RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 106, 5 May 1923, Page 18

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

PRESENT-DAY OUTLOOK. (Contributed.) INTKRNATXONAL CHRISTIANITY The Lensrun of Nations, its objects iuhl possibilities, were briefly discussed liy the .Anglican Bishop of 'Wellington ilh\ Sprotl). in an Anzno. Day address, lie stated that there were those who f lid war was inevitable, oven desirable. 'J'hii wa ; ilio view taught, by some of «>ur l:it« enemy. We must be on watch j'u" : .:'-t Him soavhing. War was an #vil than which there could hardly be

liny preatcr. We must not transfer fiur admiration for deeds of heroism on the battlefield to deeds of admiration of war itself. Deeds of heroism were performed at shipwrecks, but, wo did not clcire shipwrecks. Deeds of heroism were performed at conflagrations, but wo did not. desire conflagrations. Wo must hold fast to tho idea that war wns an evil thing. The world was still in an unset tied state.. mid we were told thnt civilisation could not stand another war. We had been lo'.d a!->> tho one great safeguard .against future, war was the League, of Nations. He thought it a great pity more interest was not taken in tho League. The League was in a somewhat imperfect state, but it was only thrco years old yet. In that time it h.id done good. He understood it had prevented a number of local wars, and lie understood also it was to-day successfully helping the people who once were Austria to recover their national and industrial life. It was through strengthening fho League we hnd a chance to avert further disaster. Therefore, be called upon his hearers to take it living interest ill that League. We rnlled ourselves Christians and the League stood for one of the principles Christ came, upon earth to impress upon •us. Through one nation looking upon every other nation as a possible enemy ihero had in the past been competition in armaments. Tho League of Nations hud :i principle quite opposite to that. It said the nations should regard one another as possible friends, and that in the place of competition there should, be co-operation. Were wa going to sjispr at that idea? Christ came to iho earth to make, all men friends.

A COKTKAST. Tho Roy. K. C. Crosso, 3J.C, M.A.. preaching in Christchurch Cathedral. said ho Thought it was truo to fay that all religion was an attempt to undersiand tiio world in which we lived, lie had read in "The Press" an article on the Maori legontla of Waikareinoana. They were most interesting—an attempt to explain the origin of things. The Book of Genesis was just the Famo. Though it might now be regarded neither us science nor history, wo still recognised that it was an attempt to find tho interpretation of things. We mipht contrast Genesis with tho most recont explanation—H. G. Wells' 'Outline of History.' Which of tho two explained the world most , .' Let each one read and see for himself. The problems of sin and of the nature of God were faced in Genesis, but not in Well.-, who thus ignored tho biggest fact in the world —Sin, and the only ti-uo satisfaction in the world—God.

THE FOPE-S APPEAL. T!io "Church Times" publishes a very Interesting paragraph received l>y Lord Halifax from n foreign correspondent, dealing with certain passages in tho Encyclical recently issued by Pope Pius XI. The letter points out that the Pope declares that tho only remedy for tho spirit of discord which prevails throughout the world is the establishment of the kingdom of Christ and His teaching. In face of the magnitude of tho prevailing evil, Pius XL feels, so to speak, his own inability to deal with it, and ho appeals to the -whole of the Church, and to each of tho constituent parts of it—to tho bishops, the priests, the religious orders, and the laity. To the bishops! he turns first of all: "In order to carry through this design wo count upon all I men of good will, hut it is to you first | ti> whom we appeal." lie goes on to add, I after recalling the assembly at Home of s<> many bishops on the occasion of tho centenary of the congregation of Propaganda, ''that gathering of pastors illustrious both by their character and authority, has suggested the idea of convoking at a suitable moment here in Konic, the centre of the Catholic world, a solemn gathering of a similar character entrusted with the duty of taking fuch measures as seem most likely to deal with the consequences of so groat a convulsion of human society. The nwir approach of tho Holy Year (the Jubilee) scerns also of happy augury for the realisation of the great hopes with which such a project inspires us. We have not, however, ventured to procoed at once to the re-assembly of the Kcumenical Council called together by the Holy Pope Pius IX., the memory of which we recall in our youth. It was only able to complete a portion of its programme, though one of importance. Th" ground of this hesitation lay in the desire to follow the example set us by tlir> famous leader of the Israelites, to wait in prayer and supplication until our good and gracious God should clearly make His will known to us."

