SUNDAY COLUMN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 187, 21 May 1938, Page 3

SUNDAY COLUMN

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. (Conducted by the Ashburton Ministers’ Association). NOTABLE ANNIVERSARIES.

Methodists will celebrate the bicentenary of that great day—May 24, 1738 —when John Wesley’s heart was "strangely warmed” in the meeting at Ald,ersgate Street, London. May 24 is often counted as the real birthday of Methodism.

In Presbyterian churches there will be celebrated the tercentenary of the signing of the Covenant- in 1638. Per-

haps others than Presbyterians will catch something of the heroic spirit which prompted the covenanters in their witness and struggle for freedom. February 17 marked the ninetieth anniversary of the establishment of freedom of work for the Waldensian church in Italy. In 1848 the King granted to the Vaudois emancipation and equality of citizenship with Homan Catholics. It would not be ;» bad thing if Protestants were to re-read the story of the Waldenses and have their hearts thrilled, and their spirits renewed. In the reading might be included Milton’s -sonnet, "On the Late Massacre in Piedmont.”

Swedenborgians are this year commemorating the birth of the founder of the New Church and the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the first church in Britain. Emmanuel Swedenborg was born 250 years ago, in 1688, and died in 1772. John Bunyan, the author of tho immortal "Pilgrim’s progress,” died in 1688. The two hundredth anniversary will be noted in all the churches and tribute paid, to one of the greatest religions geniuses of the world.

An article in the "Christian World” reminds us of many other anniversaries. Three hundred and fifty years ago Sir Walter Raleigh gave £IOO to the Virginia Company "for the propagation of the Christian religion in that settlement,” thereby making tho first Protestant missionary donation of which we have record. The tercentenaries include those of the publication of 'Chillingwortil’s famous book, "The Religion of Protestants.” One hundred and fifty years ago William Wilberforce began his great work of emancipation, and the Quakers of vAmerica freed their slaves. Alexander Campbell was born 150 years ago, as also was Adoniram Judson. A hundred years ago Queen. Victoria was crowned. Seventy-five years ago the slaves in America were" liberated.

These are but a few of the important anniversaries of the year.

A world Missionary Conference, the successor of the Edinburgh and Jerusalem 0011101X311008, was to have been held this year in China. We cull the following announcement from the " Wbrld Call” : "It is not necessary to explain that since the outbreak of hostilities in China it lias become increasingly a parent that it would be impossible to carry out the original plans. From the first, those responsible tor preparations for tlie conference have insisted that, while a- change in the place of meeting might be necessary, the unquestioned need for the conference was such that postponement was not to be thought-of. Thus there was no element of surprise in the announcement a few weeks ago that tlie World International Missionary Conference will he held in. Madras, India, late in 1938.

FOR THE QUIET HOUR. REVERENCE AND RESPECT. Holy, Holy, Holy is. the Lord God, the Almighty.—Rev. o: 8. A Capuchin monk once said: “The English respected God so much that they did not love him ; and the Romans loved him so much that they forgot to respect him.” Lavish terms of endearing affection, effusive • eulogies and other forms of unbecoming familiarity with the Godhead, must be very offensive to him who is worthy of high respect and true homage. It cheapens worship to imitate a radio announcer who is crooning love or ballyhooing a brand of soap. Veneration,* awe, reverence, respect and adoration are cultivated virtues. Unlike Topsy, they don’t “just grow” somehow. —Dr. J. J. Phelan. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK. A Christian is just one who does what the Lord Jesus tells him. Neither more nor less than that makes one a Christian. —George Macdonald. THE HAPPIEST TIME. When is the happiest time of life, and why? The question is asked in a letter signed by three of my readers. They have been discussing the question ancl are unable to agree about the answer. My guess is that there is no happiest time of life, unless it he the carefree, joyous years of childhood, before the load of life falls upon us. That is why it is so- awful to make a child unhappy. It is better not to talk of happiness, but of hapinesses, of which there are many kinds scattered through life. Also, what makes one person happy would bore another person beyond' all endurance.

Each of “the seven ages of man,” as Shakespeare put it, lias its «own kind and degree of happiness, if we are lucky enough to find it. Different ages differ in this respect, and we must not forget that fact.. For an old man to try to be happy in tile same way he was happy in bis youth is ghastly—it cannot be done. No, that is gone, and he cannot go back, even when he leaves all the doors open behind him. One thing is plain to me—youth is not the happiest time of life. It is happy at times /and in spots, hut not for long. It is a period of storm ancl stress, of groping, of not knowing what it wants.

To be more exact, youth is more vivid than happy. It is either up in tlie attic or down in the cellar. It has not accepted life. It does not know its own powers, it lias not found itself or its path. No man can be happy at any time of life until lie has some sort of inner unity, some faith to live by. someone to "love and be loved by, some work that calls out the best capacities of Jiis being. Old age lias its own happiness, too, remember, if it is wise. When the fret and fever of life are over it finds serenity. It can see more clearly, and if hope is the joy of youth, memory is the blessing of age.

Why are people happy? All, that is a harder question. Some arc happy

for no reason at all, apparently. Others have every reason to be happy, but do not make a go of it. Happiness must be inside ns. —Joseph Fort New-ton-ip “Christian World.”