RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 443, 27 February 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

WHAT SECULARISM: MAY/COME TO. J

SERMON:BY:DR. GIBB. ■ ■ Preaching at..St, ■ John's /last Sunday even-, •ing on tho subject,', >*Vhat : Sccularism May, . Come To," Dr. Gibb said the question whether the world ./gets better or .worse as' it ' grows, older was often discussed, and optimists and pessimists took opposite, sidesupon it.- The optimists were divided into" two. camps—those who' believed that evil was being driven "from.the field. by the forces that make for righteousness in the name of Christ;, and .those; ; who..attributed the advance, of-human society, solely to : the.forces of evolution. The ...pessimists"■;:, were ","also divided into. two.-. camps—those" desti-; tute, of faith, in, God, -regarded this ,as.;the worst of,all possible-worlds; and,:those who! believing.in God with all.their/hearts,nevertheless regarded thei world as, on the down grade and certain. to continue so till the second coming of. the :■ Son-of- Man..'.-VThe Church's business/ according to this' school, was not to-save;the world,, but;to.save men arid women; out of'.tho.'wqrld. ;,Their;:watch■word'was /v.;,,;/.,:.;^_■■:/;,.■■. 'This, ■ ,' as ; was : .-, , w01f,,;. ■ known, '/" -was the.' "attitude ,- 0f.'..-'lithe. : ' - body'/of Chris-' tians known as Plymouth •■Brethren,:, but'it. washy no means confined/to/them. ./A great', divine,of the .Church''of'.'England, 1, the late; Dr: M'Gee, Archbishop of' York; had-inrmore than- one book.'taught'; it :with-.reinarkable power; It was a. view- which -found • -,favbur ■ ' apparently, in at -least ; a "section'--of :■■ the Itoman Catholic - Church;'; for. .th'rbugh,' the imaginative mediuin : :'of; "a: novel a Roman divine, Father Bensbn,::had. recently'been/'inculcating Ithe' same'idea'in,a;, series;, of very. impressive, ;if: somewhat;,sensational,. '■. pic-. turesof tho probable future; of'human, .society .during the hbx'tlhuhdred.years.-'-/'Secu; larism .which -believes': inl ho' God/ future life, and' Ends all its inspirationlihtlie region of things- seen andr/temporal,-.was destined, according -to .this writer',., to'.' sweep, over- the. whole l , world.' arid •practically,'wipe out all the Churches .of Jesus.Christ.; :Prp.testantism, would go ; first,- but the impressive feature of. the hook.wasthat the author pre-;- ■ dieted ■ that.Catholicism-/would'.also/go .down", before the onset of-a humanitarianism which to -establish ..the .brotherhood of .man, on. the basis, not of the Fatherhood of God, but of'purely human relationships.- For I the worship of the great/Father/GbdViri/heayeri,; they; would substitute/the .worship,; of/.the great/Father Man. .One,,of,the,most interesting ; and impressive features_ of book. was thb;emergence"-of a'' mysterious personal-; ity who would:incarnate afl that/was human/: as« Jesus Christ was.supposed, to,hayoinbai:-" nated all that;.was. divine..,; This person—' Felsbnburgh_was.tie.name;Benson.'.hap! given evidently inferided to represent the: man. of, ,sin of -whom; St.: Paul \ speaks in his flottcr. to .liiari'.-. who opppseth and exalteth himself- //against:rail that is called God, or.that ; is worshipped.so that ho sitfeth in thel temple of God, setting, himself .forth as God."':' Iln'der/the guidance of this person ; persecutiori of the,Chur'ch was: decreed. ; ,/Christians',, with :their"faith'/in 'a' divine Lord/ and .their hopes in : eternity,- had' to be suppressed;.