Gipsy Smith Pleads For Christian Courage.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18013, 25 November 1926, Page 10

Gipsy Smith Pleads For Christian Courage.

TELLING ADDRESS IN BARRACKS BY EVANGELIST, WHO URGES MEN TO BE STRONG.

The spineless people who have not the courage of their Christianity were pilloried last night by Gipsy Smith in a stirring mission address which he gave to an audience of two thousand people in the King Edward Barracks. “I’m not here for an entertainment,” he said. “ I’m here to fight a battle, and T mean to get the verdict.” His forceful utterance of mordant phrases held the audience, which he kept completely under power. At the end of the service, decision cards were signed, and there was a striking scene when the evangelist called upon the waverers to stand up that he might pray for them. Slowly they stood up at first, but in a few moments over twenty rose to their feet. To them he promised his prayers.

The service opened with the singing of hymns by choir and audience. During the singing of “I Would be Dike Jesus,” the evangelist said, turning to the ministers on the platform, “Let us have a ministerial chorus. Stand up, my brethren. The ministers sang and the audience applauded their effort. The Rev. E. D. Patchett came forward to address the people, and said that sinews of war were required. “They can be supplied by you.” he said, “and to-day tho executive decided that the publicity campaign must not, be curtailed. The Press of Christchurch has been very good to the mission and served us well, and we hope that suport of all sorts continues.” “Let me have a word about that.” gaid Gipsy. "I’ve got five shillings in tny pocket, but I onlv remember put ting one in. Where did I get it from?” (Turning to the pianist, “J sav, Eddy, did you give me any money?” Eddy (decidedly): No fear. Gipsy: How manv people are here for the first time to-night? Cp went many hands. “ Well, you’ve got a lot of collections to make up. Is this mission worth the price of a picture show?” Cries of “ Yes.” “ Well, put it in.” said the evangelist. " You Could Afford It.” “ T wish.” said Gipsy, “ some generous soul would say, ‘Here, Gipsy Smith jet the mission be my guest for ono day.' You could afford it ,some of vou. when you lose so much in a day at the races.” The choir sang another hymn and when the sinking finished, the evangelist. said: “With a choir like that ,we can do anything.” “Say ‘Amen,’ you people.” There was a light chorus iu response. “Say 'AMEN,’ I said.” There was a much louder chorus this time. u Among Princes.’’ Gipsy spoke about his future meetings and mentioned that on Friday he would tell of his experiences during

irsr« a r* r * was * n France w jth the i .M.C.A. for three and a half years and then the Foreign Office called me home to do propaganda in America. King George sent for me, and when I went to Buckingham Palace he decorated me-—gave me an honour. What do you think of that for a gipsy boy? .Grace certainly takes beggars from the dunghill and sets them among princes. I would have still been in my tent if Jesus had not saved me.” Gipsy appealed to the audience to stay till the end of the service and in doing so, he said: “I’m not here for entertainment—l’m here to fight a battle and I intend to get the verdict. Don’t go away early because the last few moments arc the most important one to me.” A Plea for Strength. Choosing as his text, Isaiah, chapter LII, verse 1, the evangelist made a stirring appeal in which he exhorted all to vesture themselves in Christ’s clothing and stand unshakeable in their support of Him.*, “Your sins are your weaknesses,” he said, “your sins are your sorrow. You’re defeated, and you are the laughing stock of men and devils; the playthings of your foes. Some of you are strong, have manhood in you, but you are not strong enough to carry home your week’s wages on Saturday. You have not the strength to pass the first I beer shop that you see—you’re weak I as water, and yet you call yourselves strong. Where’s your courage? j Where’s your moral backbone? Some of you men who are ashamed of your Christianity, try your strength the next time you are asked to have a drink. A dead fish can swim with the stream, but it takes a live one to swim against it. ’ Friends Everywhere. “You people have got friends, but in some parts where you may have one, I’ve got a thousand. I've been making friends for the past 50 years in six continents, and I've got the entree to the best homes and the best society, yet no one has ever invited me to a wine supper or a dance not that I can't skip all right.”

“I’M FIT, TOO.” “I'm fit, I can run a hundred yards race with any youth of twenty in this hall, and beat him too—if he gives me start enough. I’m a grandfather, but I’m fit, and I’ll tell you why. “Jesus saved me before I contracted a vice—l’ve no black spots on me—thank God. I’m a life teetotaller, and I’ve never smoked.” THE MANLY THING. “It's the most manly thing in the world,” he said, “to stand for Christ, for it means being as strong as the mountains and as fresh as the morn. The most beautiful and refined people in the world are the people Jesus gets His way with. If you’re not beautiful it’s because Jesus has never had His way with you. Think of the violet—you can measure the flower, but not the perfume.” FROM THE WOODS. “Everything that’s beautiful comes from the woods—l came from the woods. Pianos and organs come from the woods, and the Cross too, came from the woods. If Jesus gets His way He’ll make you beautiful. How is it there is no living with some of you office-bearers? How is it there is no living with some of you women ? (Laughter). “I’m not joking now. Some of you have forgotten to say a sweet thing to those closest to you. You hardly say ‘thank you’ for a kind act. You merely grunt something. You must never get angry, slam doors, get into a passion—it isn't Christ-like. “To look at some of you people at church is to look at tramps as far as spiritual clothing is concerned. God’s wardrobes are filled with magnificent things to wear, and they’ll fit everybody. Put on charity, put on love, put them on, my brother, my sister, wear the beautiful, wear your mother’s religion. Let us be out and out for Jesus. We’ve only got to look within to see that we are not as beautiful as we should be—that's so isn’t it?” Cries of “Yes.” “Do you want Jesus to make you as beautiful as you should be? Stand up those who do.” The audience rose in a body and the evangelist looked over the heads—“ Tell God, now, what you want.” For a few moments the people stood with bowed heads and then sang “I Need Thee Every Hour.” The decision cards were handed round and Gipsy said: “You’ve used your pens and pencils for other purposes, now use them for Jesus.” Tho choir sang a h} r mn. Then Gipsy came forward. “If anyone is in doubt about their decision, stand up and I will pray for that person when I get back to my room to-night.” No one stood for a few seconds, and then a man rose. He was followed by others, twenty-two in all. “I’ll pray for you,” said Gipsy, “and will you all pray for me, too?” Cries of “Yes” and “Amen.”