RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 604, 4 September 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

■JOTTINCS.

Y.M.G.A. NOTES.

THE CREATION. MODERN THEORIES DENIED. . The Biblical Commission of tho Roman Catholic Church has issued the following decisions on tho historical character of tbo first three chapters of Genesis:— ~ . '.-■ 1. Whother tho various cxegotical systems doviscd.aiid defended with'a show of science to exclude the literal historical sense of tho first three chapters of Genesis rest on a splid foundation ? ■

Answer: In tho negative.

11. Whether, notwithstanding tho character and historical form of tho book of Genesis, the special nexus of tho first three chap-, tors with ono another and with tboso that, follow, the almost unanimous opinion of. tho Fathers aud tho traditional sensd which, transmitted also by the pcoplo of Israel, tho Church has over held, it can bo taught that tho said threo chapters of Gonosis contain not accounts of things that have really! happened, but either fables derived from tho mythologies and cosmogonies of ancient peoples and by tlio sacred author expurgated of all error of polytheism, and a.dapted to monotheistic: doctrine; or allegories and symbols, destitute of any foundation of objeetivo reality, and proposed under the form of history to'inculcate historical and philosophical truths; or legends partly historical and partly fictitious freely composed for the instruction and edification of minds? Answer v : In ; tho negative, to both parts. 111. Whether especially the . literal historical senso can bo called in with regard to tho facts, narrated in those chaptprs, which touch the foundations of tho Christian religion: as for example, among others, tlio creation of all things by God at the beginning of time; the special creation of. man; tho formation of the first woman from tho first man;.the unity, of the human raco; tlio original felicity of our first parents in a stato.of justice, integrity and immortality ; tho precept given by God to man to try his obedience; the transgression of tho Divine precept at tho persuasion of tho devil under the form of a serpent; the fall of our first parents from that primeval state of' innocence; and the promiso of a future Restorer?- - .

Answer. In tho negative. IV. Whether in interpreting thoso parts of these chapters, whicn the Fathers and Doctors havo interpreted in divers ways without handing down anything. as certain and defined, it is lawful, saving tho judgmpnt of tho Church and preserving. tho analogy ef faith, for everybody to follow and defend that opinion which ho has prudently approved? , ■ .- " ' ' , Answer.. In tho affirmative. V. Whether the words and phrases all and single which occur in tho auove-mentionod chapters are always and necessarily to •bo taken, in their proper sense, so that it is never lawful to depart from it oven when tho locutions themselves manifestly appear to be used improperly, either metaphorically or anthropomorphically, and ' wlicii. either reason prohibits us to hold the proper sense or necessity compels us to set it aside? Answer. In the negative. /;'. .-> VI. Whether, presupposing tho literal and, historical senscj the allegorical and prophetical interpretation of somo parts of tho said chapters may, in the light of the example of tlio holy leathers and of the Church herself, be wisely and usefully employed.' Answer. In the affirmative.. • ," VII. Whether, sinco it was .not tho intention of tho sacred author in writing the first chapter of Genesis to teachina scioritific manner ; iho intimate- constitution' of . visible things and tbp complete" order of creation; but rather to give his-people a-popu-lar notion,' according to tho common mode of expression of tho time, adapted to the senses and '.intelligence of-men, wo must in tho interpretation of thorn collectively and. always look for tho precision,-(propriotas) of scientific: language? . . • ;, ' : -'■W^ , ,?™"';'. : ' ''" l Answer.' In tho negative. '' '; : ',' .; . VIII. Whether in tho .denomination and distinction of the days mentioned in tho first chapter of Genesis tho word yom (day) can be taken either in its proper sense as a natural day, or in an improper: senso for a period of whether free discussion on this point among exegotes is lawful?, .'.. Answer.' In tho affirmative.

