JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 13411, 1 May 1909, Page 13

JOTTINGS.

Th.- Archbishops of Canterbury and York, in compliance with tlio wish of Convocations, havo just issued a "Mestitifio to tho Church of England,'' in which they plead for a deliberate ant] sustaine-d effort to maintain the spirit si roused last year by the Pan-Anglican Congress airl the Lambeth Conference. They call upon oil" members of the Church "to unite, in a more resolute determination to place and keep tho mission of the Church to the v.-hole world in the forefront of its thought and prayer and- action." The senior member of the Durham street "Method Lit Church choir, "Mr Joseph Turner, of Cranmor square, celebrated his ninety-fifth birthd/iy on Tuesday last, the 27fch inst., and l was tho recipient of hearty congratulations from ministers nnd members of the churcli on the interesting occasion. "Mr Turner arrived in Canterbury during the esirly part of l&t'JO, and was received into membership with the choir in the original "Wcsleyan Church, High street, the Rev. John Aldrerl being tlie minister and also superintendent of the Canterbury circuit. Mr Turner has witnessed the advent and departure of many organist--: choirmasters and choristers since that date, -while ho„,.himsclf enjoys the unique honour of fortynine years' unbroken association with the leaders of sacred song nnd divine praise in the principal Methodist church of this city. Cardinal IMoran, in an official communication to Dr. A. L. Kenny, of ■Melbourne, in respect to his appointment ns the secretary of the congress to be held in St. Mary's Hall in the first week in October, remarks that efforts are being made to -fulfil the premise of holding a great Australasian Roman Catholic Congress on that date. The cardinal has asked Aid', Thomas Hughes and Monsignor O'Brien (rector of St. John's College) to act as honorary secretaries for New South "Wales; Dr. Cleary, of Dunedin, to act for New Zealand; and Dr. O'Mahoney, of Launceston, for Tasmania. It is believed that the number of members for tlie first congress in Sydney in 1900 (301) will be exceeded on this occasion. The death is announced, at the age of 75 years, of "Marianne Farningham" (Miss Marianne Hearn). which took place in England last month. As a "sweet singer of Israel," she has been known to tho British public for 50 years. She was a most prolific writer of both prose and verso, travelled thousands of miles as a lecturer, edited the "Sunday School Times" for many years, and conducted in Northampton ono of the largest Bible- classes for girls in England. The Methodist Church of Australasia is now definitely committed to missionary work in continental India. In the minutes of the New South Wales Conference, tho seat' of the Board of Missions being in Sydney, there appears in the station sheet of ministerial appointments for the first time tho inspiring name of India, and beneath it the names of two young men, Frank L. Nun it and John H. Allen, the first missionaries. This movement is the outcome of tho spontaneous and enthusiastic outburst of liberality of the Australian and New Zealand representatives at the General Conference at Sydney in 1907. The reasonableness of the undertaking had been previously considered and made clear, and th'e generous outburst rendered the advance financially possible and safe. Henceforth Australasia stands allied witih Europe and America in this mission of peace, love, and goodwill to our fellow-men and our fellow-subjects in the great Empire of India. Beautiful memorial] windows have recently been placed ia Wesley's historic chapel, City road, London, in memory of two soldiers who were pioneers of Methodist Church ''ork in Gibraltar in 1803. and of the Rev. Dr. Rule, who was chaplain and missionary at the celebrated fortress for ten years from 1832. Tlie work has hern inspected by a large .number of visitors to the chapel. -The subjects and inscription are as follow: —"Christ and the Centurion. "To the glory cf God and in memory of Corporal James Lamb and Richard Russell, who witnessed a q;ood confession as faithful soldiers of Jesus Christ. Gibraltar, Juno 11th, 1803" : and the, Centurion welcoming Peter to Cie<area; '"To the glory of God and in memory of tho Rev. W. H. Rule, D.D., chaplain and missionary. Gibraltar, 1832-1842." Tho Presbytery of Wellington, on the motion of Dr. Gibb, resolved to overture the General Assembly with respect to the multi.p'licity of hymn books now in use in the Church. * To say ..nothing of the congregations which in the rural districts frequently use iSankey's hymns, especially at the evening services, there are three books now in use in the Church—"Church Praise." and the new edition of "Church Praise" (practically a new book), and the "Church Hymnary." This, the overturo suggested, .3 a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. Oneness in song is as important, if not more 60, than oneness in doctrine. Fletcher of Saltoun's saying concerning the relntivo importance of the songs of a country and its laws is applicable in this case too. The heart of the Church finds its loftiest extprression in the songs of the Church (remarks the "Outlook"), and it is desirable, not only that the Church should havo tho best hymn book available, but that when this is secured, it should be the ono boqk of sacred song authorised by the Assembly. Tho overture, however, suggests that congregations should be put to no unnecessary expense or trouble. Tlie use of any book now in existence in any congregation will, if the overture i? adopted, be permitted till the congregation desires to effect a change. Then it will l>e necessary to adopt the book prescribed by tho Assembly. Whin new congregations arc formed the Assembly's book will necessarily be used. A convert priest (writes an Edincorrespondent of a Roman Catholic paper) has peculiar opportunities of influence, and Father Henry Gray Graham, formerly a Presbyterian minister. i:nd now attached to the Church of Our Lady of Good Aid in the busy Lanarkshire town of Motherwell, is using these opportunities to tho full. He is giving a course of public lectures to non-Catholics in the Co-operative Hall, and to these no Roman Catholics arc admitted, with the result that every week some 700 enquirers, men and women of good will and real earnestness, listen to the Father's instructions.. Tie Bor. Henry Wallace* of the

Victoria and Tasmania Methodist Conference, writing on the varied method* that obtain in different cliurches of stationing tho ministers, states that in the Methodist Episcopal Church the appointments are made by the bi£hop> alter consultation with the di-itriet superintendents. The latter form the Cabinet, but the Cabinet ie not authoritative, and there are occasions when the views of the- "district superintendents are set a'vide. Besides the annual appointments to circuit?, tlie bishop has ,:»iver to appoint secretaries to benevolent institutions and board-, publishing agents, editors, chaplains, preachers for special work, principals and teachers of institutions. There are twenty-seven bishops, nine l*?ing in foreign hinds. Bishop Warren presides over seven conferences. Iv Europe Bishop Burt- presides over ten. All the bishops aro very busy men. In tho opinion of Mr Wallace a small representative committee, is for more effective than ono comprising a large number of men, many of wh*:-m lack both experience and judgment. Tho Rev. Evan Edwards, of Torquay, tlie oldest minister in the Baptist denomination, has ius-t- celebrated his ninety-fourth birtlvday. In 1838 lie commenced hi.s ministry. His first pastorate wan at Bockington. Somerset, where the revered John Aldis—not long since—finished hi.s course in his hundredth year. In 184.'i he went to Chard, where for nearly twenty-five years lie ministered the Word of Life. Then came a call to Torquay, a sphere for which ho was eminently suited. After Ecrving tho church at Upton Vale for seventeen years, and having reached hi.s "threescore years and ten.'' he resigned the pastorate. He still, however, retained his connection with the church, over evincing a warm interest in its welfare. It is a great joy to those who have known him for many years that, .notwithstanding his patriarchal age, he is remarkably hale, whilst- his mental povjers seem as vigorous as over (says the "British Weekly). Occasionally ho preaches, and his sermons still give evidence of great strength of mind and a marvellous grasp of things spiritual and divine.