RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 586, 14 August 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

JESUS OR CHRIST? MR. G. K. CHESTERTON'S VIEW. 1 Sinco Mr. G. K. Chesterton published his recent book oil "Orthodoxy," ho has been warmly received into the ranks of conservative thoologians. Mr. Chesterton was onco an'agnostic; lie is now a believer, and as suoh he contributes an articlo in tho-July "Hibbert Journal" on "Jesus,or . Christ"— the controversy that lias been revived by the' ultra-rationalistic ' views expressed, by tho Rev. R. Roberts in 'a late number of the same magazine. Mr. Chesterton's contribution, which is the'first of a series by wellknown theologians and others, is written in a quite vigorous style—altogether .different from the customary manner of dealing with such a sacred subject. Ho has not a good word to say in favour of tho limitations that Mr. Roberts places upon the personality and works and. words of Jesus. As to his own viow, bo puts it thus "In-conclusion, it is .my business, I suppose, to put very briefly .my sentiment on tho wholo subject. ■ I will put it thus. If I take it for granted - (as most modern people do) that Jesus of Nazareth was one'of. the ordinary teachers of men, then'l find Him splendid and' suggestive indeed, but full of riddles and outrageous demands, by no means so workable and everyday an adviser as many heathens and many Jesuits. But if .I. put myself.'hypothetically. into, the other attitude tho case curiously arresting, Mid even thrilling. If 1 say 'Suppose the Divine did really walk and talk upon _ the earth, what should we bo likely to think of it?" then tho foundations of my mind.are moved. So'far as I can form any conjecture, I think wo should see in such a being- exactly the perplexities that we see in the central figure of the Gospels; I think He/would seem to ue extreme and violent, bccause He would sec some, further development-in virtue whicli would bo for us untried, ' I. think He would seem to us to contradict Himself, because, looking down on life like a map/He would seo a connection between' things - which t< us are discoiinected. I think,' however, thai Ho would always ring- (so to 'speak) too lout and too clear. Ho would bo .too good, Iml never too bad for us 1 'Be ye perfect.' 1 think there would be, in the nature of things, some tragic coll-ibioni.between Him. and tie | humanity ho had created; culminating -in . something that would be at 1 -once a crime and aji explanation. ( I think Ho would be blamed as a hard prophet for dragging down tho ' haughty, and blamed also as a weak senti- | mentalist for loving the things .that cling in corners, ohildreu and beggars.l think, ; in short, that He would give us a # sensation that He was turning all our standards upside down, and yet also a: sensation that Ho had undeniably put them the. right way up." A CANDID CRIT ICISIfI. . ' CHAPMAN-ALEXANDER MISSION. "When I learned that on my arrival in Melbourne the Chapman-Alexander mission would -bo in full swing m' that city, tboro 1 cam© a:sense, not of exhilaration, but of'depression." In this way the Rev. I' 1 . 0. Spurr, tho new minister of'the Collins Street (Melbourne) -Baptist Church, begins a contribution . to. the Loudon "Christian Wortd." He continues:—"A Melbourne .been.sent 'to.me-referring to the.-'fearfully inflated statistics', 'of the.'-Torrey-ATexander' niission-lield in Melbounie. a' few "years ago, and expressing tho feeling of ,shanio: felt by the best Christians in the-city that tho results, of-the Torrey movement.had been so scanty. And I remember,- all too well, - the ; Torrey meetings in .London;. rllt./was there-' fore with no particular entlinsiasm tliat' I -found' my ministry opening under, the; Southern. Cross in the'midst of an atmosphere of American revivalism. If, then, - any good iS'ord can be said of Dr. Wilbur Chajpman, I think, -perhaps, I am tho man to. siij;. it,'since any prejudice I had was rather against than on behalf of his work.". And then Mr; Spitrr says many good 'words about.Dr.' Chapman,, wbo greatly, impressed him,,with his, quiet boWer ■ aud sanity. ?•. I''like Dr. Chapman. He is .quite unlike the ordinary American. evangelist. He tilts at no extradccalogic sins.,' Ho 'is the, friend of. his ministerial .brethren. ' Be .does not .enter., tho arena, of theological controversy." . ; - , But about Mr. Alexander—"he is tempted to overdo his part. , To him there is probably nothing irreverent'in liis'methods, but to many others the littlo side jokes which , convulse an audience witlr laughter appear: to be quite unnecessary,, and tbey have a tendency to be mischievous." Sir. Spurr adds: "I write this to try and dispel the opinion which I know prevails in England,:and,which I also shared, that ChapmMi-Alexander ■is ' TorreyAlexandor redivivus. 'If it Were I; would op-pose-it' tooth and ..nail.:/ But Dr.' Chapman is' a. man worth knowing;-and, his work is healthy. And I express tho. conviction-, of not a few when I say that tho ChajimanAlexander combination would bo 'religiously stronger-if-the singing sido of it wore, a littlo more decorous, and reverent; and less showmaijlike."- . r' -

