DR. SOMERVILLE’S MISSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5279, 25 February 1878, Page 3

DR. SOMERVILLE’S MISSION.

SERVICES AT THE ODD FELLOWS’ HALL AND THEATRE ROYAL ON SUNDAY. We Lave always heard that the natural progress of events usually bring about their own results; and the sway which the different prominent topics has exercised on communities has been in no place more thoroughly exhibited than in the city of Wellington. In every respect where questions combining the welfare and substantial education of a population are concerned, the Empire City may take credit for endeavoring to foster those best feelings which should regulate, guide, and command all Christian communities. The Rev. Charles Clark has been here, and his audiences on many subjects have filled our various places of assembly. Others of note have likewise seen that when real talent and honest worth have been brought forward, there has always been attentive listeners; and de facto the population of the city has been at all times shown to be open to the liberal, free, and in--telligent expressions of opinion offered by those qualified to give voice to them. Our remarks have been thus far led away from the Meetings of yesterday by the Rev. Dr. Somerville. Yesterday morning at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, at the hour of eight o’clock, there was a good attendance, the reverend gentleman taking his text from the first chapter of John — “Behold the Lamb of God.’’ His address, which was listened to with breathless attention, was most graphic. He likened the spread of religion to the spread of a mighty river, which from the source of purity from which it sprang enveloped all places, and all classes of people, and giving them that food without which they could not exist. In its flow, it might affect those who were not prepared, but who in the course of its progress through their midst should have become acquainted with its outlet. He urged all to unite and become that grand body which had one special view, the salvation of sinners. In concluding his address, the reverend gentleman exhorted the young men present to attend his meeting on Monday (this) evening, and at the close of that to endeavor to form a young men’s Christian association. At three o'clock yesterday afternoon the Evangelist again addressed an immense meeting at the Theatre Royal, which was literally crammed. In fact, to use the phrase of “from floor to ceiling” would hardly describe the extent of the attendance. There was not even standing room in many places in the theatre, and the audience, which must have numbered from 1800 to 1900 people, appeared greatly impressed throughout the whole of his deliverance. Taking his text from the 4th chapter of the Song of Solomon, 12th verse, “A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse a spring shut up, a fountain sealed,” the reverend gentleman, in terms eloquent and truly impressive, drew a parallel of the natural garden with that which existed in Heaven. All humanity, he observed, was Christ’s natural garden. In it He endeavored to spend His time, its every flower and shrub was His own kindly care; their very scent and essence were His particular, ,favor, and their brilliancy, energy, and growth his great desire. The cultivation of that garden was His glorious achievement on earth; the sum and substance of His great mission here below. But on looking at that garden which comprised plants and flowers from all nations, and the innermost portions of the earth — where the tropical bloomed with the plant from the Arctic pole He was always to be permitted to pluck one where He might, and their attention was His own especial care. Those who had gone before, the many great standards of the church and State might be reckoned as so many blooms in that garden, in which they all occupied a place, and it was for them all to endeavor by their conduct to prove themselves worthy of that place in the mind of Jesus — the keeper of the garden in' which they all had such a deep interest. Jesus intended that the garden should be open to all Every description of plant was receivable there, and in a similar way humanity was alike represented. The well-known words of Scripture should always be remembered — “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son;" and in thinking of that it was necessary for them all to take advantage of the opportunities offered them, and endeavor to make their peace with the other world. The rev. gentleman continued his address by drawing many beautiful comparisons between nature and religion as evinced in the thousand and one instances which surround creation, his language being eloquent in the extreme, most descriptive, and many times most pathetic as well. Evangelism, in its true sense of the word, seemed to flow from his lips, and in the closing sentences of his lengthened address, his remarks were listened to, as throughout the rest of the meeting, with the most breathless attention. One solid feeling seemed to pervade the large assemblage, that a gifted speaker was in their midst, — one whose path through life could well and profitably be henceforth devoted in the cause of Christianity. After the singing of a hymn, and an intimation regarding future evangelistic meetings, the audience dispersed.