THE REV JAMES FLANAGAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10926, 15 November 1913, Page 4

THE REV JAMES FLANAGAN.

EVANGELIST, LECTURER, AUTHOR. Tho Rev James Flanagan, who commences a mission in the Grand Theatre on Sunday, November 23, is one of England's greatest preachers. More than twenty years ago he gave up a good salary and a splendid congregation. Ho conducted a men's Pleasant Sunday Afternoon in Nottingham with a membership of 2500, at that time the largest men's meeting in tho world. He commenced work in tho slums of London, and his labours in Southwark read like a romance. Ho built the magnificent pile of buildings known as St George's Hall, and to raise the money ho took a "consecrated tramp" round England, during which he travelled 35,000 miles, and ho lectured and preached hundreds of times. The largest buildings were crowded to hear him. It was a triumphal tour. He wou'd lecture an hour, then stop and refuse to continue until a second collection was taken up. At tho end of tho second hour he stopped, and after a third collection he continued his lecture for a third hour. Ho raised £20,000 for slum work in London, and St Georgo's Hall was opened free of debt. The Corporation of London granted ono hundred guineas to the fund. The re-markable-sceues witnessed under his preaching are described in his " Lifo," published by Hodder and Staughton. A few weeks before he left Loudon for New Zealand a remarkable demonstration of religious enthusiasm was witnessed under a sermon he proached. It lias been said that as a preacher he has tho eloquence of George Whitfield, the culture of Fletcher, tho dramatic power of Christmas Evans and a touch of the humour of Peter Mackenzie. Ho has a beautiful mellow voico and great histrionic gifts, has a charming personality and a great fund of personal magnetism ; the blood of the Colt is in his veins, and ho is an orator of tho first order. He is a poet, and his language is beautiful; ho excels as a word painter. Six years ago Mr Flanagan visited New Zealand, and it is remembered that His Majesty's Theatre was crowded to overflowing to hear him lecture, and there are thousands in the dominion who aro longing to ''hear Flanagan again." He leaves New Zealard early in February, and the mission he commences on Sunday, November 23, in the Grand Theatre, is tho only one he expects to conduct in tho dominion. Ho will pay short visits to other centres. Wo may state that Mr Flanagan is a Methodist minister and has been granted ono years absenco By the English Conference.