RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 11

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

POLITICAL.'VETO. . | 'ABOLISHED BY THE POPE. , It will bo remembered haw the election >f Pinn X. to the Papacy resulted,, much 0 the simple priest's distress, from the incoessful oxerciso By the Emperor of Aus:na of his disputed right of veto m ft reiresentative of the Holy Roman_ Emperor igainst the leading political candidate, Cartinal Kampolla. The new Pope early de> :ided that such a veto should not bo used igaiti, and almost immediately after his ilection ho prepared a document absolutely ibolishing all interference of the civil pow>rs in papal elections. The document has ust Been published for the. first time in ;ho,third volnmo of the "Acta PII X," together with a much longer one containing he new legislation for . papal elections. In t the Holy leather says that, "from the irst moment when, unworthy as we are, vre iscended the chair of Peter, we deemed it 1 most important duty of our apostolic, office x> make provision for the absolute • freedom >f the manifestation, of the life of " the Church, by the removal of outside interfere :nce," and he goes on to say above, all other ;hings the election, of the Roman Pontiff lomands imperatively this liberty, for '.'when ;he head is affected the health of the whole jody and not merely of any one member a at.stake.". The Holy Father then dejlares that the veto has never been approved jy the Apostolic See, but that the Pontiffs lave always shown the utmost zeal in exiluding the interference of secular .powers, Hid he quotes tho Constitutions of Paul IV., Gregory XV., Clement XII. and Pius IX. ii support of this. But all the measures ;aken- by the Pontiffs have failed to effect their purpose, and while the veto had v never iny foundation in reason or in equity, this :i far more obvious to-day 011 account of ;ho changed circumstances of the times in yliich' we • '. ■ • : 1 , Then comes the formal abolition of the reto, set forth in terms •of characteristic ileamess and vigour: "Wherefore, in virtue >f holy obedience, under, threat of the divine udgment'and pain of exoommunication latae lententiao reserved in . a special way to the 'uture pontiff, we prohibit all and several the jardinals of .tho Holy Roman Church, and ikewise the secretary of the Sacred College of jardinals and all others who take part in the Conclave, to undertake the office of proposing ;he veto or exclusive, even under the'form or i simplo desire, or to mako known this veto, lowover it may havo como'to their knowledge,' a> the Sacred College of Cardinals 'either aken. as a whole or to .individual : Fathers cardinals, whether in writing _or_ orally,. di-•ectly,-and proximately or indirectly and .hrough othors.' And it is our will that this prohibition bo extended to all interventions ibovo. mentioned, ~ and to 'all intercessions vhatsoevor, bj* which lay powers, of whatso; >ver grade and order, seek to intrude in the slection of the Pontiff." The legislator then macts that this document is; to be read not mly at the first of the cardinalitial meetings leld after the death of the Pontiff, and when ;he cardinals enter the conclave, but whenever new cardinals are created, and those aro o be bound by oath to observe its provisions. Besides its extraordinaiy intrinsic importcnce, as eliminating on abuse which has been noro or' less in evidence, almost . since tho lapacy: came out of the catacombs, this.Contitution "Commissum Nobis", is also interestng (says tho Rome correspondent, of the Snglish "Tablot") as forming part of tho new ibde of Canon Laws upon which tho Pontifical Commission has been working for, the last-five •oars, and which is now approaching complo.ioh. In tho long Constitution* "Vacante >ede Apostolica," whicli. preocdes .it in this atest volume' of, the A.cts of Pius X,. tho Pontiff, makes .many minor changes in,•!tho nethodand ceremonies of papal elections ; ind'the."Commissum Nobis" is followed by, a litherto unpublished 'Constitution 'of Leo EIII dealing with tho'same subject and inorporated in the now legislation. This part ifthe now codowill-not,apparently,'be, subnitted to the Bishops for their edvico. . ", ■. . ■■. .