Evenings from Home.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 13, 11 December 1880, Page 112

Evenings from Home.

No. s.— The Rev. Geo. A. Brown at the Tempeeance Hall.

The name ot the Rev. Geo. A. Brown has been before the public pretty frequently of late, and day by day becomes better Known. Though, a comparative stranger in Auckland, Mr. Brown has, in an uncommonly short time secured a powerful following of earnest seekers after truth, and been the cause of howls of reprobation from the orthodox clergy. These worthies view with alaim the rapid secession of many thinking pillars of their respective churches, and have at length been obliged to peremptorily forbid their lambs attending Mr. Brown's lectures. Not long ago a young Wesleyan — a bright and shining light at Pitt-street—com-mitted this heinous offence, and was betrayed to Mr. Morley. He used to teach in the Wesleyan Sunday-school, and was much thought of there ; but no sooner did Mr. Morley discover him to have sat under Mr. Brown than he clothed him Avith that garment which is called "the sack." Whether this procedure preyed on. that young man's spirits I havn't heard ; for my own part, much as I like Pitt-street, I should consider banishment to the Temperance Hall a far from irreparable misfortune. Last Sunday evening was unusually warm and close, but at twenty minutes past six the aforesaid building (which is tolerably capacious) was crowded to excess. By the merest good luck I managed to get an end seat on one of the front benches, and was able during the ensuing five minutes to form a pretty fair idea of the character of the congregation. My own impression is that, making allowances for the percentage who attend out of curiosity, Mr. Brown's audience comprises more really thoughtful men than any church in town. The sleek black-coated elder brought tip in the odour of snuffling and sanctity, and fearful of deviating one hair's breadth from the beaten path, is of course conspicuous by his absence ; but in his stead we have a number of shrewd clever men, who, mindful of the empty meaningless rant, and vain repetition, to which they had in old times to listen Sunday after Sunday, positively revel in Mr. Brown's keen incisive commonsense and sledge-hammer logic. But lam going too fast. At half -past six the hero of the evening stepped on the platform, and sat down at the table. He doesn t look in the very least like a parson ; in fact, if I had met him in Queen-street I should have taken him to be a successful barrister or prosperous man of business. Even in his attire, Mr. Brown eschews a semblance of orthodoxy. The shining black broad-cloth which every rascal who wants to affect piety assumes, is exchanged for a neatly fitting frock coat of some dark grey material, whilst the collar, etc., are of the ordinary kind. Mr. Brown has a fine commanding presence and a fair delivery, though his pronunciation is at times somewhat strange. I noticed, for instance, that he said "eer" for "ere," and often converted an "i" into "c." It is painful, too, to look at him just at first. He mouths his sentences tremendously, i.e., his face works very strangely, though whether this is a natural or assumed defect I can't tell. When one has said this much, hypercriticism must cease. Mr. Brown is a polished speaker, with a great command of language, and can convey a meaning so as to be clear even to the stupidest. In the hands of nine or ten parsons, theological reasoning becomes incomprehensible. The listener starts oft' all right, but before long gets lost in a maze of intricacies and is eventually wholly at sea as to the conclusions arrived at. Mr. Brown's logic is simplicity itself. He first of all explains his postulate ' and then marshalling his because's in clear, logical sequence, deduces a therefore that is evident to persons of even the meanest capacity. The sermon last Sunday was on the "spirit," and proved to be an attack on one of the most cherished beliefs of orthodoxy. lam not going to attempt to reproduce the substance liere, because I feel I should fail to do the preacher justice, but I have no hesitation in saying that he carried conviction to my mind as I believe he carried conviction to the minds of most people present. The hall was densely crowded and the atmosphere simply stifling, but for an hour the congregation listened to Mr. Brown with wrapt attention. I think the orthodox clergy will do well to ignore Mr. Brown's offer to meet them and discuss the points on Avhich he is heterodox. He would, I am confident, demolish them entirely. There may be men in Atickland who are superior to him in so far as mere eloquent exhortation is concerned, but in argument, reasoning and explanation he is, without doubt, facile pi'inceps. The service at the Temperance Hall is very short. It consists of three hymns, a brief — very brief prayer, and the sermon. The whole affair is over iv an hour and a quarter. I doubt, however, whether a man can do better than spend his Sunday evenings there. He at any rate gets something to think about during the week. The Philistine.