EVANGELISTIC MISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 92, 7 April 1908, Page 2

EVANGELISTIC MISSION.

Last night the Ucv. James Flanagan continued his mission in the Theatre ltoyal. The night wa. cold, boisterous, and wet, but still about a hundred gathered and listened to one of the most eloquent and helpful discourses of the series. Th c missioner stated that he was going to -qieak with a view of helping the man i u doubt or weak in faith In one of the -requests for pnueiy' such a one had been mentioned, and he had extended an invitation to the douhtiii" one to attend I hid nhjht. thinking he might b 0 led to say something to clear away «,» of the perplexity and doubt, lie took In, text irom Murk xvi I'"And after that lie appeared in' another form to two of them." He read with this Luke xxiv.. ij and 10: "... Jesus himself drew near and went with thembut their eyes were hidden that the,' should not know him." People talked •; good deal about Jesus Christ, about bis character, about his Divine atonement. H e was near to their hearts; they sail" to Him, piayed to Him, praised Him" preached Him. They took texts from His Book. The speaker said he often wondered if they would know Jesus if they saw him. ' 11,. suggested that in reading their New 'Jctamenl thev should study just how many times Jesus Christ appeared to men and thev knew Him not. St. John told them "He was in th 0 world, and the world was nude by him, and the world knew Him not.Even John the Baptist wrote, "I knew Him not," and the Saviour was within

a i'cw feet of Him. Digressing, the missioiier spoke ul' I lie luunors of Christ. The preacher himself enjoved a little dry fun—moat preachers 'did. He told a story of ojie of ids visits to one of the most aristocratic churches, beautifully limshed and boasting a very intellectual congregation, .with not a poor man in it. 11l the course of his sermon lie remarked, '■[ verily believe that if the Saviour Jesus Christ came into this building to hear me preach, the church keeper would show Him into a free seat." At the conclusion of the service a wry red-faced man. shaking with holv lndigiiniioii, stood at the pulpit steps and asked the preacher, -How dar e you insult me Iwfore the whole congregation?'' After much excitement on the man's part they retired to the vestry and Hie angry one stated Hint he was the churchkecper, and that lie had been in,idled. Wore the Saviour to enter that church, he assured (lie preacher, he would give him the best seat. To which the other vcnllired the word I '-It -■. Hut (here was no "if" nL.c.ni it, and he grew angrier sliil. "II"— wen' on ihe pivu.-hnw-if you kn nv Uim.*' iVieii had dill'ercnt gods. Some put the farm liel'orc Christ, sonic Umir ra ||b. .souk, put a dog lir-t in (heir all'ectioiis,

mid thousands of men in this countn' put the fardmr* in tl„. nlaee u f t i„,jV • ioil: It was St. ;\n K iislinr, he 1 ]„jiil.Ul , who 1n,,1 said. "Love tiod with all ,: (Jllr nuul, ;ill nun- niiim, and all your stroiifitli, ami then do as you like." Lmv was il, ( . mainspring, 'lie would I'lVllT Ills l-llllllfl'U to 1,,, lull u f ]„ V( . even if their faith ivwo a little weak.* liW;e, that than all i.iiij, ..„„| ( ~I P |; (( | ( . I love. Love was wn i11,. L .i,- : , 1. I„,l it was naiural. n.>l mnehiuemade. Syinpiil liy I'lVlii-liers ~lten iioliecil ||,„( ' t |„, v ' |iivii,-1m.,1 belle,- when en-laiu person's .■ «'•«' m Hi'' eoiij;ie W ,ti<>n than when f those were a,lay. In one elmreh where : he until souK'timos to preaeh in England, anil where tile majority of the eunore- ■ giiliim seemed to resent l,i„, and to'"repel, (here was one w an wliu used to steal in (|„ietly just afle,- ll u . serviec : toniiueneed. And whilst .she was there, ' he eould preach as at no other time.' ' That woman was his mother. She eame ' laic, ami sire left early, for lior shawl \

was faded, her shoes were thin, her bon- | net two years out of fashion. JJni I whilst in the ehmvli l„. r h.'art went out to him. lie declared that in England Christianity had triumphed over intellectual atheism, which was now ctcad. Their atheist halls were in many eases rented to churches and Christian organisations. Where atheist lecturers I thirty years ago profaned (bid and slandered Christianity no man would dare such a thing. Keason would convince any thinking person that the only satisfying belief was in Christ. ''Conic let us reason together, said the Lord." He asked Ins hearers to reason the thing out for themselves.

If you want your furniture reinoyeil carefully, expeditiously, and economic--1 ally, employ (he .New Zealand Express Company. Ltd., who make a special feature of this class of work, and who are also able to supply first-class dry storage accommodation. Customs work in all its branches.—Advt,

1 A big improvement on the ordinary oilskin coat is the canvas slicker coat now bein,!; largely shown by the Mel- I bniirne Clothing Company. In appearance the coat is a dull yellow and well I adapted for its purpose. It is made of I stout American duck and fashioned either for riding or walking. It is claimed for this coat that it is absolutely impervious to water and that it has none of the common defects characteristic of oilcoats. Farmers and others 1 are advised to give it a trial—Advt. I Quite the latest in little boys' jorsevs and caps are now being displayed by 1 j u . Melbourne Clothing Company Striped ! colors in combination of blue'and white. I myrtle and white, and red and white, 1 etc., are. with the new knitted polo caps > to match, extremely pretty and effective. ' Prices are moderate, ranging from 3 S ' s 2s Gd.