Oα June 30,1909 (states'the'English , "Tablet"), in an audieaco; graciously* accorded to both Consulter-Secrotaries, his Holiness ordered the ratification and publication of tho above answers.. ' ".'-".."•'■ . ,

PRINCE AND H'HE V^AIFS,

The Prince and Princess "of Wales, recently opened; tho now headquarters of the Church of England Waifs and Strays Society, at tho old Lambeth Town Hall. .'Thousands of people lined tho part of tho road nearest' to tho now headquarters. Tho Royal carriage was stopped at Kcnnington Cross,' opposite the site of tho: Duchy of Cornwall's estato which'has.been secured for tho newly-formed parish of St. Ansclni, mainly peopled by tho Prince's tenants. ' ' '

Some 2000 school children sang "God Bless the .'Prince of Wales," and the vicar of-the parish, along with Mrs. Hutchihson, and tho .'Rev. Canon Blomncld, tho founder of the mission, wero presented to their Royal .Highnesses.. 'At,.tbo new tho Royal visiters were received by the .Bishop of London, tho Bishop of Kingston, the Mayor and Mayoress of Lambeth,. and Mr. Stephen Collins, M.V., for: Lambeth. Tho Bishop.of London, on behalf of the executive, read an address, and. tho Princo, in tho course of his reply, said:.

"To those who treasure, in affection the happy memories of childhood, it is difficult to recogniso how in our very midst thero are" littlo ones to whom the joys and tho Ibvo of parents aro.'unknown, r.nd who aro suffering from want, neglect, and oven actual cruelty. Our hearts go out to them, and wo thank God for tho work of this; society, which finds for. these- young, innocent, illtreated fellow-beings, in many cases foster parents, good influences and surroundings, and so gives them'a fresh start in life. To mo thero is an additional satisfaction in the fact that the building'stands upon land belonging to tho Duchy of Cornwall, and that the society has now returned to Lambeth, whero it was originally established." A brief'religious service- followed tho Prince's speech.; ." ~-■" v

(By "H.N.H; ,, )- • • At a great meeting of men, held in the Exhibition Building, Melbourne,'on'August 8, Dr.' Wilbur- Chapman inado a strong plea, on behalf of tho. Y.M.C.A. ■ ; . ■ ■• At Dr. Chapman's suggestion, a specially proparod card had been circulated throughout tho building, ■ and was placed, in tho hands of all those present. "I want to make n plea, , . , it stated, "on .behalf of a great iustitution; and I do it entirely on my own responsibility. Mr.. Alexander and 1 seek in every city to do something for this institution. I believe "that, next to tho Church of Jesus Christ, it is the- most worthy of your 'support.'.lt is an, institution which means the upholding of the character of our young men. Therefore, I feel'that I have a right to epoak on its behalf to you business men to-day. Tho Young Men's Christian Association will strengthen your employees. You know it is not easy always for those of us to do Tight whoso liomesaro tho best. Hondo you suppose a young fellow will'gct along who is not in a good home? It is; tho easiest thing in tho world for Jiim to slip and fa!!. But tho Young Men's Christian Association says, 'Hero is our reading-room. ■ Hero aro our reception-rooms, our gymnasium.' 'Hero is everything to mako you fculat - homo. Hero aro our newspapers hud magazines. Como in and spend tho evening with us. , I have tho right to say that every father ought to bo appealed to in tho interests of tho Young Moil s Christian Association! . . , Every father ought to see to-day that his bov has a membership. The doctors say that if you can keep a boy's body healthy* you mil largely help.keep his mild pure and I know that is true. Thereforo, I want to ask every father to be interested in this association," An eloquent appeal was also mado to. y.ojuig moB/to. jpjfl, .tno..association,..

