CHAPMAN-ALEXANDER MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1717, 7 April 1913, Page 6

CHAPMAN-ALEXANDER MISSION.

ADDRESS TO MEN. Tho main floor of the Town Hall was more than three-parts filled, and tho sallory was also occupied yesterday afternoon, when n "men only" meeting in connection with the Chapman-Alexander inission was hold. Tho singe was occupied by the choir and various local clergymen. Previous to tho address by Dr. Chapman, Hi*. Hercus, of Chrisfchurch, was called upon, and in referring to tlic work done by the mission in the southern city, ho l>oro testimony to the good that had been achieved. There had been a wonderful outpouring of 'the Snirit of God and wonderful meetings throughout. Tho two men's meetings in Cliristehurch wore larger than the ono ha was then addressing, and lie . was sure that if they had been able to liave the snaco "Wellington offered, ChristcliUrch would have left no empty seats as Wellington had done. This empty seats, to his mind, showed that the men of this city did not reeogniso tho good thing they were missing. ' As (t •l'osulfc of 'the mission every churcli in Cliristehurch had'benefited, and an outstanding feature of the Mission was the way tho ministers of different denmninations had rallied round the niissioiiers. In one church in particular, which ho could name, tho effect of (the minion had been marvellous. Two outstanding features of the mission would, he believed remain for good, the ■ missioned having lie thought, made their mark on tho social problems of the dav in Christchurcli. Ono feature was "in regard to the liquor 'traffic. They were fighting a' great fight against, the liquor traffic in thristehureh, and lie hoped tho same was the case in Wellington. (Applause*.) He felt that the result would -bo seen at tho next polling. Tho other connection in which tho missioners had made their mark was in the formation of the pocket -Testament League. Personally he was a strong supporter of the introduction of the Bible into tho Stato schools. In his opinion it was a scandal that our voung people were being educated in the schools without the Bible. However, one very excellent' method for brinp?ng" the younjj peoplo into touch with the Biblo was tho 'carrying and reading of the pocket testament. (Applause.) Dr. Chapman spoke on tho text, "They ■nave sown wind—They shall reap the. whirlwind," and prefaced his address with some pimple but striking remarks } rl V l ; special application to those who had been with Christ and faltered. Such peoplo ho urged would never be truly until they got back again to tho . rl l , mau C 01 1 ' (' cvcr his best until he.made a strnightoivt acknowledgment of Jesus Christ, and Dr. Chapman made a dircet anneal to his hearers to take a stand for Christ. Dr. Chapman proceeded to show that each man, in his own heart, promised to reform some day, but the "sowing" was so very easy. He did not believe that the average man meant to go wrong, but .tli©. beginning was small and. very easy— ■ a sinful thought, an impure imagination,' a small then', all led ! to weakening, and 1 man was prone to say to himself ono night more, or ono l sin more, and odch limo he was going further on tho path of sin, tho cords tightening on him every time. Sin was insidious, sin was awful, it was devilish in its power, and too often wo were too weak to battle with it. In simple but powerful language Dr. Chapman spoke to his audience man to man, and sought to show that dishonesty sown must be reaped, and likewiso 'impurity sown must also bo reaped. Several striking illustrations were . told Ito give point to the arguments adduced during tho address, the onusical portion of tho proceedings was conducted by Mr. Alexander, tho choir and tho audience entering into ilhe singing with great enthusiasm. ii 1! t no evening an open meeting was h !?ld in tho .town Hall, when the body of the hall was two-thirds filled, and the. gallery was crowded. Dr. Chapman snoke and Forgiveness." Dr. Chapman preached to a'largo congregation in St. John's Prcsbvterian (-■liurcii yesterday morning, basin" the remarks, {in St. John vi. C 8: ','Lord to whom shall we go?" He held the close attention of the congregation throughout, no urged church members to bo more Christlike, and those who were drifting ito come back. .