EVANGELICAL MISSIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3680, 15 November 1912, Page 5

EVANGELICAL MISSIONS.

BOMBSHELL BEFORE PRESBYTERI AN PARLIAMENT.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WELLINGTON, Nov. 14

Speaking on a report presented at the meeting of the Presbyterian Assembly, the Rev. Graham Balfour (First Church, Dunedin) made some remarks upon the recent evangelistic mission conducted in Dunedin by Dr. Wilbur Chapman and Mr. Alexander. He gave a personal appreciation of the work done.

The Rev, James Aitken (Mosgiel) Said the Church should not expect too much from missions. It had been said that Dunedin had been moved to its depths, but that was not so. Inside the churches there certainly was great enthusiasm, and 5000 people met nightly, hut when it was all over the enthusiasm died down. Cries of “No! No!”

The Rev. J. Pattison deemed it advisable to make a few remarks on the subject of the Chapman mission. A sound judge had said that he had seen Moodie’s work in Scotland, and. he held that Chapman’s work in Dunedin was in every way greater and more valuable that Moodie's work in Scotland. (Applause.) The Dunedin mission wo’uld have been an: even greater success if some of the ministers had not adopted an attitude of passive resistance. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick (Green Island) supported the mission and its results, from his experience in his own church. Mr. W. Henderson said he rose to say that the remarks of Mr. Aitken were not fact. The Moderator: “Not fact” is rather strong. Mr. Henderson desired to give two facts. One was that fourteen sons of ministers had been converted-, and the other was that at the farewell meeting some 12,000 people were present. With these facts he would leave them to form their own conceptions.

The Ilev. W. Gray Dixon said there were times when opposition cut one to the heart. He had never in all his experience known a meeting so hushed before God as was the meeting of the Synod of Otago, when the bombshell represented by the feeling of one individual fell upon the meet-. ing. It had been felt that the Presbytery was so gloriously unanimous that any remark in apposition seemed like an emanation from the pit. For that reason it had been desired t< f 'keep the matter quiet, and also in the best interests of the person who expressed the views himself. Professor Howitson, of Knox College, pointed out that to some institutions and natures the methods of, some evangelists made no appeal whatever, and were even repellant. The report was adopted, with the recommendations made.