The Rev. Ion Carroll, Vicar of St. Peter’s Rushden, who has been in the limelight a bit recently, is as is known by many, giving some of the finest gospel lectures during Lent that one is able to hear. He uses illustrations of lantern slides, copies of the works of the greatest of the world’s painters and makes thus an intellectual as well as spiritual appeal to his congregation.

A “Rushden Echo” representative, wishing to get more information on these successful addresses was granted an interview this week.

“I hear you have been holding quite successful lantern services at St. Peter’s on Thursday evenings in Lent?” our representative opened “can you attribute any cause for the success?”

“Well” Mr. Carroll replied “the word success as regards services is mis-leading. I did know, for example, a country Vicar who was mad, and who on account of his peculiarity drew large audiences. There were naturally good collections and the man in the street called it a success. But I can say that the services at St. Peter’s on Thursdays are well attended and are undoubtedly helpful and for the following reasons; (1) they are pure gospel and mission services; no controversy, no red rags, no politics; (2) they treat upon important matters, as for example, this Lent, on the great mystery of pain and suffering. Some of the world’s finest works of art are thrown on the sheet to elucidate the mystery.”

“But I imagine, your heart being in these services has some cause in the success?”

The vicar acknowledged that he always feels that he is at his best at lantern services. “I have had twenty years experience of such and I believe in them,” he said. “The subject was the mystery of pain and suffering to which we must find an answer. The only answer lies in Calvary. Either Calvary was one of the hidden tragedies of the world or in it lay hidden the answer to the question as old as Job’s time; ‘why does God allow such things?’ Why the death of this child? Why was it born? Why was that God fearing man reduced to penury by his son’s fraud? Why do the wicked flourish? Why these cruelties on the Congo and in Iceland? Why does that poor woman suffer because she has a drunken husband etc. etc. Magnificent representations of the world’s greatest artistes, such as Tissot, Forsyth, Dore, illustrated these questions.”

The answer – or rather, concealed answer – was the Vicar explained, in some of the following pictures ; Guido Reni’s “Crucifixion” Aubert’s “Last Supper”, Hole’s “The Baptism”, Dixon’s “Good Shepherd” Forsyth’s “Crucifixion”, Beraud’s “Way of the Cross” and Burne Jones famous picture of “Faith” This last was a truly remarkable picture and being copyright, of course, was seen probably for the first time by those who were present last Thursday evening. It is a picture that will impress itself on mind and imagination.

But Mr. Carroll went on to say not only mental suffering but physical or bodily suffering finds an answer in Calvary. All suffering, the Vicar explained, is not an evil. “The burnt child fears the fire”. Pain is often a warning signal. How many people would have lost their lives but for the pain that sent them to the doctor? Christ suffered pain; He did not accept drugs. His suffering was illustrated by Joubert “Christ at the column” by Dixon “The Derision” by Hoffman “To Golgotha” by Tissot “The first nail” by Dela Croix “On the Cross” by Fellowes-Prynne “Wine and Myrrh” by Dixon “The Vinegar and Sponge” etc. The subject the Vicar said, is continued each Thursday at St. Peter’s. Well known hymns intersperse the services, which St.Peter’s congregation sing heartily. The organist (Mr. W. P. Jolley) and the congregation are a complete choir in themselves. Solos(which are also illustrated) are sung each evening. Miss Edith Hobell and Mr, Simmons have been hitherto the soloists.

“There is a fourth reason” the Vicar added, “why our lantern services are a success which I ought to have mentioned at the beginning and that is the silent and perfect working of the lantern by Mr. W.H. Marriott. A slide thrown in wrongly would do much harm. Never has such a thing happened with Mr. Marriott as lanternist. I am deeply indebted to him.”