MR HENRY VARLEY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 458, 29 March 1890, Page 5

MR HENRY VARLEY.

WELCOMED AT THE Y.M.C.A. Auckland, March 26. A few friends gathered last night in the lecture hall of the Y.M.C.A. Buildings for the purpose of welcoming Mr Henry Varley, who arrived by the Te Anau yesterday afternoon. Sir William Fox presided. After the hymn, “ All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” had been sung, the Rev. A. J. Smith engaged in prayei - . The Chairman briefly introduced the speaker, and in doing so said that they were there not so much to hear an address from Mr Varley as to welcome him to their fair city. He felt quite certain that there would have been a much larger attendance had it been known that pucli a world-wide evangelist as Mr Varley was in their midst. Mr Varley did not represent any particular church; he belonged to the Church of Christ. Mr Varley came amongst them with an experience such as few living men had. He therefore welcomed him cordially to Auckland.

The hymn “To tho Work” was next sung, after which Mr J. T. Garlick, Chairman of the Reception Committee, said a few words of welcome both on behalf of the Committee and also as President of the Gospel Temperance Union. Mr Garlick said that the Committee numbered from 20 to 30, and they were prepared to support him manfully. Mr H J. Ross, Secretary of the Committee, also cordially welcomed Mr Varley. He stated that they had invited the cooperation of the Ministers’ Association. He read a reply from the Secretary, the Rev. Mr Salter, which was to the effect that the Association welcomed Mr Varley' and wished him every success, but deemed it advisable that each member should act according to his individual wish. Mr Ross said that whilst the Ministers’ Association, as a Ministers’ Association, did not come to welcome Mr Varley, still the members would individually render him every support. Mr Ross also testified to the good work done by Mr Henry Varley in other places.

The Rev. Mr Cox also said a few words of welcome, and referred to the fact that Henry Varley’s name wa3 a household word 25 years ago. That name had been endeared to thousands, and there was no fear about the attendance in the future as soon as it was known that the great Henry Varley was to speak. Mr W. H. Smith, as representing the Helping Hand Mission, welcomed Mr Varley. He said he first heard Mr Varley about 15 years ago in New York. “ Work, for the Night is Coming ” was next sung, after which the Rev. Mr Thomas welcomed Mr Varley'. He said he was nob there as representing any body,but on his own behalf. Mr Thomas said that brotherly feeling was genuine and deep amongst the minsters of this city. Personally he welcomed Mr Varley very cordially. Mr Hennery welcomed Mr Varley on behalf of the Y.M.C.A. He apologised for the absence of the President, Mr J. L. Wilson, and the Secretary, Mr Brakenrig.

Mr C. Johnston next welcomed Mr Varley and testified to the good work done by that gentleman in the cause of Christ. Mr Varley was received with applause. He said he hardly knew how to thank them for the kind remarks they had made about him. It might interest them to know that he first visited Australia in 1854 and in 1857 he went to England intending to study for the ministry. Providence ordered otherwise and ultimately he commenced business ip London. He took up evangelistic work and he was instrumental in building the West End Tabernacle. Afterwards he v sited Canada and New York, and he was struck with the work that lay before him. He had promised his Lord that if his life were spared he would visit every place where the English tongue was spoken. It was the result of that- promise that brought him to Auckland. Wheq invited to come here by the Gospel Temperance Mission, he refused, feeling that it was his duty to preach Christ. He felt that they were coming to the close of a corrupt dispensation and that the Kingdom of God was at hand, He believed that if in Europe to-day there was one supreme will, not an Alexander, Napoleon, or Cfßsar, but the beneficent Son of Gad, with power in his hand, then their armies might be disbanded and war cease. That was the only solution to the many difficult problems arising out of human government. Ho might state that he was not a specialist ; he disliked specialty only a little less than eccentricity. He would try to intelligently open to them God’s Word, and hoped that he might be instrumental in bringing many souls to Christ. He had been asked to be ordained as a minister, but he had declined, as he considered that he had been ordained by God. He could never use the prefix of rev., neither could he wear a distinctive dress, for he believed that the professional minister was of the weakest, and not the strongest. He wished to remain in touch with the people, and he believed that the arena of business qualified a man for evangelical work. Neither had he taken up any denominational name, for he found no denomination named in the Word. Nor wa3 there one of the large denominations that was named after Christ, He judged no man, and thanked God for the heroism that brought out the Independents of the past and handed down to them to-day many priceless liberties. He knew how denominationalism had grown, but given thatdenominationalism wasswept away to-day, where was the man that would try to reconstruct it? He stood outside everythiqg as a protest against division and a testimony to the unity of the Church of Christ. He could not tell them with what joy he would attend the funeral of denominationalism. They could not go on building up systems without retarding the unity of the Church. (Applause.) In Victoria and Now South Wales they would see towns with a population of 500, with three or four churches, instead of one solid front being presented. He did not expect his brethren to agree with all he might say ; God’s idea was not uniformity. He was aware that many were suspicious of him. He did not wish this reported, but he was very grievously wronged in Melbourne. He knew that amongst the ministers of the colonies he had been reported as having broken faith with tb§ Evangelical Committee cloven years ago. He was not identified with with that committee when he went oqt years ago to Melbourne. So yyell was that recognised that after hq had laboured devotedly five mqnths that committee never offered him a single sovereign. He merely mentioned this fact to show hq\y utterly groundless were the falsa ye ports circulated with regard tq him. If £5.0,000 were “put at his feet on condition that he crossed the threshold of any church to help on deno'minatibnaiism, G;od helping, he would not' do so. Many that had found Christ had wished lijm tq baptise them, but he and advised them to go to their owq pastors, but not to make it a condition of entering the Church, He went away to Tasmania, and upon his return be was met with friends who said that their pastors would not baptise them. Then hedid so, and that was the head and front of his offending. He did not want to boast, but he believed that he had brought to them that night

the living Son of God. He believed that was what was wanted to face the cold materialism and bold scepticism of the present day. He considered that they needed Christ for Auckland more than for Heaven. His heart’s prayer was that in this city he should speak the truth with love, ready to bear and asking to be borne with ; that he should say nothing unkind, and that the work might be blessed and that he might be permitted to gather some fruit in view of that great day. He valued their prayers, and he meant that some of them should pray long and fervently for the success of the work which he had undertaken. He would speak plainly, but never intending to pain any heart that was loyal to Christ.

Mr Johnston said he could testify that Mr Yarley had not made any arrangement with the Evangelical Committee 11 years ago in Melbourne. He was the person who welcomed Mr Varley on that occasion. Another hymn was sung, after which the meeting closed with the usual devotional exercises.