RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 191, 12 August 1911, Page 14

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

THE REWARD OF LOYALTY. ( Ry THE Rev. ADDISOX MOORE.) Be thou faithful on-to deat.li. ami I will plvii iliee the crown of life.—Revelations ii., in. \ crown oi laurel is the reward of f., mi,-, a trottii of gold is [lie reward of power, and' a crown ot life is the re- ■ inijM-nse of loyalty. Liuri'l fades, gold becomes tarnished, bin life ruprodmvs it.-i-If in ever bewildering forms of beauty and of use. Then-fore the apparently puzzling pro-im-e of the text is reducible to the Ma lenient that faithfulness is given the rii b'e-i recompense of which the mind can •I ream. To say that a crown of life is simply a crown made of life helps to make clear the truth d«n'larcd, and at the same time it makes tiie reward an allurement not to be resisted. With life us the goal to be won and loyalty as the road that leads to it a priceless premium is put upon faithfulness. I.ovaltv is a habit to 'bo acquired, not a meritorious act isolated from ordinary activities* It lias its beginnings in the fantilv and £"es out into the streets and «\Th*->U and places of business: it is nurtured bv creeds and strengthened by deed*, and grows great in supporting causes that arc related to truth. At the highest and' 'best, loyalty lo truth itself makes men faithful even unto death; to that death which is really the birth of the soul into a life that is limitless and free.

To be faithful to the smallest duty and to toe loyal to the humblest responsibility is to follow in the steps of those who live forever in the grateful memories of the race, and who abide in eternal companionship with God. LABOUR AND CHRISTIANITY. A contributor to the London "Reeord" says:—"There is no more significant or romantic chapter of modern history than that which tells us of the complete volte face of the leaders of the Labour Party towards Christianity. "'[ have travelled round the political movement and' the humanitarian movement,' said 'Mr Lansbury, 'and I have travelled back again to where I started; to this, namely, that there is a God, that Ho is the Father of the Universe, that Jesus Christ was the Son of Almighty <!od, and because Ho came and became Man all mankind is sacred; every man, woman, and child is of value. I want the men and women in the Labour movement to realise that we have got t.} have that Power behind us.'—The Common-wealth,' July, 1910. *"ln Mr Keir Hardie's words, 'On the Continent Socialism and atheism were ence practically synonymous; but now the idea of the Power behind Nature, ot a something beyond Death, is permeating the entire Socialistic movement. "And Mr Arthur Henderson says, 'With nil our reforms -we need the spirit of Regeneration, which makes men and women new creatures in Christ Jesus. We must come to the life-giver. We know men changed from drunkenness and cruelty into good characters. How? By getting an Act of Parliament through the House of Lords? By passing a resolution in the borough council? No; but by bringing the lost soul into contact with the living Christ.' ■No say Mr Will Crooks and Mr Philip Siurvvd'en, and others who have battled with the hard facts of life, and seen the best intentions stultified by the perversa v of human nature. And we cannot read this testimony without feeling ho-w far we have travelled from the days of Bradlaugh and Tom Painc."

CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES. Bishop Crossley held a confirmation service last Sunday and the previous Friday at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parneil. The service on Friday was for the pupils attending the Diocesan Girls' High School. Rev. C W. Gordon, of Winnipeg, Man, well known as Ralph Connor, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Conciliation to deal with the coal strike in Alberta and British Columbia. Almost half the entire Maori population of New Zealand is located in the Auckland diocese. That means 22,000, Bjid in a circular letter just issued by Bishop Crossley, the statement is made that SOOO are still non-Christian. The letter points out that to meet financial backwater, £"282 is required, another £BS is wanted to start systematic work amongst Maori children, another £SO per annum to raise the stipend of the Assistant Superintendent to £2oWand a house, and an extra £ls per annum for the Superintendent's travelling expenses. Tho total offertories and subscriptions for the Maori missions last year was £052 1/10, and the total required this year is £1,084 1/10, which means an increase of £432. Bishop Crossley, therefore, exhorts his people to double their contributions for the Maori mission. The table of workers in this mission shows «. European Superintendent, AssistantSuperintendent, two Maori assistants, six Waikato missionaries, one Taranaki missionary, nine Parochial clergy, four European nurse missionaries, and three Maori girl assistants. Kspousing the cause of foreign missions, a most imposing children's pageant ttm recently held in connection with the Anglican Church of All Kouls. Isleworth-on-Thames (London). Among the various dioceses throughout the Empire represented in character by children wore Included those of New Zealand, namely: —Auckland, Wellington, Waiapu, Christchurch. Nelson, Dunedin and Melanesia. Scotland, whatever other virtue or vice she may have, possesses the theological "'bump - ' to a. wonderful degree. From the Mother Church or State Church (according to the "Gentlewoman'') sprang two Dissenting Churches, and from these again sprang subsidiary "bodies." There is a little village in Scotland Which is said to possess more churches than inhabitants. One day a stranger, visiting it, said' to a villager, "Surely there must be a great deal of theology here." "Na, na," replied the inhabitant, "it's na' theology, it's only ill-temper." Italians are superstitious, and the latest matter occupying the thoughts of a certain number of the common people is the probable duration of the present Pontificate. A good many believe that the present Papal reign is drawing to a close. And these are the grounds on ■which they come t-o ihis conclusion. Pope Pius X. was known as Cardinal Sarto, Patriarch of Venice. It seems that he was for nine years a parish priest. He discharged the office of Vicar-General for the same period. After his consecration he served as a 'bishop for nine years, artd was then created a cardinal. His EoUness wore the "red hat" for exactly the same period'. Very shortly he will have occupied the papal chair for the aame period.

