THE story of the Revivals which began in the Auckland Province of North Island, New Zealand, demonstrates very clearly how Revival may be expected in any part.
A cablegram received in London and published in The Christian, summed up the work fairly well. It was signed by the Rev. A. S. Wilson, author of Faith's Fight and other well-known books, whose reputation as a preacher is better known in the Southern Hemisphere.
"Extraordinary New Zealand Revival begun during Orr's ministry at Ngaruawahia Easter Keswick and other camps. Hundreds publicly confessing sin, scores of conversions resulting, with sanely intense meetings of tireless crowds continuing till approaching midnight. Ngaruawahia missionary pledges and offerings Sunday approximately two thousand pounds. - A. S. Wilson."
But to go back to beginnings. Jack Sherriff and I arrived in Auckland Harbour (on the M.V. Rangitane) on April 6, which happened to be Tuesday. We had no Monday that week, owing to the crossing of the international date-line east of New Zealand. So on Sunday, we had attended Divine Service on board ship; and the following day, when we landed, was Tuesday.
When the officials came aboard the boat, I noticed one young man wearing a Crusader badge: so I spoke to him.
"Hallo. A Crusader, eh?"
"Yes, I am," he replied pleasantly, "and you seem to be a Christian, too?"
"Sure," said I. "Meet my friend, Mr. Sherriff, a Bromley Crusader."
We started a conversation. He asked me how long I would spend in New Zealand, where I hoped to go.
"I expect to go down to a convention at Ngaruawahia," I informed him.
"So do I," he replied. Then he looked at me.
"I say - excuse me, but do you happen to be Mr. Edwin Orr?"
"That's my name."
"Let's shake hands again. I have been praying for you for quite a while now. But I did not know that you would be coming on the Rangitane."
(I had received a cablegram from the Bible Training Institute of Auckland-it reached me in Los Angeles - asking me to attend the Easter Convention at Ngaruawahia, as a speaker. I had cabled an acceptance, so apparently the news had got round.)
We attended to Customs and Immigration: gave an interview to a Press man: then got ready to go ashore. My new I friend, Broadbent asked:
"Have you any personal friends in New Zealand?"
"No, I am afraid not. As a matter of fact, I have an uncle who settled in New Zealand somewhere when I was about a year old, but I cannot trace him."
Scarcely were the words out of my mouth (as we say in Ulster) when a dark-haired, sunburned man rushed up to grasp my hand. I recognised him from ancient photographs.
"Uncle John, I presume?"
"Yes, Edwin. Welcome to New Zealand."
He explained that he had been following my movements, and that upon receipt of news regarding my arrival, he had i come down from Russell to meet me. A moment later I was introduced to my Aunt Charlotte and Cousin Nellie. I felt heart-warmed at being welcomed by my own kith and kin who had remembered me as a baby. John Wright, my mother's brother, is a retired schoolmaster.
Sherriff and I were also greeted by praying friends who had not seen us before - Mr. J.O. Sanders of the Bible Training Institute, Miss Brain, Mr. Page, and others were good enough to come down to meet the boat. They were evidently pleased to see both of us looking so sunburned and healthy. We had supper with Mr. and Mrs. Sanders. On that Tuesday, Sanders, Sherriff and I agreed to unite in prayer for Revival to sweep the Convention on Saturday following. It did. And then I went off to my cousin's house for a long, long yarn on family affairs. I was well pleased to find that my relatives were deeply interested in spiritual things. A few days later I was to meet my Cousin Jack Wright, who had been converted a month previously in a mission conducted by Evangelist J. P. Miller. It was a fine family reunion.
