GIPSY SMITH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19720, 10 December 1926, Page 6

GIPSY SMITH

OPENS HIS MISSION GOOD ATTENDANCE AT ST. PAUL’S CHUECH 9 VIGOROUS ADDRESS STRIKES HOME Preceded by glowing reports of thft overflowing attendances bt his meetings elsewhere in New Zealand, Mr Gipsy Smith opened his Wanganui mission last night at St Paul’s Church. Following the singing of la numbej of hymns by the choir and audience the missioner offered a short prayer, asking that every heart bow humbly penitent, in the presence of God. The Lord’s Prayer was then repeated by the congregation- and announcements concerning details of the mission were made. On behalf of the local committee the Rev. E. T. Cox extended a brief welcome to the missioner, by whose efforts, he hoped, many would be brought to God. The Rev. J. Paterson supported Mr Cox’s remarks, on behalf of the ministers of the churches in Wanganui and their congregations. Mr Paterson explained that the missioner and his party did not benefit from the offerings at the ordinary services. He asked those present to dig deep into their pockets so that next week all the expenses would be covered and it would not be necessary to take up further collections. A number of those who had interested themselves in the holding of the mission had sub scribed £3O already, and if everyone gave proportionately there would be no difficulty in doing as he desired. Answering the Call. [ Gipsy Smith has made a name for himself in his travels in New Zealand through his direct spdaking; and last night he lost no time in giving a de monstration of his vigorous methods in the cause. “Il; the spiritual life of Wanganui is at a low ebb,” he said in his opening remarks, “then it is your own fault. It is in your own hands, and if you approach the mattei prayerfully, penitently and humbh. then you may hope for better things. "

“There are moments in our Jive? when God comes especially close to us,’’ he said, “when we feel His near ness and His drawing power, •You have all felt that sometime, land what a difference it would have made if you had answered tho call! If that call comes, I have these cards here for you to sign (producing a slip of pastebolard). This card has a place for your name on it, when you make the great decision to turn to your Christ, t<; answer the call to righteousness.” Gipsy Smith turned to the epistles of St. Peter for his text. There tverthree portions of sentences he wanted, them to notice: “Partakers of I lie Divine nature’’ (St. Peter IL, chapter 1, verse 4); “partakers of the Divine suffering’’ (St. Peter 1-4-13), “partakers of the Divine glory” (St. Pct. • 1-5-13). A Jazz Religion. He urged them to retad St. Peter. The. Bible was not read enough in these days. Speaking of his early life, tin Gipsy gave some of the impressions he gained then. The iirst impression was that the preachers and church official? conducted services to bring people to God; if there was no conversions at : service the preacher went home dis’.ip pointed. “Do you remember that, asked the missioner.

“Yes, yes, we do,” came a murmur. In the old days, continued the niia» sioner, having gained his first point, people used to suffer to be church people. They cut themselves away from other people and were hated for it. Now, however, joining the church wtas easy; it was a picnic. But to be a Christian was to partake of the Divine nature. “If God is in you,” declared the Gipsy, “you won’t need a lab.*! on yoff to say so—everyone will knov. it. And if you do have the spirit < . God in you, you won’t be so anxious to tell people whether you’re a Prcsby teriau, a Baptist, Methodist, or an other denomination.” Then, they had to partake of the Divine sufferings—but most of the people he had inci not want sufferings. “They want a jazz religion, a p ture show religion,” he said. “Sen they’ll want la picture show to them to the Communion table. ’I :> •

world is mad for pleasure, but I to tell you that the path to Heaven leads through Gethsemane and o\ i Calvary. The crowd that crucilic Jesus* would crucify him ag'ain if l.c came back to earth, and they would like to crucify you too if you had the Spirit of God in you. Working For God. “If you wanX to enter into the gh» then you must live for it and suffer 1 it,” continued the missioner, coming i< the third part of his text. “ I feel no as if I want to lay my flacc in the du t and pray to Jesus to make me a bett< man. Do you feel like that? Do you?" A Voice: Yes, 1 do. “Well, those who do want to be bet

ter, stand up.” Several people rose to their feet, followed by others. “If you don’t want to be better or feel you don’t need t<> be better than you are, then don ’I stand up,” went on the Gipsy. Numbers apparently came un<!< i these headings and remained sitting. The reason for the cards previously exhibited was then made more appar ent, each of those who stood being given one. The congregation in the meantime say the hymn “I Need Thee. ’ ’

The demand for cards having been satisfied, (another hymn was sung. Gipsy Smith exhorting his hearers, in between verses to “use your pencils for God.’’ This done, the cards were collected and handed to the missioner, who then ask pd all those who had signed up to stand again and exhorted them to tell till their relatives of their decision and do all they could to bring others to Christ. The first night of the mission concluded with the pronouncement of the 'Benediction. Two meetings will be held to-day. one at 2.30 p.in. and the other at 7.30. Both will take place in St. Paul’s Church.