THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14406, 13 July 1912, Page 16

THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.

WHAT THE CHURCHES ARE DOING.

NEWS AND NOTES FOR PULPIT AND PEW,

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS MOVEMENT.

CANON GARLAND'S NEW CALL TO SERVICE.

AUSTRALIAN TRIBUTES.

'•The decision of Canon Garland to accept tho invitation of the Churches of New Zealand to go there to take charge of the movement now started, to obtain tho placing of the Biblo in tho hands of tho children attending tho State schools, will be received with mingled feelings of regret and satisfaction" (says tho Australian "Christian "World"). "His parishioners and many in Brisbane will bo sorry to miss the presence of tho Canon in his church, and in the public work ho has been ever ready to engago in, but they will bo gratified that the New Zealand churches hnvo been wise enough to seek his services in the arduous work before them to secure to the children of tho Dominion their undoubted religious rights and privileges, and that ho is willing to go to their aid. Canon Garland is a born leader in any strenuous battle that has to be fought. His work in Queensland during the last few years of tho Bible in State schools' campaign, which for nearly a quarter of a century had been carried on with various defeats and teniporary success, was a marvellous display of keen and tireless watchfulness, readiness of resource, tactful generalship, and persistent overcoming of all kinds of difficulties. Tho success that was ultimately achieved was unmistakably due to him, and the presence of Biblo lessons and the religious teacher in the Queensland schools, that is doinj; such good work for the young of the State, must be attributed to his irrepressiblo energy and skilful manipulation of tho forces available to him to ensure victory. "Wo have not tho least doubt that he will succeed in doing a similar work in New Zealand. There can scarcely bo greater obstacles there than wero found in Queensland. Every kind of opposition was rallied up, and ranged against tho League, but it conquered. It was fighting for God and tho children,-and this was an inspiration, Hot only to the leader, but to tho hosts of good men and women who .wero being led through the long battle until tho song of triumph could be raised. Wo believe that tho Canon is listening to God's call in tho decision ho has made, and that, though he will feel a. considerable wrench in separating himself from many tried friends and helpers, he will carry with him the consciousness that it is God's will that ho should again burnish up his armour for the fight. We wish both Canon and Mrs Garland success in this new enterprise."

The "Church Chronicle," the official organ of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, says:—"The news that Canon Garland had been offered tho leadership of the Religious Instruction in State Schools Campaign in New Zealand scarcely came* as a surprise to those who are familiar with the work he has already done in connection with this subject. No man in Australasia can claim a greater knowledge of tho question, or greater ability to handle it than Canon Garland, and. wherever the campaign' is undertaken his advice would naturally be the : first to Le sought. Ho has already taken the lead in the successful efforts of West> Australia and Queensland to secure religious .freedom in the schools, and his. acceptance of the New Zealand invitation is thus full of promise for the success of the campaign in that Dominion." ■ •■ . ■ ' *

work. * In 1865 he was inducted to Tottenham, where, to gain greater need, ful leverage in the spiritual sphere, he identified himself closely with many forms of philanthropic and civic work, and was created by Lord Herschel a justice of the peace. Along with Taylor of Camberwell. Carruthers of lelington, Ross of Manchester, and Carlyle of Ealing, Mr Fotheringham was one of the ardent founders ot the Sustenation Fund. Six years ago he retired from Tottenham, becoming minister emeritus, with a seat in the North London Presbytery. Of a shrewd, wise, kindly disposition, wide reading, and still wider practical experience, together with a fine pawky humour, which Hae often served as a buffer between contending parties, and filing brightness on dull debates, no man is more suited for his high office, has a better knowledge of the things that concern the Church's weal, or is more beloved and honoured throughout its borders.

AN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT.

A discovery of unusual interest has recently fallen into thb hands of the British Museum, which has recently acquired a very early papyrus book, found in Egypt, containing a Coptic version of the greater part of Deuteronomy, the whole of Jonah, and nearly all of the Acts of the Apostles. Tho book, as described in a'contemporary English paper, contains 109 leaves, measuring eleven inches by six inches, and originally contained at least 20 leaves more. The writing shows that the book is far the oldest Coptic MS. that has come to light. It was apparently the private possession of some devout person, and was clearly uot an original translation, but copied from some earlier translation. In tho text of the Acts of the Apostles there are many mistakes, which could only bo made by a-very careless copyist, or by one who was following an old and partly obliterated, text. The copyist seems only rarely conscious of the mistakes he is makin}', and. as in the other "parts of the MS. he shows himself very careful, the presumption is that the blunders were in tho MS. from which ho copied. Dr. Kenyon. after a very closo examination of the script, has come to the conclusion that it was written not later than the middle of the fourth century. Tho Coptic version which it transcribes must then, in all probability, liave been made l>efore the end of the third century, and may be earlier still. The codex, is tho oldest known copy of any translation of any considerable portion of the Greek Bible.

