RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 84, 8 April 1922, Page 18

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

The widow of the late President Carranza of Mexico nas joined the Methodist Churoh in Monterey, and presented the mission with a two-storey bnilding, to be used as a school. !n connection with the diamond jubilee of St. Jamee' Presbyterian Church in the first week of April, an effort i= being made to raise £3000 for work in conneci ion with renovation of the church building, electric lighting, etc. The Pontifical Bible Institute of Home with the blessing of the Pope has announced that it is issuing a new version of parts of the Bible, based, not on the Latin Vulgate, as is the Kng-lish-Douay version, but on the original (Jreek and Hebrew &a well. The United Presbyteri-an paper recently had the following paragraph: — "As a rule the preacher "wlbo gets the oar of the public hy eensational methods, making his pulpit rather notorious than famous, does not develop lasting congregations." In an article on "A Minister's Dilemma Richard Dovedale makes a preacher say, after referring to so many special Sunday servicee: "Topical sermons are the thing, and a good gospel address is a failure. Many churches are nearly empty to-day because of sheer faithfulness to Christ on the part of the pastors." After many yeare of useful service as editor ot the New Zealand Methodist newspaper, the Rev. W. J. Williams resigned the position afc the last conference on account of advancing age. The resignation will take effect at the end of this month. The Uev. .T. Xapier Milne, known in Auckland, but now of Christ church, lhas been appointed the j new editor. The Piev. D. P. McPherson, vicar of St. ilartin-in-the-Fields, Liverpool, was formerly a Baptist minister. Recently he preached in his old pulpit at Myrtle Street Baptist Church, with the cordial , consent of the Bishop of Liverpool. "It is like a fairy dream," he eaid, ; to be in this pulpit once more. I wonder if such a thing could have happened thirty years ago!" Scattered over the eighteen coral reefs or atols that constitute the Gilbert Islands are 35,000 people. The Londoni Missionary Society is the only Protestant body working in that group. Opera-; tions have been carried on for 50 years there. For the jubilee fund the Gilbert Islanders raked £700 for the church work. More than one tenth of the Gilbert Islanders are church members, and one third are Christian adherents. The Federal Council of tlie Churches of Christ in America has adopted the programme that war must be' outlawed.

"The most urgent need of mankind today," states the programme, "is the speedy establishment of international institutions to assure equal justice, full security, and fair economic opportunities lor all nations alike."'

Publicans in Pontesbury. Shropshire, applied successfully for the hour of dosing to be reduced from 10 to 9 p.m. They were supported by the Rev. J. Davies Jones, chairman of the Shropshire Congregational Union, who said the ministers of the district had always found the publicans ready to meet them in every way.

The "Christian World ,, reports the death at the age of 92 years, «C Dr. John Brown, who was stationed at Bedford, and in ISBS jSiblished a biography of John Bunyan. In 1891 he published ■'T'b* Pilgrim Fathers of Xew England." In 1891 he was chairman of tie Congregational Union of England and Wales. Dr. Brown, besides being an author, was a noted lecturer.

"We desire but the good of the world \ and the happiness of nations; that all nations shall become one in faith, and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened: that diver-.-ity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be, these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars, shall pass away and the 'most great peace shall come.'"' Baha Tlla, in "Star of fche West." The death of Gipsy Smith's father is reported. Cornelius Smith was in his ••Ist and retained all his faculties , until within a few days of his death at Cambridge on January 20. The Gipsy says: "Our first idea of God came from father's beautiful life in the gipsy tent." Ihe Bishop of Clielmsford. when addressing 1800 members of parochial Cauncil9 at Leicester, said: "I know you discuss whether the curtains or "the heating apparatus is al] right, and whether the doors want painting. Did yon ever once discuss the question, who looks after the drunkards in the Parish."

The diamond jubilee of St. James' Presbyterian Church caused many letters to be forwarded by old adherents <>r members from various parts of the world. One ivas read from Principal W, M. Clow. D.D.. of the United Free Cht.Teh College, Glasgow. His father was Mx. Andrew Clow, huilder. of St. .lames' Church, and one of the first elders. It seemed to go a long way back, when a paragraph was read from Principal Clow's letter in which referent*, was made to his attending a communion service in St. Matthew' 9 Church con.ructed by ißishop G. A. Selwyn and Bishop Pattison.

A tribute to Lord Bryce and his religious faith, was paid by Canon Barnes at Westminster Abbey. He stated amomr all Bryce'e varied enthusiasms religion occupied a foremoet place. Brought up a Presbyterian, I/ord Bryce was a typical Scot in that he enjoyed a good sermon. Hβ never deserted his communion, but frequently attended divine service in Anglican churchee. Lord Bryce'e theological outlook was modern evangelical. Too cultivated to fear the effect of modern science or over-critical on religions Lord Bryce remained an Evangelical because he recognised the claim to doctrinal infallibility is absurd. Hβ set truth and goodness up as a Christian ideal, and never confounded true religion with schemes of dogma.

The financial statement of the Wesleyon Missionary Society of Great Britain for 1921 has sow been made up. The total income is £262,329, being £S,OOO less than the previous year. The officers of the society say that they will be able to cover all the expenditure of the year, and have about £7,000 to reduce the deficit with which the year commenced. In 1914 the income was £135.000. so that there ha« been considerable progress disrirg rc:-cnt rtro.---i'u! veers.