RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 229, 24 November 1916, Page 8 (Supplement)

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

SOME FAMOUS PULPITS AND , PREACHERS OF THE RELIGIOUS WORLD. It is said that our present age is characterised by a reaction against proaching. Men love their pleasures on the Sabbath day, but not the pleasure of listening to good preaching. 'S it because there has been such a leverling up of the intellect of the ordinary citizens? Or is it because there has been a craze for something new? Possibly the fault may be in the pulpit, but* one cannot help thinking that much is due to that careless indifference towards those things that are divine. Yet the facts of History ever will remain that the preaching in certain Pulpits has been the. making of the districts in which they were placed. Recent mails from the Old Country have brought to us the news that the Rev. J. B. Figgis M.A. has passed away to his rest and reward. Visitors to Brighton "The Queen of Wateringplaces," know how much of the popularity ef Brighton is due to the noted Ministers who have preached in its churches. Indeed, the churches and preachers of Brighton and its environ* are among the most interesting and notable in England. The names of Vnughan, Robertson and Pa\ton Hood,, by their preaching and writings are household words there. As you ci;ter tho famous Pavilion you will find the bust of another world-famous preacher Joeseph Lortain, the preacher so much admireds by TTfaciceray. At the death of Lortain, the flourishing community in North Street invited i young man from New College, London,—the Rev. J. B. Figgis, M.A. He was born in Dublin, whs also a graduate of Trinity College bofore entering New College. This young man in 1860 began a remarkable ministry which continued in the same building- -enlarged four times to accommodate tho growing congregations —for a period of thirty-four years. His Ministry became a rallying point for those of every community, Nonconformists, Anglicans, and Presbyterians seeking for reality, felt that at North Street they discovered common ground for the expression of the essentials of the Christian faith. After spending thirty-four years in North Street, ho '£ began preaching at Emanuel Church, Hove, a wealthy suburb of Brighton, and continued to minister to a large congregation there till 1912. Thus he had maintained his preaching reputation for over fifty years in one place. Let me direct you to another worldfamous pulpit. In London the rapid changes often transform residential neighbourhoods into a waste of lodginghouses backed by a grimy network of slums. Possibly Regent Square Presbyterian Church is unique in this respect. Yet what a force it has been and still is to that cosmopolitan class of men. This church is also noted for ts groat preachers. To thus place came Edward Irving, radiant with the splendour of the setting sun. Then came James Hamilton —line, ornate, suave, in every way adapted to minister io the wealthy and influential who thronged the church. Oswald Dykes succeeded him with his massive thoughtful utterances—and penetrative insight into the Gospel. lhen followed the brief evangelistic ministry <»f Rev. John McNeill who knew how to attract the masses to his preaching. Tho Rev. Alexander Council followed on, and brought something of the Myoties' quality to the classical tradition of this famous pulpit. Now they have the Rev. Ivor J. Robertson, M.A. who stands as an inspiring vindication of the effectiveness ot a vital and positive Gospel ministry, and of social activities undertaken with a definite spiritual end. Alert, resolute, and brimful of vitality, with crisp, clear telling speech he lays hold and grips his congregation. Gradually the lm-\S between tho Church and the district have been multiplied and tightened. The Regent Square Institute hiis been opened as a bridge between them an auxiliary for winning men and women for Christ. The Brotherhood movement is also strong and robust in it> 'endeavours to reach the lapsed ana. submerged who meet in the Parks on the Sabbaths. Here we have a Church and Pulpit with eyes to recognise human need and heart hunger, a Chinch with arms to fling about human loneliness and despair, with the warm human touch made Divinely cffectne through the power,of Christ. Let me now take you m thought to another famous pulpit which has had some of the greatest and soundest Preachers of the past century. Birmingham, as every one should know .s a great manufacturing centre tor almost every conceivable thing our Colonics are needing. As people loving liberty, the Free or Nonconformist Church started a strong cause there n Carr's lane. The classic and illustrious ministry of John Angell James diivw together large crowds to listen to his preaching. The Congregational Churej became famous in the City its buildings extended, it grew to be a great centre of everything that was good As the great preacher neared the end >F his lifo a gloomy prophet predicted that Carr's-lane would go to piece? when the Rev. John Angell James died. But when death overtook the famous preacher and writer, the young prophet, who was no other than the Rev. R. W. Dale, .was called upon to give the lie to his own forecast. As Dale of Birmingham is known every where amongst all creeds as one of the best writers on the Atonement, and Commentator on the Epistle to ths Ephesians. 'His massive quality as teacher, preacher, social and political reformer flung a far-reaching splendour round the Church of which previously he was ready to write Jchabod over its portals. \\ lien Dale passed away and the Rev. J. H. Jowett, now Dr. Jowett received the call to that church, folk in general wondeivd if >o young and unassuming a man could retain the grip upon the community which had known the touch of one wh> had long borne the seal of distinction and leadership. It soon became clear, however, tliat he would not only sustain the tradition of Carrs-lane, biu would create a tradition of his own an 1 beat out a sharplv-defir.ed path for himself. He was not a politician as Dr. Dale had been, he simply resolved to remain a preacher of the Gospel and nothing else. All the opulence of his gifts, all the depth and fineness of hi" nature, the wealth and range of his reading, the treasure of h's 'experience, the harvest of his observation, his voice, far-carrying and flexible, strangely appealing in its musical cadence all uvro subordinated and wholly consecrated to the sacred use of preaching. Ho became ai genius in evoking the sympathy, confidence and loyalty of young men. The Digbeth Institute i'i Birmingham, is a monument to hi> sensitiveness of social needs, for tho building of which lie raised £"2o.000 within one year. On his call to I*iftli Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York, the leading repre-entatives of the municipality beg£red him "m the interest of all that is best in civic lile to remain in Birmingham. T must pa=< over his work in America, but during tho last summer vacation he wis preach in 2 in London and Edinburgh One writing of "A Kundny s|>ent "i Edinburgh" says—"All through the

day the rain continued to pour incessantly, but this did not deter u long queue of people waiting, some of them well over an hour, for entrance to Free St. George's in the evening. When l)r. .loi'.vett entered the pulpit, the church was packed in every part, the striking feature of the congregation buing the very large .projxiffton of men." Space foihicLs me to say more, but it is proof positive thait goo 1 preachers attract large crowds; it is also true that large crowds make good preachers. cms.