The Free Church of Tonga at its recent conference" voted £2OO towards the funds of the British and Foreign Bible Society. As Hie result of a suggestion thrown out by ilr. Clement Brand at a recent meeting of the Catholic Truth Society ut Glasgow, there is a prospect of a big Roman Catholic Congress being held in Scotland shortly on the lines of the recent English Congress.

A feature of the General Assembly of the Culvinistic Methodist Churfii of Wales in Liverpool was the report of the Parliamentary Committee, which contained a manifesto of the Connexion on the report of the Church Commission and Welsh Disestablishment.

A motor launch is to be provided for lb.' inter-island work of the Rev. Edwin Harkness. of the Free Church of Tonga. His circuit Includes a number of small islands.

The pageant receipts from the "World in Boston" missionary exposition were about £IO.OOO for 00 representations. In London, 48 representations produced £OOOO, and another £IB,OOO was received at the Exposition-

Ih. John Clifford, the famous Baptist, hfis preached to one congregation in London for 53 years. The congregation, when he took hold of it, numbered 60 members, and they offered him as salary only £IOO a year. To-day his parish makes one of the largest Nonconformist churches in England. Dr. Clifford has often been called to other pulpits, but bus never suffered any such calls to tempt him.

A new church was opened recent'y at Tonga by the Rev. J. B. Watkins. The total cost of the Church was £2OOO, and the trustees had £2IOO m hand. It is a feature of the Free Church of Tonga that there is not a debt on ariy of its churches, parsonages, boats, horses, or buggies, the principle of "owe no man anything" being strictly adhered to. The Free Church of Tonga is Methodist in all but name, and of the 21,000 inhabitants of the Island Kingdom, 15,000 are members or adherents.

Last Sunday the first .Sunday School anniversary services were held in the Methodist Church at Waikumete, thi Revs. (i. .S. Cook and A. N. Scatter being the preachers. A concert was held in the Public Hall on Wednesday, when a number of friends from Kingsland assisted. The anniversary was very successful, and it marks a distinct step in advance of previous gatherings, the residents now having suitable premises in whreh to worship and teach. The question of empowering the New Zealand University to grant degrees in divinity was brought before the Dunedin Presbytery at its last meeting by the Rev. A. Cameron. He stated that the University Senate hnd several times passed resolutions in favour of asking Parliament to empower it to grant these degrees. The curious thing was that the Seuate could grant degrees in almost anything but divinity. It was debarred from doing that by Act of Parliament. It could not bet a divinity degree, although that was surely one of the elements of higher education that entered into the life of a community very materially. The visit of the Rev. J. Q. Wheen has greatly advanced missionary interest among Auckland Methodists. A convention, social hour, and a public meeting at Pitt-street on August 2nd were very successful. Mr. Wheen has since preached or held meetings 4n all the principal Methodist Churcheß in the neighbourhood, and congregations and results have been generally good. Without any pictures to show, and discarding all sensation, Mr. Wheen has been a very effective deputation, and will leave behind him a wider and more intelligent sympathy with missionary enterprize.

The Methodist Church, which was recently erected at Epsom to meet the requirements of a district that is being rapidly built upon, was formally opened for public worship last Sunday. The Rev. W. A. Hay preached in the morning, and the Rev. G. Bond, chairman of the district, at night. At the service in the afternoon, addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. C. Wbeen and li. L. Richards. The Rev. R. O. Richards has been appointed to the charge of the church at Epsom. The English Wesleyan Methodist Union for social service has decided to recommend the study of the housing question for the present session. The next number of the magazine is to be devoted to international arbitration and peace. It will contain special messages on the subject from leaders of thought in the Methodist Church on both sides of tn"e Atlantic. A class on social questions in relation to the preacher's equipment has been arranged for. Next year there is to be a united summer Bchool, when the subject of "The Life of the Worker" will be dealt with. A very largely-attended church meeting was held at Canr's Lane Congregational Church, Birmingham, recently, with a view to giving an invitation to the pastorate vacant througH the removal of Dr. Jowet to New York. The meeting was held in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed, notice having been given from the pulpft on two previous Sundays. The deacons submitted a resolution that Rev. George MTlnclrie, 8.A., of Great Yarmouth, be invited to the pastorate, and after discussion, the resolution was carried by an overwhelming majority. An interesting fact comes from Sutton coalfield, near Birmingham. Mr. J. RusTibrooke. who had watched over the interests of the local Methodist Church throughout a long life, was about to celebrate his 92nd birtMay. The people resolved to commemorate the event by puttincr into the church a new oak pulpit with a suitable brass tablet, stating the circumstances. A most impressive service was held, when the old gentleman, in his 93rd year, led all his living descendants, twenty-three in number, excepting the youngest grandchildren, to the Lord's table for the Sacrament.

A vigorous campaign is being undertaken in Auckland to form branches of the Layman's Missionary movement in Methodist Churches. The first branch lias been instituted at Kingsland, where the movement was launched at a hearty meeting of men, after the ordinary service last Sunday evening. Deputations are being arranged with to visit the other Methodist Churches in the city and •suburbs. The movement seeks especially to reach the men of the churches, and to enlist their active personal service in world-wide evangelism. Other Christian Churches are taking the matter up, though somewhat more slowly. The monies under the control of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Auckland for the Maori Mission shows receipts totalling £2,500 12/3, and a deficit on last year's operations of £282 14/5. The receipts (not under the control of the Standing Committee) totalled £474. Of that sum £IOO was from the C3I. Association, and £314 was ■ranted by the New Zealand Mission Trust Board. This was expended, £335 0/10 on women's work, and the balance in grants, rents, etc. The contributions towards the funds from Maoris in the diocese totalled £l5O. The expenditure on Maori clergy was £I6OO 2/6, on I European clergy £551 5/, and Women's work, £259 19/2,