AIMEE McPHERSON

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1928, Page 2

AIMEE McPHERSON

A CLOSE UP .VIEW

(By Beatrice Hticld)

Ainu'e McPherson lias come into the limelight again through her denunciation of Paris vice, -and her descent on London with a suite and a choir. Before that all the world had heard ol Aimee McPherson and her famous disa; pea ranee hut only in LEs Angeles' dog-s one get’ into if imate touch with her and her ways. Six months ago 1 Say 'staving there, and determined to : sea this sensational person. The “nice” j e I’pio of the city 'hold up their hands iiV horror at her'name, and the more Tv rldly laugh' at the way “she gets i\wav with it.” -

1 attended due .of her' Snndav morning services, held at the Angelas' Tein--1 !e, iust outside Hollywood. This is the'stronghold of her religion, mathematically Called “The Foursquare Gospel.” It is a. large circular building ol red brick, and inside there are twr galleries, and a big main hall. The place was packed, hut I managed to got a seat downstairs. In front of me were rows of Aimee’s followers, dressed in uniform. The ladies had then hate off, and wore white dresses with black ties, and over them black cloaks. The men for the most part, were it white trousers with black coats.

‘ Hanging over the pulpit, was a lingh white Cross, brilliantly lighted, wit! ‘electric lamps. Suspended' by wives from the roof were white clouds, stars, and comets. An orchestra of twentytwo players occupied tlie plntforni and behind them was a choir of about sixty men aiid women in uniform. First o| all, a card with “Silent Prayer”, on it was" show’ off the platform. A hef gave the signal when the time was up. ‘This 'ifas followed by an orchestra■ item, radio‘ announcements, and more ‘music by tlie orchestra.

A MAGNETIC ATTRACTION. Then, from the hack of the platform a vision in white appeared. It wai Sister Afmce herself. Her trim figure was set. off■ by a smartly-cut white uniform with capes, and she wore a beautiful posy of pink roses at.-her waist. Tier famous red hair w,as dressed in curls all over her head, and her smile was radiant. She looked to be’ in"her thirties, and exceedingly well preserved, as American women are. The congregation clapped enthusiastically,' and Aiihee hoWed in all directions. Immediately one felt hey magnetic attraction. 1 She .radiated health and “pep” and her smilq. dazzled continually.

During the first hymn, members o‘ the congregation, presented her with

bouquets'of flowers for. the sick, which she piled up all round, her. One of the “brothers” led the prayer, and the people ejaculated^and groaned in i •manner unwholesome to our conser vative tastes Sister Aimee encourage. 1 her followers to cry aloud during the isctrviioes. This morning she said. “Say 'Jesus,’ if you want to or ‘Hallelujah,” and the people were quick to do so: She gave out the well-known known hymn, “All Hail the Power of Jesn’s Name,”' and .after the first verse said, “Now I want you all to wave yom handkerchiefs after the next verse.” AVithout thought of germs, the congregation compiled. This seemed revolut ionarv enonfrh r bii-b boforo tlie la.si verse, she added, “After this I warn vou all to shake hands with at lease three people on either side of you.” Tt sounded most embarrassing, but my neighljors took the initiative with such gusto that I need not have worried.

A hoy then sang a solo, and was enthusiatically encored. A prayer fo 1 - lowed, in which the “brother” pray•°d that Sister would get a message from Heaven. At the end of the Prayer. Sister'Aimee asked for special prayers. They appeared to be of an extremely personal nature. “I want you to pray to God to. let Brother Johnson: come and help me more,” she said. “Brother Johnson would like to give lus whole time, hut the world has most of it.” Hero she nodded sympathetically.. A Bible reading followed, in which Aimee and one of her “daughters” read alternate verses. “Hold up your Bibles.” she said, in a quivering voice, “it is a wonderful sight.” I noticed that she herself rarely kept still, and even in Che prayers fidgeted and kept her eyes open. AN ENERGETIC EVANGELIST. The announcements wore a revelation. “I’m preaching sermons every night,” said Sister proudly, “to-mor-row at A T enture, and I want all who

have cars to lend, to hold up their Immls, so that we can arrange for tl cm to hriug along the crowd.” Shu holds Baptismal services every week, and Divine Healing twice a week. Services arc held twice and sometimes three times, daily. Three Sunday services arc held regularly. At least, S.ster A mice is energeue.

Thn she asked all members of the Foursquare Gospel Church to stand up, and after that, all who wanted to become members to stand up. These were a i given entrance l inns, winch as» as many 'questions as an income tax paper. Age, nationality, married or single, vocal and orchestral accomplish-ments,Hyping-stenographic, clerical, or foreign languages capabilities, all have to be filled in—doubtless 'to be put to Sister’s use afterwards.

During the announcements, she held up. the Church' Magazine, which rejoices in the name of tire ' “Bridal Call Foursquare.” She related vivaciously bow bard she had worked to got the articles written, and had even visited the printer at 3 a.m. She drew attention to the size, the quality of the paper, and the nice cover, and added, “all for a .subscription of two dollars a vear.”

One striking announcement was that during the afternoon, there 'would be a Foursquare Review, when the fortvfo"r 'departments of her church would march in military fashion, and present the colours. Overcome with enthusiasm at tire wonderful pageant there would be. she cried, “Let’s give them a good clap.” The sermon followed, under the title, “The Power of the. Name,” and the enmgregation were told told quite sternly that they must not move, and no.one must interrupt, by leaving the church. To get everyone into a suitable frame of mind, she asked them to repeat the text aloud; and say “Hallelujah.” Her sermon was elementary in theme. Tt attempted to show how the Bible had predicted the modern wonders of science. Stnrtl'mr sentences such as “1 love Him tin's morning.” $ enlightened a somewhat dull discourse, delivered, however, w’th such personal magnet!on and charm that it held the interest throughout.

In the pews there is a variety o F 1 itorntlire. Small envelopes hoar the inscriptions, “Love Offering (No. of dollars) to Sister McPherson,’’ “ Subscription's” for Bridal Call Foursome, and “Foursome Crusader,” “Sister’s Home Building Fund” (for the repairing and furnishing of Sister’s homo), and “For Temple Expenses.” Another'’leaflet gives particulars of the Foursome Correspondence Courses, conducted l>v Sister Aimee McPherson, at an enrolment fee of 10 dollars. L Altogether it was a picturesque service, and as I looked an<y listened, the thought came to me that it was high time a new musical comedy was written, entitled, “The Belle of Los Angelos.”