Lord Halifax's correspondent thinks this is one of the most important passages of the Encyclical. Since the Vatican Council it is no uncommon tiling to 'hear non-Catholics say that the Roman Church, by its definition of Papal Infallibility, lias set up a sort of epritual autonomy, which henceforth absorbs into itself all the authority of the Church. The fact that Pius XI. o]x>!is the prospect of an Ecumenical Council shoVs that the Pope lias not piven up the traditional methods of enlightening and governing the Church.

Tt is to all, then, that Pins XI. appeals, to jill Christians in communion with Rome; but ho does not forget the brethren who are separated from that Communion. "The Pope cannot," he says, -refrain from repeating one word which, though short, is full of love and tender v'pnsidoration, 'them also I must bring, , nor from recalling and quoting with joy the prophecy of Christ which follows, 'And they shall hear !My Voice, and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd.' God gran; it. Our prayers united to 3-ours, venerable ■brethren, and those of your people, are directed to this end, "that we 'may speedily behold the fulfilment of this most consoling and assured prophecy proceeding from the Heart of God" Thus would Pius XI. desire to gather all the forces of Christendom in order to accomplish what the world cannot do— that is, to set up a real and lasting peace. Ihus would ho desire by the instrnn °* th ?." lurch " to fashion the comnlT ,Ch m ' gU hTin S about complete reconciliation. Thus we disare connected—reunion™* *i £ plans It. would he p r 1 CoUnciL reunion Cou n cU and"'

A vision arises of the greatness of the Pontificate now 'beginning, if only all 'Christians grasp the intentions of Pius XL, arid do their utmost to assist him to realise them. SPIRITUAL HEALING. Mr. J. M. Hickson, who arrived in Sydney recently, from an inland tour, is well satisfied with the results of his Australian mission. In an interview, he said that, a mistake commonly made was rho estimation of the benefits arising from spiritual hording in purely physical terms, "fiodily healing has ils place— n. very important, place—but it- does not hold first place," hf said. Tho healing of (he soul is the first care of spiritual healing, the cure of bodily ills being a secondary consideration. "(hie thing thnt surprised mc." lie wen) on, "is that spiritual healing is not bettor known in .Australia. On my world mission this country i-; tin; last on my programme. I have travelled through Indiii, Japan, and Pnlest inc. nml penetrated into tho interior of ( hiim. Kverywhoro, even in the most remote part... spiritual healing appears to be understood and recognised, and there i;ro instances of ita application. Ji» Australia, however, at my arrival. i!:e movement wns looked upon j with tt'most_iiniversal doubt, amounting lin a- f< , iv enses to positive suspicion. However. J. iiavo found the people generaiiV- eyiupath?tir, and have found a ,ere»i deal of faith in this coimtrv. 1 ' CTJSBENT NOTES. Tlie effort of tin- I'niteil -Methodist Church in Britain to raise an -auxiliary special fund of f.50.000 has been fairly successful. l"p to .lauuary 27 £05,000 Ms contributed, of whidh £4200 was donated by ministers and their wives. Our poorest people will play games in the London parks on .Sunday afternoons, or attend the cinemas on Sunday evening. The opportunity of Sunday amusement is claimed in Ibo name of tho poor; it is really desired, and generally I used, by tho wcfi-to-clo. ' j i Tho North Bap'ist Convention of I America in order to promote attend--1 ance at the Baptist World Alliance at ■ i Stockholm in duly, has selected the ! s.s. America, which is being converted ' about 800 passengers. j I Tn January last the deficiency of the ' New Zealand -Anglican Missions Board amounted to ffiOOO. That sum has, I however, since been raised, and Iho year I closed satisfactorily after providing for requirement:; ot all societies cuunected with the work. j Thiring an eight day's mission in Ola-s- ■ gow. tlu- evangelist * Gipsy Pat Proith had audiences totalling t>2.000. At one. meeting iie stated that Dr. Harvey, principal clerk to the (ilasffow l'resby- i tery. knew him 22 years ago when the caravan. j Dr. John Clifford. the eminent Baptist preacher, recently related that on olio occasion when one of a deputation to Jlr. Bonar l.niv he warmed up to his subject., and said: "I feel as if 1 am in tho pulpit," whereupon Mr. j Bonar Law replied, "I feel that I am in : the pew.'' ! 1 The Methodist young men's Rihle class camps have been very successful ! this year. Over 000 boys have been | under cover in various camps, from : Auckland to Dunedin. The young women ' had separate camps in different districts, and these also were well attended and very ibelpful.

