A UNITED MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1708, 27 March 1913, Page 6

A UNITED MISSION.

CHAPMAN-ALEXANDER PARTY THE OPENING MEETING. WELCOME BY THE PREMIER. • The Chapman-Alexander mission party commenced a series of mission services in the Town Hall last night. Tho Rav. AV; S. Potter presided. The missioners were welcomed by tho Prime Minister (the Hon. AV. F. Massey).' The big hall was crowded in. every corner. . Tho members of the mission party now in Wellington are Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman and Mrs. Chapman, Mr. Charles M. Alexander, Mr. Harkness (accompanist), Mrs. Harkness (soloist), Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Norton (speakers oii ■ personal work), Mr. G. T, B. Davis/ (in charge of the Pocket' Testament League), Mr. It. B. Eock (secretary to Dr. Chapman), Mr. W. W. Eock (secretary to .Mr. Alexander). Travelling with the party, at his o,lvn expense, is Mr. C. H. Donnison, of New York City. Mrs. Alexander, who 1 - is at present in Australia, recovering from an illness, will join the party . b'jfore the mission closes in Wellington.

Tho chairman, speaking on behalf of the Wellington Ministers' Association antl the Christian Churches of the city, gave a sincere and hearty welcome to Dr. Chapmau, Mr. Alexander, and tho members of their party! .He assured them of loyal support in their mission.

Mr. Massey's Speech. The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. V, Massey) welcomed the mission party oh. behalf of the whole of the people of New Zealand. (Applause.) He was glad to do so, ho said, because people had the best of reasons for knowing that in tho countries the mission party bad visited their, influence had been for' good. Ho had no doubt that their influenco would be for good in New Zealand also. They were out, not in the interests of any sect or persuasion, but for the promotion of Christianity as.a whole, and for the'betterment of mankind. It was therefore the duty of people here to show appreciation of what they .were doing, and givo them every possible .encouragement. (Applause.) There were'many people in New Zealand who .were better men and women for the influence of the Torrey-Alexander mission, and lie hoped that-a still greater number would be benefited by the present mission. (Applause.) He did not suppose the people of New Zealand were any better or worse than the people of any other British community, but because the lives of folk here were cast in pleasant places, and conditions of life were perhaps a little, easier'than elsewhere, they were not inclined to be so seriousminded as • perhaps they might be. It was therefore a good thing' that they should be 'of their spiritual' shortcomings and failures. The messengers were now present; 'they were doing their duty, and it was for the hearers to do their duty also, and profit by the teaching. (Applause.) He trusted that the missioners'stay in New Zealand would, bo pleasant to themselves and profitable to many of tile people of New Zealand. (Applause.) The Rev. A. Hinton, local secretary for the mission, made an announcement as to tho financial arrangements for the missipn. He said the party came here without any* financial guarantee at all. The expenses of. the mission, would, not be less than .£SOO, and it was hoped that the people ,of Wellington would see to it that after meeting this expenditure : there would be something left over to. 'defray the travelling and other expenditure of •the party. .■ •• Tho chairman then handed the conduct of; the meeting over; "to "Dr. Chapman, who in turn handed it over to Mr. Alexander. / ' ill'.; Alexander crflled on Mrs. Harkness to sing one of the well-known mission songs, "He; Died of a Broken Heart." Mi's. Harkness, who has a voice of rare quality, and sweetness, sang the chorus thsaugh twice, anil then Mr. Alexander, in, his own way, made tho congregation sin" ; it. Afterwards - tlioy sang the "Glory Song" and other hymns. v

Dr. Chapman's Address. . Presently Dr. Chapman took charge of the <, meeting again, -and, after reading a passage of Scripture, he acknowledged the welcome accorded v him. He appreciated, he.said,,the words, of. kindly welcome spoken by the chairjnan, and by the Prime' Minister. In saying this lie was sure lie was speaking the mind of every member of tho mission party. They had the honour: of civic receptions elsewhere, but he believed this was the first time they had ever, had the honour of being welcomed by anyone representing the jjeneral Government. All the members of the party desired sincerely to fulfil the highest expectations of tho whole of the community., If,. when they went away, ministers found ..it' easier to toil, and men found it more difficult to do wrong, and more easy to do right—if there should come to the Dominion such a blessing as he believed was-possible-then all that they had put into . the mission Ly way of effort would bring back a great return. Personally, he believed there was no land beneath the sun where a blessing could accomplish greater results than in this land of New Zealand. If people could live ill'it would havo them live, then New Zealand might well be -called the garden spot of the world. But their beautiful scenery could not take tlie place of righteousness, and he asked them to pray that the mission' would' be a blessing to them, and to the churches of tho 'community. was an interval of song service, conducted by -Mr. Alexander, and then Dr. Chapman delivered his address. Ho realised, he said, that it was not easy to bring a message as a stranger, and he, unlike My. Alexander, did not come as ail old friend., I'o'r five happy years he had been .associated with Mr. Alexander.. Mr. Alexander had been to him as a right arm, and possibly Mr. Alexander would say the same thing about him. They had been so wonderfully blest that they felt humbled in. God's sight. They were filled with the very sincerest desire to speak 'a word which would give the peoplo- a revelation of Jesus Christ, and a revelation of what it was possible for them to do if they were followers of the Master. The message which had come to liim would bo found in the first part of that wonderful intercessory prayer, "Tho hour is come." "This Isn't a Picture Show." From this text Dr. Chapman preached a ,most eloquent sermon. Ho mado his points in lauguago unconventional to Now Zealautlcrs' ears, and he has tho Americans' trick of illustrating with apt anecdotes or similes. At 110 timo wfcro his methods other than those of a preacher very much in earnest. They were original, certainly, but ho would havo • 110 levity. People approved of certain of his remarks,' and they applaudod, but he at once bid them sternly not to do that. Again, near the closo of the service people began to movo out, and ho said: "You people, stand right where you are. Let's get used to this the first night; don't start to move out until after the Benediotion. This isn't a picture show. And don't let us have- any talking as you go If you want to talk you must go out into, tho-streot."

In tlio courso of his addres9 he said tlmt some people thought nowadays that revivals were out of dato, and some regarded them in a spirit of hostile criticism., But ho knew that tho church had mado her advancement along tho line of revivals. Certainly revivals were needed in America., and he thought they wore needed, liore... Ho might have occasion to say- tilings which might not please—ho would speak plainly—but ho would not bo a good ovangelist if he did not do so. One of the. troubles about modern preach-ing"wa-s that it was "too dainty, too a-lto-gether too nice." It had become unpopular to bo "too dead in earnest." In some places in his own country if a minister were too much in earnest he would bo called either a fanatic or a missicner. But if the Biblo was true, the hour had come when they should bo on fire. After tho address there wag an aftermeeting, for which a very large proportion of tlio congregation remained. Tito mission will be continued to-dny and to-night.