RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 609, 11 September 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

RELIGION IN GERMANY. AN INTERESTING OUTLOOK: "Tho jubilation over tlio gains of modern culture and tho victories of scienco is becoming silent (writes Professor Heinrich AVcjnel, of Jena, in a striking article in tho 'Hibbcrt Journal'' on "Religious Lifo and Thought in Germany To-day.") Earnest workers in all branches of science know how narrow is tlio circlo of what crui bo seicntifically proved And oxactly defined. In. all quarters there is revealed a longing for now life-values, an aspiration towards what is A religious movement is waking into being, and men nro longing for that deep, still happiness of tho soul which can mily bo found in God —for strength, fullness, joy, health, such as blossom only iu a life wholly lived in tlio ideal. In Switzerland, at least, Social Democracy has again found tho way to church, since Kutter in Zurich, and others, have found tho way to the deeper needs of tho social democrats.

Idealism, long considered dead, is everywhere beginning to awake, and a rejuvenated and renowod Christianity is preparing to go forth among tho people . from venerable churches and from tho quiet studies of scholars, announcing and testifying'tb that wmcli, has been discovered in tlio silenco where tho awakened desiro for deeper lifo has made itself felt. Nevertheless, tho philosophy of tho present still hesitates. Tho strongest influence which the newly-awakened lifo of tlio present is feeling is that of Rudolf Euckcn. : What liis boSks givo to the present ago is the quiot consciousness of a belief in tho inward and higher nature of man and in a universal lifo of tho'spirit, superior to all particular interests—a lifo comprehensive and secure, in which the individual, with his ideals and his faith in God, feels himself able to defy tlio attacks ,of naturalism, and tlio pressure of tho perplexing materialist lifo of tho present. If Christianity is to remain victorious Professor Woinel thinks, it must attach itself, to tho new-feeling for Nature and to 'ho new knowledgo of Nature, after first cutting, jtself freo from every antiquated picture of the world and from every antiquated dogma. Tho resolve to.achievo a new world,'a Kingdom of God, is far too weak ( among us (amcludes tlio professor). I mean tho aspiration after a world ruled by truth, love, and purity, in which all. that is shameful in tho political and social life of the present day shall ba impossible; a world in- which war and. retaliation, duelling 'and . revenge, prostitution and tho exploitation . of the unfortunate, and all that'opposes the will of a. God of Lovo, shall bo no-more. "Only when this lofty ideal of life' shall bo preached in all seriousness, when God shall ho again vitally felt as ever-present and speaking to us,-only when . Christianity beoomos rejuvenated, in,earnest and enthusk astic, again becomes powerful in our midst, will our generation appear to - bo. inwardly not unworthy of the splendid ago in which .it outwardly lives." . .

FATHER TYRRELL ON MODERNISM. . An unpublished letter from tho lata Father Tyrrell, written by him in ,roply to somo questions in regard to his excommunication, for being a "Modernist, "■ has ■ just boon' printed in Eliglandit is dated. November, 1907: "My excommunication," ho wrote, "does not affect my inward convictions as a'Catholic in any way, or my dotermination to work by. my pen and in every way for'what, as a 'Modernist,' I believe to be tho truer and deeper, and eventually victorious, interpretation of Catholicism, it deprives mo of all my religious rights and privileges as a Catholic, but at the same timo' sets ino free of any corresponding duties, and so allows mo to.; write freely-and opc-nly without tho obstruction of censarship and-'episcopal interference. If every 'Modernise leader were excommunicated to-mor-row it would not permanently stay the tide of Modernism, which results from. tho'cdui cat-ion and knowledge of,tho ago, and not from, tho influeh'oo of this'or' that leader. Tho (Encyclical for this. re^^ l^Usf'o;i ;i cirro'.' f in thp_ attempt to oscludo Knowledge, dr.d 'especially historical knowledge, from tho clergy and tho .faithful—as. hopeful an attempt as that of children' who; riliso ,sand-barriers' against the incoming tide. 1 -' Thero may-beta momentary obstruction, but -that ris all. There is not the; slightest doubt that . tho 1 Encyclical condemns all tho distinctive teaching of Nowman. ! Tho Pope did not intend to do so. Ho novcr has read a lino, of Newman. and does not understand three-quarters of tho Encyclical. It was written by/men who hated Newman and used their opportunity 'to condemn him." .

