RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 22 August 1908, Page 12

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

RELICION OF THE SENSIBLE AMERICAN. EXPLAINED BY DR. STARR JORDAN. ■ Professor David Starr Jordan, of' California, whose opinions, on education aroused much discussion during and after his recent visit to New Zealand, contributes to tho July number of tho "Hibbert Journal" an article in which ho ventures to reconstruct the religion of a "sensible American," a religion which, ho says, "however incomplete, is not far- from the ideal towards which tho average sensible American of today is clearly tending." Ho takes as his text some fragmentary notes of a departed iriend, "whose religion was justified in a rare power of swaying tho lives of American men and women towards high thoughts and sturdy righteousness." What does the "sensible American" behovein? First of all, that ."this is God's world, none other more so." The positivo phase of this religion is tho feeling of being at home m God's universe, that wo aro links m an eternal chain, and that tile littlo part assigned to us is the conquest of Horo and how. "When men search with so much heartache for faith in order that they may believe, they think they are groping in the darkness to find God. They think if they can only find Him they will get faith from Him. It is not faith in God that they need, but faith.in themselves. God will do His part." This God is not anthromorphic; it is "only in mythology and poetry that God appears as angry, jealous, benevolent, a judge, a tyrant, a king, a huge hoarybearded giant." Tho real God is immanent, the great First; Cause, and the Last Cause of things as they are. And the "sensible American' believes that the words of "Jesus the Jew" aro words of truth as tested by any analysis ho can give them. They aro not true becauso Jesus said them; Ho said tnom because they were true. • As to the divinity of. Christ, that is not tho most vital question; it is enough to have the \\ ord and tho' spirit; the word is divine because it is true, and ono name of Divinity is Perfect Truth. . Creeds are "mostly harmless, and they will not injure us if wo do riot read them." About the results of the Higher Criticism, tho average "sensible American" is not alarmed. He is not concerned becauso wine is not turned into water in our day, not'oven by tho faith that moves mountains. He can understand that tho parables and fancies of Hebrew poets, like thoso of English poets, ■ interpret spiritual rather than literal or historical fact. 'Therefore, lio is not distressed over the narrowness of the whale's gullet, or the adjustment of tho days of creation, nor 'of the fact that the prayers of good men will n . o ' wring rain from a steel-blue Australian sky. Furthermore, he holds that tho-re-ligion of Jesus has no necessary connection with Chtirch or State, except as Church or State , may be permeated with its spirit. "Calvinism and Arminianism," wrote the departed friend, "are trifling matters compared with the fact that God is and that we may call Him our Father. TJnitarianisin and Trinitarianism aro more word-quibbles compared, with the fact that the spirit of Jesus is in the world saving it." Never in the history of tho world was the religion of Jesus more alive or more potent. "Every movement of civilisation," says the Professor, "from the study of lilies, the care of little children, tho healing of the sick, and tho casting out of devils from Church and State, has been along lines laid down by Him (Jesus), by tho devotion of men for those things for which Ho cared." Tho idea' of eternal life as well as that of life unblemished is in the teachings of Jesus; it is everywhere taken for graiitod. • Those who lay. stress on creed or dogma, oil tho literal interpretation of Scripture, and on fino theological points and distinctions, will probably sdy that tho kind of religion here described lacks definiteness; but the! Christly spirit running through the article will be admitted. Professor Jordan warns the . reader that this is not a personal confession; but his sympathy with this "religion of faith and-ilove-and action"-is evident.

CHURCH UNION. ATTITUDE OF PRESBYTERIANS. _ A Presbyterian member of the joint Anglican aud Presbyterian Conference which sat in Melboumo some months back to-discuss the question of union between the two Churches, the outcome of its deliberations having been put before the recent Lambeth Conferenco by the Archbishop of Melbourne, givcß to an "Argus" reporter the following interpretation of the proposals shadowed forth in tho Encyclical letter of the Archbishop of Canterbury," as so far summarised by cable, on this question"The cable message of August 10 indicates the lines on which an 'approach 1 may be made to ultimate union between the Anglican aud Presbyterian Churches, ■ and other non-episcopal churches pure in doctrine and careful as to ordination. First, tho consecration of leading ministers of non-episcopal Churches, such as moderators' or presidents, to tho episc9pate by Anglican bishops would be authorised. Those newly - consecrated • bishops would take part' in all the subsequent ordinations to the piinistry lin the particular Churches they would represent, so as to secure episcopal ordination for all ministers in these Churches in the course of time. . Until then, there could be no union, "or only partial union. In tho second place, certain provisionajl 'arrangements' are proposed to bo .authorised, which 'would respect the convictions' of those who had not received episcopal ordination, and, of course, who would refuse to accept it. _ The acceptability or ; otherwise of tho findings of the Lambeth' Conference will depend a good deal. upon these 'arrangements,' and the standing tliey would allow to the ministers who have not been episcopally ordained. 'The decision of the Conferenco seems to regard full union as possible only by a gradual process, and after the lapse of many years." It is suroly a sign of the times to find the "Church Times" devoting its leading articlo to " Presbyterianism." The paper discusses tho possibility of' reunion between tho Established Church of Scotland and tho Church of England. It admits: If,the Church be defined, and we think it is correctly defined, as the whola company of the baptised, then the Presbyterians of Scotland are in a true ,sense the Church of Scotland. The "Church Times" 'detects in the Scotch Kirk a "willingness to acccpt a reasonable episcopal government," and argues that Scottish Presbyterianism is hierarchical in principle. Presbyterial ordiuation involves jiresbyterial succession, and.."hypothotically" that gives a "valid" ordination. Since, however, this validity of Presbyterian orders is only hypothetical and not quite certain, tho "Church Times" thinks it would not be unreasonable to ask Presbyterian ministers to be episcopally re-ordained for the soke of unity, aud "emphatically protests", against Presbyterian ministers being, without such roordination, permitted to minister in communion with the Church of England. It almost looks as if this pronouncement were intended as an indirect warning to the Australians. In any scheme for union between the English and Scottisli Established Churches, says the "Church Times," the "faithful remnant"—the Anglicans in Scotland—must not be thrown over; One curioA consequenco of admitting that the Presbyterians are "in a true sense tho Church of Scotland," is that these Scottish Anglicans are thereby pronounced "schismatics."

