ST. PAUL'S HALL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12652, 4 November 1910, Page 8

ST. PAUL'S HALL.

A very important luncheon for church workers was .held in Sty Paul's Hall. lEyery seat was filled, and others provided, "and the presence of many lady workers, together; -with, the table decorations, presented an animated appearance. Probably not quite such a, representative, gathering of elders, dea-s cons, deaconesses, >and other ■ church , . has been cbnvened in Wanga^ nui. The niission has been a, fine demontration of the substantial unity of the churches, aitd this midday gathering was auite in keeping with the splent spi' of cooperation manifested by the ministers of the town and, in fact, all those taking part in the mission.; Beside the workers present there were the Mayor, Mv C. E. Mackay, and the mission party. The luncheon was E** o™^ by; Cutelli. After the Rev J. D. McKenzie had proposed and the Rev E. Patehett had seconded a Vote of thanks to the lady waiters, who were voluntary church workers, Dr Henry » gav^, an address on how to conserve the"£ruits of the mission. That was a delightful gathering. They had held many important meetings durinothe mission, but he doubted if there were any more important than this gathering for the great problem of evangelism is how to conserve the fruits. He-urged them to remember the difficulties of the new> converts. ■Don t think it was easy for; them to come out—some had had a struggle with hell. He held the church"was^ the purchased possession of Jesus Christ and it was the home of every saved man. woman, and child. If they kept tho new converts, outside the church for six months to see if the devil would destroy them they would' not have many to admit. He had asked a very experienced man how soons should new converts be admitted.to the Church. The reply was: if not sooner. '■' One good plan to enthuse and strengthen the workers was the mission study classes. He was glad to see how well the Church Council of. Wangariui was working. Not many places where they had been visiting in New Zealand had such an organisation,,. After dealing further with the treatment of the converts, he .said: If pastors could next Sunday ask those who have confessed Christ in this campaign to come out .aud confer him in "their wn churches, it would be well. Then those who would not confess him in the mission might come out. It would also be well to have a meeting: of converts and introduce them to the church officers. It was not only a good plan to help converts, but was helpful to the officers _ The children who had come out during the mission sbotild have close personal supervision by their Sun- , dnv-school teachers. If they could not visit their charges fliey must, arrange 'lor-others to do so. The work of the mission was just beginning. It meant P/oocl and nerve and tail, but it also meant victory. The campaign meant j new responsibilities' on pastor officers ' °A nr,£ ,r AV olkers- Tlie mission was the :it ,° ft] 16 work< the balance of the alphabet had to be now treated. He advised the Church Council to arrange periodical rallies. What could be done in lace of the. great needs of the newly converted There was the important matter of church acanaintance. They h»A name from worldly associations and they bod to find a new set of nssoointions. He rdvisod also the big biovnnJT system ' J wh«*« a man took a younger man into Irs cn-e. or, mnm. Vnfr-fVli l°V a Td ?? ye fivmnathetic I spiritual help. In New York there ! played the big brother to 2.000 boys i m this same helpful way. Let th«"4 j remomber the adversary, the devil would try to nullify the effects of such o mT; .^«e things the devil can nu • t- tned *° keeD men fl>o™ being a Christian at all. Then he wished to aS^ 1?eOpI%frOlll 1 beinff a «rat*d Christian. Then he would coma with »' 52$ /?i tO I)Ve-at the m «™nm instead of the mnimnm of th« fpfih There was all this to contend with. The. epnePHa themselves had r<*pon ß il ■ W'ties ■He honed fW would si it

kept from this by the action of good people, who stcod apart. Seeing them, the young convert tried it to his harm. The "churches needed an atmosphere for the young convert like unto the Kingdom of God. If souls were born amid spiritual fervour like the mission, and then dropped into a frigid church and a lamentable absence "of cordiality, it would be a terrible test. The workers in the inquiry room were responsible. If they had done their work in a fragmentary and insincere manner it was a very serious matter. Two defects of evangelism could do tremendous harm. If undue emphasis was laid upon the emotional rather than on conscience and will, then the evangelist is to blame. People who were cranks and had hobbies harmed religion. Hobbyism and criticism is responsible for much criticism upon evangelism. Often also criticism is based upon misconception of what is involved in a revival. The spiritual atmosphere created the new buoyancy^ and impulse to the Christian community was lost sight of. In temperance matters the value of blip campaign outside of other results was the bracing up of the- moral fibre of ihe community, and thus often saved it from stupefaction. So with the great United Mission. The bracing up of Christians is among the very finest results.

A PLEA FOR A V.M.C.A

He concluded by a strong appeal on behalf of the crowds of young men in Wanganui, and urged a step forward to establish a fine V.M.C.A. A little applause was given. Dr Henry, '"The applause was rather feeble." A Voice: "We want the business men here.^' "Yes," said the doctor. The applause for a V.M.C.A.. was feeble. Hearty applause was then forthcoming. "I wish to testify," said he, "that in all the course ot my ministry I do not remember losing one young man from my church because he joined the V.M.C.A., and, of course, the Bible-classes could be associated with it."