On Wednesday morning, it was my privilege to speak at the Bible Training Institute. This influential school of the prophets was founded by the late Rev. Joseph Kemp, and has continued till this day to be one of the great factors in the work of the Lord here. The students listened well to the message, and a break came in the meeting when one after another rose to confess hindrance and sin. Criticism, prayerlessness, secret sins were amongst the honest confessions-and a little local revival broke out as soon as these hindrances were cleansed away. Dr. Charles J. Rolls, the noted Bible teacher who was Dean of the Institute in days gone by, arrived at ten o'clock to speak to the students (it was their last day of the term), and finding the whole company on their knees, he joined us, and we all spent a glorious hour before the throne, asking and receiving revival. Dr. Rolls, from that moment, became a close friend and helper: I could see that revival was a genuine passion with him. That meeting was really the revival in first fruits.
Mr. Page very kindly volunteered to motor our party around the sights of Auckland. We visited Mount Atkinson, Mount Eden and other places, and the net impression was that Auckland is a most beautiful city, set in superb surroundings. It is amazingly beautiful. After such a treat, we went to the Farmer's Trading Company's Restaurant. Here I was introduced to Mr. Laidlaw, the manager, a splendid Christian worker.
“Yes, Mr. Orr," he said, “I have been hearing plenty about you from my brother-in-law, Dr. Harry Ironside."
The very name Ironside made me feel happy.
All day I kept meeting people who had been praying for me. I was greatly struck by the atmosphere of expectancy which prevailed-especially among the young people. There was no end of enthusiasm.
Mr. Sanders handed me the printed programme of meetings:
Thursday, April 9th:
7:30 p.m. Opening meeting. Welcome by Chairman, John P. Miller.
Friday, April l0th:
10:30 a.m. Revs. John Bisset and E. L. Gunasekera
2:30 p.m. J. Edwin Orr
6:30 p.m. Open Air Meeting
7:30 p.m. Dr. Charles J. Rolls
Saturday, April 11th:
10:0 a.m. Dr. Charles J. Rolls
12 noon. River Excursion
7:00 p.m. Open Air Meeting
7.30 p.m. J. Edwin Orr
Sunday, April 12th:
10:0 a.m. Communion Service. Dr. Charles J. Rolls
11:0 a.m. J. Edwin Orr
2:45 p.m. Missionary Meeting
6:30 p.m. Open Air Meeting
7:00 p.m. Evangelistic Service. W. J. Mains
Monday, April 13th:
10:30 a.m. Dr. Charles J. Rolls
2:00 p.m. J. Edwin Orr
6:00 p.m. Testimony Meeting
This Easter Convention at Ngaruawahia has become the "Keswick" of New Zealand. Folks seemed full of expectancy regarding the blessing that was to come - and the revival overwhelmed them.
In the meantime, revival broke out in a meeting at Auckland. My companion and I were having supper with the family of the young man who had greeted us on board. Without warning I was told that I would be the speaker at a service in a marquee the same evening in Mount Eden district.
"I promised to go along all right," said I, "but I understood that Dr. Rolls was to be the speaker."
"He was," said my informant, "but he stood down at his own suggestion. He wants the young people to hear you."
"He must be a perfect gentleman," said I.
"He is."
And so I went along to the meeting held in Mr. Rimmer's tent. It was crowded with young people, bright, happy young people. The service began in the usual way. Dr. Rolls was on the platform with me, and I felt greatly helped by his friendly attitude. I went ahead with a message to Christians. The Lord began to work in their hearts, and the expected break came. A young man stood up to ask prayer for deliverance from sin: another followed; then another. One young leader" startled his friends:
“You all think that I am a deeply spiritual Christian - that I have that reputation. But I want to tell you inside I am like a sepulchre."
All the scenes of revival began to be enacted before our eyes. Some were melted into tears: some broke down while speaking: two or three prayed at once. One memory which will last was how a young man (an islander) began to sing in a voice of silver!
Calvary covers it all,
My life with its guilt and shame.
My sin and despair
Jesus took on Him there:
And Calvary covers it all."
The hush of God fell on the place. Backsliders were restored. An appeal was made to the unconverted, and found fifteen or more definitely seeking salvation.
Here is Keith Rimmer's report:
"Though the Marquee was filled, it would have been far too small had we known previously that Mr. Orr would have been present. As it was, he faced an audience most of whom had read his books j the expectancy, therefore, was tremendous and the results wonderful.
