CATHEDRAL MISSION

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22805, 2 September 1939, Page 9

CATHEDRAL MISSION

VISIT OF AUSTRALIAN ’ CLERGY

OPENING SERVICE HELD LAST * The first of its kind/ to be held in the church - which. ife.. conducted by- theT|ishdp of the Right Rev. G. the Bishop of the Right Rev. J.'S. Moyes, opened at the Cathedral last evening with a service of welcome' to the_missioners and the first 'address. There* wats a -large .congregation, and

: several of the /gtetsy present* : . ; '..</* *' The service was conducted by .Bishop "West-" Watson 'and' Dean 'Julius, as- . sisted by Archdeacon A. K. Warren. \ The mission is being held in connexion with the forward movement,” which was introduced at last Synod as , a stimulus. to. thej spiritual life of .the diocese, and to extend the influence of the- church. > The firrt,address by - the Bishop of Airoidale, whose text was St Matthewxxii, ; 4i?t “What think ye of Christ.” Human thought, he said, was - influenced by feelings against - reason. Christ had been considered by many to be a myth, a good man, a teacher, or. . a deceiver. The belief of Christians was that He was “the God through [Whom all things are made”—a genuine, man, not merely man good enough to be like God, but God of God.' He became man, bom ih poverty to die in despair, but He - counted: it worth whfle,to use everyday language, He was handed to the police, ' flogged and hanged.' Thus., a tremendous tragedy was enacted.' “What an exciting thing Christianity is! Such a tragedy is not so dull. It is -too dynamic. Christ is a danger to sin and self. Tender, yes- But He insulted some of the clergy who-were hypocrites. -He called the King, “That fox’ and He went to parties ‘not in the best He threw tradesmen out of the Temple. '■ He showed no deference to wealth or position. He had a daily beauty in His life that makes us ugly. So they did away with Him, -'and the third day He rose again. We could pdf* slay Him but we can ignore Him./ We live in a world indifferent to God end one which, cruelfles man. Think of China, of Spain, of our own unemployed. All men can be saved by coming to the knowledge of the Truth.” ■ The Bishop of Gippsland analysed the attributes and faults of the satisfied Pharisee and the dissatisfied Publican as they appeared, side by side, in modern life. He took for his text, St. Luke xviii, 10: “Two men went into the Temple.” Eight subsequent services will be conducted, the final Eucharist being on September 12. For the two Sunday evening services St. Luke’s, Manchester street, will be used in addition to the Cathedral.