MRS HAMPSON'S MISSION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 10 November 1882, Page 3

MRS HAMPSON'S MISSION.

FAEBWELL TEA MEETING. ; , „ *!. ; .. '- ! : •' ■ ,' •' : : Wednesday last was practically ■ the closing - day of this highly successful mission.; and 1 midday and evening services were held as on previous occasions during the mission. '.' At. the noon service Mrs Hampson was unable to be present, owing to indisposition brought' on by the great strain upon her caused by the unremitting labours of the past fortnight. Tho service was accordingly conducted by Mr Carson, who read nut the praise notes, and requests for prayer, several persons present offering up, their supplications on- behalf of tbe latter. There was a fairly good attendance, i .The evenin'g'.s proceedinga'cqmmenced -with a tea meeting;' on a:veryextensive scale, incite Drill. Hall.- /There were 24 table's, rpresided. over by the' following ' qti^^jgggjp' i |||||rtiab.le, .'at/which 'Mrs Hampson f'the 1 pße^-^r Jv Williams, 'ahd the officials of 'th'ejai'issio^wera seated), Mrs Pilchards, ■ Mrs B. Taylor, Mrs vwilliains, Mrs, Gaze, Miss Simpson, Mrs K. Uurley,.MrsLow, Mrs Eandall, - Mrs Tucker, Mrs McDonald, Mrs Brockman, Mrs Black; Miss H. Sorley, Miss Campbell, Mrs McLaren, Miss McKiuna, Mrs McParlano, Mrs Jones, Mrs Greenwood, Mrs Poison, Mrs Howie, Mrs Bayley, Mrs Ballnntine, Mrs Eyre, Mrs Selby, Miss Me William, Mis? M. Bell, Miss Baker. Miss Itamsay, Miss A. McLiren, Miss Bell. Sitting accommodation • was provided ' for over 500 persons, but with tho' relays of visitors J who came afterwards, there m'u3t havo been fully GOO at the tea. Viands both light nncl substantial were provided, and ample justice was done to them, tho gathering beiDg . of the most social and friendly character. The hall, with its many tables, large company, and numerous bunches of flowers, presented a picturesque appearance. Mr W. Hogg was the caterer for tbo tea, and gavo every satisfaction. Ten having been finished, the company adjourned .to ; the Princess ' .'i heatre, where a farewell public meeting was held.-'i Tbe attendance was largo, but heavy showers- of rain 'occurred, just when people ."would have been leaving their ionics, and there were therefore not so many in the theatre as otherwise might have been expected. Before the chair was taken, the choir; with,Mc Peter Bell's leadership, and Mr Powhall : as organist,' . sang ,two hymns, " Sing the bells of heaven,' 1 ' and " There is a land, a,, sunny laud." The chair was then taken. by ,His Worship the Mayor (Mr Carson), Mrs. Hampson 1 occupying the .principal seat .on the platform, .upon which also were the Rev. W. J. Williams, Mr Tucker, iMr Milson, and 'several other gentlemeii connected -with the mission. The hymn, " We're ■ marching to Canaan," was sung, and prayer offered by Mr Milson. "Will you meet me, at tbe riv.r " was then sung. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that the effect upon him of Mrs Hampson's addresses during the past week had been such that he felt that, so far from making a set speech, he could say nothing at all.' He could not say whether all who had attended the mission were alike affected, but for bis own part all the fighting spirit had been knocked out of him. On the previous night, in another place, he had felt this — he couldn't fight, and had to let thiDgs go by default, though after all they went very well. He could say for himself that he had got good out of the mission, and he hoped lasting good. He had seen others invigorated arid established, and young people by scores coming in and acknowledging Christ as their Saviour. It was significant that a iarge number of them were from the Churches and Sabbath Schools, the children of pious parents, and who had been instructed in religion — who, in fact, for years had been aware of their need. What they lacked was tbe complete surrender of- themselves, and Mrs Hampson's words and work had come with such power to them that they accepted a full salvation. They should, however, feel that when the servant of the Lord went away from them, the Lord did noi go too, and that He could give them as much grace next week when Mrs Hampson's mission was past and gone. ■ They should know and feel that God did not limit the outpouring of tho Spirit, but if- they would take His Word as their own they would rise to a standard- higher than ever they had attained hefore. His faith that souls would be brought in to God had been largely confirmed that week, for it must be' remembered that many had been reached who had as yet not actually come in. Even on the previous night scores came in after the public mission was apparently concluded. To the converts he would say that if they had not faith to work in the future they would be dishonouring their Eedeemer. The effect of tho mission should be seen in their lives, so that men should see the Spiriti of God in them, and. that they