-in the ■ vbry.. interests 'of human solidarity and:brothernbbd; 'Accord-: ing. to-the-story j 'they'.were/oyerwhelmed/iri; a-deluge of. blood,; and their; entire /suppression /was' only, preyented'byl the second,'advent/of _our. Lord.!//:: ; : ;■': . ! The picture, Dr. Gibb said/lwas deeply/impressive,- but/fbr/hiiriself:. ho : 'did -not. think the ; denouement would: come 'exactly in this fashion. .He considered, that the New Testament: was neither optimistic' nor! pessimistic' The- New; Testament 'taught, /that' the.; world did not get bettor, only, nor worse only, but ■both.._.: The' progress \oi the-world'.would .be/ not simply a ,progress,-'lin/'good, 1 ;-evil/being, gradually driven from/the,field; nor aas it a progress-in evilb'efbre which gbod.contiiivially disappeared. It was, a' prbgress'inwhich good and evil'alike came to maturity; ;The progress.was'.not;in good/itself,;nor in evil itself,, but in the/antagonism" of l one to the other.", -;v'""'';•.■ ';■;.;■'■:';" .:■'■;;:■' -.■ ■-■■ ■With all this saying,: hbwever| it' had sorrowfully: to bo admitted;-that at the present the outlook -jvas dark in so-called Christian lands.,;lf it. were not/for thb'triumphsiof. the' Cross '...among:.'the heathen,'.-one.v-. might, be ■tempted to think that'Arohbishop M'Gee and Father Benson were, fight; in their< conjectures, as to; the/future..;,. But, if V the" Gospel were contemned.and the Church were to go down in .Christian lands,' God/would; find other riations,; to/caffy/bn.:His : work..' But 'however',that: might be,' there' was Inb ques-; ; tion as .to the prevalence/of -..secularism today. ' Secularism: was;the:deification .of: man.- ; For the present its spirit; was. humane.' ! How. ■long' would tha't.last?; It .was to/run tho risk of severe' censure, to/say that there was .an,.appalling:amouii't':;of';'paganism :, in New'.: •Zoaland,',yet-he.made'bold/t-p; say, it; i From,i a . humanitarian / standpoint, i even the'; most' irreligious of their ■"follow-citiz9ns.',:were'ld--| vanced far ..beyond the pagans of/ antiquity,,; who did.not".understand h"umanrtarianism : at all. '.But '.in, respect to , the; atrophy of /the spiritual.faculty;.the,decadence:of any sense: ; pf .wonder, at the.mysteiy of God and theum verse,.'. multitudes were at 4116', pagan level; :or..beneath/ it'.' I They/were/blind,;dull,'.'spt-' tish in regard; to. all that', it '■ most' concerned : ,man,to' know. /And how-long- .'would- 'the' humanitarian,- spirit;; continue: to., exist apart', from: faithin GodP/iiHe-'had'said'hoidid hot' think the event:would be as Benson : had.de-'■ picted. it,_ and yet who)co.uld tell./v'Think.ofthe passions: that -lie in, the .human-: breast': arid./the fearful; height r to "which pas-, sions-might/rise' and measure'.the /dastardly' ■folly of those who/would :fbb'thb world l of faith.in.God, in'the light.of possibilities that lie before: a. Godless: society,,, ..Secularism - he. arraigned,/not merely because.'it .was. a ; deifi-'' cation of human pride, .and .rebellion gross l and unblushing '/against'God,'.'.but l ,/also be-'-cause.-'in/the long;run;it must/prove an: enemy/of the very humanitariariisnr of which" ,it, now. ./boasted/itself. "-It was Christ that' first, taught, the. world to' be humane. -'Get' rid of .Christ and you will find,that you.have got nd of your!humanitarianism-too. /

