RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

IN THE GARDEN. "Into the woods my Master went, Clean forspent, forspent, Into the woods my Master, came,' Forspent with love, and shame. But the olives they we're not .blind'to. Him, The little grey leaves >cre kind to Him; The thorn-tree had a mind to Him, When into tho woods Ho came. "Out of tho woods .my Master, went, , ; And He was well content,' • Out of the woods my,. Master came,' Content with death and shame. When Death and Shame would woo Him last, : Irom under tho trees they drew Hinl last;' 'Twas on a treo they slew Hiin—last. When out of the woods He'came." ' '."!'.— Sidney Laurior. A CENTENNIAL. CHURCH OF.CiIRIST, This being tho centennial'year of Hie great religious movement of. .'.tie .'Nineteenth Century known throughout' the world as. "the Church of Christ," with " a membership of 1,500,000 immersed, believers "in"Christ, ar-, rnngemonts have boon made • -for- the suitable celebration of the'event. In Sydney thi3 Easter about 400 delegates from various parts of Australasia will-assemble 1 in a convention lasting about ton days, am! in-Octo-ber next a World's Centennial' Convention will bo hold in Pittsburg, U.S.A., at which about 50,000 delegates will ..bo. present. ' In connection with'.this celebration, Mr. Jos. J. Franklyn delivered two special addresses at tho Christian Chapel last Sunday. In the evening his subject was "Tho Moaning and Message of our..'Centennial," and his text Joshua iv. G,''.'What mean vo. by these stones?" After making referenco. to the gent-mi desire on. thb. part 'of the' Churches of Christ to mark fittingly, the first century in their religious life-' as- a movement—not a monument— undoubtedly raised up of God to plead for the restoration of New Testament Christianity, the preacher observed that first of all tlio contonnial meant a people's thankful recognition or God's guidance and blessing through the very eventful years of the past. This, was not intended as a glorification of party religion. There was no thought■ of what might be styled "denominational pride." This movement was but the last moiety of the sum total cf reformation so nobly begun by the illustrious pioneers in the Fifteenth Century. Around the- names of Huss, ,!"' L ," ther > Knox, ■.'Hamilton, Wesley, and Campbell there lingered'the fragrance of heroism in the cause of truth as revealed m the pages of Holy Writ, Tho present generation had entered into a noble heritage. With the Psalmist they .said, :."No't unto us, O Lord, not unto us, 'but unto Thy name giro we glory." '*'' Tho Beckoning Hand to. Union. Secondly, this centennial : meant that tho lordship and leadership of Jesus ■Christ was sufficient to guide and control by His divine law the universal Church/. For.b'no'hundred years thousands of Churches of Christ had been, banded together under the: headship of Christ in loyal worship arid service,- and today had fewer illustrations of division than most religious bodies, 'thUs.\p'roving."to" the world, tho speaker maintained, that tho appointment of "heads"" was not only un■Eoriptural but an unwarranted assumption. Christ had never been dethroned, and as Messiah was the only head of His body—the Church. Again, the centennial stood for liberty and simplicity in Christ, "freedom from creedal bonds" was one of the rallying cries of tins restoration movement, ' which crystallised into Thomas" Campbell's famous aphorism, "Where tho Scriptures speak, wo speak, and where the Scriptures are ..silent wo are silent." The Word of God must be i tho final word relating to- tho Christianity taught by Christ and His .apostles:" Tlio centennial was the beckoning.hand,.'towards Christian union. If a people professedly Christian had maintained tlio worship anil service of God as taught in tho New Testament for one hundred years' without any party name or usage to differentiate them J ■from the other, followers of. tho-.one Christ of God, was it- not- fair to assume that by tho abolition of all human fences the dream of Christian union could bo realised in a remarkably short space of time. ™ T ' lo , messa e<> of this , centennial to the Church of Christ was that they should live "P to -tho-high standard required bv the Word of God, and emulate tho noble'spirit possessed by tho long lino of notable servants of God. As they had-a magnificent and dearly-bought inheritance, might they be worthy • sons of worthy fathers, and by greater loyalty and sacrifice engage in a more aggressive crusado against all forms of error and in defence of tho "faith onco for all delivered to tho believers." Tho world was ,sick unto death of the husks of dogmatic theology, and awaited the simplo message of health,-'beatitude, and eternal life that was the undying glory of the Christ system. God had entrusted them with the solo panacea for the ills of political, social, industrial, and religious life. It was more potent than Dreadnoughts, and less costly. It was more' dignified than law courts, ;t was more efficient than the Arbitration Act, and wiser than the creeds of Christendom. In a word, it was applied Christianity. This meant "following His steps. ■ ■ ■ Common Kinship of Churches. Tho message of the Christian world was that as ail reformers had. been ; .woefully misunderstood and strenuously 'opposed by other religionists, this Nineteenth Century' awakening was no exception to the rule, flio hard names have broken no bones, however, and after tho smoko of battle had disappeared they were, able to see that there was a common kinship amongst all who wore Christ's name. They admired the good ' wherever seen, and were free to adopt all of truth, and wished to co-operate in all attempts to purify and save this "prodigal world," and said to all, in tho language of R. J. Campbell, of, City, Temple famo, "The day of denominations is over." As there was only one Christ, and onoDivino Now Testament Church lot them smash the tottering fences of partyism and discard tlio things not taught in God's Book,, and they were brothers all. Tho name "Christian" was the God-given and unifying name to bo worn by the followers of Christ. Dr. Fitchett, of Australia, wisely said: "There will never be a converted world till there is a -united Church." From the battlements of this centennial came the cry—"ln face of the enemy—close the ranks." ; BIBLICAL RESEARCH. 