OXFORD MOVEMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20587, 1 July 1932, Page 18

OXFORD MOVEMENT.

ADDRESS BY CANON H. WILLIAMS A .series of lectures is at present being given Ijy various local Church of England clergymen on the Oxford Movement, a religious revival, the inception of which took place in England in the first half of last century. Last night, at the Jellicoe Hall, Canon H. Williams dealt with the evangelical sido of the movement in an address that confined itself mainly to the relation between present-day tendencies in religious thought and the aspects of Christian thought emphasised by the Oxford evangelists. Archdeacon F. N. Taylor presided over the meeting. He apologised for the absence of Mr George Harper, who was prevented by doctor's orders from occupying the cliair. In a letter, however, Mr Harper said that he had long taken an interest in the Oxford Movement, and had been interested in watching- how it had gradually and moderately affected New Zealand. Canon Williams commenced his lecture bv remarking that, the Oxford evangelists had been charcterised by their love of truth, their steadfastness, and their certainty of conviction. It was necessary first, however, to men- , tion briefly three different classes of people. He hardly knew what to call

the first class, but they were those whose knowledge of religion was simii&i* to that knowledge of history so well burlesqued by the humorous book. 106G and All That." They had open minds, hut their vague lack of interest prevented them from profiting by the Oxford Movement, which indeed had little appeal for them. The second class of people were the liberals of. Newman s day. These were Rationalists, or Modernists, who were■ interested in the moral teaching of Our Lord, but who had little belief in. the miracles and supernatural life. The faith of these people, was irreconcilable with the Catholic faith. The thirdclass of people were the. evangelists, ™°', ig n °ring the smug eccentrics, but led bv such men as Watts Ditchfield and others, brought their faith in God into direct relation with the lives of their fellows. The Evangelicals. W hat were the chief - characteristics of the evangelicals? asked Canon Williams. Answering his own question, he said their first characteristic was their devotion to the Scriptures. Secondly, they were characterised by their love for Our Lord. Thirdly, t{iey placed strong emphasis upon the power of personal religion. They urged that each man should know God consciously, and they pointed out the peace and joy that was to be found in- belieyjncr. They were stronsj individualists, believing that nothing and nobody should come between the soul and God. although • at the same time r - they saw

the necessity .for the Scriptures andsfc .y the intercession of priests. believed: that faith was works, and they were, stanuch bedieW-S®*-. lr i the. power of Christ's atonemen^: 5 -. 1 "We are not very" far away the evangelicals to-day," the speapSf/ "■ went on. The power of the \\ God was still manifested, and devotfe" to Jesus Christ was as strong It was particularly shown in misw^ 1 - works. At the same time the Oxfoi* _ Movement did much to emphasise the ineffable glory of Christ. And in emphasis on personal religion it good work by pointing out that, votion to God was a .warfare, in w 8 sense of a struggle within each Concluding, " thu Canon said a 6-?* wanted to speak a little on the trine of the Church. Actually, written word was left by Christ. stiead he left his Gospel in the of a small band-of men. . BrotherwW#£i was the very essence of the GoswnS; The real object of religion, after,.®Js4?',| was worship, neither faitli alone. service alone, none of these virtues. • but above all worship. evangelists of the Oxford Mover** 1 used the \ veapon of brotherhood ; jij spread the worship of God. e At the conclusion of his ?,|! vote of thanks was t»assed to Cap?'. t j|] Williams by acclamation. * .. .. xyk A shilling .advertisement classified section of Thb Pees» n'" j- iJ your' goods. • Try : it. .12 ward»s*£g three insertions 2s 6d. '