HARRY DAWSON MISSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 957, 28 April 1930, Page 14

HARRY DAWSON MISSION

MAKING OF CONVERTS RUNNING RACE OF LIFE About 12 decisions for the commencement of a Christian life have been already made to the workers of the Harry Dawson campaign at the Grange Road Baptist Church. The indications are for a very successful series of meetings. After being welcomed by the Rev. A. S. Wilson, on behalf of a large congregation last evening. Mr. Dawson spoke on “Life’s Thrilling Contest,” taking for a text, Hebrews xii., 1, “Let us run the race.” Taking for an introduction the gala days of ancient Rome, in racy manner he described the packed amphitheatre with 40 galleries; its gladitorial combats and its raging lions. He used as the moral the mortal combats of life. There was the race of' perseverance; there was an obstacle race; there was also in human life an every-day fight with beasts just as in the arena of the Old World, but in a sterner sense. The Bible was quite true when it said that the devil went about like a roaring lion. Not one present, said Mr. Dawson, but had the power of the devil in his life; but it was also true in the experience of men that Christ could break the power of evil. Let them think of the havoc of the drink traffic. In Australia and New Zealand they were desperately fighting the evil. But drink was not alone the foe; there were other beasts of habit in each life unless its power was broken. In some ancient demonstrations as many as 11,000 wild beasts were slqin; but that struggle was not as great as the fight of human life against sin. One was a struggle for life, the other for a soul. He described Kingsley’s great poem of the race so nearly won but lost. Men won commercial distinction and excelled in other departments, but failed eventually, and the spiritual prize was lost eternally.

Mr. Dawson asked: “You have run the race; has it been victory or defeat?” One of their biggest racecourses in Australia was Randwick, and it was remarkable how evident were the signs of gain or loss in the: demeanour of those coming back from the races. How true it was, “when the wicked man dieth his expectation perished and their hope must surely perish if they had no hope beyond the grave. On the other hand, the dominant power of Satan could be met and mastered by the power of Christ. Mrs. Dawson sang a solo and was assisted in two quartets by Mrs. Gilbert and the Misses Lind and MeTavish. The meetings continue each evening.