WHAT THE CHURCHES ARE DOING.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13231, 26 September 1908, Page 12

WHAT THE CHURCHES ARE DOING.

NEWS AND NOTES FOR PULPIT AND PEW.

«»FOR THE SERVICE OF MANKIND."

Tho London Anglican papers, ■in commenting on the Lambeth Conference Encyclical Letter and Resolutions, emphasise tho fact that "a new note was struck by tho conference. "The chief concern of tho prelates, writes the "Record," has been to avoid; making declarations on controversial questions, and to recall the mind of tho Church to the great purposes of its being. It will be argued by thoso who were looking to the -conference for light and leading upon certain welldefined eeclesiatical problems that this was not a very heroic course to take, and it may bo admitted at once that there are signs in the Encylical and in the Resolutions of a nervousness and timidity which are not creditable to tho bishops as a body. But current •jontroversies apart, thero will be, wo _re persuaded, a large moasure of thankfulness that the conference has revived the idea of servico as the greatest mission of the Church. It may be said, without any undue reflection upon the past, that tho times called lor such a pronouncement as that which has como to us from Lambeth. lb© Church is so much absorbed in matters of organisation and machinery, as well as in its own internal conflicts,, and it has been in real danger of losing tho renee of its spiritual vocation. It is the thought of the ChuTch as ordained of God for the servico.of mankind' which has been 'predominant in tho deliberations of the conference rand a more important theme could not-have engaged attention. A Church which does not serve cannot bo a true and living Church, and the power for all tn.o service must como alone from Christ. Thoro is ono lino in the Encyclical i_?__ states this fact with admirable clearness: 'The power to ™{°e» * Christ- depends upon being, like Him. Here wo nave-a terse, epigrammatic statement which supplies, a motto tor everTchristian life; and if tho bishops were animated by this great ambition t6 be 'like Him.Mf they have separated with this splendid resolve burnt in rTpon their hearts, then we may look •for the accomplishment of great things amon- th© peoples of the world by the Church of shto they are the acfetfowledged leaders.