The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10
LONDON IS HAVING |. GOOD OLD REVIVAL Held in Sturgeon Metr0pOl-
 itan Temple DIR. DIXON PREACHER Has Remarkable Power Over Audi ences By Means of His Plain
 Language and Powerful
 0ratOrical Ability
DIR. DIXON PREACHER
By PAUL LAMBETH

lAN
 .s the Rev. Dr. Dixon. an American cler-
 gyman, who recently accepted the success
 sorship to Spurseon's pulpit and work
 pr. Dixon. who came here from Chicago, but is. I believe, a North Carolinian and
 brother of Thomas P. Dixon, the noted | American author, is a typical American | in appearance as well as in manner, | speech, dress and thought. He is im- posing. with his military mustache shock
 of steel gray hair falling in lavish fold over his forehead. Dressed in the uniform
 of the Horse Guards he would be vision
 of greatness. His anecdotes are drawn from experience in the United States and eolored by the aid of the American preach
 CTS faith in the use of dramatic gesture
 and force.
 The pictures of Bible life live before his own eyes, and he describes them as if he saw them right now When 1 heard him preach he chose a difficult sub feet At a prayer meeting the night be- fore one of the gathering prayed, "Oh.
 Lord send us along. some old fashioned conversions.'
 That gave me the text tonight said the doctor. and I will try and answer the
 question. What is an old fashioned con l verson?' " Then he took his South Lon don audience to the United States, and de- | scribed a camp meeting, with 2e00 men and women. All classes were present. l Preachers. learned and ilhterate, took 1 part in the 14 days services, during which 1 men and women were carried out pros trate and unconscious. Regaining con seiousness thew would shout 'Hallelujah!
 and Gloryr and continue in a state Of rapture for some time. Then came a surprise. II do not call these old l fashioned conversions" he said. 'I call them modern conversions and I consider 1 their extravaganza did the cause of evan 1 gelical religion much harm
 The gist of the sermon was that old fashioned conversions are described in the New Testament. The preacher selected ter of them and placed them in pairs by way of contrast Here was a rich field l for the pulpit artist, which Dr. Dixon is in a non-oratorical but absorbing sense. He talks plainly and simply. He uses l few words with more than three syllables. 1 He is easy to understand.
 That night he fascinated his flock with descriptions of an eastern market place, the woman at the well. Saul on his way to Damascus the splendid young martyr, Stephen, and incidents illustrative of his l points.
 As to his logic it may be summed up in
 a sentence The basis of his argument is
 essentially Spurgeonic He stands by the
 old Book. Facts stated there are tacts' |
 cepted without qualification and pr. Dixon
 concluded that the old fashioned cOnver-
 sion that he wants to see at the Metropol- ftan Tabernacle is a change of heart that | takes place in one day, aye, one hour, one moment, in short, the birth crisis or q soul takes place in one second of time.
 Does this teaching succeed? Will it help | to dispel some of the social sadness or South London? Will it continue to hold l | fnff 10
 people who listened to the preacher last Sunday. it looks as if this old gospel Is | not nlayed out But here is a rather re- lmarkable fact Pastor and elders are busy every Wednesday night, dealing with alx-
 ious induirers and accepting new members into the old fold. And the elders are be-
 side themselves with pleasure
 Since Dr. Dixon assumed the pastorship :. of this famous shrine of non-conformity
 the vast church organization at Newins-
 ton-butts seems to have been filled with
 new life. and a revival Gin. it must be
 confessed, a new form of the dogmatic
 theology of the founder is in progress
 ouietly. unostentiously, and sthange to say, successfully. Here. at spurgeon's
 old battle-ground, is movement thAt
 points to triumph of old fashioned
 straight laced ideas of conversion, regen-
 eration and spiritual culture.
 Admiral of the feet Sir Arthur Wilson,
 who is retiring from the post of first sea
 lord of the admiralty. has two nicknames in the service which are thoroughly char acteristic "The Silent Admiral" indicates
 his marked preference for practice as | l against preaching. and Tug Wilson commemmorates a threat he once made ? to a slow going captain. The latter did not move out of harbor quick enough for his chief who signaled his intention of towing the vessel out; hut the captain hurriedly left, knowing Admiral Wilson
 would keep his word.
 Sir Arthur Wilson, who, by the way,
 is Norfolk man. is the most trusted , and respected of all British admiras. Dis
 cipline. the obedience of subordinate to { superior, right through the service, he has insisted upon at all costs; but he is ! absolutely devoted to the navy and rarely takes a holiday. Torpedoes are his special study and he is the inventor of the \ double harrelled torpedo tube. . How the gallant admiral won the V. C. . 2 years ago at Fl Teb is one of, the most = enthraling stories in the history of the q l bronze cross The Arabs made a gap in e the British square, and then made a dash s for it. Sword in hand, Wilson threw him f self into the breach and single handed z ! stopped the ugly rush His blade broke l but he continued fighting with his fists f the sword hit making splendid knuckle d duster, until detachment of the Yorh n and Lancaster regiment came up in 2 : bayonet charge and put an end to the tin- | equal combat. Considering the meagrt f opportunities which present themselves a to the navy Sir Arthur Wilson's war ser
 vices are extensive. Besides tte large 7, amount of fighting he saw in Egypt he > was as middy. in the Black Sea during ! the Russian war, and in 1858 was present at the capture of the Taku forts. At the ceremony of the nomination oi sherffs for England and Wales eoot ! deal of amusement was caused by the struggles of the Kings remembrancer tC { pronounce the names of the Welsh place. where various gentlemen lived. When the first one was reached his attempt was SO wide Of the mark that MT. Lloyd < George leaned back in his chair and = roared Mister Mellor came to another and hesitated
 AIr Lloyd George (encouraginsly)-O . that's very easy. Gaughter.D
 Master Mellor did his best, and when
 another name of somewhat similar ap- \ peaTanee came he made a bold rush at it MT. Lloyd George-Oh. good, good. Q.aughter).
 With regard to Bwhehbeody Master
 Melor managed, after two or three at Y, tempts, to indicate the word
 ll Mir. Lloyd George-I think you have left
 the next word out. naughter). .i The Lord Chief Justice-Well, never [ mind the next. d.aughter).
 Mir. Lloyd Georse-"It's Cerrigydrudion.
 G.aughter).
 Master Melor-May that not be a mis-
 print?9