A REMARKABLE EVANGELIST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 5

A REMARKABLE EVANGELIST.

THE REV.' J. FLxVNAGA-N-:'■■■•■■•■ ; .'•. —r— ■■ ■.":■■;•::''.' ; :i:".". ' .(Contributed.) Tho Rev. Jamos .Flagagan, ono of England's greatest .ovangolistd, is expected to arrive by tho Maheno to-morrow. In the aftomoo'n tho Mayor will give him » welcome on behalf of tho city.'- Mr, Flanagan is-sent out by tho English Prinijtivo ■Metho-; dist Conference of the same denomination. A wolcame , will bo accorded to him in tho Donald M'Lcan Street Priinitivo Methodist. Church, whon addrosses will bo delivered -by the Hon. G. Fowlds, M.H.R., the Hon, C. 41. LiiUo, M.L.C., Mr. N'gata, M.H.R,, anil others.

Mr. ' Flanagan's greatest work has been done in the slums of London, amid the darkness, poverty, ignorance and vico of tSouthwark. For about fifteen years ho laboured lileo a hero amid depressing surroundings, until to-day he is ono of the nioSt popular inon umongst tho masses of South-East London. The secular press, and religious' organs of the various churches have united in a chorus of pnjiso in- favour^ofc the.work ho.has done, and ho".wilrbellong?rememt)'orod as ono who wont into tho depths when "slumming" was not as pppH|,as, as it is today. In fact, he is one of tlio men who havo made it popular. ..Tho -distriet-.whero he has laboured has boon transioj'iiied/. 1 . lias built a large building knowii as St. George's Hall, and, outside his ordinary work as a minister, in eight years he travelled 90,500 miles, preached 1000 times,; delivered 600 lectures, and raised about £20,000 for work among tho poor of South-East London. So impressed havo tho members of tho London County Council been by his work that .they havo rendored him financial help. His labours wero in tlio region where tho poorest in all London woro found; tho history of Southward shows that it has led tho way in tho march of death, disease and poverty for centuries. Mr. Flanagan has been tho good Samaritan of the wretched district; this lecture on his work is a tale of struggle and tnumjih.

Mr. Flanagan is an author, whoso ,works havo sold rabidly. In his latest book, "Scenes From My Life, Both Grave and Gay,' , the missioner has givcu some of his,.experiences in a literary stylo which holds!tho reader's attention to the last page; "Wo aro liorc told how when Mr. Flanagan comjnpncpd, his work, ho had n congregation of- 36. -but twelve years later when tho "Daily Nows" census was takon there was an attendance at tho sovices during the day of 2005 persons, and 30 institutions worp in native oporation during tho week for the good, of the people. In one year seventeen tons of second-hand clothing was supplied•<to the poor of the district' through, the agency of the mission. ,-■• • ' '■■ .' Mr. Flanagan's; .personality has ■ contributed much to his. success;- '■'•;"