RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 14

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

THE TRUE EXPEDIENCY. '(By Church of the Messiah, New York.)

With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.—ilatt. xis.

This is a practical age, and therefore it is not surprising, perhaps; that its best ethical counsel should more often than not be that of expediency. By expediency we mean, to quote the dictionary, "that which is most practicable, or best to be done, all things being considered." To be expedient in our actions is to take into account the conditions •by which we find ourselves confronted and to adapt our conduct accordingly. Guided by this idea., we do not forget the frailty and selfishness of human nature; we are not unmindful of the habits and traditions which have been inherited from past ages and which still exert an influence upon the lives of men: we remember the long-established institutions which are rooted deep in the soil of the social organisation, and which cannot easily or lightly be destroyed. These are the conditions of our environment, and the conditions, therefore, which determine the practicability. .or impracticability of this line of conduct or that scheme of reform. If we are wise, we w-Tl] not attempt the impossible. We will be content with doing riot the ideally best, but "the best, all things being considered." We will be bold, but not too bold. In other words, we will follow the course of expediency. Now that tliere is some good in this advice. I would hardly question. It is certainly wise, when any project or individual activity or social change is under way. to consider that human nature, which is the raw material of our product. those traditions and prejudices, which mark the limits of possible achievements and those social institutions which constitute the only tools with which we have to work. These are some of the things which must be considered, I have no doubt. But I venture to assert that they are not "all!" There are some conditions which we cannot see with our eyes or touch with outhands—some things of which we are oblivious because they are not "of the earth earthy:" one fact, at least, of which the' ordinary disciple of expediency never even dreams. I refer to the fact that God lives, and is, therefore, a circumstance to be considered in every human undertaking; that a divine Spirit is ever present in the world, and therefore an abiding condition of all human action; that, in considering those things which must determine what is "best to be done." God is tre largest possible factor in every ease. This changes our problem, does it not? Take God into account and our whole conception of expediency is transformed. Jf this point of view is sound, then f herewith lay down the proposition that the only course of action which is really expedient is that of absolute idealism, I and that the only man who is really following the path of expediency is the out-and-out idealist who acts in the light of ''all" given conditions, God included! To do the expedient thing, you say, is to do that which is "most practicable" . Then surely perfect truth and perfect right are alone practicable when God is involved in the problem. To do the expedient thing is to do that which is "best to be done"! Then surely the ideal can alone be "best" when God constitutes one of the circumstances to be considered! To do the expedient thing is to do that which the majority of men would approve? Then, have we not been told by one of the world's noblest thinkers that "one on the side of God is a majority"? When God enters into the situation it is expedient to do right and nothing less than rightS-'iOoSeek truth and nothing less than truts_;"tp 'demand the ideal and nothing ] e _.S' than the ideal. For "with God all things are possible/ Emerson has the idea pf true expediency *jn his immortal , ..'."Though lo.va repine, and, reason Chafe, "There comes-.- voice without reply— pe^fflop'.to3)Ksa"fe"'.'.',«.'.' ~" _ When for the-truth he-ought- to die.-" ■ '•qHP-iipH '.N__ws';^g_iro'*;|iibs i __s. «. The Kav-Alfred North, orgaiusihg sec-_s_--.ry;...'for "__t<t, Baptist MtsSfdh. 'both Soin'e;And Foreign.' has concliided, a visit tO tfi&'. Auirklaild: fchirrc*hes. -and.'is now i prosecuting -bhe-xjuties oi.bis .-position in _-,-_ " -'-_■■ I * A "vigorous campaign is to be under-! taken next year-having for its object the' raising of a fund to erect suitable build-1 ings for the Young Women's Christian Association. As this has now the largest membership of any branch in Australasia, it is felt by those interested in the work that citizens should not be behindhand in providing for the young women as suitable quarters as those now enjoyed by the V.M.C.A. The Rev. Nicholas Turner, who has done good work at the East Street Methodist Mission since the departure of -h-'ReV. James Wilson, left on Friday to join ' the Chapman-Alexander Mission party, with which he wa<s so closely identified - during the recent eompaigri in Auckland. On Sunday night last Mr. Turner "grive "his farewell address at the Mission, arid' Was present on -Wednesday night"When Mr. R. Emerson was welcomed to take charge. Mr. Turner received a number of messages from persons Helped by the' recent Mission, which lie promised to transmit to Dr.'Ghapmah and Mr. Alexander.' ' The 250,000 guineas raised in connection with, the .centenary of the foundation pf the British Bible Society in 1904 has been utilised as follows:—" £.126,000 to securing sites and enlarging depots all over the world; d.G.000 in producing •_,istories and other literature.. .€20,000 in new editions of thp Bible; £14,000 in colportage work; £25,000 in enlarging Bible House: and .£*"0,000 was added to the Society's Benevolent, Fund. Self-denial week for the Salvation Army in England yielded' £07,062. which was an increase of CII.OOO On last year's result. • The interest of Chinese abroad in the progress.©! the Republic Was.,exemplified iii the old, Mission,' Church; QnJeiilta. It. war,; announced., that.intercession prayers fur China would be offered by the incumbent, and on the date fixed, although there were only two Gliihese Christians in Calcutta, the church and the roadway beyond was thronged with Chinese, who interjected from time to time in their own language. "O God. hear us." A paxty of 102 officers were dedicated recently,, by General. Booth. for service ' in the-work of the Salvation Array in 1 India, Dutch Indies. Korea,".Tapan. "Holland, Canada. South Africa, New Zea-1 land. South America. France, Malta,'and Gibraltar. In addition' to this foreign contingent another 320 men and women were accepted from the Training College for work in the. home field. " '

