CHRISTIAN COURAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 231, 30 September 1929, Page 5

CHRISTIAN COURAGE.

Preaching in the Pitt Street Methodist Church last evening, Rev. W. Walker took for his text Mark x.. 50; "Rise, He calleth thee! And h?, casting away his garment, sprang up and came to Jesus." "This incident." declared Rev. Walker, "revealed the moral earnestness of blind Bartimeus." Tlie world owed much to men and women who, having the courage of their convictions, would not be silenced i>\' the crowd. Samuel Plimsoll in his endeavour to have the load line placed on every British ship, encountered tremendous opposition, especially from vested interests. When Disraeli announced on July 22, 1875. the intention of the Government to drop the bill, Plimsoll would not be silenced, and dared to charge the Government with the murder of all who would afterwards lose their lives through the overloading of unseawortliy ships. His incessant appeals were at last heeded and the bill was passed making the load line compulsory on all British ships, which to this day is better known as the Plimsoll line. It was a noticeable thing that as soon as a person aspires to something higher and nobler the crowd always sought to put hindrances in the way. At such a time it depended upon earnestness, grit and determination whether his asjoirations were subdued or, like Bartimeus, he rose above it. It took a person of strong character to bear clown opposing forces. If church members had as much daring and courage in fighting for the right as theworld had in fighting for the wrong, the Kingdom of God would rapidly extend. The call given to Bartimeus was to "rise up." This had always been the message of Jesus. He raised everything His influence touched whether it be an individual, a nation or an institution. Every hindrance in the way of coming to Jesus must be cast aside. Mr. J. McDougall effectively rendered "I heard the voice of Jesus sav."