had no desire to te 1 .outside of Him.' Some of them were weak 1 because they were merely. Church-going Christians, but it Christ was in their every thought and breath then others would be brought in on all sides to reoeiye His powei\ Eev Mr Williams wished to express his exceeding thankfulness to Almighty God for sending Mrs Hampson to Wanganui. It was many months ago since the first steps were taken to procure her services for this town, and it was encouraging to remember that though she did not come here when it was first intended and hoped, yet interest iv the matter by no means died out. Two months ago they found that she was disposed to hold services in Waneanui, and noonday prayer meetings were inBtituted as a preparation for her visit 1 So beneficial were these meetings that many were ready, when Mrs Hampson came, to receive the fulness of the Gospel of Christ. ■ The success of the missionhas been so marked, that in the fulness of his 1 heart he did not know what words to-employ in thankfulness for it. The seed had been sown, sometimes years ago, but now the reaping time had come he. hoped that Wan ganui Christians would never agaia despair or despond for any work done here for the glory of God or the Salvation of souls. He felt sure that Mrs Hampson would say that her work would not anywhere have been as successful as it had been, had there not been preparations for some time previously by earnest prayer. Many, persons here had wanted merely the , decision to , take them over the dividing line, and thank God, Mrs Hampson had been the means of doing that for very many souls. Mr "Williams then referred to the blowing up of the Hell Gate Kock in .New York Harbour by a train which a little child fired, aud, pursuing the analogy, said that by God's grace the work of exploding the Hell Gate of Wanganui had been entrusted' to his How many were there that night who could rejoice because Airs Hampson had led them to the Kingdom of their Lord and Saviour, to which he earnestly prayed that everyone present would obtain entrance. Hymn, " Lo, the day of God is breaking;" ' " The Chairman said that the very many friends who had benefited by Mrs Hampson's ministrations desired to .testify their appreciation in some appropriate form. It had taken the shape of an address; whioh' (although it had as yet ■ received no- signatures) he would read 1 to the meeting: — "Jesus only. To Mrs Hampson, — Dear Madam, at the close of .your mission in Wanganui we feel constrained to place on permanent record an expression of heartfelt thankfulness to God for the service he has permitted you to render. From what we' heard of the which God had elsewhere put upon your labours we were led to await your coming to this town with prayerful interest and a joyful anticipation of a season of blessing. Wo give God the praise .that here, too, he has blessed the word sppken to the edification of believers anjl the conversion of tho unsaved. Wmlß^inemory lasts it will be impossible for us to forget the scenes of power and mines of' refreshing,' that hare made bright" and, blessed _ the ■mission you have held in our midst ; and ajgqjß^oclft^HK^ljwaksgiying , for ther-past iwill""be^eariKs"t' prayer, : for''tb!e ! 'future that Goa' < 'may clothe" yon still ; . more richly with power from on high, so that ,your path as a winner of souls may bo 'as the shining light which sbineth more and more unto the perfect day.' In the love, of Christ, and in the hope of tho blessed Gospel, we thankfully subscribe ourselves." (Here will follow the signatures of the chairman, treasurer, ,. secretary, comiuitteenien, choir, workers, converts, and nil who have benefited by Mrs Hampson's missionior who may wish to testify their appreciation of her labours. The address has been prepared and beautif ullyilluiuinated by Mr R. W.Powna'll, than whom no better man in iNew Zealand could be secured fors> pleasing a duty. In the margin of the address is a. beautiful water- colour miniature painting of a view ia Milford Sound, with the ,snowclad mountains in the distance. Surrounding this view «re representations of the foliage of a New Zealand bush. All the pages . of the address also contain other little views of the charac teristic scenery of tfcis colony; inclucliug one in which Ituapehu figures prominently in the central background. All the painting and illuminating, including the antique initial letters, are executed by Mr Pownall in. the highest stylo of art). The Chairman said that there was a little, address also from the children, which he would ask one of them to read.' ■■'„ ■/; , . '', '„" ' i , Master i Willie ; Carson then stepped to the ''front of the. platform, aud very distinctly and clearly read the following :— " Jesus . only; Dear Mrs Hampson : — We, the children of Wanganui and neighbourhood, who have. attended your mission services, in bidding you good-by desire to thank' you for having given one service entirely addressed to us, wherein you told of tho great love •of Jesus for us in such a manner as to make us wish to have you with us always. We pray that God will spare you mauy ysars to come to tell of the same wondrous love to thousands more children, and trust that wo and they may never forget it. We, remain, dear Mrs Hampson, your loving children. (Here follow signatures of children who have attended the inquiry room, and of all other little people who hava been in sympathy with Mrs Hampson's work. This nddress also on its' first page is splendidly