JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14030, 29 April 1911, Page 12

JOTTINGS.

On a recent Friday evening Dr. Joweit, who has accepted an invitation U the pastorate of Fifth Avenue Church, New York, was one of the giwsts of his Majesty at dinner at Buckingham Palace. The London correspondent of the "Birmingham Post remarks:—"The King's command to the Rev. Xh-. Jowett to dines at Bucking- ; ham Palace is to be looked upon not i only as a personal tribute of regard for this distinguished Free Church leader, and through him for the Free Churches throughout tho Empire, but of tho Boyal desire to become acquainted at first hand with the world-wide social ai well as religious problems with, which these churches;have- to deal. His Majesty, earlier in the day, had exhibited a Uk» desire in respect to special phases of the missionary movement, by receiving at tho Palaoo l>r. Grenfell, a medical missionary who has done much ' srlrrio} in Labrador, and these special toktins of Itoyal recognition of religious aitd philanthropic effort arc* of special value as testifying to the deep interest cot only.tho King but Queen Mary

takes in this side of our national life."

The age of heroes (says the "Catholic "Weekly") is not yet past. We are reminded that it still preserves its glorious record by the news that comes to us from plogue-stricken Manchuria of the death of one of China's most devoted Catholic Missionaries, Father P. Bourlca, who has just died at Harbin, tho victim of his own self-eacrificing efforts tor the bedies and souls r<l those ho sought to save. The deceased priest, who had laboured successfully all through tho Boxer riots, went to Harbin seven or eight months ago, and quickly set himself to figlit the plague in the Chinese city of Fou-kia-ten. He opened a. hospital where sufferers were received, regardless of creed distinction, and though his voluntary helpers all in turn succumbed to the pestilence, he had the happiness of baptising 200 pagan patients who wore sheltered in its walls. Monsignor Laianger, Vicar-Apostolic in Manchuria, himself visited Father Bourles , missionary station, and testifies warmly, in a letter recently published in the "Osservatore -Romano, ,, to the zeal and charity of tho priest who died full of joy at having been able to spend his last days in the service of t.he plague victims. Such a life needs no comment; it speaks more eloquently than words. One of tho most distinguished figures in the Scottish Episcopal Church during the last century has passed away in the person of Dean Walker, LL.D., of the diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, who had reached the age of 94. I>r. Walker was a scholar, linguist and writer, as well as a minister of exceptional urbanity and brotherliness. Hβ lived and laboured in tho parish of Monymusk for well over fifty rears, and no word, it is said, wa s ever spoken of him during all that time that was not characterised by the greatest friendliness and affection. Dr. Walker wrote a number of volumes, including two series of academic and ecclesiastical reminiscences, in the first of which he gives it as his opinion that two eminent Aberdeen graduates—Dr. A. B. Davidsonand Professor W. Robertson Smith — were responsible for the great change in the theological thought of Scotland. Dr. Jowett's transfer to Presbyterianism and Dr. Aked's conversion to Congregationalism are , outward ami visible signs of tho growing unity of the nonEpiscopal churches and the fading away or denominational lines (remarks tihe "Christian World"). But it is curious to find Englishmen believing that in America the denominational barriers j aro faint, while Americans are explaining Dr. Jowett's and Dr. Aked's changes by_ saying that in England -we do not seriously regard tho denominational party walls. At the farewell lunoheon to Dr. Jowett recently, Hot. J. D. Jones gave & series of instances of Congregationalists occupying Presbyterian pastorates and Presbyterians ministering to Congregational churches. "Things in New York ecclesiastically," he said, "are dreadfully mixed up, and I am not sure that it is a had thing." Aftfir hearing this utterance from Mr J. D. Jones we open our Boston. "Congregationalist" and find it discussing Dr. Aked's-transition from the Baptists to the Congregationalists, and coming to the conclusion that it was only to bo expected as "Dr. Aked came to maturity in England where, the gulf between Baptists and. Coitgregationalists is shallower than in thi<£ country, indeed is hardly deep- enough to chill thamcet sensitive feet wading through it. "Bible Sunday," arranged for Scotland a fortnight earlier than for England, received an all but universal,celebration throughout the churches. In addition to the tercentenary of the authorised version, tho jubilee of the Scottish National Bible Society was ol>sorved in Scotland. The progress of the operations of the Society may be seen from the follotring statement 6f its circulation of the Bible during the five decades or ite existence:—First decade 100,000; second, 239,000; third' 'hW&i fourth, 4,040,000; fifth