1 ;. THE DYKE-ACLAND MEDAL. Tho Botanical Theatre,at. University, College was well filled on February 12, when the Socisty for Biblical Study held an important meeting, for the purpose of presenting tho Dyke-Acland medal to Protossor G. A. Smith, tho distinguished Presbyterian biblical critic. The' Bishop of Winchester gave an exceedingly interesting address. There never was a time, ho said, when, there is so much reason to take courago with regard to the study of tho Bible. "The advance made has been so great and so good-humoured that wo ought to bo encouraged to go further. The literature of tho Bible- has been treated with courage, and we hopc'it always will be. Wo need not bo afraid of audacity. It gets quickly corrocted if it goes too far. We have moro need to be afraid of timidity. On the whole, common-sense prevents people going too fast or too far. Tho .general mass of scientific inquiry may bo trusted to move steadily forward under the guidance of tlio Holy Spirit. You cannot havo a sound interpretation of Scripture which does not jest upon tho' scientific treatment of texts." Dr. Rylo praised the work of Professors Sanday and Goorgo Adam Smith. "Tho Bible." he said in conclusion, "is not going to fail pur age, because our ago insists on subjecting it to sovero criticism/' Dr. Forsyth, of Hackney College, spoke on co-oporation among members of tho churches in respect to Biblo study. "Tho Bible needs interpretation," said Dr. Forsyth. "It is fortuuato that tho Biblo should bo so difficult. This, puts us on our mettlo as-simple books never can. Tho whole attitude of the Christian public to tho Bible is being changed. Tho assured -results of critical scholarship must bo brought-homo to tho people if their interest in tho Biblo is to lie revived. The most alarming thing about the churches I know best is tho private disuse of ■ tho Bible. la a colanaal jjajeer lately, Na«,

both's vineyard was mentioned in an article The editor thought it necessary to put in i footnote explaining the reference and tellim the story." After a short paper by Professor Staiitot of Cambridge, on tlio work of tho faculty of theology in British Universities, a nios* interesting extempore address was given li* Professor A. S. Pcakc, of Manchester. Hi subject was the relation of tho socioty t Biblical scholars abroad. Ho mentioned'tliE( while German writers aro employed ot English theological undertakings, there £ not tho samo reciprocity in Germany. Dn Peako. remarked that British scholars liavf been able to combine ovangelical forvour witl the higher critical learning. Among tW subjects which are likely to occupy scholar? .ill the future, Dr. Peako mentioned Pan Babylonianism. "This is already attracting much attention in Germany, and it is dosii ■able..that our. scholars should bo ready foJ it. Another question of coming important is how far tho Gospel as proclaimed by out. ■Lord, and still more by tho Apostles, wa( iniluenccd by intellectual culturo outsid< Judaism. To reconstruct the moral atmos* phero in which primitive Christianity grow up is almost tho most important task of the present time." There was hearty applause when Professoi l'.'C. Burkitt, Norrisian Professor of Divinitj at Cambridge, rose to present to Dr. Goorg< Adam Smith tho Dyke-Acland medal in re cognition of his services in Biblical research Irofessor Burkitt spoko vory happily of Di Smith's recent work on Jerusalem, "Ho ,\ leading us back to tho Land." Dr. Smith had tlio ovation of the evening*as ho camo forward to return thanks for the gift. Tho nows that ho was to receive it had come, he told us, as a great surprise. "I feel it is moro a provocative of labour tocome, and an inspiration for future work,, than a reward for anything I havo yd'accomplished." ■ _Dr. Smith paid a high tribute to Bishop. Kyle, remarking that there was not a month since ho had begun to teach in which ho had not made use of Bishop Rylo's books. "At for Professor Burkitt," ho said, "wo all loot to him as tho greatest authority on tin texts and versions of tho Bible." Dr. Smitl •' added,. "There is no ono whose work I folloi with greater profit than that of Professo" i eake.' And of Professor Stanton ho saidi It was his book on tho Messiah which did it great deal to help mo when I was writing on Isaiah." " Y.M.C.A. NOTES. (By H.N.H.) On their return from their tour round tn«J world tho American sailors of Admiral' ' Spcrrys Fleet will find that-a superb now naval Y.M.C.A. building has been erected . for thorn at Norfolk (Virginia,), by Mr. John; D. Rockefeller. It has cost £60,U00 andl contains more than 200 sleeping-rooms for', sailors, whon on. shoroJeave. Tho Y.M.C.A.'s'i havo so cordially received the American, sailors at tho