RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 14

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

UNREALITY OF LIFE,

What is life that we should make such ado about it and hug it so closely and look to it to fill our hearts? What is all earthly life, with all its bad and good luck, its riches, and its poverty but a vapour that passes away—noise and smoke overclouding the enduring light of heaven? A man may be very happy and blessed in this life, yet he may feel that, however pleasant it is, at root it is no reality, but only a shadow of realities which are eternal and infinite in the bosom of God—a piecemeal pattern of the light kingdom, the city not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. —Charles Kingsley.

BELIEF IN HELL,

t Speaking at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, London, Lord Hugh Cecil said that there was a tendency to shirk discussion of the question whether there was a hell, and this applied not only to those indifferent to religion or morality but to pensons of sober life and professed moralists. The language of Scripture was interpreted more naturally if they believed that everlasting fire meant a state of non-existence for the obstinate and wilfully wicked, so that they should not be a danger to others and miserable in themselves in the other life. They must choose between this view and the traditional view of everlasting punishment passed down by the Roman Catholic Church, and until recently by Protestants. The view of eternal destruction must be admitted to be most natural, and the most complete solution of the problem of eviL

PRAISING INTO VIRTUES,

We can praise people into many virtues, but we can never drive them. Let us therefore encourage those who have the spirit of generosity and kindness, of love and goodwill. But especially, brothers, let us strengthen the weak hands of righteousness. How many want to do right, but there is a law of weakness in their members. It is hard for them to accomplish that which is the very ideal of their heart. I glory in this, among other facts, concerning the Church of J„esus, that it is not a society of the sanctified alone. I glory in the church that it is not a collection of persons perfect in. all their reactions to the opportunities of life. I glory in the Christian church that, after all, it is a hospital in which we have some skilled physicians, and some bright-robed nurses who minister with all the sweetness of woman's loving heart. Thank God, we have also in the church some bruised and broken bodies, some wan and pallid faces, some struggling, imperfect souls that are reaching up into a righteousness which they do not possess. Strengthen ye the weak hands of the feeble folk in the Church of God.— Bishop Frederick D. Leete (U.S.A.).

CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES.

The sad loss sustained by the parishioners of St. Sepulchre's through the death of the Vicar, Rev. A. H. Colvile, will necessitate the nominators selecting a successor. It is rather a singular coincidence that the last sermon preached by the late Vicar was on "Death." In the course of his remarks he said if he asked his hearers what they thought of death the reply would be the same as he would give: "I am, not afraid of death."

The Rev. K. J. McFarland, who has been assistant to the Rev. H. G. Black-b_-ne at All Saints' Church, Palmerston North, has been appointed Vicar of Mangaweka.

The Rev. Father Creed, who has been in charge of the parish at Kumara for the last 12 years, has been promoted to Lincoln, an important parish in the Canterbury district. . The Rev. S. Robertson Orr, of Milton, who has accepted a call to St. Andrew's Church, Wellington, was entertained by the congregation of the Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church, and presented with a. purse of sovereigns as an appreciation •of his services during his ministry for three years and a-4ialf at Milton. A Methodist at St. Louis sought exemption from military service on that score, but he could not commit his Church to such a policy. One of the favourite quotations of Methodists is tbe declaration of Abraham Lincoln that that denomination had sent more Soldiers into the field, more nurses to the hospitals, and more prayers to Almighty God for the success of the Union cause than any other religious society. The Methodist Episcopal Church, with its usual promptness, an nounces that it has already (October) 150,000 members wearing the nation's uniform, and is raising a fund of £50,000 for special religious work among them. Americans have no doubt as to which is the Christian side of this war. Mr. J. D. Rockefeller, jun., same time ago suggested that Baptists do away with immersion and other distinctive features as a step towards the unification of all Christian sects. For this he was attacked by Dr. Frank M. Goodchild, of the Central Baptist Church, who considered the suggestion as a slight upon the Baptists, and accused Mr. Rockefeller of trying to bring Standard Oil methods to ibear upon churches. Dr. Goodchild even said: "It has evidently occurred to Mr. Rockefeller that if his father's genius for organisation were carried into the Church the spiritual enterprise to which he applied himself would become as dominant in the •world as has the commercial concern with which he busied himself." At the American Luncheon Club Dr. Fort Newton, of the City Temple, told one very good story, and mentioned one exceedingly interesting fact. When on the Western front he was convoyed as far as the door of an American hospital by an English officer who wore a monocle. The American boys asked Dr. Newton why the officer wore an eyeglass. ' Dr. Newton jokingly replied that possibly the reason was one-tenth defective visionand nine-tenths swank. The Americans said they thought that was so. " But, stay," said Dr. Newton, " let mc tell you something I have discovered about that officer. He has lost three brothers in the war, he has himself been wounded Three times, and he has won the Victoria Cross. Now, you notice that he did not wear any decorations — he hadn't any gold wounded-braids on his sleeve, and he did not even wear the ribbon of his V.C. He would say that to wear them would be swank. But an American would probably put on all the jT e n^v a^° n3 he waa to. The -that - aDd ~h e Am "i<-ans are different stand tie f nd each muat ™derLut worth?" ap P reciate hil » his