RELIGIOUS REVIVAL

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19879, 7 May 1936, Page 3

RELIGIOUS REVIVAL

IRISH EVANGELIST. } HAMILTON AUDIENCE or 1000. l A vivid testimony to the power oii prayer in solving material as well as‘ spiritual diihculties was offered bv the irish evangelist, Mr J. Edwin ”Orr, when he addressed an audience or nearly 1000 people in the Alexandra Hall last evening. The need for a religious revival was stressed and he appealed for an evangelical return to true Christian principles. The president, of the Hamilton )linisters' Association. the Rev. S. J. Atkins, presided. Mr Orr explained how he had undertaken religious work in his spare time uniii three years ago when he had realised himself to be e “hack—slider” and with only '25 Sid and an old bicycle in his possession ‘he had set out. on a world tour to teach revival. Never at any time, he said, had he been forced to worry for his material wants and Divine Providence had as—sisted him in a miraculous manner to surmount every ditih'ulty. The whole of his travels hail been divinely plan—--11011 and there were few countries which he had not viSited. Even in the Mohammedan state of Turkey his work had been profoundly blessed. "I am determined to start a spiritual revival in tho \\'uilmto,'.' the speaker stated, “There was a definite Holy Ghost revival among the Christian Easter conventions through Out the Dominion and I know of at least 60 people who received blessing at the Ngaruawahia camp." Million Unoonverted People. Revival was primarily the working of ilod‘s Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, but. its chief hindrance was offered by sin. There were a million unconverted people in New Zeal-and. sin being preferred to obedience to God‘s will. lie outlined the main causes of secret sin and of open sin. among which he strongly deplored short. temper, personal criticism, the vain search for worldly pleasures and the lovelessness of God and fellow men. Criticism was the curse of the Church and if more love abounded greater results would be obtained. There was universal “back-sliding" among the Christians of to-day' and 95 per cent of the church‘s followers could he placed in this category. A revivalist movement. he explained, would change all this. Special prayers and testimonies of ’renewed faith were offered and hymns .and evangelical choruses were sung. Several selections were rendered by the ‘liamilton Salvation Army Band,