■ '■ ' > ; ■ v TO HELP CHINA. A'GREAT SCHEME LAUNCHED., • The most important attempt yet made to ;rasp the opportunities presented by' the wakening of China was launched at a meetng in tho Mansion House last month. The neeting was convened by-the China Emergency:. Appeal -Committee, which, with Sir Robert Hart as chairman, has set itself to raise £100,000' for a great educational forvard. movement, with especial stress .on ne.dical training.; ,Tho £100,000 will be spent vs follows:— . v'i, : : ■'.. " £10,000 to establish in: four • important jentres of population; union medical training alleges in connection with existing hospitals, n wnich Chinese' students may. bo qualified lor medicine and surgery,' the;institutions to unite the various Churches without sacrifice if denominational principle; ■ . ... ' "£40;000: to,provide,-in 'as .many .centres is possible, normal training find, theological institutions for the education v ,of Chinese Christian .school teachers and pastors; and "£20,000 for tho translation and publication of the best Western literature; also tc issist the Christian Literature and Tract Societies already at work in China." \ _ Tho committee has decided that the' mis. jionaries are to have this administration ol the fund, in conjunction with'members of tht jommittce itself. -A definitely Christian basil is tllus assured. They make it clear thai they do not wish to establish a now mis : sionary organisation, but only to help exist ing' societies to extend their work, on th< large scale so urgently required;. '. The scheme ,'waß launched under most pro mising circumstances'. Tho Lord Mayo; presided, and the "platform" was a remark able one, including the Chinese and America! Ambassadors, Sir Robert Hart, Dr. Horton Dr. Scott Lidgett,' and several members o: Parliament. The Archbishop of Canterbur; and .the Bishop, of London sent . message' of cordial sympathy. Grateful referenci was made to the absent Dr. J.,G. Paton, b whose initiative tho scheme is chiefly ;due The appeal was hammered home in a series o: strong speeches. 'We are not goingjto.inter fere .with China, 1 said the Lord Mayor, 'an< the presence of the Chinese Minister indicate the sympathy of the Chinese Governmen' with: the movement. Wo aire simply goinj to show: th? Chinese how 1 our civilisation ha: been' built up on a Christian basis.' ." A resolution expressing tho opinion that i national rosponso should be maao to China's demand for Western knowledge was mora bjr Sir Robert Hart, the. greatest of Englisl frioni of China. ®iey wero askings, ho said for aid, to assist three' to four millions o people to advance ii the right direction nov that they" ; were changing front,' 'For thou sands of .years Confucius had been ,the tufE ciont guide and mainstay of the Chinese,' bu the Confucian, civilisation. With its Jovrt'.o peace, had left, them, helpless in the faca o the new aspects of international life. ■ Clin; was bent on attaining strength, and the dail ger was that in the pursuit of knowledge witl that sole object tho ideal of character shouli be lost.' . Sir_ Robert' urged that the statu won by the missions should bo utilised-to th< full, and that future work should take th form of added support of the missionaries. Dr. J. Campbell Gibson, of Swatow, spot of the urgent necessity -or a Christian nasi in educational work ( ,in China. Dr. J. Soott .Lidgett, Mr. Robert Barclay representing London business men, and Mr Wliitelaw Reid, American Ambassador, als< expressed approval of tho scheme. Two gifts of £1000 each woro at once madi to the fund, CENERAL BOOTH AND AUSTRALASIA On belralf of tho Australasian troops, Com missionbr M'Kie congratulated General Boot on tho attainment of hia 80th birthday. Tit general has forwarded the following charac toristic acknowledgment:—"Accept: m; deepest gratitude for your generous wishes I havo groat- oonfidonce in Australia an< Now Zealand. They have U mighty mission not only in tho direction of making nov nations, but in influencing tiho world for Goi and righteousness and benefioenco. . Ever; true Salvationist will forward this, destiny The salvation of Australasia is your busi noss. Your general is with you hoart am soul." , General Booth, says a recent interviewer has, as the world'knows, been out of th fightiug lino for somo timo, and in th JiATidn ,pf Uie surgeons. But,-.though- -hi

