Sunday Column.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 February 1913, Page 4

Sunday Column.

(Written for The Chronicle)

ial services. Dr. Chapman and Gipsy Smith are perhaps tho greatest evangelists of the day, and it is encouraging to note that their great success as soul winners has been based on the simple preaching of

tho gospel. The coming year ought to T)o one of great intercut and power for the churches, seeing that not only will we -have Dr. Chapman and his party in our midst, but the Rev. Viallence Cook, a most distinguished Methodist evangelist, who has been engaged to tour the chief centres of Methodism during the year. No system of evangelism is better than the minister being his own evangelist., but as God has given to men gifts differing one from another, every minister, though a successful man, i s not fitted for the special work of an evangelist. Some men juet seem to have the nack of drawing in the net. while others faithfully prepare the way for them. "The .sower and the ivapor .shall rejoice together." The groat advantage of a minister being his own evangelist is that when a soul is won, and needs musing and caring for till strong in the faith, no one has a greater influence over that

soul than the one who was used to point it to Christ. On tho other haiul the visiting evangelist J twin souls to a decision and then is compelled to leave their training in the hands of others. This is largely successful if the minister left fn charge is closely in touch with tho quickened soul, but if this is not so. souls are often found falling back because a suitable atmosphere was not forthcoming in which for them to live. The contract has been signed for the erection of u now Methodist Church at Foxton. For tho past seven months the meetings have been

held in the supper-room of tlk> town hall. The building is to be of brick, and when completed will cost about €900. Tt is expected that the foundation .stone laying will tnfce place in about four weeks' time. Some thirty-five years ago the Methodist cause was first opened in Foxton by the Kev. l>. W. Jones. Mr Jones is not superannuated and living at I'Vilding. He. will be asked to open the new church on its completion. The Uev. B. Carlisle, of Wellington, has accepted >» call to the Baptist Church in Palmerston, and will take up his duties in a few weeks' Uine. .Kov. Carlisle is a splendid preacher and pastor, and the Baptists of I'ahnerstttii are to be congratulated <ui their choice. The Rev. A. T. Brainshy. of Adelaide, who has accepted a call to the Vivian street Baptist Church. Wellington, will dose his ministry in Adelaide on March 2. and leave for Melbourne on the 7th. Prior to coming to Xew Zealand. Mr Brainsby will conduct a service at Port Arlington, Victoria, and afterwards with Mrs Brainsby. will conduct a ten days' interdenominational mission in Bendigo. which is. being organised by t'io V.M.C.A. Mr and Mrs Hraiiisby expect to loave Sydney for Xew Zealand on March 22nd.

I Nows has reached England (says J tlio Christian) of Hit? adventures of 11 10 Rev. Percy Broiiylitoii, of "Whyel ifl'c C(il|p<;i>. Toronto, who lias boon labouring among tlie In (he course of a torriWe journey of eiyhly-four days, ho lost his \vay, and for two Any* jm;l \ o tnunp b;m>I'ooled across an ice field \.» roacli an ! ,- S|iiiniaiix vill -,£,.. TJ is loot uvre •so badly frozen that he was unable to stand, and only smreodrd in roafliing the villas by crawling on hands .and knees. Mr .Rroiighton H'.is roiiiovccT. unconscious, noxl day to Lake Harbour Missioiiiiry station, where for three months he lay in auony mvinrr to the e'tato of " his right foot, the toes of which had to bo amiiiiluted b.y ' fcho cooJc of the station.

Gipsy Smith is an evangelist of a very fine type, with an amazing power over great audiences. He is by choice a -Methodist, but for the last Jiffceen years lias been employed by the Kree Church Council in Eiifrliitul, and has conducted msisions hi England. Franco, United States, etc. As to his future plans now that his engagement is at jin end with theFree Church Council, the Methodist Recorder says he intends to visit America for some months towards the end of this year. Upon his return he intends to devote his whole strength to .the work of missions in Kngland. Inducements have been offered for him to tnko a settled Hiuu-gr. but ho hie refused, on the grniinrls that God's special work for him i« Ihe- work of ; ,n evangelist. N. HYDE.

On February 12th, Dr. Chapman and Charles. Alexander and party will sail for New Zealand from Melbourne. The Chapman-Alexander party have been engaged to conduct a series of missions throughout tho dominion. This party has been before the public of Australasia for the last few years, and their sane, common sense evangelism has done much to remove the opposition of niauv tow.-.r.'s tlics? scricj cf tpoc-