ANGLICAN CHURCH PACEANT. AN' ATTRACTIVE' PROGRAMME. "For somo tune past," says the "Guardian," "a Committee of the highest authorities on ecclesiastical history, art, and literature! 1 has been engaged m devising an English Church Pageant which shaJl depict in dramatic form the most interesting incidents in tho story of the Church of England, and the programme which has been tentatively settled promises a Pageant of great attractiveness to Churchmen. So far the episodes chosen cover a 1 wido field, and all have a special educational bearing, ranging from tho founding of a British Church -at Silckester to tho acquittal of the seven. Bishops, while suggestions are invited for an eighteenthcentury episode and for an episode and finalo illustrating the expansion of the Church during; tho nineteenth. century. "It has been decided to hold the Pageant

at Brighton on July of next year, though the point must be specially noted that it is not a local effort. Tito' Pageant will be under the direction of Sir. Frank Lascolles, who is now in Canada arranging the Quebec Tercentenary Pageantj and is also responsible for the' great London Pageant of 1909. Both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York have become patrons, and authoritative committees for music, art, archeology history and costume aro being formed. The number of • performors will be 2000, and it is expected that most of the religious parts will be taken by prominent clergymen in the Soutb of .England."

CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL. PRIESTLY PRETENSIONS. " On tho resumption on July 3 of the meetings of tho International Congregational Council in the United Free Church Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, the President (Sir Albert Spicer, M.P.) was in the chair. A constitution for future Councils was approved. Tho membership of four hundred was allotted as follow: —United States, 150; British Isles, 150; Canada and Newfoundland, 20; Australasian Union, 32; Soutli Africa, 10; rest of the world, 38. Dr. Samuel 6. Smith (St. Paul, Minnesota) addressed the Council on "The Church and tho Kingdom." In tho course of his argument ho askod if they could depend on tho newspaper to furnish reverence, righteousness, and love. Newspapers were great leaders of publio thought, but a great newspaper was edited from the business office—it was a commercial institution. It represented the fleeting passion and ovent of yesterday. He supposed Mr. Bernard Shaw would agree, that. tho theatre, perhaps, might comfortably displace a great many churches, but the theatre was essentially an amusement. It was not essentially even a teacher. Tho most serious rival was the school.