It proves that copies of the Coptic version of some of the- books of the Old and New Testaments were in uso among Egyptian Christians in the early part of the fourth century.

TRIBUTE TO THE JEWS

The Bishop of London (the RightRev. Winnington Ingram), at .tho meeting of the East London Fund for tho Jews at Church House a few weeks ago, said that the reason he was so keen upon work like that was becauso he honoured tho Jew and his religion. He did not look on the Jews of East London as a degraded class. He found tho Jews more thrifty and sober and better fathers and mothers than any other class. Answering the suggestion that the mission was \indermining Jewish independence, tho Bishop said that the whole point of their taking over, as a Church, the work of that particular mission was to safeguard the Jew against being bribed to be a Christian. The work was not carried on in any sort of hositility, for tho Jew was treated as a friend and neighbour.

"1 covet this great body of people for the conversion of the world," Dr. Ingram declared. "We want another St. Paul. Perhaps we shall find him in East London if we look hard enough."

THE ENGLISH MODERATOR

, The Rev. David Fotheringham, J. P., Moderator of the. Synod of the Presbyterian Church of England, was born in Forfarshire in IS3O, and was brought up in tlie "Auld Licht" Church. Successful at eighteen as a teacher in Edinburgh, he thero passed through the Arts classes of the University, purposing to enter the ministry of his mother Church; but the merging of the United Secession with the Free Church changed this plan, and Mr Fotheringham entered tho Presbyterian College in London, being mainly drawn by his affection for Dr. Thomas McCrie, then professor there. In London he became an enthusiastic English Presbyterian, carrying on mission work at Millwall, and bringing about several most useful changes in the college arrangements. In 1859 ho was ordained minister of Glanton, where he wrought a wonderful

SOME IMAGINARY EXCURSIONS OF THE POPE.

In tho last years of the Pontificate of Leo XIII. there used to be a legend that tho Popo had on one or two occasions eft the Vatican—once to visit the churcii of St. Joaehiin. which was erected in honour of his episcopal jubilee. Apparently something of tho same kind is happening now (writes tho Rome correspondent of the "Tablet," under date of May 26th), for the "Tribuna" one day this week devotod two whole columns to the investigation of a report that Pius X. sometimes leaves tho Vatican in a private carriage to visit a sick prelate of his household who has a villa within ten minutes' drive of the Apostolic Palaco. The account concludes by ridiculing the report, but the germ of the legend has thus been planted. But most legends have some kind of a foundation, and it may be that the present ono has arisen from the fact that tho Popo has already begun to uso the new and partly underground passage from the Palace to the gardens, and that one of these days his Holiness, if so disposed, *nay actually visit the little pieco of territory which until a few months ago was occupied by the Italian Government. Visitors to the Vatican museum and to the new picture gallery used to be struck by tho sight of tho Italian sentry, pacing to and fro day and night with loaded musket to within a few yards of tho entrance to tho Vatican, held by the SwiSo Guards of the Holy Father. But now the contrast has disappeared, for the old Mint, which formed tho objective of .the Italian sentry-go, with the area surrounding it, has been, sold by tho Italian Government to one Signor Pacelli, who in his turn has disposed of it to the Administration of the Holy See; and a-s the building and land adioin the Vatican gardens, and aro separated from the Vatican Palaco only by the Via delle Fondamenta, they may now be considered as belonging materially to tho little territory which the Pope can call his own. There has been some guessing as to the purpose which tho addition will be mado to serve, and most of the papers have eoino to the conclusion that on the site a permanent building for the Conclave will be "erected. For many reasons that is extremely unlikely, if not quite impossible, but there is no need to attribute 'any such plan as the cause- of the new purchase by tho Vatican. . It was indispensable that tho ground should not have been allowed to pass into the hands of private individuals owing to its proximity to tho gardens: But whether or not the underground passage inaugurated last' week by his. Holiness or the. prospect that he may one day freely visit tho site of the old Mint has any connection with the formation of the legend that the Pone sometimes leaves the Vatican territory, there is no truth whatever in the story. Seven or eight years ago one used to read about the Holy Father's intention to visit Venice or Monte Cassino or Castcl Gandolfo; later, when eoino hundreds of victims of the earthquake in Messina and, Calabria wero housed by him in tho Pontifical Hospice of Santa Marta, which is close to but outside the Vatican, the news was telegraphed all over the world that he had paid them a visit. But the intention never existed, ami the scene never took place, and it is not even yet possible, after nino years, to remove even tho dead body of Pope Leo from St. Peter's to its tomb in St. John Lateran, much less for a living Pope to take excursions in the environs of Rome.

