. Men

of Eltham, . here i$ Flanagan, among you! See me! Handle me! Why in the name of God do. you stand outside the place where the missionary is going to tell you of the truths of the Gospel, and look about as though you expect to see some extraordinary specimen of humanity? My brothers, come in, come, in as men and sit and hear what an honest man has got to say to you his brothers." Thej> looked at each other and then swept into the room like a flock of sheep, and he had the joy. of talking to them of the gospel. He found out it w/asr because they had been sickened by certain kinds of evangelistic services. He would appeal tc men but he was not going to push any man to Jesus. If 'after. his playing on the key board of the souls of men, they were n.<jt moved by the Holy Ghosx, then they muct take the responsibility themselves. He hop4d the result of the mission wouM, bo a clearer vision on the part of some- 1 of those who loved Jesus, and a deeper rooting of the faith in the Rock of Ages. am. GUY'S RESPONSE.

Hia Worship' extended a few words of weloomo to t)ie Rev. Mr Guy. Mr.Ouy saicT.lie heartily appreciated tho kindly welcome that had been ex-l tended to him by tho Ma;jr tu»< Ministers from other Churches of the town. As far as in him lay he would I cultivate tho most brotherly relations! with other ministers »nd co-operate with thorn in, everything it.»i ,^«,cl<e for tho Welfare of the Churches and. for. the welfare of tlie commtYnity. He was not quite a stranger to I^ew PlyniQuili. It "was over twenty years, however, since he had spent a short time in the service of the Lord in this town, having succeeded the llev. Joseph LLent^ t Buring this time he had m»de .many friends and carried away, with him kindly ro collections of tlie^ people of New Ply*, mouth and of his Church life. .A.solo.was renderecj by JMr Stephens, and thp Misses Cbnnett and White contributed a; duet during the afternoon. At the close the gathernag was photographed outside tho. Church. xVfterupon tea was subsequently served.