Early 20th Century Australian Evangelist Honored for His One-Word Graffiti

by Teresa Neumann : Oct 26, 2009 : Staff - Australian Christian Lobby

"The message 'Eternity' was spread to billions of people during the millennium festivals of 2000 as the word was written in fireworks above the Harbour Bridge."

(Australia)—The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has been publishing a series of tributes to influential Australian Christians, living or deceased. The following excerpts are from No. 7 in that series, featuring Arthur Stace, who passed away in 1967 at the age of 83.

Stace was reportedly born in a Balmain slum in 1884 to a family of alcoholics. "By his 20's he was in and out of prison for housebreaking and other offences and had developed a heavy drinking habit. Left half-blind after a gas attack in WWI, he slipped further into poverty and such extreme alcoholism that he was in danger of becoming a permanent inmate of the mental asylum. No matter what he tried, he couldn't give up the drink. In 1930, hungry, hopeless and desperate, he stumbled into St Barnabas' Church on Broadway where he had heard there was free food available to those who listened to the preaching. Struck by the Christians he met there, Stace got down on his knees and prayed. He gave up the drink and began to work."

Months later, the report notes, Stace heard a preacher at church shout, "I wish I could shout eternity through the streets of Sydney. Eternity, eternity, eternity." So powerfully struck by that phrase, from that point on he felt "a great call from the Lord to write the word 'Eternity.'"

"The funny thing is I could hardly spell my own name," he said. "I had no schooling and couldn't have spelt 'Eternity" for a hundred quid. But it came out smoothly in beautiful copperplate script. I couldn't understand it. I still can't."

Notes the report: "For thirty-seven years, Arthur Stace wandered the streets of Sydney before dawn, chalking an anonymous one-word sermon on the pavement [and walls and footpaths throughout the city]. The word was 'Eternity' and he wrote it more than half a million times. It intrigued Sydneysiders who pondered its meaning whilst trying to identify its mysterious author."

He was "out-ed" in 1956, when a churchman identified him.

According to the report, ten years after his death, a plaque was dedicated to him in Sydney. The message 'Eternity' was spread to billions of people during the millennium festivals of 2000 as the word was written in fireworks above the Harbour Bridge."

To read this story in its entirety, follow the link provided.

   

• The Tim Tebow Ad: the Rest of the Story
• National Marriage Week in the USA Feb. 7 to the 14th
• Want a Stronger Marriage? Use the Term "We" Rather than "I" More Often
• Well-Known Christian Pastor Inspires Others as He Battles Brain Cancer
• Son of Voodoo Priest Leads Fellow Haitians to Christ
• Ordinary Pet, Extraordinary Gift: Meet Oscar—the Hospice Cat
• George Barna Lauds Great Leaders
• Crows Found to Have Gift:  Incredibly Adept at Recognizing Specific People for Years
• Thursday's National Prayer Breakfast Featured Comments from President Obama and a Prayer from Tim Tebow
• Miracle as 3-Year-Old's Inoperable Brain Tumor Disappears
• Best NFL Role Model, Kurt Warner, Thanks God for His Career
• Spotlight on Hollywood: Role of Mary Magdalene Transforms Actress Amy Hess
• A "Pro-choice" Columnist Hails Tim Tebow's "Pro-Life" Super Bowl Ad
• Doctors "Confident" that New Microwave Therapy Could Destroy Cancer Cells, Reduce Mastectomies
• Italy's Prime Minister Wants Israel to Join the European Union
• Scientific Study Finds Prayer Sparks Forgiveness
• Groundbreaking Study Proves Abstinence Education Works
• Woman is Still the "Picture of Health" Two Years After Being Healed of COPD
• Texas Pastor Working Outside of the Box in Multifaith Dialogue With Muslims and Jews
• World Vision Declares February Month of Prayer for Haiti's Children

   
 

Listen online to 24/7 streaming radio of cutting edge music by
ElijahStreams!

"I have just been introduced to your network and have been basking in the blessing all day! I hope all the listeners will continue to support you so that this blessing on the Church can continue."
- an ElijahStreams Listener

Steve Shultz, Managing Editor

Aimee Herd, Editor

Teresa Neumann, Reporter