THE CHARGE OF RITUALISM. At. tho festival of. tbo consecration of the Church-of St. George (Anglican), in 'tlio Goodwood-Institute, Adelaide, on Thursday. Canon'Pooleremarked lid had heard it said that ' St.. Geqrgo's Church had reached tho highwater mark of - ritualism in Australia. Tho' 'average Church of England service in tlio-old days would have made • tho most rabid ritualist shudder. In those times, to wear a surplice in tho pulpit was regarded as manifesting a tendency '.towards tho cloven hoof; to sing psalms -;.was ■an outrageand to introduce any music into tho service of tho Holy Communion waV looked upon as" highly improper. It was impossible to fix a standard'for ritual, for it was a matters wliich everybody would fix .at that point which .appealed to ' himself. as 'satisfying his own tastes and wishes, and, moreover,. it was impossible to do without a ritual of some kind in aiiy Christian Church, becauso tho Lord had been pleased, to institute certain ceremonies which could only be carried out- by joint or common action. In answer to those who claimed'that tho religion of Christ must bo anti-ritual, Canon Poole pointed, out that Christ frequented the ish Synagogue, where ritualism was practised, and also submitted to baptism at tho hands'of John the Baptist. After all, ritualism was* only a'question of degree. He ventured _to say thero was 110 placo of worship in South Australia which did not have somo kind of ritual to direct its .services. , Of courso there wore somo liinits, and theso wore' contained in' the book - ofi Common Prayer. Tho churchmen in South Australia, however, wero not prepared to accept such decisions as tlio, law courts in England might see lit to imposo on tho churches in ' tho Mother Country. Ho was not a ritualist, but was a huin'blo member of a church which declared itself to bo Catholic, and'tho church which was Catholic, claiming to direct tho devotioh of all, must be abloto vary its modes of work, to adapt itself to the different circumstances, conditions,'and tastes of. men.

> JOTTINGS. A selection of the letters of tho late Principal Marfcus Dods is being prepared : for publication. It should mako not only an interesting but an exceedingly' helpful volunio. Tho biography of Principal Haiuv has/been completed for sumo months, arid will appear in tho English autumn. •.

The Roman Catholics of America have had tlie good fortuno to secure an address from Mr. Taft lit their Summer School. Tho President referred/to his friendly relations with their .Church 'when Governor of the Philippines, and to his diplomatic mission to, Home. Ho quoted the latter incident as evidence of tlip growth of religious, tolorar.ee. Fifty years ago, ho said, if i'tf had been proposed to send , a representative of the American Government to tho Vatican to negotiate the-settlement of a question arising between that Government and tho Roman Catholic Church, the proposal would have met tho. sevo-est condemnation. Yet t-'birf had boon done "with tho full, concur-J rcnco of all religious denominations." I

A tablot. has been unveiled, at Kettering, England, iii memory of William Caroy. Tho scorns of the commemoration was "Tho Mission House," now in tho occupation of Mr. John Stockbnrn, J.P. The brass tablet- is placod on tho outer wall, facing tho public roadway, aaid records that in this house, on Octobcr 2, 1702, tho modern missionary enterprise was originated, reference being made to Carey's sermon at Nottingham, tho two main divisions of which were: "Expect greai things from God; attempt/great things-for God.'! The llov. J. M. Meyer,-who unveiled the tablet, called attention to tlio remarkable fact that. William Caroy was himself absent on the actual da.V when the mission was founded. Tho audience listened with de->p