"That the Spirit of God worked wonderfully through the meeting was evident. Things that had proved a hindrance to our meetings were openly confessed, many Christians realising the insufficiency of their consecration. Many cases of definite conversion were recorded. At the close, when the benediction was pronounced, no one seemed willing to go home.
"Many of us have been praying for revival. Revival has started. Truly God has shown His willingness to bless where there has been a willingness to confess and forsake the things that hinder Divine Power."
I had the joy of meeting people at the end-if there was an end to that meeting-who had got revival, restoration or salvation. Some may ask - But how do you know that the decisions were real? Take an example. Mrs. Graham, the camp mother at Ngaruawahia, was introduced to me a couple of days later. She shook my hand.
"Oh, Brother Orr, I am delighted to see you. Do you know? Four girls of mine were soundly saved at that Wednesday evening meeting."
And so the revival came to that meeting of young people. There was much rejoicing, and as I learned that some there present were going to be at Ngaruawahia, I felt more and more convinced that a revival would sweep .the Convention. I said so. Some people smiled. Others said that they hoped so. Some of us knew that revival would come because it had, come first to our own hearts. Revival does not produce pessimists.
Ngaruawahia is a little Maori town at the confluence of the Walkato and the Walpa rivers. The name in the beautiful Maori tongue means the meeting of the waters. It is supposed to be hard for English tongues to master that word, but I did not find it so. One need only remember that each Maori syllable ends in a vowel. The ng at the beginning is a nasal. So the word is Na-ru-a-wa-hi-a. One British evangelist called it Naggery-waggery.
The Ngaruawahia Easter Convention on Keswick lines is the outgrowth of a camp started by Mr. Bruce Scott, an Auckland lawyer. Most of the young people prefer to be under the canvas at Easter, which is at the beginning of a beautifully mild and warm autumn. The camp has grown and grown to great proportion and has attracted such speakers as Dr. W. Graham Scroggie, Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, Dr. R.V.
Bingham, Rev. W.P. Nicholson and others. The present year (1936) has been a record year from the numerical point of view. Over 750 registered, and there were 1,200 at the meetings in the tent.
Bruce Scott was a great help to me, and a great deal of the work behind the scenes was due to him. J.O. Sanders of the Bible Institute is a wizard in organisation, and "hats off" to I him for the success of the camp. Humorous, kindly, business- like, Sanders was worth his weight in gold.
As soon as I reached Ngaruawahia, I found that the Maori looked upon the district as an historic Maori centre. I met half a dozen charming little Maori schoolgirls - all Christians -who taught me to sing in Maori. The Maori people are surely the most wonderful of all the so-called native races- talented, musical, heroic, chivalrous. With Messrs. Sanders and Scott and a small party we were received by Her Highness Princess Te Puea Herangi. His Majesty the King of the Waikato Maori was unavoidably absent. Nevertheless, we were welcomed j in a way that charmed everyone. An old wahine greeted us with the chant of welcome: there were speeches of greeting; and exchange of compliments. A choir of Maori people sang a lovely hymn in their own tongue. Then I had the honour of an introduction to the Princess. She seemed very gratified when I told her that the Maori and the Irish shared the love of nature, love of poetry, love of music, and love of fighting. She was more amused when I told her that when I arrived in New Zealand I could scarcely distinguish between a pakeha and a toheroa. (A pakeha is a European and a toheroa is a New Zealand shellfish -quite a delicacy as soup.)
The Convention began in conventional ways with an opening meeting. Mr. Miller (who led my Cousin Jack to Christ) gave a fine address. Friday's meetings were pent up with expectancy, but no break occurred. Dr. Rolls gave a remarkably fine address on Friday evening.
After the evening meeting, a young man who had been in the revival in Rimmer's tent approached me.
"Mr. Orr," said he. "About a dozen fellows want you to come along to Tent Number Twenty-nine. They are concerned about revival."
