MR. HENRY VARLEY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 888, 19 February 1879, Page 2

MR. HENRY VARLEY.

Our Dimeclin contemporaries mi fortunately are not, a happy family, anil wo anticipated some ebullition of bad taste and bad temper with Mr. Varlcy's advent amongst them. The grey hairs of the venerable Dr. Somerville did not suflico to shield him from similarly coarse and vulgar attacks. A clique so inveterate is a deplorable element in any community ; for, no matter what the creed of such strangers as come amongst us, if othevwiso their conduct is irreproachable, we hold that they are entitled to friendly and hospitable treatment: and we remind such hypercritical censors that the injunction is"a Divine one, "Be careful to entertain strangers." ISTot even the angel Gabriel coukf charm into forbearance and Christian charity such intolerant writers as are bringing our neighbors into disrepute. It is not tire Press alone, but men likewise holding public positions, who thus disgrace themselves. How painful and humiliating to notice such coarse and vulgar criticism as was cut short so recently 0 by his Worship the Mayor of Dunedin. The Octagon is purely public property, and such an assemblage as congregated the other Saturday, the object of the° meeting being within the law, had surely a perfect right to congregateandsuch impertinence with the public must be resented as unwarrantable persecution. But who is Mr. Varley? What credentials does he bring with him > His associates at least are well-known clergymen, and that portion _ of the public who patronise his services and enjoy his ministrations arc surely not the least estimable of our community. We know that advanced thought and freethinking has made rapid strides in the neighboring city, but let freethinkers beware lest the sympathy of members should develope among themselves the evils of intolerance and dogmatism which they so very fervently denounce. But who is Mr. Varley ? We can only imperfectly, from such limited information as we possess, answer such a question. We know something of his history, however, and it is such as evokes our warmest admiration. Whatever indiscretions he may be guilty of, or whatever extravagances he may be charged with, he may plead guilty to some things that are true enough, and much even that is unquestionably malevolent and false, and yet on the whole bo deservedly esteemed by the most irreproachable nmongst us. True he began life as a tradesman ; his fingers are soiled by commerce ; he is not a university man, nor lias he been consecrated by the laying on of hands. But what of that? We are accustomed in other departments of life to admire such " heroes in the strife" who rise superior to such obvious disadvantages. Had Mr. Varley graduated in Cambridge or Oxford, some of the rugged prominences of his public ministrations would probably have been rubbed off. But, on the whole, would his numerous hearers have been the better for this 1 Is it not a stock argument of such hypercritics that such rigid training produces a dead level of mediocrity, and that the modern pulpit is losing its power as a consequence of such conventional studies ? Doubtless we lose in individuality by such stern adherence to university training, and the articles so manufactured are too frequently unimpressive and commonplace. To escape from such a stifling atmosphere as so frequently surrounds us in our sanctuaries, into the more fresh and invigorating breezes of the ministrations of Mr. Varley and others of this class is both refreshing and pleasant. It should be borne in mind too by those who are so disposed to .twit Mr. Varley with his early occupations and comparatively humble origin that he is not the only instance of great talents coming to the surface. Wolsley—England's great cardinal, the founder of Oxford and Ipswich—was the son of a butcher, and in early life it is supposed with some reason that he followed his father's occupation. His talents, his energy, his eloquence, achieved for him such proud preeminence. What too of Father Matthew, the great apostle of temperance, of Mathew Burnet, for some years similarly employed, like Father Hennebery among ourselves, with such signal success in the neighboring colonies 1 What too of a host of others who have distinguished themselves in like manner—of Edwards, and Whitfield, and Wesley, of M'Cheyne, and Moody, and Somerville — bright particular stars vouchsafed by providence at intervals all too remote to rekindle the beacon fires of a faith too

liable to wax cold, ami a worslii. times in danger of becoming effet SOlll had some opportunities of" t QTn opinion of Mr. Varley before h e V J$ J upon the uncongenial soil of DmS From a mutual friend, familiar wit? early history, wo learned that fo r years he has devoted himself to the" 11 of evangelising. Some fifteen years relinquished a lucrative business, at»jv he might have amassed a fortune tented with a moderate competency S he might, without fee or reward j. himself to the preaching of the' oj" It is too often objected that p o i shillings, and pence are a t t bottom of all such enterprises; w ever a man was free from such unehi able suspicions, Mr. Varley is that n, Dunedin critics may fail to apprJ? such noble self-sacrifice, and thev fail to distinguish between the true m lity of such a life and the too sordid, so utterly useless lives of so many off All honor to such men. Of his qu a j:c tions for such a mission as he has chJ for himself no one who has heard hi" desiring to judge fairly, can have any J culty in forming an opinion. \Vh'at 6t] his early disadvantages, he is evident]? well read, kindly affectioned, and hii cultured man. In any calling in tine presence, polished manners, a m a „, ticent voice, and eloquence the mosu passioned, could find their level Jr Varley would be certain to come to« top. Wo have, of course, our own ,„: vidual opinions upon some of his mojU and may agree to differ from some of j, dogmatic views : that does not concm, at present. We may even deploy of Ilis unguarded utterances, and are j! quently reminded that he is not absok perfect. We wish ho was ; but then, history affords but one example o [jj perfect man. Those who have attejj f his Bible readings or exhortations, be struck with his intimate the sacred writings, for he is " mighty in the Scriptures," and then" instructive and edifying which we are acquainted. In his ]j! platform eiibrts—we will not call sermons—it is allowed that he is times guilty of extravagances, ajj" perhaps mars the symmetry of suet; courses by too frequent imptot digressions and improvised illustrati but withal he never fails to develop hi> jeot in the most masterly way. His ap; how touching and earnest; his argun how forcible and striking ; his eloqn how impassioned and commandiiij;: prayers arc a physicological study;; is no anthropomorphic tendencies fcj devotions. Mr. Varley is clcarlj common man. Let those of his c who can see no merit in ai ing such vast crowds, essay somet mission on their own account, this popularity, however, there is a danger for any man. It is an atmosjs of peril ; he is the centre of a among such crowds some puerile crate are certain to revolve very near him 5 will bo more than human if the sens; superiority, some elements of doginalk and egotism, do no develop thctmeliamidst the audulations of smaller he the pigmies who expand ami such excitement. We must bo coa tent to take such men, bowers with all their faults, and in sat communities as can admire pea talents nobly directed, great zeil i: the most important of all missions, grea earnestness on the most momentous ot a] questions, and groat eloquence devote to the most sublime of all subjects—tl audiences will never cease to bo bothlaiv and important. They will never Mi judge charitably of such men as }' Varley. Let us beware cither of e soriousness or superciliousness in s matters lest haply we bo found lvar; against God.