THEATRE ROYAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4314, 9 January 1893, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

f/li Tennyson Smith's Mission. Sometime before tho announced time for the opening ot Mr Tennyson Smith's Gospel Temperance Mission at the Theatre Royal last evening, the buildiDg was packed from floor to celling, and the lecturer must feel gratified and encouraged by the splendid reception which his fame and known talents secured him. The chair was occupied by the Kev Mr Dukes, and a strong united choir contributed tho musical portion of the service. The Chairman delivered a brief but stirring address, in which he eaid that they were not there to abuse the moderate drinker. He himself had been one for 25 years, but they wished to induce the moderate drinker to give up the drink for the sake of others. Many must have seen the havoc caused by drink during the Christmas holidays. They were asked to let the question alone, but the thing would not let them alone, and be ventured to say there was not a man or woman present who was not directly or indirectly influenced by the drink. The Rev gontleman then quoted instances of tbo evils of drink which had come under his personal knowledge, and, concluding, oalled upon Mr Tennyson Smith to deliver DrTalmage'a sermon. Mr E. Tennyson Smith, before commencing the delivery of the sermon, said that ho was always impressed with his responsibility when commencing a mission suoh as this, It was a solemn tirao for tho town. Opportunities would be given during the , mission for many to turn over a new leaf and tako the total abstinenoe ■ pledge, There was also a heavy resI ponsibility rosting upon every Ohrisi tian man and woman in tho town who ) believed in the Temperance cause, i Li was glad the mission had commenced 80 well, and hoped it would i go on well and finish 1 well, and he t believed they would make a record in , Masterton, and stir the town from ' centre to circumference. \ Mr Spith%nj)roceeded to give Dn Toimago's sermon on II the, drink traffic Eeoitiifg it word for

word, he hold the large audienco spell bound. His delivery was perfectly natural, making it exceedingly diflicult to bolievo that it was a reproduction of another's words, and the whole recital was a splendid dramatio and oratcrioal effort, the vivid word-pictures of the evils of drijk, entrancing his hearers and evidently creating a deep impression, The sermon is cast in a most serious vein, and, therefore, Mr Smith was allowed scope for his talents only in one direction, and the lighter and humorous side of his nature found no play, Abundant opportunities to fully exhibit this-aa those wlio beard tho lecturer before will know—are given in the recital of Gough'B orations, which abound in humor and pathos, and entirely differ from Dr. Tttlmage's sermon, After his recital Mr Smith made* an earnest and eloquent appeal for pledges, with the result that the pledge tables were litorally beseiged, ond amid much oxoitement and enthusiasm 87 persons subscribed their names to the total abstinence pledge.