Mr. Howard Williams, son of tho late Sir :, Goorgo Williams, founder of tlio Y.M.C.A.,. • gavo a luncheon at tflo Hotel Russell, Russell Square, London; on July 20, in honour of colonial and American friends of tho : Y.M.C.A. movement now in England. Among. the guests wero Lord Kinnaird, Sir Goorgo Wliito, Messrs. R. C. Morso, John It. Mott, M.A. (of -Now York), Mr.- W. 'J , . Williams .'"■■..- (Hawko's Day), Messrs. W. H. Georgo oud Vonion Drew, of Wellington. Messrs. W. H. George and W. T. Williams are to represent tho Wellington Association at tlio World's Conference to bo liold in Germany. . , ' ■ "Those who know well tho character of : tho institution represented in a largo part of tho world b,v the initials 'Y.M.C:A.' know that the establishment of an association will: , bo an evont of transcendent importance in. tho history and moral progress of Uruguay. Tho establishment of an. institution' of this character-in Moiito Video is'not a common, . ovcry-day occurrence that may bo looked upon with indifference. Its establishment is ' au advance step- in. tno international com- ' munity in tho Old and Now Worlds which' will contribute to tho strengthening of tho cordial relations which ought to unite allmen who have tho samo aspirations towards v , . tho realisation of Jiigh ana noble ideas, of life. . . . - It : comes •to fill a vacancy, ' which those who concern'with tho training:. ■ and moral development of. our youth havo observed in this country."—Sir Mbmtovordo, f ■ at tip opening of tho Monte Video, South; American,. Association. , ■:■ .-. The China Centenary Mission. Conferecnoe at Shanghai, 1907, representing tho entirn Protestant missionary body, of China,; ■ adopted tho following resolutions:— , - i "(,1) The Young Men's Christian , Associa-/ tioii, in helping.to win. to Christ and to tlie service of tho Church young mon in citie* and students in China and abroad; in work; : ing under the leadership -iof.'tho. missionary., ies to stimulate voluntary Christian ■ effort .. ; among students in Christian schools and cdl* leges; in 'helping to make, these- institutions, recruiting stations for tho Christian minis- r try;' in pronaring and publishing Biblo study; , courses especially adapted to tho needs, of young men; in holding Annual conference.* for tho training of leaders and tlio deepen* ing in tlio/spiritual-life; and; in other ways , is providing a most offectivo agency of 'tlio ..'. Church, and should be extended as onpor-i tunity and. resources permit, care being;- ; ' ■■taken in all cases to secure intimate rcla* ; ; tious between < the Young Men's Christian Association and . the. other, work. of. the Church. (2) Tlio work of tho .Young' Men'a ..'■> Christian, Association is_ always in the no--', ituro of an active campaign against tho evije \\-hich entice and destroy young men, but it. ■'. is moro than /that, for it sonke to produce ~; ■ men of character, who fear God, lovei mon, and honour their. King; men of conviotiona, .-, rogarding. tho essential verities of thoChris-. ( /. tiaa religion, meu .whoso, intellectual facili-i , ties havo. been cultivated, and whoso phyr ■ siquq lias been carefully developed;-men pB ' put in motive,'alert in business, . honest in act, courteous in conduct, chivaM rous to Womanhood,. and courageous for aßj ' that it riebt; and tho committee' are t&onk-. ful that during theso sixty-fivo years, their, . labours havp.bcen crowned with tlio approval i and blessing of tno Almighty God."—Clareueo •Hooper, in cpoaking/for London. Ceiv<' • tral's £120,000, building., •. ■ .. .

,01 the lato Father/Tyrrell.a,writer in th<' 4 , "Manchostor Guardian" says:—"Tho most/ . lovablo thing in Tyrrell was his perfect sim« plicity,- arid tho.boyish.humour .which .was ■ its natural accompaniment and .1 To bis latest day' ho preserved tho casy r charming buoyancy .of youth, aud : . that!.-", ' through which had been full of con-' ■:-, flict without, or within. Tho grand niamici; was-his pet abomination. 'Ho'would'transfix |\ with a careless shaft of his quaint hut always ■; good-natured humour every instancp" of poia-jjj posity, of pose,', of conscious dignity he might* ; recall. And- ho > was quick to, obsorvo tlio absnrdityof all roch pervcrsioriß of natural-..",'■ ness.. Hβ loved simple popjilp, and; all who k'ney.'lum well rospondod^to u tho infection o£ lus'owu.,oxquisitb simplic\t{y, v ."-And helnovor, . ' simply ..annexed' , his. friends, as so' many, strong natures aro tempted do; Hβ could not tolerato the least suspioipn of para6iticism. His friends woro always mbro themselves . becauio of his friendship, or _' they] would not remain his friends.. Adulation ho probably never '-knew." If he had suspected ; , it anywhere his humour would at onco have driven him to ileo from it as from the archenemy."-' Tho London "Catholic Times" refers as follows to a matters which caused •'. ■ some discussion at the time: "It has bcea stated in tbo daily papers that the:Galholio authorities, in tho absenco of.a retractation,' .' refused ';. to grant tho decoiscd Catholia. ■"■ funeral., rites. -Wo aro officially informed that Bishop Amigo, of Southwark, made tho most .careful inquiries, asking information of all who were present with tho Into Father Tyrrell during his last illness, but that absolutely no evidence of tho rewas obtained, and 'his lordship had therefore, no power to .sanction.a. Catholio burial service." .-'■' ' ".; , ;

