RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 27, 31 January 1920, Page 18

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

CHURCH HEWS AND NOTES. Dr. Brodie, Roman Catholic Bishop of Christehure.h, has constituted Adlington and Hallswell a separate parish, with the Rev. Father James O'Connor in charge. The Rev. H. M.A.. of Kingsland. i» making a vigorous appeal to leading memDers "of the Methodist Conference, to give a true and practical lead on the spiritual side of the church's activities. He asserts that "the church is ripe for a forward move in the tilings that mean the most,"' and asics, "Will our leaders lead?" Voting on the proposed basis of union of the Congregational, -Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in .Australia, re-,-ulted in a majority in favour of 3047. The figures -were r>4o7 in favour of accepting the proposed basis of union, and 2360 against. Another 621 voted as neutral upon the question. The Revs. H. Bcllhouse, C. H. Laws, J? A., and W. A. Sinclair, are all away from Auckland at present, attending the Xew South Wales Methodist Conference, now meeting in Sydney. They are a special deputation to confer with the conference on Foreign Mission business. New Zealand Methodists are asking to have a special part of the South Seas mission field allocated as their particular sphere, they having entire control of it. and agreeing to raise the funds to support it. Hitherto the work has been controlled from New South Wales, the other conferences helping to find the money, and the whole field lieing regarded as one. New Zealand asks for a separate portion, probably the Solomon Islands. The delegates" will return to Auckland in time to report the decision to the forthcoming conference here at the end of February. A number of changes in the location of priests of the Roman Catholic, Church in Xew Zealand are announced. The :Very Rev. Dean Tubman. S.M., of Timaru, takes up the duty as parish priest at Hokitika, in place of the Rev. Father Clancy, S-M_, nvho is going to Kapier. The Dean will be succeeded by the Rev. Father Hurley, Administrator of !St. Joseph's Church, Wellington. The Rev. Father Bartley, S.M., of Timaru. will take up professional duties at St. Bede's College, Christchureh, and his place in Timaru will be filled by the Rev. Father F. Barra, a military chaplain who returned iL lortnight ago from service in France. The Rev. Father Kerley, S.M., parish priest at Temuka, is going to St. Bede's, Christchureh, the Eev. Father Hoare, S3L, of Wellington succeeding him. The Rev. Father O'Sullivan, S.M., of Temnka, tecomes parish priest of Levin, and his place will be taken in Temuka by the Rev. Father Quinn, S.M., of Blenheim. The Rev. Father Stewart, S.M.. of Waimate, has been transferred to St. Mary's, Christehurch, and will be replaced by the Rev. Father Herring SSL, of Blenheim. "The Church of France during the "World War" states that 3000 French secular priests were killed at the front, and many more ■wounded. Mr. Justice Ewing, -who is conducting the inquiry into the administration of the northern territory of Queensland, preached in Danvin ilethodist Church from the text:. "Thou Shalt Xot Steal." "Many sincere churchmen," state 3 Mr. J. E. Middleion, referring to the style of some Evangelists, "wonder if it is necessary to use the slang of the streets to awaken the tenderest and most sacred emotions of the souL In, reply to a correspondent, the president of the British Wesleyan Conference, Rev. Dr. Barber, ILA., said recently that he had not a single free day, Sunday or week-day, throughout his* year of office, aH being engaged in. one or other part of the "United Kingdom. It is expected that 300 Archbishops and Bishops -will attend the Eambeth Conference of the Anglican Church, ■which is to meet in. the first -week of July next. Representatives will not only oe 'present from all portions of the British Empire, but also Bishops of the Episcopal Church of America are to attend. Gipsy Smith, has had a great mission in Vancouver. Audiences of from 5000 to 8000 have gathered night after night in a bitterly cold building. Thousands of conv-erts signed cards of decision or dedication. The Canadian newspaper? paid a high tribute to Jiis services, and he was publicly entertained by the Canadian Club. Disregard of the Sabbath by their' members is greatly troubling Welsh Ca!vinistic Methodists. At a recent meeting at Cardiff Mr. James (a Porthcaid magistrate) said that the town was invaded by char-a-bancs full of people singing hymns. Deacons, too, he complained, came there by motor to spend the Sabbath by the sea. It was time that they rid their churches of such people. A resolution was passed appeal- ' ing to church members to refrain from shopping on Sundays, and from buying Eunday newspapers. The last anniversary of the wellknown Manchester Methodist Mission was very successful. Dr. Jowett preached "in the Free Trade Hall to an audience, which filled every part. Dr. Hutton, of Glasgow, told, in the evening meeting, of wonderful examples of conversions he had recently met in Methodist Jlissions. In one place, the vote of thanks accorded to a stipendiary magistrate who had presided, was moved by a man who said he had once been sentenced to three months in gaol by his ■worship. The Rev. S- J. Collier; in closing the meeting said it had been a glorious day. one of the very best, and whilst the sum of £3000 had" been asked for, £3300 had been given. , Speaking on social problems rising in Australia. Dr. Jlaclntyre, of St. Andrew's College, Sydney, states: "They are no more, and indeed, are probably less than in other countries. Some of the recent strikes have been due to the fact that the employees were unquestionably not getting a fair share of increased profits, especially in view of the higher cost of living. It is not to be assumed, therefore, that the recent strikes in Australia indicate a jrrav e social condition, for in my judgment some of them at least could have been avoided by a frank recognition on the part of employers of existing conditions. The recent Federal election which returned a Nationalist Government -was more affected by sectarian issues than any other election I have ever known in Australia."