interest as the speaker referral to Villi,ira' Carey's visits to Kettering, bringing with him tho shoes ho had been making, and turning with-fresh supplies of leather. Mr. \ Jlyors held up for view somo of tho tools r with wlncb ■ these sboes bad been made, and exhibited tlio box into which Andrew Fuller Jiad deposited tho collection—tho first mado ! 011 behalf of modern missions. Tboro was • much checring when tho chairman - called . upon.tlio next speaker, tho grandson uf Andrew Fuller, Sir .'Thomas E. Fuller; who until lately acted as AgentGciicral for South Africa. Sir Thomas paid a high tribute'to tho wonderful genius of Carey in. tho acquisition of oriental languages, .lib grandson of Andrew Fuller was followed by a great-ft-aiidson of William Carey, tho Rev. S., Pearco Caroy, who, referred to 'his visit to tho sceno of his notable ancestor's labours in India. Tlio present president of the New Zcahird Baptist Union ,is aUo a direct descendant of tlio missionary. > . The Anglican clergy of Christcliuroh and its neighbourhood havo begun to prepare in earnfcst for tho Mission of Help. Hiey meet onco a nsouth for prayer for themselves, tlio missionors and tho mission. Tho meetings are held iu tho board room, 'Chr'st's . College, on tlio day after tho meeting of ' tho Standing Committee, so as to' make it possible for tho Bishop to bo present. Tho "N.Z. Church Revs" says that tlio Bishop has given £50 towards tho expenses of tho Mission, and one of tho parochial clergy £40.. • Tho report of the English ;, Wesleyan. Chapel Comnrittco shows that 1500 new chapels < ' hare been built' during tho last tirelvo years.. During tlio last year additional sittings havo been provided in .427 buildings at a cost of £281,334. Debts haro been paid off to tho amount of £165,000. Out of 90701 trusts reported to tho committee, • 5632 aro I . f-rco from debt; Of tho Cantury Fund money-i, 198 cases havo been settled,- and thoso eases' represent a. property valuo of £2,839,953.. '. Ml'. J. Rank has given a.liouso costing £1000 during tlio year,i and Mr. J. Hall an institute ' which cost £1700. .Tlio committeo passed at ; resolution of strong disapproval of trust pro-* misos being 1 used for, dramatio. purposes. Tho first meeting, of tlio Methodist; 'As- : sembly of Great Britain and Ireland will be( a fraternal but informal gathering of tho 1 initiative .of tho parent body of (ivo hundred -. specially-selectcd represartatives .of ajl types v of tho Methodist family.' Political subjects are.'.to bo rigorously' excluded; tho'objoots- 'i aimed at aro spiritual- profit,. brotherly in-'-tercoursn, and stimulus in Christian enter- J prise. Tho following will bo tlio rcprescnto-i tivo proportions:—Wesloyan .Methodists, 276, Primitive . Methodists 112, -United X Methodists 100, Reform. Union 6,-and liido-. ... pendent' Methodists 6. Tho session l will ue held in "Wesley's Chapel, City Road, : uru • October 5, G, and 7 next. ■ ' , - ■Ghalib Pasha, who. arrived.in,Romo withV tho Ottoman Mission, in July, which an-i'J ; hounced to tho Popo tho accession-of tho ) now Sultan,' had. a conversation, with liis.;,; Holiness regarding the establishment of ar N-unciature at Constantinople., During thpi - conversation the Popo hazarded a question r as r to tlio possibility of tho "purchase .'of "tho Holy Sepulchro in Jerusalem and its transportation to ; R-ome or some other Italian; city. Tho question, was raised, in tho.. pas£ . by . Sixtus V, who' wished to . bring tha-; ' Sepulchro to Montalto, his birthplace, hut. was baulked .of his desire. It is stated that ,i. - Ghalib Pasha told'Hho Popo ho could givo no promiso- in "tho matter, as ho had lfo authority to do so. Tlio Pope, however, willnot let tlio question, drop, and will . seek'.toprocure the good offices of tho'Gorman, Emperor ■ towards gaining:.his. end. Tho: Holy Sepulchre,; for tho sanctity 'of which . tho Crusades were fought, it : may bo stated,' lies in tlio Great Church of tho. Sepulchre, .which has for centuries been iho centre or Christian 'religious thought: in Jerusalem. ■ Tho' tomb.itself is : a cavity in tlio ; rock covered by.'a marble' shelf' livo feet long, '-twot. feet , wide, and three feet. high. The tomb) lies in tho-tiny "Chapel, of tho Sepulchro,".: a, room six and -a half feet,' long,. six feeti , wide, aiid very low. • i. Tho Bliio Book issued by thcannual- Bynotfi I i of tho Presbyterian Church of , England shows' that there aro now 352 congregations, incrjaso of t 'four, on. th<\ year; and that tho 1 . membership.has risen, to. 86,421" I *p¥" an increase of 047. Tho uunihcr of sittings, provided is; 178,057.. "Tho total snin subscribed •" for various purposes during. 1908 i 5.'£280,926,' 1 as.'agjiiust £806*958.in tho previous year. .