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE

'■'A very dangerous thin end of the wedge," was Sir John Kennaway's description, at the anjiual meeting of the Imperial Sunday Alliance and Sunday Lay Movement, held in London, of the introduction of Sunday musketry practice for Territorials. Sir John spoke also of the laxity produced by the week-end habit and the serious and growing evil of unrestricted Sunday trading, and hoped the time would, come when the representatives of Labour -would coase to hold their meetings on Sundays. Mr Alfred Smith, president of the London Gabdrivers' Trade Union, said that cabmen, who would not bo otherwise employed on Sundays, had to work because some peoplo would not go to church nnlffs they went in cabs. Employees of the L.C.C. reported as to how a -weekly rest-day had been gained, and Mr Giles gave similar testimony respecting the South "Wales nickel and spelter workers. The Archbishop of Canterbury> in a letter wishing Gcd-speed to the work of the Alliance, said, "We have been able to render a genuine service to. the community by what has been effected during the last few years."

PRESBYTERIAN' FOREIGN MISSIONS.

Tho twenty-second great foreign missionary meeting held in connection with the presbyteries of London (North and South), at the Queen's Hall, on May 22nd.. was remarkably successful. Looking round at tho well-filled area and upper as well as lower galleries, Lord Shaw of Dunferraline, who presided, said, "I'rejoice in this astonishing, this remarkable meeting." Another speaker referred to the attendance as "something like a record. * Lord Shaw calculated that there were a good many business men among tho audience, and addressed some of his remarks particularly to them. He said, "It has been my duty during the last three* or four ■ years in a judicial capacity to come across not a few cases in which there have been honest, industrious, powerful, able, successful men who have died .and left their estates in positive confusion. They had the genius for amassing wealth, but they had not the genius for distributing that wealth. I wish to say to any of you people whom I see. before mc that if you have been extremely successful in your worldly affairs, pleaso accept a suggestion from a somewhat experienced quarter. I have looked into the reports of the English Presbyterian Church, and I do here recommend that if you entrust definite, sums, however ample, to tho Committee of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, your donations and bequests will bo managed faithfully, economically, on a fruitful field, with splendid results." Turning to the subject of the revolution in China, Lord Shaw made a strong appeal for Christian work in that country. "The democratic senti-

ment is abroad in China," ho added, "and wherever you hare the progress and movement of tho democratic idea, thcro the geniu3 of Presbyterianism fits it liko a glove."

CLERGYMEN , AXD THE I>RAMA.

A group of well-known New York ministers, headed by Dr. Hillis, has arranged to visit some of tho most popular plays, and then meat for a frank discussion of their moral tone and ethical value. Tho reports of their conference will be published, and sent out to the members of tho churches and tho young people in tho various religious organisations. They intend to speak tho truth very plainly, and where a play has one bad feature in an otherwise healthy drama tho manager will bo invited to cut out the objectionable scene. It is estimated that in every theatre of any position in American cities half the audience consists of church members, and it is thought that tho guidance offered by these clerical dramatic critics will be widely welcomed. A correspondent of the London. "Christian "World," who supplies this information, says:— °l frankly confess that I should be as unwilling to accept the verdict of ministers on the drama as I am reluctant to listen to their instruction of political problems. Churches both in America and England are suffering to-day because somo ministers will do anybody's work except their own."

JOTTINGS.

Miss AVingato, head of the employment and emigration department of the Y.W.C.A., London, recently visited Canada, and reports that in. Toronto, for instance, whore there are nine different centres of association work, 4000 girls passed through tho homes last year. Its four city homes havo sleeping accommodation for 275 girls, and dining space for 100 more. At its cafetaria 500 to 800 girls lunch daily, and mako use of their rest and reading rooms. Mi&s Wingato is sister to Sir Reginald Wingate, Sirdar of tho Soudan, and has, like her brother, a strong sense of one's duty to tho Empire. Whilo the negotiations for reunion between the Established Church of Scotland and the United Free Church aro being conducted with the cautious friendliness that was to bo expected, it is interesting to note (says the "Guardian" of May 31st) that tho two can. combine at any rato for one purpose— which some stalwarts of those Communions, old enough to reflect the temper of a bygone generation, might Jiaplv characterise as combating tho Black Prelacy. In other words, the two General Assemblies have agreed to join in sending a "Chaplain" to Jook after the Presbyterians (said to number over two hundred) who are now studying at Oxford, tho intellectual headquarters of Episcopacy. ><ot that any Presbyterian worth taking into account would now put it in the aggressive way we have suggested, unless, with a smilo; and it may bo added that tho English Presbyterians, actuig with their Northern sisters in this matter, mako it a. point of honour not to attempt to proselytise from other Christian bodies. But they naturally wish to retain thoso who may be considered, to belong to them, ami it is evidently intended that the Chaplaincy shall bo worth tho acceptance of tho right eort of man. A church is also to be built for him at considerable cost. What many Presbyterian parents probably fear for their sons at Oxford is not so much High Church doctrine as the Higher Criticism, which has likewise some of its ablest exponents in the University. '