illuminated by Mr E. W. Pownall in like manner to that presented by the adults). The Chairman announced that both addresses had been placed in charge of Mr Brookman, aud would lie at Mr John Anderson's establishment in the Avenuo for signature during the ensuing week.' The reading of both addressee, particularly that from the children, was much applauded. Mrs Hampson said that it was a great comfort to her to remember that she was not expected to make a speech. She nepd not say with what feoliags she regarded the beautiful testimonials, and she could only assure those who signed them that their names would bo appended to her praying list, a course she tad adopted for at least the last 15 years. She already had some 25,000 nainos on that list, but the greatest joy of all was that they had their names written in tho Lamb's book of life. The farewel[ tea meeting had reminded her of the ultimatum of all th:ngs — that we were but strangers and pilgrims here, travelling on our way home, where they would all sit down with their Lord at the last. She had, if she might so speak, a sort of private understanding with- Christ upon these matters, and could say to Him that all the kindness; love, ana gratitude shown to her on earth were all for His dear sake. When she asked some of them to sign the pledge for her sake, her words smote her, for it was for their own sakes aud for Christ's. Eeinoinber, that what they did for Christ's sake they would receive back an huudred-fold. She had come to Wangauui to tell of His love, " for His sake," and she would urge that those three little words should bo a golden ring' to seize hold of that 1 nigfctj and, thajb they should, asls them-

selves what .they wpuldido for his ssack c in return for all. that he, had done and was doing still for them.- By all that'He had done and suffered for them — by His life and His death — by His resurrection and ascension — they could at least be loyal to Him. Let them think of the motive power of the words " for His sake," and how they lifted men up to a self sacrifice which led them to do things they would accomplish for no lowe, motive. Those words could be heard whispered in every pang of the Saviourr and had moved more for the glory of God than had the mainsprings of all other machinery. She would ask her hearers, how much of their Christian life was built up upon the glory of God and for the sake of Jesus. Lot that reflection come to them when' self pride seemed to, threaten them. As. for her visit to Wanganui, she felt in her heart eight or nine months ago that she would have to go there," and she knew that from God the strings were .pulled, and that He directed her course. Again wt uld she urge young converts to ask themselves what they were doing for Christ's sake — how they had performed their duties as husbands and sons, as daughters and, wives. With Jesus only before them they would see ahead every stumbling block and the bottom of every mistake, and would know ho w to avoid tho dangers of the past. Let them bind the words "for His sake " to their lives and so sanotify them, condensing all into that focus and saying that henceforth they would do nothing except for the sake of Jesus. Then they would be better men even in their business lives than before, for the religion of Jesns was not sentimentalism and did not make men effeminate. It had bone and muscle in it, and would elevate their manhood. Remember, that the men who moved the mightiest machinery of this universe had the three .little words " for His sake " -written on their hearts. Again would she thank the audience, though their own personal kindness would already have been a sufficient recompense. The sight of those dear children on Sunday alone would have, paid and repaid her for all she had done. So also would the sympathy and 1 help she had received from the pastors ; and as to them, , elie would urge all the converts to at once join the churches, in which so many precious means of grace existed. Let them not neglect getting nto the church of Jesus. Christ, and then, through the pastors, she shouldhear of them entering the garner which (sheltered the new born souls. She urged the converts to cultivate a spirit of union, and not ■ again fall into a narrow groove, remembering how the various pastors had been on that platform and had ' found how good it was to work shoulder to shoulder together. For example, she would say that if there were no'prayer meeting in one church, let the converts go to another where there was one, but not' of course with the idea of joining any other than the church. of their own adoption. If the, workers, of all churches, combined together, they could compass and bring in all those whp had just sufficient truth to know the need of Christ. To whatever church their- spirit leaned them — > and it was found that everyone, even the lowest, had . such a leaning,— let them go. And now she must say .'to them, good-bye, and: she trusted from time to time to"hear~*ttrttt .God, even th"eir own" God,- was^blessing them ; and that they had, in their lives, put it out of the power of anyone to'say that her mission had borne no fruit. If anything would compel her to come again to. Wanganui, before she