HE PLEADS FOR STURDY CHRISTIANS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18016, 29 November 1926, Page 14

HE PLEADS FOR STURDY CHRISTIANS.

GIPSY SMITH TALKS TO FOUR THOUSAND. IMPRESSIVE SERVICE HELD IN BARRACKS. Over 4000 people gathered in the King Edward Barracks last night, when Gipsy Smith held one of the most impressive services ever seen in Christchurch. His colourful and vigorous address made a deep impression on the gTeat audience, and the ushers had strenuous minutes in distributing and collecting the decision cards. One of the most impressive parts of the service was reached when the audience and choir united in the singing of “ King of All.” When the last notes were stilled, the evangelist called the gathering to prayer. While the people were flowing in, Gipsy Smith called upon the boys and girls to give their seats up to the adults, and he asked them to sit on the platform near him. “ God bless the boys and girls!” he said, as they did what he told them to do. Funds Needed. Mr R. A. Kenner said that two or three weeks ago the mission executive found that the estimated cost of the hall and seating arrangements was £BOO. The executive seriously considered whether the mission was possible on such a large scale. However, they felt that the city was behind, them, so they went ahead. The takings each night had not been up to the average of the daily costs. None of the money went to the missioner, but there would be a goodwill collection taken up for him and his party. Independent. “ I don’t care whether you give me anything or not,” said Gipsy. “ I’m independent, and I can hit you as hard as I like. Be religious, and pay yoor debts. I’m your guest. I come here at the invitation of your ministers. “ You’ll pay ? ” “ Yes,” came the answer. " Well, put your hands in, and do it with a smile-—don’t look sour as if you could turn milk- The Lord loves a cheerful giver.” Continuing, the missioner said that he would be leaving for Vancouver on December 21. “ I have been working since February 2,” he said, “ and in that time 100,000 people have signed the decision cards.” The Address. The text for the evangelist’s address was made up of three extracts from the second epistle of St Peter:— Partakers of the divine nature; partakers of the divine sufferings; partakers of the divine glory. “ The * natural man,” said Gipsy, “does not understand the things of God—they are foolishness to him. It takes a musician to understand a piano, a botanist to understand a rose, a student of the firmament to understand the stars. To understand God.it is necessary to be sane and reverent. His Conversion, “ When I was converted, I could not spell my name, and I could not read books. I got my religion by observation, Whenever my tent was pitched near a village, I used to get my father’s permission to attend whatever service was being held. I went to the services, and dragged from them all that was worth while. The thing that used to impress me was the earnestness of everyone then. The man preached for a purpose; the people prayed for a purpose—that purpose was a conversion. There was a constant watch for the anxious face. You remember the question, ‘ Has he got through ? ’ “ How many remember ? Say ‘ Aye,’ those who do.” Many voices responded. “ There are thousands of people in this city who don’t read the Bible,” said Gipsy, “ but they read you churchgoers, and I should not be surprised that they want a revised version. They are watching you, just as I am watched. Sturdy Christianity. “To be a Christian when I came to Christ was costly. To be a Christian in those days was to be a pilgrim, a soldier of Christ. It was to be laughed at, persecuted, hated; to walk a straight, narrow road, and to touch not the unclean thing. We have compromised since then. To be a Christian now is a picnic. “ I could make you the member of a religious club; I could immerse you; I could put my bands on youf- head for confirmation. There is as much in these fingers as there is in any other fingers this side of the pearly gates. God has set his seal on these fingers on six Continents.” Sneering. At this point the evangelist broke off. He saw some sneerers in his audience. “ I hate to see sneering and laughing from people who should know better,” he said. “You’ll forgive me if I protest.” Cries of “Yes!" from the audience. “ I knew I had you behind me,” he said. Jazzing Religion. “ Most people now seem to want a jazzing religion. They don’t like the man who tells the truth. You tire yourself at tennis and cycling. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but have you ever tired yourself for Jesus? No man is a Christian until he walks with God.” The decision cards were then distributed, and the hymn, “ I Need Thee Every Hour,” was sung. “It is beautiful to know that people are struggling to be a little nearer,” said the evangelist.