DR. SOMERVILLE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1269, 12 April 1878, Page 3

DR. SOMERVILLE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Last night the ministers and friends who sympathise with the Rev. Dr. Somerville’s mission assembled by invitation at the Oddfellows’ Hall to hear from him an explanation of the nature and objects of his mission. There was a very numerous attendance in the body of the hall, and on the platform, with Dr. Somerville and his son, were the following gentlemen:—Revs. C. Fraser, C. Dallaston, J. Elmslie, W. Tinsley, Worker, W. Morley, J. Smalley, and Messrs J. T. Brown, J. P. Jameson, J. Ballantyne, J. H. Twenty man, W. D. Wood, J. Cameron, and W. H. Hargreaves. At first it had been thought that tho large room at the back of the hall would accommodate the attendance, but it was found necessary to adjourn to the large hall, where the proceedings were opened with a prayer. Dr. Somerville then said that as all he intended to say during his mission was, he hoped, to be founded on the Word of God, he would begin that meeting by reading the last five verses of Corinthians I. chap. 1., according as it is written, “ He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord.” From the text Dr. Somerville enforced the necessity of humility, in order that a blessing might attend his mission. He thanked those present for their numerous attendance, and proceeded to give an account of the objects he had in view, prefacing his remarks by stating that he had been a minister in a large congregation in Scotland for forty years. He did not lay claim to the honourable term Evangelist, nor had he come for the purpose of visiting or inspecting churches, or of strengthening any particular church, or of proselvtising, or of setting up any new ecclesiastical organisation, or of breaking down tho thin partitions which exist between the difft rernt sections of Christ’s Church, or of preaching any new doctrine, or of engaging in controversy. He had not come even to preach sermons. He had four objects in view, viz: —1, To win souls to Christ; 2, To vitalize Christians; 3, to combine, without amalgamating, the different churches; and 4, to stir up Christians to consider the necessities of the great world outside, and to take practical measures for evangelising the whole earth, His mission was founded upon prayer, therefore prayer was made a special feature. Ho was glad to find that he had been “ floated into ” Christchurch on prayer, since noonday prayer meetings had been already organised here. There were seven features in prayer meetings which he desired them to remember, viz., punctuality, life, brevity, variety, point, promptitude, and joy. He briefly elucidated the meaning of each of these words, and exhorted as many as could to attend the meetings. In the evenings there would be various exercises. There would also be “ after meetings ” occasionally. A number of stewards would be required, and he hoped that young men would volunteer. While on his mission he had had trials from two causes—mosquitoes and babies He must request the stewards to see that no children in arms were admitted. He would kiss as many as were brought to him outside the meeting. In some places he had had a considerable audience of dogs, but he need not refer to that in Christchurch. He concluded his address by again referring to the necessity of humiljty. Mr W. T* Somerville then spoke of the singing at the meetings. The liynqns to be used were Mr Sjankey’s latest edition, which were undenominational. He called for volunteers who Christians, were musicians, and were willing to devote themselves to the work for a definite period, coming to all meetings, and to practice every day after the noon day meeting. The qualities the singing should possess were soul, expression, vivacity and clear enunciufripp. The Rev. Mr Elmslie announced that letters of apology for absence had been received from the Rev. Mr Watson, and the Rev. Mr M'Gregor of Kaiapoi. He then spoke of Dr. Somerville as accredited to the colonies by representatives of all the Protestant evangelical churches in Great Britain. The hon. secretary, Mr Thos. Pillow, requested young men, willing to act ns stewards, to send in their names before Sunday. Dr. Somerville announced that his first meeting would be at 3 o’clock on Sunday in the Theatre Royal. On Monday at half-past 7 in the the evening, there would be a meeting in the OddL Hows’ Hall, at wdiich he would address ministers and Christian workers. Admission to thjs wou}d“he by ’ticket, but would be gratia. Other meetings would be advertised. The Rev. Mr Worker then pronounced the benediction, and the meeting separated.