MRS. HAMPTON’S MISSION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 637, 16 May 1882, Page 2

MRS. HAMPTON’S MISSION.

-The final evangelistic service in connection with the above in Ashburton at which Mrs Hampson will preside was held in the Town Hall last night. The meeting was primarily for those who had been converted during the mission, but in addition to these, the hall was again filled with an eager and attentive audience. The converts occupied seats in front of the stage, while a number of others were accommodated on either aide of Mrs Hampson. After reading 1 John i., 3—and giving some remarkably lucid expositions as she proceeded—Mrs Hampson took for her text the motto verse on the converts, tickets —“ As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the L-'rd, so walk ye in Him. Con. ii.,6. For nearly an hour she addressed herself to those who had recently been converted, and the words of encouragement and caution which she uttered must have been very cheering and helpful not only to them, but also to more experienced Christians. Following this she made an earnest appeal to all present to sign the pledge and become total abstainers, noiuting out more especially to those who had decided for Christ the danger to which they were exposed by merely the moderate use of intoxicants. Mrs Hampson is no novice at temperance work, but a special feature in connection with her efforts in this direction is, that she always makes total abstinence subordinate to the Gospel, and never overlooks the latter while pleading the claims of the former. Several personal reminiscences in her own history—some of them sad and others amusing—were told in language both touching and laughter-provok-ing. The homo scene, where the speaker lay seriously ill, and the innocent hoax played in good part both on her medical attendants and her affectionate husband, was a picture, the recollection of which will ever bring a smile to the countenances of those who wore present last night. The terrible picture of the interview with the doomed drunkard on his way to the scaffold, and the deplorable results of bad example, were graphically pourtrayed, and, as a result of her address, over 200 persons signed the pledge. Far more would have done this had sufficient tickets been supplied, and we understand Mrs Hampson regrets the Committee did not consult her as to the number likely to be required, as she herself was confident that at least 500 persons would give in their names as total abstainers. This difficulty, however, was partially got over by the names of those who could not get tickets being taken down. and others who desire to obtain total abstinence cards can do so by applying to Mr H. M. Jones, Mr Gavin, or any member of the Committee. At the conclusion of last night’s service a number of persons again remained to the enquiry meeting. The whole of last night’s gathering was a fitting termination to Mrs Hampson’s public ministrations in this place, and she will leave Ashburton with the well wishes of nearly every section of the community.