I went. We discussed the hindrances to revival with frank earnestness. There seemed to be conviction, deep conviction.
"Now, you fellows," I said. "Do you really believe that God is going to give us revival?"
There was a chorus of " Amen." "Yes, but do you believe that He will start the revival here in this tent to-night?"
After a silence, one young man said quietly:
"If we pay the price."
"All right," said I. "Let's get to prayer and see if God keeps His word. We'll pray for a revival here."
Some of them began to kneel.
“I say," cried one young man. "Don't - before we pray to God for revival, I want to get something off my mind."
A silence of amazement greeted his declaration. Then he turned to another fellow in the tent:
"Jack, I want to confess openly that I have been criticising you behind your back."
We were taken aback.
"Will you forgive me? I think I ought to get right with you first."
After a painful silence, the other fellow said it "That's all right. It's my fault, too. I have been doing the same thing behind your back. May God forgive us both."
When we started praying, transactions were gone through with the Lord. The first prayer was a broken confession of secret sin: another sought cleansing from pride: another confessed criticism: another unbelief. Young men are honest in their prayers - and these were not kept back by the presence of women.
"O God, O God," cried one, "deliver me from the bondage of the flesh."
"Lord, help me. Take out of my life the lust of the eyes."
I think that everyone of the twelve young men got right with God. Then the spirit of revival began to fall upon us - it was an amazing meeting. We sang, we prayed, we rejoiced, we cried unto God. At ten-fifteen, I said to them:
“Now look here. I am going off to my hotel to go to sleep. But take a tip from me-go and try to get some of the other I tents on fire for the Lord. It is your work just as much as mine. . We asked God for a revival here - we have got it. The same thing will apply to the other tents."
They divided up into parties of three and started out. I went to my hotel. I felt the urge to tell Dr. Rolls of the revival, but did not want to disturb him. However, I could not sleep, so I left in my coat, got an apple, told the hotelkeeper that I would go for ten minutes' walk, and set out for the camp. To my amazement (for lights out was at ten-thirty) there were prayer meetings going on in a dozen tents. I listened. In some tents, revival had begun: in others they were asking for blessing. I met some of the boys from '29.'
"How did you get on, eh?"
They laughed.
“We were received very coldly in the first tent we went to as a matter of fact they said we must be crazy and they put us out. But the other fellows are being well received."
"What are you going to do now?" I asked.
There was a late prayer meeting of a score of fellows going on in the big marquee, and the two boys from '29' announced their intention of "butting in." I left them and walked back to the hotel, rejoicing at their boldness. They went down to the marquee, and found a very ordinary sort of prayer meeting about to be closed. Now one of these two young men was an over-exuberant fellow in temperament: the other was a quiet type. The quiet fellow went to the front of the prayer meeting and boldly interrupted the prayers, much to the astonishment of the score of men.
“Listen here, you fellows. What’s the use of praying for other fellows’ sins. You ought to confess your own, and get a revival in your own heart first.”
And so they told an astonished company of how the revival had descended upon Tent 29. In the twinkling of an eye, there was conviction as the Holy Spirit descended upon that prayer meeting. Men were broken down, confessed sin, cried for mercy, sought forgiveness, asked for revival. And the prayer meeting in the big marquee went ablaze with spiritual power.
In the meantime - it was quarter to eleven - I reached the door of my hotel, and to my utter dismay, found myself locked out. I knocked the door, rang the bell, hammered, knocked again - all without avail. It is surely a remarkable thing that the other visitors had been shown a private way in at the back - but I was blissfully ignorant of such an ingress, for no one had told me. I tried every means of getting in until quarter past eleven. Finally, I made up my mind to go down to the camp and sleep on a spare palliasse. So off I set for the camp the third time. This time I heard unusual sounds from the big marquee and went in to find a deep revival begun.