chocks are & Efctto more hollow andhis a littlo lcesflrmthan t3uy worn tow months tack, his "Vigour is tiiidJminißhed., "No—no ohana," ho said, as on# wsa placed! for I™ to sit daring fho conversation that he had himself iuvitoJ; and for half tn hour ho stood, aa erect aa over, bosido a tahlo. His hair seems to havo more silky". Mid oven moro dishovcllod than it was; and' • aa ho etcod, swaying stoadily backwards andforwards . as ho talked, his tight, ill-fitting,, braided nniform seemed to mate him look ihinneT and .taller thau ever. 'His voice's a room of moderate dimensions—*as low. ind gruff, but clear. "I am, always hoarse vhen I begin a speech," ho explained, "but [ think my voice will serve mo aa well as sver it has done." And it is evident that H> has lost none of his enthusiasm. "As •ou know," ho said, "both my eyes wcro iffected with cataract. l Ondioyo-has been • iperated on successfully; tho other is gradially_ growing worse, and'tho doctors, toll no it must ultimately fail, I- fool almost . % - s well.as,l did twenty years,ago," he dolared:- and, after standing until he bad aid all he wanted to say, no at last took . seat, but;was less at , rest than ever as ho rent on talking. The wealth of gesture . hat he employs cn the platform never javes him; and as he talks, his jng, thin, beimtifully-niouldcd, . fingers—' witch, his hands join and then unclasp, ho hrows back his long hair, and then, sud-\ enly, as he speaks,of the poor who must , ■a dragged out of their misery,: he ex- ~ ends nis arms, and, with hands bent like laws, seems to rake towards him an imag- ... nary "catch" almost greater tliaii' ho can lasp. Ho is, in fact, never at rest. At'a meeting of the joint committee on Jnion;of.Qiurcnes, hold at the Presbyterian torch, offices; Sydney; representatives of he Prosbyterian, Congregational, and Methidist.Churchos wero present. 'A report.was'; ': ' iresontod, giving the result" of the recent' onferenco in Melbourne between;tho Angli-' ! _ an and Presbyterian representatives on tho r ; jambeth Conference; discussion. -The effect if the report, it is understood (says the Sydley "Daily Telegraph"); is .that all flutter ••• negotiations. with the' Anglican Church aro ikcly to cease. , " : At a meeting of the Anglican Church and kledical 'Onion, London,'last month,paper ras read by Dr.'L. 'W. Bathurat, in'which ' 10 discussca the effect which the spiritual loalihg movement js likely to. have'on tho :■ •olationship between the Church and tho nodical faculty.- Referring to what is known . is the "Immanuel Movement" in America, 10 took tho lino that, the profession is'vory ". . ar from, being oonvinoed that there'is need 'or any. such movement, and, in the second . ilaco, held'strongly to tho view that it can- - lot bo expected to take any slmo in it with- . rat' full, inquiry. t So, long as tho clergy con- : ine their attention, to administering comfort ■ rnd consolation, and encouraging ,cheerful less, prayer, faith, hopc ; , fortitude, and resig-, " laton in-accordance, with circumstances, orig, says -Dri. Bathuist,, will, tho - medical -' irofession welcome their co-operation. ' Dr. Bathurst sums up what lie conceives to bo • ;ho opinions of the medical professino on this' v. subjcct : under the following headings:—lf I. ihe Church wishes the of tho.,'. medical profession, she, must propound, her news and intentions, and say/exactly in -.. That manner her proposals; are to bo carried. -- jut. - The medical profession cannot, from a \ practical point: of view, be regarded, as haa jedn suggested, as tlio handmoiden -of tho IShurch.- . , ; ; „v : -i'y Y.MrC.A. .NOTES. ■ (By H.N.H.) . ' ■ - It is thought by many people that tho tr®», nendous physical and social-activities of tho ; „r' imwican'associations! are inclined to dwarf activities. This is easily dis- -'' irovod by tho following brief statement of".' - ,he religious l work conducted under thedireo- > ion of the Central (Y.M.C.A.): Department luring February •of this! Bibledasses. 1034 enrolled, 634 weekly average; our; shop meetings' each' week, 962 wookly,' '.: ivoragol four'men's meetings in 'Association ; u railding;' avctagb 362 each mdjistifi&y. twp aen's -meetings; Connecticut Btrmi' .96:!each''m6£ting; 28 men's'meetings,; Res-.-.