A conference of tho 'World's. Student . Christian v l f edoration- has : just 'boon; hold at Oxford, at , whiclf over 30' countries- were , : represented. Mr';' , J;"-B. ( Mott. reported on , Iho student;movement as -ji whole—dwelling especially on 'tho. developments during tho '■' past four years..- About. 140,000 students throughout thoivorld are now; members, and ■'■ about 2000 colleges and universities have -.'■ branches. Recently special' attention lias..boon increasingly given to work among boys and girls' at school. Social work has 1 also ■ come hito a much more prominent placo, y and it would appear that in this department ' ; tho'British students aro .'taking the lead.' V, General Booth has lately been attending,,*scries of field officers' councils, and a calcula- ..'. Won is made that during their progress he . talked for, perhaps,; 85 hours. ..This,- at an; averngo rate of 150 words a minute, would '. give a total-of between 700,000 and ,800,000 words; In between these councils tub veteran evangelist spoilt a couple- of nights in . tho train.',.-.' .■,. : j!--...-.' ■ :•'.', v '. ' ''- : .' ', -

Conservative Christians '.continue ,to be greatly concerned about tlio diminishing belief in the inspiration of every book-ill the ''. Bible. At the annual;meeting in London.' last, month of the' Bible League, which exista to maintain tho divino integrity of tho-liible, Rev. Prebendary H. W. Webb-Pcploo Said he feared that'tho public generally, and,'indeed. , a large section of the Christian Church, did;j not renlise the gravity of the situation. To:;' prove, that the danger was, immense,.ho read i ■■ a. number of, extracts. from tho' writing's or ': speeches of those to whoso "pornicious teaching" tho league was opposed. Ho bolioved in the Biblo as l>eing frdm cover to cover the inspired Book of God, nnd in no way depond-

ent for its origin upon legend tuid folk lore. i\w. A. T.l'ierson, D.D., said ho almost ; felt it impossible to .speak calmly on tho subject under consideration. \Ho know from . experience' that tlio baneful evil, wasgrowiiig, not only in England, but. , .-', also '• in , . America. Quito recently, just before ho left - Brooklyn for England, ho had heard of seven candidates for tho . ministry,,- fiyo of . whom had no firm belief in either tho miraculous birth or miraculous * resurrection of tho Lord Jesus Christ. He was' surprised uud appalled''nt tho apathy ho witnessed on all sides. There should be a council of war. : Christians"should congregate in their', tens of';. .■ thousands to consider tho situation,■ and to ';■ deviso" means ■of attacking ' the errors of" those who wero attacking.tho Word , of tho ~-' Living God. ' ." • . , .: ■ . ~ Commissioner and Mrs. Hay, the new .Territorial Commanders of tho Salvatihn Army , , who nro coming ont te Australia in the staimer Mooltan, aro expecttid te renoh Melbonme on Tuesday iioxt. Sov<vrM. strik- ' ing features nrote bo - introduced into t Jits procession wluch is" to escort the Commis-'"■■"' sionor'to the Molbourno Town Hal!; Ti;o procession will consist 'of ; six distinct lirigades, each representing a State of (.lit) Cbnimomvoalth. At the head of each the repreventative- (Ing will .wiivo in the hrcmin. To tho Mother State is given a place of honour nt tho front, whilst tho Commissioner nnd „, Mrs. Hay and national headquarters staff will lake up a position in tho third brfcule, tlio visiting provincial'commatiders fcinniiig an ndvnnco ; priiard te the commissioners. \' They will bo officially- welcomed in Sydtiw on Thursday; September 1C and at .-Aruiiilalo [Now South 'WnJes), arid Brisbane on Sqv I tombor 21 nnd 33,' after vfiiich provincial welcomes at OrMJgV Bendwr-i, ■BnUarat, Adolaido, and - rnU follow, iu that -otdfflv . ■■ •-..■. '■ ■ ' '.-. '■■ ■