RELICION AND; POLITICS,

', ■:. ..■ '. A: HOT.DISCUSSION.^^;;^;^r : ; 'Should'politics" iiite'the pul-' pit ? The religious world is split on' this question,- and' the'division' is- arousing' s'onio: hot: feeling.: in England a correspondence on thV subject was. recently- started,in the ■"Metho-' dist which: se'veral'-Wesleya'ns-protested against : the Rev. J.; Scott Lidgett'si letter .to Lord Lans'dowhe; telling .him' that' the- Wesleyan Church would-not forget oriorgiv6;the Hous'e'of Lords' rejection of the> Lie-e-nsiug.Bill., The,:Loridon ; :"Daily Telegraph", then soundly, rated,: Noncohfonnist- ministers: for using their pulpitsior.political purposes,-' and told them frankly;that the attendance at: the Free Churches was .shrinking; because' of. the claim by the ministers that'■''anyona .who is unalterably opposed j tp- thel'characfceristie proposals of the;Radical..Governments' must ; be either wicked oi\ stupid." ;The usual deluge, of.letters ''to. the Editor'.!, -followed.- : ., The writers were'ehiefly laymen; and interesting to say the majority, was agamst: pulpit politics on grounds that have been frequently urged. Ministers should preach the' Gospel, and urge the; conversion of. sinners. .But the "Christian 'World" dehied ; that the Free Churches; had lost ground through theirministers 'taking an interest? in • the. promotion * of ;'such measures:of social and moral reform as the Licensing Bill.- "The complaint of absentees from the churches," said that paper, "especially the working men, is that the.pulpits are not political enough, in tho. sense that.theydo not'. apply with .sufficient.': frequency-and fearlessness the spirit and the teaching of the Bible and of Jesus to the remedy.of the social evils that deteriorate the people, physically, blunt them: mentally, and unfit them to'receive the spiritual; ministrations of the. Churches. Where one is offended by the preacher's occasional': reference ..to, a .social question that is before Parliament;, five hundred - are offended by< the absence: of an effective social Gospel. Wo hold, as strongly as the "Daily Telegraph" and its corresponaents, that churchgoers do not want politics oh Sunday, but religion,-yet surely religion includes social purity, social-justice, ■ and national righteousness, and. the pulpit certainly; will not be strengthened in the estimatiori of the people hy> being rigorously Bowdlerised of everything' that any. .thin-skinned- political partisan, who is for his party at all costs, may choose to construe as the 'party poli r tics' of the other' side.,. What' do;the correspondents: make of the OW.Testament pro*

phots, the/ men who fulminated fearlesslj against the,social wrongs of. their land-grabbing, the> usury,. the/drunkenness, the corruption.of: king and:nobles., the me» who 'sold:thO:pood'for a pair.of.snobs?''.'';..

CHURCHES CO-OPERATE,

:- 7 EXAMPLE.'/ ; ■!', : ■X In Hampstead and Free Churches: have, gqt.-far beyond ,the stage-of ; mere' 1 mutual tolerance. .They."do,not evenl limit/their co-operation' to social-work,'<but' tmite''for aefini^y.vMgio'usv'efforfr.>--;:aHfb\-"'strjking;--il-. : lustrations/ of;'this' are supplied by recent events.;: In the.now Hahipstead Garden Suburb the local/Free Church Council and ithe Anglican; Church, have' been ' cooperatingVfor some; time, .in/hPlding' Sunday ; serpces, alternately .Church of EnglandandNon-' ..conformist.: Atthe introduction'of. the Anglican clergyman; by/thb Bishop' bf-Islington/ i»r. .JNewton' Marshall, present- in/his . official .capacity,, as /president of :.tho; council, to extend a.welcome to him;'' Then the clergy and ministers have Mowed the advice of,the/ Lambeth, Conference, and sought/to reach a better, mutual understandirig.%.;meetihg:f6r: friendly discussion:'; As. a'result,- thby.'have •nnitod.lll arranging. a -series of public:ineetings, in.the Town ;Hall : for- the .enunciation of. 'thovcentraKdobtrm'es-o'fvthe lho ;first;'of-these'; meetings /will/ be held Jon February.; 18;. when-; Mr.' Herbert" Marriham/ will/preside/" and? Mr: :^ I,am ,Temple, asohof 'the late : Archbishop, Will speak-ori/ "The-Pbrs'onality of Godi'V >At: the second, oh, March 23,-Sir Samtiel/Hoare the'chair,'and Rev:; Arnold Thbinasj.of .Bristol/and an of thb Cbh'grei ~ 'ma' Power of -Prayer;". '-■■'- '■•' < '-- '■■■ ■ :■-■■<■ **s. •■■■-■■

DR. HORfON ON '• FEARi?