The two fellows from ‘29’ were in a fix - they did not know what to do next. The meeting was crying out for experienced leadership, so I quietly took charge. I explained that I had been locked out - they seemed hilariously delighted at that. The meeting took a new turn, for those seeking souls were urged to clinch matters and return thanks to God for the forgiveness that had been sought. A wave of praise suddenly swept over the group of men. Most of them had the joy of forgiveness and revival - but some were not right yet. One fellow prayed:
“O God, take the hatred out of my heart towards -- “ (The man himself was sitting on the same form). “O God, knock the pride out of me, so that I may have the grace to go and shake hands with him and ask his forgiveness.”
When he had finished praying, he got up and held out his hand to his enemy. They shook hands, while tears of joy rolled down many a fellow’s face - tears of sorrow or tears of joy, I do not know. Another wave of praise swept over the group - we stood up and sang, “I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart." I got to the piano, and a great praise service went on.
“Say, fellows," I suggested, “don't you think we'll be getting into trouble for making such a noise? - it's after half past eleven!"
"We'll stay up all night."
“Hallelujah."
“Praise the Lord."
The fervour rather carried us away, I am afraid. The scenes that night were the nearest thing to spiritual intoxication that I I had ever seen. And yet, both Scott and myself had the witness of the Spirit in our hearts. We knew that it was genuine Revival. I was half amused and half astounded when one man-reputedly the quietest in the camp-climbed up and started the electrical amplifying apparatus working. His voice boomed out into the sleeping (?) tents:
“Praise the Lord-Revival has begun in the camp."
A moment later, the flap of the tent was lifted up, and a figure in pyjamas appeared. The look of astonishment on his face was r soon replaced by a look of eagerness for the same blessing evidenced by our faces. He came back a moment later with his overcoat over his sleeping apparel. Others came along in the same way while we sang praises at the midnight hour. This praise, alternated with prayer, went on till after one o'clock in the morning. Strange things happened. After a rousing chorus which gave us the opportunity of letting our new-found joy overflow, a man stood up:
“You fellows are happy: I am not. Will you pray for me? I am a big hypocrite, that's all I thought I was something, but just now the Lord has shown me that I am steeped in sin. Oh, pray for me."
He sat down and buried his face in his arms, and we could see his shoulders moving with broken sobs. Some got up and ! prayed for him. Then we sang:
Would you be free from your burden of sin?
There's power in the Blood."
By one o'clock there were no fewer than sixty men in that revival meeting - everyone of whom had made his peace with his Lord. Other enemies were reconciled, other sins were confessed, other souls received the transforming power. At one o'clock, I managed to persuade them to go to bed. They protested - I insisted, I backed by a few others. Finally we stood up to sing:
"Hallelujah to the Lamb
Who died on Mount Calvary,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen."
The benediction was pronounced. It was ignored so far as going to bed was concerned. The praise service started allover again. At last we prevailed on them to go to bed. The last hymn was, "Blest be the tie that binds." The “sixty '' - as they were afterwards called, were one in heart. My only concern was the fact that they had made the noise of six hundred - and that in the middle of the night. But revival had come-we were all convinced of that.
I slept in the Boat House.
Next morning, there was a buzz of conversation throughout the camps. It appears that people were awakened by the singing within a radius of half a mile. The girls' camp was awakened: sleepers were awakened up across the river. Comment was made everywhere. Most of the people were satisfied with the explanation that revival had begun in the men's camp: but there were mutterings from a minority. Bitter comments were made.
Said one man (indirectly) to me:
"Do you think that it was the work of the Holy Spirit to disturb people out of their sleep?"
"I believe it was the work of the Spirit to disturb people out their sleep. Wait and see for yourself," I rejoined.
After considering the matter prayerfully, I asked permission the chairman to make a statement publicly. He gave me five minutes. So I explained matters, and said that the sixty young men hoped that no one was unduly hurt.
"I have heard unkind criticism," I concluded. "So let me say this. The majority of these men were leading backsliding lives in bondage to sin for years. Now they have got victory. Do you blame them for praising the Lord far into the night? Why, I wish that you all had been there."
I asked the men concerned to endorse all that I said by standing up. "The Sixty" stood up like one man.