different places which they havo touched_ on $icir enriso round the', world that it is now unpopular for any mau between decks to cast a slur on Christianity or tho Y.M.C.A. I _ Tlio first railway Y.M..C.A. in Japan wasi inaugurated on December 6, in tho presence of Count Okuma and Baron Goto, Minister for ■ Communications. Tho latter is deeply impressed by the need of such work. Tears sprang to his eyes as a, railwayman prayed that the ,baron might show tho ' heartfelt interest in.employees that President Roosevelt shows. The revival in Y.M.C.A. work in Austra- : ha. and Now Zealand was largely owing to tho .impetus given by tho visits of Messrs. D. A. Budge, and Lyman L. Picico from = America. South Africa.is anxious to progress in a similar way, and has secured tlio services of one of America's best-equipped men, Mr. j John b. Tichenor, of tho International.Com-: nntteo, to act as their national secretary/ for two years. Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichaol, the State Governor of Victoria, has just opened a Y .m.C A. building in Bendigo. Senator M Coll, president of tho association, said in the course of his address: "Tho basis of • thin institution to religion," and lie added; "the object is for the uplifting of lyouncwJ men," • ■ ■ ■• *■-< A splendidly-furnished suite of rbomi was formally opened on Tuesday last ui tho Mayor of Gisborne, and will lie tin •centre ot tho local association's activities. , 1«° Birmingham ■ Association numbcri 1497 members, besides 238 juniora. The new building to bo erected by tlw ' Dunedm Association, according to the plans, will bo the most complete in Australasia. Mr. Vernon Drew, assistant secretary of the Wellington Association, will leave New Zealand on Aprill 22 en route to the United States to study latest developments in association work. Locally, Mr. Drew is highly esteemed by the young men with whom ho has come in contact. JOTTINCS. Tho Rev. F. C. Spurr, a well-known English minister, has accepted tho Collins Street (Melbourne) Baptist pastorate. Mr. Spurr's parents wero members of the Anglican Church ' and, ho was. strongly drawn to tlio High Church party-in his boyhood, but when ho ' was preparing for confirmation ho accompanied . some friends to a meeting in connection with the Plymouth Brethren that led to the crisis of'his life. Soon .afterwards ho was converted, and the reality of tho change in his life has already led him to emphasise the need for a real, definite conver?. sion of God, Ho was baptised and became a member of tho Metropolitan Tabernacle, thus coming under the influence of the Rev. .' C. IH. Spurgeon. In 18S6 he became pastor of the Baptist Churclfiat Cardiff, There he laboured for four strenuous years, proving ' his large-heartodness by many acts of service not directly connected with "tho Church. Ho mads it his business to visit tho gaol;'and especially to interest himself in all who had . completed their terms of sentence. In 1890, Mr. Spurr accepted an invitation from tho London Baptist Association to become their missioner in conjunction with tlio Rev. ¥. . B. Meyer, B.A, After about five years' fruitful labour in tho great metropolis, .tho Baptist Union appointed him to the post of missioner for tlio union in Great Britain. Mr. Spurr is a diligent student, and into his Gospel addresses puts tho results of wide reading and careful thinking. After about nine years' constant labours as an evangelist, he became pastor of tho Mazo Pond Church, ' iii the Old Kent- Road, London, This Church seats 1000 people, so it is about as largo as Collins Street, and in the four years during which Mr. Spurr has been its pastor the membership lias steadily increased, Wo join Victoria in welcoming tins faithful preacher. Tho "Times" reports ft scheino just recominonded by the Council of tho Baptist Union in England. If the Churches adopt if, they , will be giving up something of their independency. Tho eight.Baptist colleges would-be i federated, and admissions would bo subject to tho union's approval.' The churches, too, - would undertake not to invito pastors • without tho consent of the central representative board. Finally, a sustentation fund would bo formed, so that no minister should rcccivo less than £130 a year. A brass tablet was unveiled on Sundaj last in St. Sepulchre's Church, Auckland, ir memory of tho late Archdeacon Dudley, firs: vicar of tho parish. The tablot, which hai been erected liolow tho special .window pit. in to tho memory of the lato archdeacon, wat dedicated by tho Bishop of Auckland, who, in the courso of his sermon, referred to tho many excellent qualities of tho late archdeacon which hid endeared him to his people' • during the 30 years ho had worked amongst them. There are nearly 400 Salvation Army bands- . men in tho North Island, with instruments . valued at about £0000. All Freo Churchmen (says tho "Daily News") will rejoice that Whitefield's first tabernacle, which gives tho namo to Tabernaclo Street, Finsbury, is not for tho present to bo removed to tho suburbs. It stands >n a back street to tho cast of tho City Road, upon tho site of tlio original prcachiLg-placo, roughly run up, in what - was then an opeh park, by the admirers of George Wbitefiold after his separation , from Wesley. No adequate reason has been given for tho removal of this historic chapel. There is a rooming working-class population in tie neighbouring "models," and the adjoining Anglican Church of St. Michael's, Shoreditch, attraots not only largo but ocoa-' sion»lly prowdod- comrrefiatiow.