;to^city^me|;'; ? Bishopsgate.Chapel/, Dr.■ Horton,' Confcreea-? .tional,.'.mmistor,v.deliverea^' ; New'V l: year'e' message to. City faeri;/;,, ///./I;:': W -:;. -;»-' .■;■.-. r•; • -. ;one.of;^e^tt6s-.of,the;ag 6 ;fe.reguktova e ;emptioii;of^fear;; ; ;Men'were: ra ,:danger ! .of-fprg€tting ; ;tha.t' fear; filled'a i ar 2 6 P. 1 * 09 :: Itt 'human ■ life.':'There-was:the : fear of ; isease y poverty, and death.: On'each or these;..,the .preventive.'-powerKof ■ Christ 1 came, into;exerciseraudif/they/were vented. they-wore ;^ertairJy ; ; ~ J/bo fear-of.poverty was a haunting misery I ty.men i :a D d did'a greaiHdeal to insanity; /But evw that ®$f> s £°, T . '£* $$£%£& it was better to : be good ifenytojave'gold.,:.So inspect to,the:fear,of .death.;'.that fear" was-changbd minißtry %£^- atmosphere;, of;immqrta ity, .and both/ '«&* S# th: f as: ° nly ,; the *rbjectioh: o f:bnr, being into a larger:sphere;?. ' '/-'-: "- ■ ib ft.bu E ht:to be/cultivated; He would-not/.trust: a man/who' •of shame.-, Every/ ma' n ought 'tofea™sS : o^dful^fcibSen^:

'■ Th ® foundatioris; are being laid'"of i" fiha new.build,ng : for,th e .San Francisco y!m C A destroyed: Ihww' ; ™i l a 6 toel'*ame,: firo-prbbf strncture. and-;- will;, contain ■■■: 140 v.-gliS' kbby ; /wai ;l,e/ a 'Sr?S' seating 1000 p£se, >^l:.o P en,: ) ,A;dax.school.fof,/boys,;wi&4^ public-, reception :.to,Mr; Gj' W. -W : ; B : } the, will S.:/Percy./- RS Sargood, /nextSaturday/.aftbri

hltJ^ 7^ sso ? nUon sas5 as now 13 °3 members on tho roll who are financial, and £950 %i P ™'?. membership fees; Urn Wellington Association is organkine a kmematograph and gymnastic demonstration, ajsrairwr * so in th * Air. John R. Mott's New Year' message of that leader's utterances. Tho message which, comes to the Young MenVtMstian Associations at this time is a summons to as unprecedented advance on behalf of the,-, Toung men and boys at Home and abroad. ' I here never has been a time wheH they were more accessible and mora responsible to the Christian appeal. There never has been a time when their intense and loyal allegiance was more required to advance the interests of the Kingdom of Christ than.' just now There is practically no limit which! can replaced upon the achievements of the associations if their leaders will dovote themselves with thorough thinking, with selfdenymg'heroism, and'with believng prayer ta l ? ™l\t °. f a , wise and 'aggressive leadership of their forces. This is the last tin* m ' t i h . e . "'story of Christianity for.us.to havt .contracted -plans,'; lack = of •concerted.''effort '•• and attempts ; to lead forward a superhuman: undertaking. in.;mercly human-wisdom 'and'-'-: , ener g^;;My.igreatestlonging >f or this move*:': countries-duringV,the -coming . iyearisvthat -its' leaders, and members may ■ forget themselves—which ,is-:h6t easy to do— ' and; become .-absorbed.,in tho'-.greatvcause,-'' e J en that, of;■ aidkirig' Jesus': Christ' -known, - obeyed, and lovied: among: all classes of younfl men throughout-tie world.'" '■ ' ■ -.-'■ ;.:■<-', >■ ; :r

JOTTINCS.

