RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 129, 30 May 1908, Page 12

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

CHURCH NEWS AND VOTES. The- Baptist', congregation at Napier sas-secured the : services of an able pastor in" the: Rev. J. K_ Archer, of Grimsby, ijEho. is higiilv recommended- by such authorities as Dr. Clifford- He is spoken Gf~as~a very able speaKer, and a man of considerable -breadth, of thought.

The Rev. J. J. North was the object of a hostile demonstration not long ago ty an army of Socialistic -workers in Wellington, when he spoke at the Queen's statue, and he, turning the other cheek, asked his assailants to come and sup rwith him. They" came, near a hundred strong, to the Vivian-street school-room, last Saturday week, and ate supper with him quite amicably, quietened better by iris, coolness or the possible absence of the moTe active distnrbants. They had a; long talk together, the Rev. Herbert [Hobday helping, and with one exception, the meeting passed off quite amicably. The one exception was a man who interrupted Mr. Hobday, and broke into a wild tirade against ""Bible-bangers." He lad not the support of the meeting however, and he eventually subsided with a i>ad grace. Since thi* incident happened, Mr. North has, by invitation, addressed the Wellington Labour Council at one of their meetings, receiving a patient Searing and a warm vote of thanks at the conclusion of" his address. This is Believed to be, if not the only time, when a minister has been, invited to address the Labour Council, at least one of the ■very few occasions. The Rev Dr Waddell made cutting and pointed reference in the course of s recent sermon in St Andrew's Church, 3>nnedirL, to the manner in which many professing Christians spend their Sunday?. "It is," he said, "a day on which they may sleep more, and smoke moi», and" eat more, and lounge more. It is a eleatt-shirt day. 101 l about day, ■visiting day, gossiping day, geneTally vacant and self-indulgent day. jAnd if these men and women go to church," he added, "they go to see or to" be seen, to heir the music, and criticise, to look bored at sermon time, and ja"wn and consult their watches; and fieave a sigh of relief when the whdTe thing is over."

The Presbyterians of Te Puke are taking steps to form the district.into a regular charge. For some years they Save been - supplied, by a Home Missionary, and the cause lias prospered so well that the congregation believe they earn support a.' resident minister. The matteT will probably come before Presbytery in June.

