NEW BOOKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW BOOKS.

FAITH, CREED AND CONDUCT. Believing that the young men and women of England need a simple, clear exposition of the Christian faith in view of the many uncertainties and difficulties presented by modern thought, Mr. Evans, the subwarden of St. Augustine's College, Canterbury, has published through John Murray a short "Reason for the Faith." He begins by showing that the Christian religion is a continuation of the religion of the Hebrews, giving a fuller revelation of the nature of God and His relation to mankind. He claims that the methods of the primitive Christian Church were didactic and authoritative, tested and supported by reference to the Scriptures. The Christian life begins with the recreative gift of God in Baptism, and the acceptance of this gift involves obligations both of faith and action. Mr. Evans then goes on to define what is meant by belief in God as both Creator and Father, and in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God. The Creed is explained, clause by clause, and there follow chapters dealing with redemption, propitiation and sanctification. The concluding chapters deal with the Holy Catholic Church, the forgiveness of sins, the Christian life, the Sacraments, and Christian worship. The book is just what is needed for the use of confirmation candidates and senior Bible classes. It is a clear setting forth of the main principles of Christian faith and practice rather than a philosophical defence of the faith. One of the best features of the book is the way in which it shows the relation of creed to conduct, and how "saintly character is the result of divine grace accomplishing saintly ideals." It may be surprising to find Oscar Wilde quoted in a religious book, but he is. "The Day Before Yesterday,"" by J. Moffatt, D.D. (Williams and Norgate), is designed to "clarify religious problems," and in a chapter on fables there is a fable of Wilde's. The author quotes many great thinkers and writers of the present and of the immediate past to illustrate the gropings and blind stumblings of men whom much learning made incapable of simple faith. There is much pathos in the brilliant prose and verse which conveys the doubts and longings of these, great bewildered minds. "Revealed to babes and sucklings," the truth evades the learned. This small book of essays is well above the average in. literary worth. Another small book dealing with religion is that by Dr. Sir Wilfred Grenfell (of Labrador fame), who writes of St. Andrew, "the fisherman's saint" (used as title to an address delivered at St. Andrew's University, and now published by Hodder and Stoughton). There is much kindly, practical wisdom herein, and. the good doctor looks at Christianity, as it were, from a distance, and through a screen of practical affairs. ■ A more pretentious volume is J. A. Bouquet's "People's Book of Saints" (Longmans), a study of the lives of thirty-six saints, many of whom are chosen as name-givers to English churches. St. Martin—once a Hungarian soldier and twenty-six years a Bishop of Tours —has been selected as the patron saint of one hundred and seventy-three such churches. The story of the lives of these remarkable men, who were dominated by sacrifice, service and goodness, should make a wide appeal.

CURRENT NOTES. The Rev. E. T. Olds entered on his ministry last Sunday as superintendent of the Auckland Methodist Central Mission. Mr. Edison, the American inventor, remarked recently to Mr; Samuel Crowther, the collaborator with Mr. Henry FOrd m his "My Life and Work," that in his opinion the per cent enforcement of prohibition -in tha U.S. was higher than the enforcement of many laws. Canon Watson, who has been in charge of St. Peter's, Wellington, for the past 15 years, has resigned, on medical advice. He will act, however, as missioner in the diocese of Wellington. Canon Watson has just published a volume of sermons, which , will shortly be on sale in New Zealand. The publishers are Messrs. liessington, of London, To-morrow is being observed generally in the churches as Bible Sunday. It will also be observed as a day of prayer in the Dominion and throughout the world in connection with the Student Christian Movement. A special service in this connection will be held in St. Matthew's Church, at which the Rev. E. H. Hobday will be the preacher. The servicfe will be broadcast. "Of all the plagues of society, the habitual fault-finder is one of the worst and. least Christian,". remarked the Rev. H. D. Ranns, when preaching on "The. Sin of Idle Works" at Humboldt United Church, Canada. He added: "The censorious Christian is but a caricature of' what Christ meant His followers to become." What is called Manna House has j,ust been opened at 43, Cook Street West (near Hobson Street) by the Presbyterian Social Service Association. A free meal will be given to any man, woman or child in need during the coming winter months between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., and on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. The object of tlie associa-' tfon is 1 to assist in this way the poor and unemployed. At the meeting of the Ministers' 1 Association on Monday the Rev: W. Waliker, of' Pitt Street Methodist Church, suggested the opportuneness and need of a federation of the Protestant. Churches in New Zealand with a view to. preventing overlapping in country districts, to enabling the Church to speak ifflore emphatically on great moral issues, and to pave- the way for a possible union of the churches. He advocated the need for an executive committee,, an organising secretary, and a central office in Wellington. The Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher will celebrate on the last Sunday of this month the seventh anniversary of his ministry in Beresford Street, and his ministerial semi-jubilee. Mr. Fletcher is leaving shortly on an evangelistic tour in America, Canada and England. The Ministers' Association, at their meeting on Monday,, offered him their congratulations on his completion of 25 years in the ministry, and took tlie opportunity to refer to the good work he has done during his stay in Auckland. New Zealand spends yearly £0(5,000 on foreign missions, and haa 360 missionaries in the field* Several of the missionaries are helped in their work in India rod elsewhere by colportage grants from the National Bible Society of Scotland.