THE CONCLUSION OF DR. SOMERVILLE'S SERVICES.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1283, 30 April 1878, Page 2

THE CONCLUSION OF DR. SOMERVILLE'S SERVICES.

The concluding service of this eminent Evangelist was held last evening, in the new Theatre Royal, which was filled to overflowing, large numbers having to be turned away from tho doors. There must have been nearly 2000 people present, drawn by the fume of the distinguished lecturer and Evangelist. Upon tho platform were clerical representatives of all the different religions bodies—the Revs. J. Elmslie, C. Frazer, O. Bowen, H. Watson, W. J. Habens, Dallaston, Smalley, Taylor, and others. In the body of the theatre were persons of every clasa and denomination! whose attention was held uninterruptedly for nearly two hours by the rev. lecturer. The lecture was delivered under the auspices of tho Young Men's Christian Association, of which J. H. Twentyman, Esq., is the President. The President occupied the chair and introduced the lecturer to the audienceThe subject of the lecture was the " Fiery Furnace," and was founded upon the incident of Shadraeh, Meshach, and Abednego, related in the third chapter of tho book of Daniel. It was regarded by the lecturer as an illustration of the trial and triumph of faith. He poin f ed out the young men had been prepared for the trial by their previous training and habit of life, t bat they thoroughly believed in the Divine character of their faith, that they were accustomed to exercise self denial, and were men of prayer. The nature of the trial was described with graphic powers, and the subt!ety of the temptation clearly displayed. In the description of the execution the speaker displayed an iutiiate acquaintance with Eastern customs, and represented the whole scene with such dramatic force that the audience realised the terrible nature of the punishment. He quite as vividly represented tho deliverance of the young men, and wound up by an appeal to his hearera to dare to be like them in the hour of temptation. The whole was interspersed with anecdotes and illustrations which kept the atteutioa of even the most careloss. |At intervals during the lecture and at ita close the choir, under the conductorship of Mr W. F. Somerville, the doctor's son, eang several religious melodies and hymns. An appeal w.is subsequently made for funds to build a hall for the Young ilea's Christian

Association, and much amusement was created by the doctor's irresistible appeals to people's pockets—irresistible indeed, for nearly «£HOO were contributed —.£B9O being the exact amount. In a few touching words Dr. b'omerville then alluded to the manner in which he and his sou had been received in Christehurch and his work supported, and tendered their united hearty thanks to various persons, and to the choir, and the ministers of religion. His remarks throughout received veiy great attention, and when alluding to himself and his pon were received with a hearty enthusiasm which showed how much he had endeared himself to his hearers. Those who have not heard the Eev. Doctor have missed an opportunity of experiencing a great pleasure. We are sure that the thousands who have attended his ministry during his stay here will not soon forget the visit of Dr. Somerville the evangelist.