At the last meeting of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association in the club jrooms, Pitt-street, Key. Father Farthing , was cordially welcomed home after Iris recent trip to Australia. Rev. IFather O'Donnell, of Hobart, was presort at the meeting", and in the course of a spirited address said that the association's work could not fail to be most Beneficial to its tile (Church, and society in general. Pamphlets issued in connection with ihe forthcoming Pan-Anglican Congress and Lambeth Conference, to "be ifeld in June -and July this year, show ±hat both gatherings will be of an interesting character. The expansion of the Anglican Church and of the Church in communion with it is illustra- * ted by the fact that in 1784 Bishop Seabury, the first bishop of the Church jpf ihr... -United .States, was the only toishop outside the British Isles who was in communion with--the Anglican Church. 3Jow the number -of dioceses outside the British Isles is computed at 195, three taving been established within the last five months. It is expected that well over 200 bishops will attend both the Congress and the Conference, while the total number of representatives attending the Congress is expected to reach . JOOO. Mr W. J. Ormond, at present a stuBent in the Propaganda; College, Some, and destined for service in Bishop Leni"lianV; diocese, is to be ordained priest en Saturday, June -13th. and celebrates Ids first Mass on Trinity Sunday following. Mi3s Ormond, who left Auckland come time ago for Rome to be present at her brother's ordination, will arrive 3n Staples on 'the first week in June, iot -will not see her brother till the ordination service, as he will be in his ten days* retreat prior thereto. After the ifemces the' two leave on a tour of the iistoricAl places of Europe, arid passing thence to the Old Land, return to iAuekland early in: the New Year. Concerning Presbyterian stipends, Mr 35bberi Ward writes to "the "Otago Daily Ifrme~s," giving the stipends paid by various congregations in the Dominion. compared with Otago'3: — St. John's, JWellingfofl, £700 per annum; St. Andrew's, Wellington, £506; Kent Terrace, Wellington, £400; Gisborne £350; St. David's, Auckland, £350; St. Andrew's, Auckland, £330; Remuera, lAiickland, £310; Napier, £350; Palmers ton North £350; Wanganui, £450; St. tTames's, Auckland, £300; Haw era, l£3oo. Total, £4710. First Church, Dtmedhi, £700; Knox Church, Dunedin, h£6so; St. Andrew's, Dunedin, £500; Bt. Faul's, Qamaru, £400; St. Paul's, llnvercaxgill, £375; First Church, InjrercargilL £400; Tokomarriro, £300; iEfcst TaierL £300; Winton, £300; • iNorth*eaet Valley, £300; South Dunedin, l£300; Port Chalmers, £300. Total. fc£4B2s. Mr Ward says, "Comparing the figures of ©«ago *ad the North Island, ■with practically similar stipends, Otago gave as aid to institutions and Home £3 for every £ I paid in the 2*ortb. The congregations in Otago yrcre also paying interest on nearly i£2ooo more debt; and the Trust Funds vrill not lift tte debt off these Otago Ccmgrßgatiorns. The Jubilee ExeeutiTe of the TaberJiacle Sunday School reported some interesting figures at their final meeting. Over 10,000 pet sons attended the gatherings, and the collections for the two Sundays amounted to Over £100, the total receipts for the jubilee gathering being £300 odd. Nearly 600 medals •were given away to scholars or sold t« friends. Fifty telegrams and letters of congratulation from old workers and kindred societies from all over the world •were received, to say nothing of ordinsry letters that passed through the sco» retary's hands. The cables included Buch signatures as the Rev. Thos Spurgeon (London), Dr Charles North (India), Dr A. O. Knight (Middlesex), and there-were many others of "note. The gatherings were among the most enthusiastic ever held in connection with any church or school: in the Dominion. The energetic secretary and hie com* mittees have been very highly praised ftr that work. The plans and specifiJfeatians for the new school are now we'll I in hand and tenders will be called very phortly, and the committee are discussing the programme for the laying at jfche foundation stone. This, with the 'visit of the Bey. Thos. Spurgeon at the end of the ye*r, ehould again arouse the interest of. this church and school.

At aa important representative gathering of Maoris at Waitbtara a short time since, it was decided to ask the Eev. R. Haddon to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate for the ■western Maori electorate at the nevt general election. This matter was decided in the absence of Mr Haddon at Hbkianga, and on his return a deputation waited upon him. Mr Haddon replied that having been ordained to the work of the Christian ministry, it was not his intention to turn his face aside to any other work. It will cause deep regret to Presbyterians who know the Rev. R. S. Macnicol, the venerable minister who had charge of St. James , Church from 1869 until about five years ago, when physical infirmity caused him to resign, to learn that he is leaving the scene of his labours of the honourable ministerial career which was so unfortunately cut short. His son-in-law, with •whom he has been living since retiring from the active ministry, has been transferred to Masterton, and Mr. Macnicol goes with him. Mr. Macnicol has grown up, so to speak, with the older generation of Auckland ministers, and to them, and hardly less to the youngeT generation, the loss of his presence will be keenly felt. The members of his former congregation •will remember his ministry of comfort very well, and Mr. Macnicol himself will carry away with him the knowledge that he did not labour in vain. The warmest wishes of Presbyterians in Auckland gft I with him to his new home, for which he I leaves next week.

The Very Rev. Fr. Clune, Superior of the Redemptorists in New Zealand, is at present conducting a fortnight's mission at Devonport. This Order, which has been established in the Dominion for some years, is independent of diocesan control, and with its headquarters at Oriental Bay, Wellington, sends missions all over New Zealand. The Order is building a fine new church at its head- , quarters, .and in it there will be many beautiful stained-glass* windows, one of which, representing St. probably be contributed by the Hibernian Society of New Zealand!^

Official intimation has been received by Canon Mac Murray that Bishop Neiigan will not be able to retun* to Auckland before the usual time of the Diocesan Synod's sitting. Canon MacMurrar, therefore, as Bishop's Commissary, will preside over the Synod in the Bishop's absence.