• . uo Mission, average 110; each meeting; -throi. toys'' extension average : 106 aeoting;;three evangolistio m'Mtingsi,Sunday V." ivonings,'in local chuichesV Tho'records show : hat 268 different, religious meetings wero leld, or nearly ten every day of the month. ,i Cheso meetings w-ero attended by an iiggro;ate of 12,275 men and boys, 4174 of whom ' ittended meetings in-the.association buildng, 38S0 in shops, 3096 in the Rescue Mislion, 749 in local qhurchesi, and 892 in a •entod hall;' It significant that only one-. ■ ;hird, of;- the recorded attendance was ' at neetings; held, in-tho association'v building;.. This' work, was ■,mado possible through tho.,'. learty . co-operation of the employed ,officorsi ! v iommitteemen, ,and_ volunteer workers.' * Sir. Georgo Stoning, general secretary of Jib Christchurch ' Y.M.C.A, who has boon .ravelling''in England and America for tho'' , last 12 months, has returned to Now Zoa- V and,- having crossed the s Pacific on tho. Uakura. Mr. Stoning was greatly impressei , jy ; the- ; vigour , and: varied. of assobiation'.! ictivities in tho United States and CanadaP . Mr. H. Rusden Salt has been appointed' ' general secretary of .the Hamilton Y-M-C^A. The Bible-stiMy work of tho Duncdin Y.M,C.A. has been 'inaugurated by an adiress by tho Rev. Wm. ERiwitson, of Knox Ciollego. / r JOTTINCS. Tho Council of the Congregational Union of England.and Wales has been --considering the report of-a special committoolof/leading >.• laymen and administerß respecting-enhanoed yearly stipends for ministers. ITho commit- ■ toe's scheme, is, tho . raising of a special fund .' of £250,000 whereby ministers with a charge - may receive a- minimum yearly' income of - £120, to bo raised later to £150. It is also ! anticipated that'the .fund will enable tern-. porary grants to be mado to; ministexs-with-out.a charge, and that.it will establish.super-'", annuation ' allowances. -Th.o report was, adopted, but before it can become effectivo . it mint be sanctioned: by the General Assembly, which meets in London in. May. The anniversary of tho London Wcsloynn : Mission was oelebrutod .at the. Leysian Hall, ~ where Mr. J.' Bayley, who, presided, stated that'from £40,000 to. £60,000 was annually in London by the mission. • "The! London Mission has saved, London Method- , ism body and soul,'' declared, tho Roy. Scott- . Lidgett, M.A., iai a striking address., . ,-It..t was : impossible to estimate the' value of its : v work, by any numerical I 'staitomcnt .'or- by- any , : returns of its activities and: agencies.. They, ; must look upon. it as a great educating and inspiring agency which bad transformed the... spirit. of. Mothodism, and had given a now interpretation of Christianity to vast multi- ' tudes throughout London. (Applause.) Sir Albert Spicer, Ai.l'., who is president . of tho'London Chamber of Commerce, has accepte/3 tho presidency of tho Seventh Con- , grass of Chambers of Commcrco of tho British Empire. It "will' assemble, in Sydiiey,;., New South Wales, on September, 14. About 300 delegates : will bo: in attendance, including moro than fifty from Great Britain;.. ; The Rev. John ll'Neill's temporary niia-: istry at Christ Church, Westminster Bridge Road, has ended' with his- election ; to the ■ pastorate; on a practically "unanimous voto. Ho succeeded the Rov. i\ B. Meyer last Soptomber for a torm of one year. Tho invitation to the permanency has been mado at tho urgent request of tho church officers, ■ During his six months' ministry tho finances' havo improved, and tho membership has increased by twenty-nine. " The Rov." J. Ernest ■ Rattenbury'i oxpor« ionces at the Lyceum havo led him to tha conclusion' that a building of tho t-heatrj typo is. best adapted for the .work -of tli«. West London Mission. It has consequently been decided to build the now Central-.Hall-in ICingsway on ■ plans .closely approximnt-, ing to an opera! liouso., Tlio main advan.' 1 tages are economy of sito area,' the closenesf of tho congregation .to the . priacher, and tho aooustio properties -of a . building of tliii plan. - i'^' Dr. W. H.' l''itclictt, of • -.Melbourne,' has accopted the .'invitation 1 , of; Vandcrbilt Univorsity, U.S.A., to deliver the Colo lectures in 1910. , : v "Thero must-be no more sweating of the clergy,'' said tho • Bishop of, Cliichester, preaching the. twelfth 'annual sermon -for the- London branches of the Clergy Fuml institution, in l St; Paul's. Of trip 21,0(.'0 clergy ill active ivork, he said, l2,UOO:\vere oarning not moro than £150 per; annum', tho wages 'of an*ordinary mechanic.'