left for England, it would be that there was a great growing in grace, and a pleading by the converts at Jesns's feet that other souls might be brought in. Such a cry of the children had often sent her a second time to the places she had visited. Meanwhile, forget not that the night was far spent and the day at hand— the work nearly done and the toil over. The time when they could work for Jesus would be soon over for ever, and very quickly would they iind that whether they were to enter God's heaven depended on the uso they had, made of the opportunities afforded them here. She asked that God in his grace might bless them 'more and more abundantly then and always. : ■ ! It was announced that the converts would be received into the Wesleyan Church on the following night, arid that the date for receiving otjers into the, Presbyterian Church would bo duly iinnonnced. It was also stated that the , subscription for Mrs Allen, which np to that time had realised £24,' would close, after the present, service. A beautiful solo, '.' When peace like n river " was. sung by Mr P. Bell, thechoir rendering the chorus to eaoh verso. ' Mr Tucker then delivered! an address expressive of his sense of the success 'of Mrs Hampson'B mission. For the past. 20 years ' he had been 'fauiilia.r :i with revival work of every kind,'aud had been quite prepared for the wonderful .results," and would be prepared for even more startling doings on the' part of the Lord. ■ Hymn, ." Come thou fountain. of every blessing." ','■■' , . ' ', -, '„ : The chairman said that no town of any consequence in the colony, except Wangauui, was without an -association of young men, similar in- some respects to that prayer union which, ' during the mission, the young women had founded. He thought t-bat he might risk saying that one shall be established, and that it shall go on. (Cheers). Tliese associations were not confined to young men, but all who wished to do so belonged to them, though they were established with a view of seeking out the young men. The town wanted sadly a place, with its library and class .meetings, where those who already confessed their faith could bo held fast in Christ; He would- ask, therefore, that the names qf those, young and old, who wished to join, or take an interest by subscribing to such an association, might be given iv after tha present meeting. He would ask Mr Albert Hurley (to whom he had not hitherto spoken on the subject) to take charge of theso names, for those who joined would be surs of his heart: felt sympathy, as a young man who was in Christ. By means of such an association as he had suggested, the union of all those who were in Jesus would be perfected, and they would bo able to show the world how staunchly they could stand l-y their laith. ' ■ Mr Calders delivered a short address, in which he stated that ho felt that the highest office he had filled in his life was that of hon sec to Mrs Hampson's mission. He detailed the steps which had been taken lo bring her to YVanganni, and added that he had never served on a committee whose members gave greater assistance to ono another, or showed more mutual Christian charity and forbearance. He might state that it was not from indifference that the Rev Mr Treadwell was absent that night, 1 but he was x'hysieally prostrated by a cold. Still, however, Mr Treadwell was visiting the converts and making arrangements for admitting them to his church. He (Mr Calders) had not the least doubt that Mr Troadwell would givn the 50 or 60 converts adhering to his denomination every opportunity of meeting him. The chairman said that he had succeeded in kducing Mrs Hampson to have her portrait taken on the following day, and he was gad to add that the committee had made an arrangement 1 with tho photographer by which copies , would bo sold to the thousands who no I i doubt wanted them. He hoped that the i . result would, he a, niqe contribvitiqa to •

the Young Men's Christian Association; (Cheers:) ; ~~ ; Mrs Hamp'sdn remarked that in Ihyercargill'the Young Men's Association, which was then dying, had benefited largely by disposing of her photographs, arid, the same result happened at the Thames for the benefit of a Ladies' Benevolent Institution and a Miners' Orphanage.; The only bargain she would mate in Wanganui .was that ; if the Young Men's 1., Al „A ssociatioh , obtained rooms for themselves, one of them should be reserved for the Young Women's Prayer Union. (Cheers.) The. chairman, in announcing that the noonday jirayer meeting would be continued daily, said that he did not know of such a successful mission which had begun with such.apathetic attendance at the preliminary prayer meetings before Mrs Hampson's arrival. - The farewell parting hymn, "Farewell, faithful friends," was touchingly and sweetly sung, to the air of " Home, sweet home." Mrs Harnpson then offered, with evident emotion, an earnest prayer for blessings on the chairman, officers, and members of her committee ; for the converts ; for all friends she was leaving behind in Wauganui ; and specially for the Young Women's Prayer Union and the Young Menls Christian, Association. ; -TEe chairman pronounced the Benediction, and the meeting separated.