• 53ie ■ insuff erafrly- ihot weather -in tie United States was responsible for a remarkaible eight daring the progress of a church, service in New York recently (says a cable message to the "Sydney Sun"),. Something hail to be done to reduce.jth'e tewejtering texiiperature. and 'the church authorities grappled with , the problem in a distinctly novel way for a place of worship. INot only were electric fans used for sending- currents of air through the building, but a huge block of ice 6ft. long va£ placed at the base of the pulpit, while balls of snow were served out to a grateful congregation.

Dr. R. F. Horton gave a striking account at Lyndhurst Road Church, London, on January 12, of his visit to the Gaekwar of Baroda. The visit was an extension of his tour, made at the personal request of the Gaekwar, and Dr. Horton described the splendour of the native Indian state. But the part of the speech which was most interesting was that pertaining to the ruler himself. He is, Dr. Horton says, a cultured man, having studied at Oxford University and travelled all over the world. He told Dr. Horton that he had proclaimed compulsory education throughout his State (which consists of 2,000,000 people), though this, of course, was very difficult to carry out. "We all were longing to ask him why he turned his back on King George," said Dr. Horton, "but we knew he would have a perfectly satisfactory explanation to give." The Gaekwar is, moreover, very much influenced by the Christian religion. He has formed a Sunday Society, which meets every week to study religion, and he has ordered a batch of Bibles in order that Christianity may be considered more fully. Dr. Horton pointed out that he was in -the unique position of having preached the Cos-pel at the express request of a Hindu Government. At the close, the Gaekwar said. "1 agree with all that you have said." and oil Dr. Horton's departure, "You have done great things for my people: T thank you from the bottom of my heart." No less than three pastors of Baptist churches Till the. Auckland district have resigned- their charges. The Rev. A. Whally has given up the church at Whangarei as from the first of October next. The Rev. Spottiswood has likewise resigned the church at Cam-bridge, and the Rev. Eric Evans that at Richmond, Grey Lynn. The congregation of the Richmond Church -are making an effort to get him to reconsider his decision. Mr. J. it. Webster, the ageut of the Auckland Sunday .School t'nioit in organ- | ising Sunday c-chools in the back-blocks, was asked recently whether or not he ! had found any need for gifts of clothing in connection with his work among the young. lie frankly replied that he did not know of an instance where the lack of respectable clothing had deterred a parent from sending children to the Sunday schools opened up by himself. There was practically no opening for the kind offices of those who wished to send boxes of clothing into the country. The general committee of the union beard this statement with some surprise, and. needless to say, with much satisfaction. The Rev. Robert Inglis, M.A., who has been inducted to the charge of Knox Presbyterian Church, Parnell, this week, •received a flattering testimony upon leaving Kandallah Church. A resolution was adopted expressing hearty appreciation of his able, zealous and devoted service during the past six years. The record also states that his pulpit ministrations were marked with great power and ability, and that the minister had been faithful in visitation, as well as being attentive to the sick and needy. The change in the system of administration of the Maori .Mission of tbe Anglican Church, decided upon at the last General Synod in Nelson, throws more burdens upon the Auckland diocese owing #d the large numbers of natives in 'this district. Each diocese has now to support the Maori Mission within its own boundaries, and the only outside assistance Auckland is to receive is i-"200 guaranteed from Christehureh for this j year alone. At the present time the MaoTi Mission staff in the Auckland diocese, includes one European superintendent, an assistant superintendent, one native assistant superintendent, 13 I native priests, 3 deacons, 4 -mission nurses, and 4 assistants. At the end of March this year the Mission was £610 lin debt. A circular has been issued by ! the Yen. Archdeacon Calder (Commissary, intimating that the .Synod has j directed that all offerings throughout the 1 diocese on the first Sunday of August eaoh year shall be devoted to the Maori I Mission. Archdeacon Calder, in his note, ■ emphasises the fact that from a missionary point of view the Maori is the first responsibility in New Zealand. The Rev. C. T. B. Davis, of Pocket Testament League fame, who will be remembered in Auckland as one of tbe Chapman-Alexander Mission party, was appointed to present the work of the league before the World's Sunday School Convention. Mr. Davis afterwards hopes to aid in the distribution of one million league Testaments in China. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that New Zealand is asked to contribute £1,000 towards the cost of this work. - St. Andrew's Church, Glasgow, warstruck by lightning twice in one week. On both occasions a service was being held.