A tribute to influential Australian Christians - Arthur Stace, Number 7 in our series
For thirty-seven years, Arthur Stace wandered the streets of Sydney before dawn chalking an anonymous one-word sermon on the pavement. 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.
Arthur Stace was born in a Balmain slum in 1884 to a family of alcoholics. Stace learned to fend for himself at an early age, sleeping on bags under the house to avoid his drunken parents, stealing food and assisting his sisters who ran brothels. By his 20s 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 WW1, 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.
Some months later, in a church in Darlinghurst, he heard the preacher shout, “I wish I could shout eternity through the streets of Sydney. Eternity, eternity, eternity.” Stace was powerfully struck by the words and said he felt a great call from the Lord to write the word Eternity. He had a piece of chalk in his pocket so he bent down and wrote it on the pavement. “The funny thing is I could hardly spell my own name. 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.”
Arthur Stace lived with his wife in Pyrmont. His daily routine was to wake up at 4:00am, pray for an hour then head to whichever suburb he thought God was directing him to, writing ‘Eternity’ every hundred yards or so. The message could be seen on walls and footpaths, prompting people to consider eternity itself. The police very nearly arrested him 24 times for defacing the pavement. “But I had permission from a higher source,” said Stace.
Stace regarded his unique style of evangelism as a serious mission given him by God. Throughout years of speculation in Sydney, he kept his identity quiet. However, he was finally identified by a churchman in 1956. Stace gave his first interview to the Sunday Telegraph in 1956.
Writing Eternity wasn't all Arthur Stace did to help men and women come to know Jesus. On Saturday nights he led gospel meetings, with Open Air Campaigners, at the corner of Bathurst and George Streets - just across from the Cathedral. At first he did it from the gutter but in later years he had a van with electric lighting and an amplifier. Stace eventually became a member of St. Barnabas' Broadway, where he had first heard the gospel in 1930.
Arthur Stace died at the age of 83 in 1967. Ten years later, 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.
Links:
Eternity at the Olympics - http://www.wesleymission.org.au/publications/eternity/eternity.htm
Making your life count for Eternity - http://www.acl.asn.au/eternity.html
Sydney Morning Herald - One Word Sermon We Can't Forget - http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/01/18/1105810905250.html
Other influential Australian Christians in our series (listed in presentation order) :
117 Gertrude Kumm - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=17163
116 Una Porter - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=17158
115 Fredrick Cato - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=17093
114 David Unaipon - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16947
113 Lancelot Threlkeld - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16940
112 John Symons - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16786
111 John Blacket - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16767
110 John Blundstone - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16760
109 Mary Barlow - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16573
108 John Bradfield - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16523
107 Sir Richard Bourke - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16351
106 Sir George Gipps - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16152
105 John Hunter - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16126
104 B. A. Santamaria - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16095
103 Graham Staines - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16076
102 Patrick 'Paddy' Hannan - http://www.acl.org.au/nt/browse.stw?article_id=16076
101 Arthur Phillip - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16002
100 Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15978
092 Carl Strehlow - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16404
053 Johann Flierl - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16688
041 - 099 John Flynn's associates - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15822
040 Florence Young - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15814
039 Dr. Fred Schwarz - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15805
038 Major-General Lachlan Macquarie - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15778
037 Sir George James Coles - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15729
036 William Arnott - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15633
035 Sir Bruce Small - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15531
034 William Cooper - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15349
033 Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15346
032 Ethel Helyar - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15225
031 Marjorie Wilkinson - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15225
030 Maria Elizabeth Kirk - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15136
029 Robert Steel - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15027
028 Robert Cartwright - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14973
027 William Branwhite Clarke - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14899
026 Isabella Parry - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14747
025 William Guthrie Spence - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14712
024 Samuel Marsden - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14686
023 Tom Price - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14499
022 John Lang - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14414
021 John West - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14405
020 Edward John Eyre - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14252
019 Leon Morris - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14162
018 John Curtis - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14104
017 John Ridley - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14068
016 Joseph Orton - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13936
015 Thomas Gainford - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13891
014 Mary MacKillop - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13703
013 Charles La Trobe - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13591
012 Georgiana Molloy - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13491
011 Elizabeth Macarthur - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13291
010 HV McKay - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13223
009 Mary McConnel - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13077
008 Caroline Chisholm - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=12860
007 Arthur Stace - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=10594
006 Rev Dr Sir Alan Walker - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=10354
005 Captain Charles Sturt - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=10068
004 Alfred Deakin - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=9859
003 Pedro Fernánez de Quirós - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=9758
002 Richard Johnson - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=9696
001 John Flynn - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=9511
Other influential Australian Christians in our series (listed in alphabetical order) :
036 William Arnott - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15633
109 Mary Barlow - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16573
111 John Blacket - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16767
110 John Blundstone - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16760
107 Sir Richard Bourke - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16351
108 John Bradfield - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16523
100 Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15978
028 Robert Cartwright - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14973
115 Fredrick Cato - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=17093
008 Caroline Chisholm - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=12860
027 William Branwhite Clarke - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14899
037 Sir George James Coles - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15729
034 William Cooper - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15349
018 John Curtis - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14104
004 Alfred Deakin - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=9859
003 Pedro Fernández de Quirós - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=9758
020 Edward John Eyre - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14252
053 Johann Flierl - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16688
001 John Flynn - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=9511
041 - 099 John Flynn's associates - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15822
015 Thomas Gainford - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13891
106 Sir George Gipps - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16152
102 Patrick 'Paddy' Hannan - http://www.acl.org.au/nt/browse.stw?article_id=16076
032 Ethel Helyar - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15225
105 John Hunter - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16126
002 Richard Johnson - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=9696
030 Maria Elizabeth Kirk - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15136
117 Gertrude Kumm - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=17163
022 John Lang - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14414
013 Charles La Trobe - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13591
024 Samuel Marsden - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14686
011 Elizabeth Macarthur - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13291
009 Mary McConnel - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13077
010 HV McKay - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13223
014 Mary MacKillop - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13703
038 Major-General Lachlan Macquarie - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15778
012 Georgiana Molloy - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13491
019 Leon Morris - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14162
033 Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15346
016 Joseph Orton - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=13936
026 Isabella Parry - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14747
101 Arthur Phillip - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16002
116 Una Porter - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=17158
023 Tom Price - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14499
017 John Ridley - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14068
104 B. A. Santamaria - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16095
039 Dr. Fred Schwarz - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15805
035 Sir Bruce Small - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15531
025 William Guthrie Spence - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14712
007 Arthur Stace - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=10594
103 Graham Staines - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16076
029 Robert Steel - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15027
005 Captain Charles Sturt - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=10068
092 Carl Strehlow - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16404
112 John Symons - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16786
113 Lancelot Threlkeld - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16940
114 David Unaipon - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=16947
006 Rev Dr Sir Alan Walker - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=10354
021 John West - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=14405
031 Marjorie Wilkinson - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15225
040 Florence Young - http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=15814 |
