GaJRlBUTE to DR.JOHTi M c 1\[EILL Pastor of the Church of The Open Door, now returning to Liverpool, England N OT a prince but a veritable king in the pulpit is Dr. John McNeill. In my early years I had the privilege and pleasure of hearing some Remarkable men— —Dean Stanley and Canon Farrar at West minster Abbey, K n o x Little and Scott Holland one to drink as from an overflowing fountain, to be fed with the “finest of the wheat.” I shall not soon forget when he came from Philadelphia to the National Bible Institute and preached on “The Lame Man That Was
Healed,” challenging the ministry to see that mir acles of g r a c e were wrought, that the world may be dumbfounded in their presence. His ni i n i s.t r y. has been crowned with suc cess wherever .he has g o n e . His sociability, actuated by his lovabil- ity, is worthy the admi-, ration of men. I have heard; a few say, that they did not understand his Scotch accent. Will s u c h remember t h e words of the poet: “Defects through all of nature run, And spots are on the sun.” I have never had any
at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Dr. Parker at City Tem ple, Spurgeon at his tain ernacle, Newman Hall at ' Christls C h u r c h . Every one was a giant. One not only got superb thought; but beauty and originality in interpreta tion, of the Scriptures;. and always recognized . such a spiritual atmos phere in the service that one was lifted into the heavenly p l a c e s with Christ Jesus the Lord. Great changes have been wrought since those days, Preachers today have their minds cen tered too much on the literary finish, the schol
trouble in this regard, but I have been worried exceedingly at times over the condition of my own heart with its unfitness to receive anything from the Most High. The preaching of Dr. McNeill grips the conscience and seeks to influence the will to a surrender to Jesus Christ on the spot and moment, and whatever passage of Scripture he takes, he finds place to expose the tragedy of sin and to exalt his Lord and Master, Jesus. Christ, as a Deliverer from it, I deem it an honor to pay this humble trib ute to this faithful servant of God in the min istry of the church. It is a loss indeed to know that he is leaving the city of Los Angeles. It will be a rare man indeed who can hope to mea sure: to his standard as his successor. I feel sure that he has a great future yet, notwith standing his long ministry, With his strong physique, culture in its flower, a soul that is filled with passion for the King, glorious t r i - , umphs he may yet be expected to, win for the Master. r— J , Williams.
arly expression, charm of style, because they have in view the publication of the sermon rathèr than the! winning of souls and the up building of saints in Christ Jesus. That has beet1 my impression for some time now, of present-day preaching. In contrast to this, Dr. McNeill, while he has the scholarly expression, a style peculiarly his' own, allows for the free and full opera tion of the Spirit of God which gives power, 'beauty and fragrance to the service, always reverential, thoughtful, worshipful, spiritual. Nb cheap, clap-trap methods ever characterize his services. I have thought that an audience was ‘highly favored who had the privilege to listen to John McNeill. I heard him. preach his last sermon at Wàshington Heights in New York City to a crowded audience on -'Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” and what a service it was in freshness and spiritual power, leading
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