EVANGELISTIC SERVICES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5285, 4 March 1878, Page 3

EVANGELISTIC SERVICES.

THE REV. DR. SOMERVILLE AT THE THEATRE ROYAL Religious topics of all others, when spoken of in a truly evangelistic sense, curiously enough, continue to attract the world, and in this little world of ours — the city of Wellington — there has rarely been wanting an instance in which such has not been the case. Everyone remembers the recent agitation in reference to the Education Bill, when a certain section came promptly forward to prevent its progress through Parliament, and very properly got it liberally amended, so that the interest might be represented; and every one knew the result of that endeavor: But in the mission ordinated by the Rev. Dr. Somerville, and which has now been, nearly carried to a conclusion, professing Christians of all denominations have been drawn before him, his gifted ministrations being such as to thoroughly enthral the attention of his audience, besides enabling them to derive many well-drawn precepts which, in religious calculation, must be afterwards reckoned in the measure of his efforts. Brilliant, characteristic, and eloquent, enthusiastic in the very highest degree, with a power of speech which clothes the truths of the Gospel with a color which cannot be misunderstood, it must be admitted that the reverend gentleman’s desire has been fully accomplished; viz, that of spreading the Gospel, so far as in him lies, to every creature. And in his efforts in that respect he has been ably assisted by the local Evangelistic Society, which, possessing members who have the cause thoroughly at heart, have done their very utmost to secure that free and open admission to all which has, and always will prove the grand medium towards a thorough re-vivification of the Christian Church.

We are led into these remarks by the religions observances of Dr. Somerville, who has long ere this proved himself a thorough patriot in the cause of religion, and already has drawn such audiences to attend. Yesterday morning the Rev. Dr. Somerville addressed a numerous audience of professing Christians, and in the afternoon at the meeting at the Theatre Royal the place was fairly crammed. The text was given from 1st Peter, 1st chap, and 8th verse, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in, whom, though now ye see him not, ye believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” The whole address was one magnificent address of biblical reading from beginning to end, its every shadow showing forth that God was for God and all — the one Almighty and all-saving Creator. Descriptions and similies interspersed the rev. gentleman’s theories in reference to the true religion of Jesus Christ and were persuasive in the extreme, clothed as they were with that tinge of the painted ideas of the other sphere with which the world has ere now become acquainted. The whole lecture from beginning to end was a most magnificent exposition of Christ’s life on earth, his many acts for the afflicted, and for those who had been dealt with — perhaps hardly through life — being beautifully drawn, so as to show that the saving mercy of Jesus was the one end all they had to care for, as the brilliance of Christ’s wisdom; the extension of his power, the eloquence of his speech, were everywhere — here and there, and whereever they might go, He was to be felt; — from the scaffold to the grave He was to be found. His emblem stamped them all if they would only endorse it. There was nothing in the shape of want in His camp, which was the Church o! Christ. All was there and prepared, and the blessings of salvation were their’s if they liked to partake of them, and take a part in that camp in which they all should occupy a such prominent part. With such a brilliant notion of eternity before them, the reverend gentlemen observed, they should make their endeavors—each and all—to promote the cause of Christianity, as it was that which brought “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” The reverend gentlemen went on to observe that in this faith in God there was love in the unseen, faith in the unseen, and joy in the unseen; and in each of these particular phases he fairly engrossed the very closest attention of his audience. Descriptive and intellectual as well, an evangelist in the true sense of the word, he appeared to enwrap every one’s attention, and concluded a most comprehensive address by an exhortation to remember their religion and their God.