The quarterly meetings of t!m English, Wesleyan, and Methodist churches have been voting on a scheme of union with other brandies of Methodism. The returns are as follows:—For Till, against 17!). ties 8, for delay 2, no vote IS. compromise r>. Returns from the oilier Churched are not yet to hand.

Fifty years ago a new Methodist clinpel was opened in the town of Weilingboroiigh. The special preacher for the occasion missed the train, and a minister in the congregation, Roy, lico. Charter, had to conduct the service at a fow moments notice. On the jubilee Sunday, that young preacher, now an aged supernumerary, was again the special preacher. It is a very uncommon happening that the minister who preaches the jubilee sermon, is the same man wiio opened the place of worship.

The Bishop of Pretoria, Dr. Neville Talhot, attended the , 2'Jtli anniversary celebrations of the Archway Koad Baptist Church. Hijjhgate, London, in thn course of an address, the Bishop said it was good that they should make use of every opportunity to know cacii other, a.s a preliminary to Christian unity. He did not believe it was much good merely speaking smooth things about unity. They would only draw together if they really felt the need of one another for the salve of truth and life.

It would l>e a good idea if the Churches would consider the question of holding Sunday morning services in Australia at an curlier hour, in order to enable people to indulge in healthful recreation." was the suggestion of Dr. Bickersteth, Canon of Canterbury Cathedral (England), at the opening of the session of tin; Anglican Synod at tiuulburn (Australia). This remark ■was received with acclamation by over a hundred members of the diocese who were present at the 17th Synod, which synchronises with the golden anniversary of the Anglican diocese of Ctmlburn.

A wonderful testimony to the freshness and versatility of the famous evangelist Gipsy Smith, is given by one of the London newpaper men. The reporter was told off at the beginning of the (lipsy's campaign in England, and from week to week ho continued to report the addresses and proceedings. At, the latest mission, one in Glasgow, the correspondent reported as follows— "I sit at meeting after meeting—surely this makes about two hundred and forty in succession—wondering 'however it is that in theso extempore addresses, without a scrap of notes, ho never repeats a, story or illustration twice in one mission." The Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher in his ''New Life" campaign at Leigh, a cotton spinning and coal mining town, had large gatherings and the first week there were 0(10 converts. Tho British Wesleyan Conference 13 to be held in Bristol this year. The president-elect is Rev. T. F. Hulme, M.A. It is understood that the authorities of the Anglican Cathedral have invited Mr. Hulme to preach in the Cathedral ou the first Sunday of the conference. In the morning the president will preach the ollieial sermon in a Wesleyan Chapel, and in tho eveninjj will officiate in the Cathedral o' 1 incity. TiiU will be a unique even. Hi" Anglican Uishop will return I lie plinient by prenching in the Conference Chapel the following Sunday morninjr. It is further expected 1 hat" the Archbishop of Canterbury will visit and adteek. ConfcrcM dvr «g the first