Canon Mac Murray, as Bishop's Commissary, has arranged to induct the Rev. Edmund Cowie as vicar of Hamilton on July 2nd, and the Rev. P. Cleary as vicar of Te Aroha on July 3rd.

A cable was received in Auckland on Monday from Bishop Lenihan, who announced that he had arrived in London in the best of health and spirits.

The Rev. J. Flanagan, who has just concluded a very successful mission to Auckland, has gone back to the South, where he will shortly bring his New Zealand mission to a close. It has 4 been singularly successful. As a.speakef , , Mr. Flanagan is one of the best ever heard in the Dominion. Auckland Presbytery meets on June 9. The Rev. Clement Houehen, of the Hamilton Anglican Church, and late of Takapuna, has been elected chaplain of the No- 1 Waikato Mounted Rifles. The vacancy in the assistant curacy of St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, has been filled by the appointment of the Rev. Thomas Fisher. Mr. Fisher, who is at present vicar of Okato, in Taranaki, came out from England some years ago, and was curate in the Hamilton parish for some time. He will take up his duties in the Cathedral parish on July 1. The first ordination of a Presbyterian deaconess in Auckland was earned out last Monday evening in the presence of a large congregation and a good representation from the Presbytery. Miss J. Entrican was the lady ordained. She is sister to Mr. A. J. Entrican, and her sphere of work is with St. James' congregation, ■α-ith whom she has been on probation "for some months. The Rev. Ivo Bertram (Moderator of the Presbytery) conducted the service, the Rev. R. L. Walker addressed the deacon«ss, the Rev. W. Gray-Dixon addressed the people, and the Clerk of the Presbytery (the Rev. R. Sommerville) put the questions of the formula to the candidate. The service was impressive, and speciaUv interesting as being the first held here.

Scanty details, concerning the Easter camps of the Presbyterian and Methodist Bible Class Unions, at Wanganui and Palmerston North, came through by wire. It was resolved by both camps to hold the next Easter meetings in Auckland, so that next year there will be two separate Bible Class camps in the vicinity of the city. The executive of the Presbyterian Union is located in Auckland for the first time, Mr. H. E. Perry (Onehunga) being elected" president. Messrs Hay and Mathieson were , appointed as vice-presidents, and Mr. Pitkethly was made secretary. Mr. Perry is, perhaps, the youngest man ever created president of the union. It was decided that the Auckland camp be the only one held. As is generally known, St. Peter's now hold the Union Shield, and will defend it next year. The Methodist Union decided on Auckland in preference to Canterbury for the site of the camp by a large majority. The principal officers appointed for the year were:—President, Rev. W. A. Sinclair; vice-presidents —Revs. A. B. Chappell, M.A., organising secretary (ex-offi-cio), T. R. Richards, A. M'Bean, and W. Ready; secretary, Mr. A. Holden (reelected) ; treasurer, Mr. A. H. Jones (reelected). This union", by the way, has decided to institute a system for transferring members from one union to another, and has in hand also a scheme for welcoming and keeping young men from the Old Country. It is Hotable also that the Union made no levy on the district unions this year, being well enough off without.

An interesting ceremony took place at St. Andrew's College, Sydney, recently, namely, the delivery of the inaugural lecture under the new system, tinder the auspices of the Union Committee of the Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches, it has been arranged that the students of their three divinity halls shall meet together for lectures on one day each week, and receive united instruction from Principal Harper (Presbyterian), Rev. M. Scott Fletcher (Methodist), and Rev. N. J. Cocks (Congregational).

At a church tea meeting held the other evening, not in the pagan backblocks, but" well within the limits of greater Auckland, one of the speakers gave an eloquent and realistic description of the old-fashioned warming pan, used by our grandmothers to alleviate the miseries of a cold bed. After a playful reference to the modern hotwater bottle as a sort of infernal machine, the speaker went on to describe in detail the advantages of the wanning pan, ending with the statement that the effect of its use was immediate and -undisturbed sleep. And quite unconscious of its grim humour, the speaker was astonished at the vociferous laughter" which greeted his next sentence— "My friend*, w» seed * winning Dan in the Clmrth.*' '