lingtoa'branches 'of, the St.'.-Vihcent d'e:Paul Sooietyi;;: in : 'St,/; Joseph's i'lGhurchi V' : Buckle.' .Street,.is :being;attended.;by, about .200.vmen. : This -.is ' a .'very large- number' for .a. first retreat of. the ..kind; '.and,' indeed,-'»it -means that.:practically^'. :the':A : these ;; branches :-is; : : attendirigh'^lie : : men' 'go': tb'-.seivice v at 6-a.m'.,':those' wKose'eniploy:ment :begiia. early,'.leaviJig;;:at..6.3o,'':and.'the others; .waiting ■, fjor"';the; Mass whichi.'. follows, over by; : .all attend : .fr0m:. ; :7.30 ,tm;:B.4s.'.'Two'; : :"in-: structiohs" .are", given,' one-in:. the. morning,; and one in the evening. ...The retreat "con-: eludes .and '.■ to-morrow evening, tho; Rey.>;Father\o'Cdnnell,.- : who.'.is; conducting it,.:wiir..'pre.a.ch:-a.- i charitylserm6n -at. St.: Joseph's in ; aid 'of-'the. work'i.of ;tha St;~,ym : ;daily;,..atto'ndahce::at:;:th'e':retreat,i."conlistiug, :in of men: from .'distant iub- : surbs, appears to; indicate -that: the Roman. iCatholic/Ohufch has.small share in the'complaint of /mapy. >, other': denominations;': 'that men .do'.not readily:;. .attend;,Vthe-': services.-, There are' places' of; worship in Wellington, outside:, of. the' -Roman"; Catholic-,' Church,. •is .usually' : a , in-other, ap-: < patently., flourishingchurches "the, prbportioa of., women is -at -least- five., te .'one.;'.-- In '-'.'some of ;th'e RonianiCath'olic-churches -whole'-aislea 1 are: ...habitually,':,occupied'- almost 1 ' exclusively, by men, and-the: Very llfev.-Father'O'Sbea;! S.Mi, ; ; y.G., : '. states: that he-has .known' -600 men ' attend; a' yniission'' service - fftr.'-jtheir in'St.j Joseph's vChiirehV""'•■;--,' ;':'•'"?.''■:;-":,'''

"■Twelve: hundred .AnglicanV clergymen-."at-the. Islington (London) .clerical meeting last month;-,; They, were all evangelicals.'. : The papers read' wore oh ordinary..: topics, An-'; eluding.the use .of 'Holy- '• Scripture,-: duties of the laity, worship and doctrine,. Anglican re-lation-te bther.'Churches,-. missions ;to'"nohChristian'lands, -etc. v :;V;Th'e -'('Record":-says the'-meting : ; was;-ono.'bf the happiest- and 'most useful. of. law :yearsj ..;ahd ttat'tho papers: wore excellent;. It is. interesting to turn te>the Nonconformist view ofthe.meeting., The World!" : pointa out that at last:year's gathering "there-was an outburst of social; reform 'enthusiasm and utterances'j.thatliwerV strongly Socialistic, and the' trend of thought' and feeling was in ■■ the direction; of Church evangelicalism getting ' itself out ofits deep rut and, reviving its power by .playing; itsYpart in the preaching'of the social application.:of the Gospel/. -Not much has been heard.'since/.of any; attempts to realise the ideals.of the Clerical Conference, and there is reason, to fear thai', the-ideals were held- not by men' representative of-the evangelical clergy as a : whole, but by speakers who had been selected-' because 'thpy held them." But this year very little was heard of .Social Gospel, and there appeared to be ho great, demand, for it.- > Dr. Cosmo "Gordon, Lang, Afchbishop-elect of York, bad been invited to speak on the work of "tho, laity'in the Church; of England:.' This, raised an but-; cry.in'some-quarters, ;on;: the:;groundKthat, Dr. Lang:is not,an evangelical, and that;tha: platform should he kept sacred to evangelicals. ... It happened that; Dr; Lang'"bad ,on- : gagements in the north, -and ; a layman; took : his :'"<''.',--;V:; ; r^\A>.^. : :9s. : c-