Dr. Oliver Huckel (Baltimore) spoke on "Tho Catholic and Evangelical Ideas of ths Church." Christianity, ho said, was greater than Protestantism at its best, and still greater than any Catholicism they had ever seen. ' The Westminister Chapel of the Congregationalists, the Westminister, Abbey of tho Anglicans, and the Westminister Cathedral of the Romanists must realise that they were not exclusive institutions, but fellow-congregations of one great brotherhood. Dr. Frank S. Fitch (Buffalo) dealt with tho training of tho ministry, and Dr. Frank H. Foster (Michigan) ■ read an • address on "The Doctrine' of tho 'Sacraments." ' Dr. J. Vernon Bartlet (Oxford) read a paper in which ho supported the statement that the Congregational ministry was apostolic. ■ . Dr. Scott (Chicago) remarked that Jesus x Christ was not a clergyman, but a layman ; x He did not come from the tribe of Levi, hut from the -tribe of Judah. If He entered Westminster Abbey now they would, not allow Him to officiate because He was only a layman and did not belong to the priestly tribe. - Thoir greatest fight would be with ecclesiasticism, with the ministry, with the hocus-pocus of tho hierarchy, and the thousand things that swelled up the little man with the whito necktie and made him feel that he stood with tho Lord God Almighty. (Applause.) 1 JOTTINGS. The Salvation Army were well pleased with their week's work in Auckland during Fleet's visit. All tho corps, including those of Auckland, Devonport, Newton, and Parnell, had special stands allowed them, and ovory evening open air meetings were held. "Wo received nothing but tho greatest courtesy from all -concerned," states LieutenantColonel Knight. "One of tho most pleasurable events of the week, was an interview granted me by Commissioner Grant, Chief of the Staff, who spoke very favourably of tho Army's work, and arranged a visit for myself and-the Auckland Army Band to the battleship Minnesota. Some thirty of us went out to her in the evening,'and held a meeting among 400 of the bluejackets. Both officers and - men seemed to appreciate it very much." Two Salvationist soldiers belonging to; H.M.S/Encounter were privilegedto go on- board the American warship with Colonel Knight aud party, and speak lor the. cause of Christanity. . In view of recent discussions' in Wellington it is interesting to know that'tho doctrine of -tho Atonement is to be'dealt with at the Anglican Church Congress which, is to be held at Manchester in October. The speakers include the Bishop of Derry, the. Dean of Westminster, Canon Bigg, Professor Inge, and Principal Tait. Tho Presbyterian attendance at Khandallah has rendered an enlargement •of the church necessary, and a committee has been appointed to carry this out. The district is rapidly expanding, and gives every prospect of becoming a strong Presbyterian centre.

Tho Papal Biblical Commission has reported in favour of. the unity of the Book of Isaiah. According, to tho Rome correspondent of "The Times," the finding of the Commission is to the effect that tho Book [was written by.lsaiah alone, and was not tho work of two or more authors; that his prophecies and those of other prophets were genuino predictions of events which wera to happen, and were made before those events did happen; and that the second part of tlio ; Book, chapters 40 to 66, in which the prophet addresses the Jews living in exile in Babylon, was also written by Isaiah himself.

Tho Pope has appointed Cardinal .Vincent Vaiinutclli to bo the Papal Legate at the Nineteenth International Eucbaristic Congress, which will be held in Loudon, in September next. Four years ago his Eminence visited England on his return from Armagh, w'here ho had acted as the Pope's representative at . tho opening of the now Cathedral. Cardinal Vincent Vannutelli must .bo ' distinguished from his elder brother; Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli. Born in 1836, tho former, after a course at tho Caprahacan College and the Gregorian and Roman TJniversitiea in tho Eternal City, was ordained priest in 1860. He was for some years Professor of Theology in the Vatican Seminary, after which he served in the Papal Nunciature both in Holland and Belgium. From 1867. to IS9O he became in succession Assistant-Secretary, of State and Apostolic Delegate to -Constantinople, when he was consecrated Titular. Archbishop of Sardi, Apostolic Delegate to Moscow; and Nuncio at Lisbon. In 1890. upon his return to Rome, he was proclaimed Cardinal Priest—ho had been named in petto the previous year—and ten years later ho was made Cardinal Bishop of Palestrina. His connection with the Sacked Congregation of Propaganda, of which ho has been Procurator, has frequently brought him into touch with English ecclesiastical affairs. The appointment of tho Papal Legato brings tho number of Cardinals who will bo present at tho.Congress up to six. Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, was born in 1834, and was proclaimed Cardinal Priest in 18S6. The corresponding dates for the other Cardinals are: Cardinal Logue, Archbishop of Armagh, 1840 and 1893; Cardinal Lecot, Archbishop of ISordeaux, 1831 and 1893; Cardinal Fischer. Archbishop _ of Cologne, 1840 and 1903; Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Mechlin, 1851 and 1907. . At the final session of the Primitivo Methodist Conferenco in .London, the statistical returns of church niembers> etc., were submitted by the Rev. John Welford, as follow Members of society, 212,204; ministers, 1,156; local preachers, 16,189; class leaders, 11,165; Sabbath schools, 4156; •teachers, 59,568; scholars, 465,726; scholars and members of church, 80,636. The membership of tho Society showed an increase of 331. Resolutions on the education and other public questions were submitted aud adopted, and after votes of thanks to tho Conferenco officers, the local arrangements committee, the Press, etc., the session closed with tho Doxology, and prayer by th<y President.

At a mooting of the National Federation of Free Churches held at Bridgend the R«v. Thomas Law, of London (secretary), referred with _ regret to' the attitudo of tho Welsh Baptists in publishing a resolution a few days beforo urging their Free Church workers to withdraw from tho Free Church Council owing :to tho United Communion services question. That action, proceeded the speaker, was ungenerous,- uncharitable, and lacking in confidence;, and lie did not beliovo. that the feeling which prompted it was generally entertained amongst the Baptists of Wales. Their Welsh friends, ho thought, miglit lmvo trusted them n littlo longer. Tho . sentiments expressed by Jlr. Law were shared by tho majority or tho representatives present at the gathering