GIPSY SMITH.

v OFFERS FROAI AAIERKH A great meeting was. held in Westminster Chapel to .-'welcome Gipsy Smith after his twelve months' mission tour m uio Lmtea States. _Gipsy : Smith (says • ■ the , "Daily Nows") is Tecognised as tho leading evangelist of the day, and for the' last , eleven years ho has been : emplovod by tho National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches. To express their pleasure at his return tho executive of tho National' Council arranged an "At Homo" and public" reception, Tho chair was occupied by Dr. Campbell Morgan, who gave a congratulatory address.-

Tho Rev. Thomas . Law,' explained 1 that Gipsy .Smith had been loyal' to" tho;'Nntipiial Council in spite .of. niany ofiors .of 'V tempting financial character, in tho- United: States. It was found impossible to'grant all tlio.'applications for his services; and iV fulfilment of a longstanding promise he ivould return next , year to conduct missions . iij Chicago and Cincinnati. -

.The, Rev. John' M'Neili described -, tlio, Gipsy as tho spiritual and evangelical successor of Moody. He was a combination of Moody, and Sankey, as he ,both preachod and ■; ' ! 1 - _ - Gipsy Smith, who met with a rousing reception, remarked that his tour to' America had been the-greatest chapter in his life's history. "Recounting, .his' . experiences • in America, ho said that at midnight ho held a procession in which : 35,000 . people "took part. At St. Louis tlio buildings in which ho preached'were crowded nightly, and oil© night tlio police estimated .-the crowds "out--side to amount to 40,000.. The last-Sunday ho was in Kansas City the crowd began to flow into the church for evening service' immediately at the closo.of tlio service in tlia forenoon. _ Just as ho was about to partake of dinner he received ;a' telephone messago that tho church, was, -crowded, s and without touching any food he returned to tho ■ church and preached to 20,000 , people. He was back, at his hotel boforo his evening servicc, was originally timed to start. (Laughter.) .

THE MOTOR FOR RELIGION.

•General Booth was to commence on, July 24 his sixth aiunlal motor tour of England.' These tours, according to the English "WarCry," form ono of the most daring undcrtaldngs of his career. Wlxm the announcement was first made that, the General intended to motor through Erigliuid, the enterprise boeamo the subject of no little misrepresentationbut no apology being necessary, none was offered, ami the' General carried all before him 1" tho success ■which! attended tho initial venture. Encouraged to repeat the effort, he has done'ro every'year since, with increasingly glorious results. -There can .be no question that the largest number of i>eoplo ,cau by • this means be reached, ana in the quickest possible time. One great advantage of tlio • motor as a means of transit for tlio General is that it carries ,him .at great speed off .tlio' beaten track, of locomotion, and enables him to visit towns, . villages, and-hamlets where residents loug to see him and hear his-mes-snge from his own lips, but who would not,bo able to, do so were it not for the motor. Apart from tho boldness of its conception,' fa that -a

preaching crusade of five weeks' duration, with three meetings a day, imposes a heavy strain upon tlio General. Bub his powers of physical endurance are as well known as they are remarkable, and open-air speaking, provided it is not .interrupted, is as easy, and: a great deal more healthy, than the delivering of long addresses in crowded buildings. ~ One more factor has to bo borne in mind. The chango from close travelling in railway compartments,, often in a vitiated atmosphere;. to daily "blows" on the road and comparative'freedom from the stuffiness of halls,' has a : refreshing' and recuperative ofFect upon tho General's physical and ner<oUs system. For this reason, as much' as any other, ho humorously looks upon his motor tour as something of a holiday.-..

