CITY MISSIONER

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1929, Page 2

CITY MISSIONER

GIVES HT,S EXPERIENCES

WAS ONCE SCOUT FOR TWO-UP SCHOOL.

AUCKLAND, .Tan. 28. Meeting the challenge of a published statement that bis creed as exemplified by bis teachings would “.send people to bell.” the Bcv C. G. Scrinigeour, Methodist City Missioner. related the story of bis own life to a largo audience in the Strand Then Ire last evening to show how that creed has reclaimed him. “I was never inside a church or a Sunday school until nearly twenty years of age,” said Mr Serimgeour. “My first job at the age of fourteen, was with pick and shovel, but wo soon parted bad friends.” In 1910 Mr Sorimgeour became bosom friend and banker of “one of the smartest gamblers in New Zealand,” in whose company be often gambled from noon on Saturday until the early hours of Monday morning. “Two-up rings.” “poker schools.” and the like were bis bouses of worship, and be entertained bis audience with demonstrations of the methods of the use and abuse of the “kip.” Often he had, he said, seen men lose hundreds of pounds in a few hours. Double-headed and tailed pennies and threepenny pieces were exhibited from the platform and their employment demonstrated. On one occasion, the preacher confessed, his use of a double threepenny piece caused trouble with the uoikers of a New Zealand timber mill, from which bo escaped only with the aid of an automatic pistol, which was still one of his possessions. Another time lie happened to get three aees and a pair of twos in a game of poker, in which another man twice his size held three kings and a pair of tens. “The fact that it had been my deal rather complicated matters, and again T left a good job without a reference, be said. . “I can still put the pennies up where the birdies live,” continued Mr Scnmgeour. “I can Slack a pack of cards —for one never forgets these matters when once the apitude is learned—in such a manner that after every person in this theatre has had a cut 1 will deal thirteen persons four cards of a kind and will tell exactly where every card is.” This accomplishment be undoortook to display to any doubters who cared to remain after the service. At the age of seventeen Mr Scrimgeonr was initiated into the “hip-flask /brigade.” “Slow horses” were another of the speaker’s experiences. He related how h e a "d his brother attended one race meeting at Wanganui armed with a list of “sure things,” but had at its conclusion to walk six miles to their home because neither had a tram fare. Later he secured the post of scout to a Castled iff two-up school, and there lie earned as much as £5 for two hours of vigilance. Religion had been considered by Mr Srimgeour “but an old woman’s tale,” in spite of efforts at his “conversion,” until he read for Himself the life of the Founder of Christianity. Then lie felt and answered the challenge, “Follow Me,” which had an effect that threats of “hell” had failed to bring about. “You know the rest,” lie said in conclusion. “I do not merely preach redemption, I demonstrate it.”