3YA to Broadcast St. Paul

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 13, 23 November 1928, Page 15

3YA to Broadcast St. Paul

Public Performance of Famous Oratorio

ON Wednesday, November 28, the Royal Christchurch Musical Society will produce, in- the Municipal Concert Hall, Mendelssohn’s oratorio "St. Paul.’ This will be a performance of outstanding merit. The Society, which is under the conductorship of Mr. A, G. Thompson, B.A., will be assisted by such soloists as:Madame Winnie Fraser (Oamaru). Mrs. Ann Harper (Christchurch). Mr. J. Hadland (Greymouth). Mr. Charles Clarkson (Kaiapoi). The orchestra will be under the leadership of Mrs. Wilson.

\ Part I. The persecuted Christian Church in Jerusalem prays to the Lord for power toa resist the fury of the heathen, Stephen is accused of blasphemy by the incensed people, and is brought before the council. Being questioned by the High Priest, he reproves his judges for the obstinacy with which they and their fathers have rejected the true faith, and resisted the Holy Ghost. They refuse to hear him, and insist upon putting him to death. Heeding not the reproof that Jerusalem had ever killed the Prophets which had been sent to her, they shout: "Stone him to death’; and Stephen suffers martyrdom, praying for merey upon his persecutors. Devout men earry him to his burial, with much iamentation, and utter words of peace and hope over his grave, Saul, who is present at the martyrdom, resolves to continue his persecutions of the Christian Church, and for this purpose, journeys toward Damascus. -A sudden light shines around him, and he is struck with blindness. A voice from Heaven calls upon him _ to proclaim the glory of the Lord to the benighted people, and his companions lead him by the hand into Damascus. There he prays in bitter repentance, until the Lord sends to him Ananias, who restores his sight, and confers upon him his divine commission as a Christian preacher. He is baptized, and preaches in the Synagogues; and the congregation praises the wisdom and knowledge of God. Part 2. . Saul, who, after his conversion, takes the name of Paul, preaches before the congregation. Paul and Barnabas are se-

lected ‘by the Holy Ghost, and sent as ambassadors to spread a knowledge of Christianity abroad. The multitude acknowledges them as messengers, who preach the gospel of peace, The Jews, not believing in the Saviour, are envious, and consult how to kill Paul. But Paul and Barnabas, telling them that. they have rejected the truth, although they were chosen first to have the word of the Lord set before them, turn from them to preach unto the Gentiles. Paui. miraculously cures a cripple at Lystra; and the Gentiles, believing that the gods have come down from, heaven as mortals, call them Jupiter and Mercutius, and desire to offer sacrifices to them. But the Apostles refuse such vain homage; and Paul endeavours to divert the minds of the people from the worship of false idols to that of the one, living God. This excites the anger of the multitude; and both Jews and Gentiles accuse him of haying spoken against Jehovah’s temple and the holy law, and raise a cry of "Stone him." But the Lord, whose help is ever nigh unto the faithful, saves him from persecution. Paul convokes the elders of Ephesus, telling them that he is bound in the spirit to go forth in Jerusalem, and that they will see his face no more. They weep and pray; but Paul expresses his readiness to die for the Lord, and takes his leave, the elders accompanying him unto his ship. It is their comfort now to be God‘s own children. To him who has fought a good fight, and kept well the faith, a crown of righteousness shall be givenand not only unto him, the believers sing, but to all them that love His appearing. So they bless the Lord, and praise His holy name for ever.