UNITED MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 6

UNITED MISSION.

INTERVIEW WITH DR. HENRY. . HIS CAREER AND PEANS. Since the Torrey-Alesander mission rejoiced, startled, and dismayed the people of this country in varying proportions, according to their character and preconceived ideas, there has been no mission to Now Zealand upon so large a scale, and destined to remain so-long a period as the'mission, which will commence its public appeal inthe Town HalT to-morrow. This mission is supported by the Evangelical Churches, and it really includes five since Mrs. Potts will act as accompanist for her husband's' solos, and Mrs. Henry, Miss Henry, and Mrs. Potts will all give help in 1 "personal work." In Dr. Henry, as the preacher of the mission, the greatest interest is naturally felt. He appears to be ■ a plain, blunt man, of middle age, untheatrical and earnest, with a very simple theol-

ogy, and a belief in an active devih He speakß forcibly and clearly, without'an extreme accent. He is not obtrusively - American, but' then he has been six years in the United Kingdom. Ho declares that hi 3. object is to work in .closest association, with,.-the Churches: if his .work' should provoke' criticism he will be here to face it, for he has planned to carry on campaigns in the Dominion until August 1, and if his services are needed they will be continued till the end of the year. Dr. Henry's past career", as outlined by hiin at the . request, of -. the interviewer, should fit him well for the task-which he has undertaken. A Varied Carter. He was born in one of the central States, and. graduated from the University of Chicago and Divinity School: Ho then settled on the Pacific coast, and was pastor for nearly twenty years at Sacramento, San Francisco, and Portland (Oregon). During that time he was associated with most,of the different phases of religious-work—educa-tional, missionary, and evangelistic— and co-operated with the' Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., and other bodies. Then for five years he held a pastorate in Chicago, till ho was called to Great Britain by the National Free Church Council in the opening year of the century to help them secure'one million new total abstinence pledges. He accepted the invitation for three months, but his work proved so prosperous that he remained-in the United Kingdom nearly six yeaTS, surrendering his work in America. For.two years of his stay he was engaged- almost exclusively in temperance work, and then for nearly four year's his work was evangelistic, with a temperance feature. At his. meetings he took 150,000 new total abstinence pledges, and had more than 25,000 declared converts to Christ.

On his committee were some of. the best known ' religious leaders in Great Britain,'including the' Rev. ,F. B. Meyer as chairman, and. the Rev. Thomas Sprirgeoh. . Three years ago. Dr. Henry returned to the United States, to continue his work along evangelistic, lines, but very unexpectedly he received a call-to the city of Los Angelos, South California, which he accepted, wholly for the purpose of haying a-settled home once more and a constant school for his children. This pastorate he surrendered on January 1 of the present year to conduct his present mission. During his pastoral ministry he has received over 3000 persons into membership of the churches he has served, and has always been active in reform work along temperance lines, and with regard to the protection of children, "especially the protection of boys from the cigarette." The Now Zealand Mission. Dr. Henry has been in correspondence with people in New Zealand and Australia for five years in connection with this and he states'that ho-hag

looked forward to his visit, to New Zealand with the greatest interest, and with sanguine hopes of doing good. The mission in Wellington will close on April 29, and Masterton will be the next scene of operations. "I have a great desire," said Dr. Henry, "to visit those places that have never experienced a united evangelistic mission. I am told that that is the case with Masterton. I should like to cover every important town of 5000 persons and over. I have left my _ plans for both America and Australia in such a shape that I can remain here' as long as it seems wise to do so and the work prospers."

"Temperance work," Dr. .Henry said, in' answer to a question, "is just an incidental feature-of my New' Zealand mission. We plan in all our campaigns to have one temperance night. In some communities wo may have a midnight demonstration, usually a Saturday night, parade through the streets, in which we pick up drunkards and get theatre-goers and others to- join. My purpose in this campaign is evangelistic, soul-winning, and I shall only deal with temperance just as I would with gambling, or Sabbath-breaking, or impurity; or anything else that hinders the progress of the 'churches and the salvation of the people." Some Novel Features. Some novel features w3l bo introduced into the mission. For instance', a "church" day will be set apart when the co-operating churches wiH.be asked to hold special services in the morning for prayer and discussion, followed by a big combined meeting in the afternoon, at which reports on the morning services will be given. There will be an "old peopled day," when the' "old, old hymns" will be sung, and a special message given, to the aged. A "schools'" day will also be observed, when the missioners will try to get in touch. with the school children and with students.

Mr. Potts is described by Dr. Henry as an effective soloist and choir leader —"not so demonstrative as Mr. Charles (Alexander, hut he wins, he grows on the people, and knows how to hold a choir together and interest and use them." Leaders of religions work, as carried on by the evangelistic churches and organisations in Wellington, have seen a good deal of Dr. Henry and Mr. Potts during the last few days, and the good .impressions which were formed of them at their first reception have, been steadily confirmed and added to by the acquaintance. ■■;■'• ._,-/ Mass meetings in connection-with.the mission will-be held in the Town. Hall \to-day at 3 p.m. and 8.30 p!m. '