SPUROEON OR DR. CLIFFORD?

In a discussion on "Nonconformity and Politics" at the Yorkshire Baptist Association, the,ltev.,R. 0..-Johns, of. Hull, said that the membership of the Free Churches had decreased, : and tho reported decreasa was liot so large as tlio actual decrease. Their power in the lifo of the nation was decreasing. Schemes of reconstruction would not euro this. The cause was that thoaims and ideals of Nonconformists had-i changed during.the last thirty years. Thirty,, years ago the outstanding figure in Nonconformity was C. ll.' Sturgeon. Spurgeon in his pulpit did not bring .up matters, tint: were baing discussed in Parliament, and call' his congregation to paos rocolutionis thereon. ■ Spurgcon's message was the personal regeneration of the individual. Long before old-age pensions were thought of, Spnrgeon looked after the aged poor in his church long before tliero was a Children Dill ho. had built orphanages. His religion bega.iv by being spiritual, and ended with things' that wero social and philanthropic. : To-day tlio outstanding, man Fn» Churchmen was Dr. John Clifford,.with his: social and political gospel. If there ..was iai 1 labour or a social question being discussed at the moment, Dr. Clifford would deal with it from his' pulpit;- and invito Socialist leaders to thrash it out with him. If thero. was a democratic Budget brought in "by a Baptist Cliancellor of tho Exchequer' ho v was 1 ready to praise it,, and the whole procedure. ; seemed, to suggest that the Kingdom of. 1 God was going to come by the House of ' Commons. Mr.' Johns's latter remarks were ■ 'received with cries of dissent.■ i. . '

Y.M.G.A. NOTES,

(BT H.N.H.) -Mr. J. G. Mitchell, who was secretary fo* two years of the. Auckland Association, has been appointed general secretary of t'o Muscatine Association, lowa, U.S.A.- ;• VThe:thirteenth'..international. .of railroad, Y.M.C;Ai'a. lias' just .been- licld- at' St. Louis,,,'. U.S.A., and-was ■ attended by . 1365' delegates | from all parts of -tho United States Mid \ Canada. . .., : j ■ The Eight Hon. Sir Henry Do VillieraJ P.C., K.C.M.G., Chief Justice of Capoj Colony,- speaking at: the' arnrual festival.' of j ! tho. Cap<3 Town . Association, at . which theror were ( 1500 .persons present., said: —"IE thof young liion who belong' to the/institution, will! follow up the principles which it inculcates,/ and take advantage,of all the benefits whiohi they, derive'froni .it,,.1 am quite sure tiutfei' amongst their numbers will • ne found majijH who will assist in guiding .the future destinies' of : a.' United South. Africa." ■'. ... ■ - f i .Many, .peoplo.in. Wellington will remember the-; visit' of ■ Mr. D;- A. Budge, of 'Canada. • His associatiofi Montreal has just carried ' through with'a swing, a, campaign, for.£00,000*; to provide'for .tho'doubling-of the size of ~ its central' building, and to 1 add two new branch buildings. On the first day £13,000 . was pledged. A. recently-added member of, tlie board, of. directors, said: .'.'Mie-men,of.'- - our board :pray like children;' .and' they ' Wt>rk liko' menf' . The. securing ,' : 1 0f'%£64,000 thirteen working days established' a rccordi'-. for such campaigns. • Tho efficient history. oEi 57 years'"servico and' the; fruitful work of Mr: Budgo for a third of a century .' have' been, factors in '.making, tfe campa<gu ,"easy," '. • - , The-Sydney Association has,Sfcceiv<id ."soijiti" 'hundreds ,of new,members as' afreet' wsulihi of'-' -the, ; Chapman-Alexander Mission 'in* that'* 'city.' Mr. C-i Webster, secretary of the Gisbornoj Association, has, sustained- a ; nasty accident; in ; tho football/field, which 'has necessitated, . his laying up for a fow weeks.

' JOTTINGS. / ; "It is good news" (writes the . London' "Guardian") : "that Admiral Ma'hau moons., to civo us 'his experience as to the meaning J of life, 1 and hotter that ho takes the right i side: on the greatest of questions. Not- tnatl wo should have supposed otherwise, tho pro-v siimntion being rather that a sailor will have' positive religious convictions. Charles Reado' doubted whether i real storm; at sea would not .knock the, atheism'out of; most men afflicted with that form of .folly. The flower; > and' pattern of English seamen was 6inoerely, religions. One of-his-first orders after tlio victory of tho Nile was for a service of thanksgiving, which profoundly: impressed somo of tfic»Frorich prisoners- and we have' on record his nohlo prayer before tho battlo of Trafalgar, which even a zealot of , th®' Peace Society must. approve. Nelson told Lord Holland that ho sometimes felt pain 'in. the arm ho had lost,' 'which;' said the hero,' 'is a clear proof of tho immortality.,of tho soul, and sets th<! thing a doubt.' Lord Holland's comment. is that - greatness would seem to he as often achieved by moral as by intellectual strength; hut; though Nelson put tho matter crudcl.v, there is perhaps; more iri the argument than his sceptical hearer saw.", - ; J -

In'the', course of an address on the Prayer-• book at tlio Cathedral Church at■ Ballarat recently s - Bishop Green said it liocdodl revising.'. He thought services could be mode much .more elastic than- at present. Tho difficulties in the, way wcrO; legal difficulties, which, liowover, • could ; easily. bo overcome, and...a..conservatism' which made him, fear sometimes for the Anglican communion, as't was. a■ conservatism which 'was. half-sister to timidity. The services ivere too long. They dnd not-want repetition in tho Communion,.: Litany, 'and morning service. - The King'was-pray-M " for five times. ; altogether., \Vhijo Anglicans wore'vei-y loyal,, they really did. not want'to nray fivo times for one man in, the course of one ■ service, even if. ho were the King. He felt it a dreadfulthing'tint tlio ■ Athanasian'•Creed should be recited by an ordinary congregation. Many psaJms alpo - were unsuited for : tho purpose ( . for winch they were used, and there were' obsolete phrases in tho hook. They' wanted, tho Prayer-hook enriched. Where Word tho 1 prayers fori Empire and Army, for the Navy, .and for evangelical 'work? ...

For soma time-past, it has been' whispered tliat thohouso in which Pius IX was bom at Scnigallia :wfls about to chango liauds. Tho news has proved ! true (states-tho "Tablet's" -' -ltomo correspondent), for it bas , become known that the purobaser is, the Archbishbp of New York, Mgr. Farley,' who lias a gift of it to tlio Tostulation of the Catiso.of, Beatification of tlio immortal -Pontiff; Meanwhile, tho Congregation of Rites lias received a groat, many of tho private letters, and other writings of the Servant of God , whifih must all be ' carefully examined as a preliminary to the formal introduction of tho ' Cause. An immense mass of .testimony, too. has been collected concerning tho lifo ana virtues of -Phis IX at Spoleto,' linola, and obher places. • Petitions for the introduction of tho Cause have been received ill largo " numbers oven from such unlikely places a3 . tho heart of China. -. - 1

: A groat mission is to bo hold at Whit-efielda from: November 21 to 28;. It will bo conducted by Dr. Campbell Morgan and Mr. Silvester Home. Every honso.in Central London is to bo visited, and there will b6 ono or two midnight processions. Tfiroo iccetings will bo hold daily—a noonday scrvico at.l 2, a Bible reading at 4,' and an evangelistic servico at-8.. There will, bo special services on tho Sunday, arid: a aoighbouring inusic-liall •or theatre 1 will bo engaged for some of : tho ov-erflow meetings. Dr. Campbell Morgan will givo thoßiblo readings ovory day from Monday to Friday, besides talcmg many of tho other -meetings. There is to bo n great meeting of.shop-assistants on lio Saturday attain noon and musical eeiviccs on the two Saturday aifiWa, . . "