Tho great' Baptist theologian/and preachcr,; Dr.' Alex -Maclaren, 'has loft Manchester,; where ho; Tesidod' for 1 half a' century,'.to?end! his days, in. Scotland. Ho has- presented' Manchester College with u'• large portion' of his' library. 1 . ..' , . •' '

\ Canon Honsloy'Heiison, who has just, madei .a three mouths t-our of tho L'nited St-at<js, says, that ho lias been. very 'much', struck; byl tho grotesque competition of- denominations!? m America, seoing small towns with ; numbors. of denominations, all struggling, and ; none, being successful. On purely; - practical' grounds, Bomo. reasonable .arrangement bo-, tweon the Protestant denominations jeems,' he-'thinks, to bo urgontly called for.

A Washington Baptist Church pastor haa ; introduced into his church a moving. picture 1 , show, to illustrate his sermons, Tho edifico is packed to overflowing at evory' service. The minister; preaches on interesting Biblical events, and engages-amateur actors to perform before a • kiricmatograpli camera.

Mr. John H. Mott, who. is'just now: in England on .World's Christian Student ' ment ' business, |ias been., elected oxocutivo secretary of the Federal Council, of tho-Chm-ches of Christ in America, : a newly-. - '.formed organisation which aims at unitingtho eighteen million Protestant communicants in'tho United States. At a meeting . held in Philadelphia last December, at whicty thirty denominations wero represented, N a genuine desire for closer relationships was; manifested, and it-is felt that if Ml'. Mott ' can bo spared, from tlio .Studont movomciit. to'lead this'new federation movement there is hope of a great measure of success.-

A nuiiiber of ' London 1 clergymen have, formed a provisional committco to carry out J tlio proposal of acquiring by'subscription'the . famous' picturo by Mufillo, "Christ Healing Humanity," for presentation to-St. Paul's Cathedral. Sit Edward Poynter has written : a .letter pronouncing tlio picture to bo the. genuine work of Murillo,' and has''given liis opinion that tho amount , which will bo 'accepted—viz., £3500—is a' reasonable prico to bo paid for it. The Chapter of ■; St.;-Paul's also have notifiod. Canon ..M'Cormick that' they would gratefully accept so handsome;a gift if it is offered to themi , ; , ...

Tho Dean of Newcastle (Now South. Wales) roceritly delivered a vigorous address 'to a crowd of men iu Christ Church, Sydney. . A' man (lie said) did not mind being told ho was poetic, or artistic, ,or a sportsman, or anything of that sort, but lie would at onco bo made uncomfortable—angry—if ho was; called "religious." Some pcoplo thought that being religious consisted of going to; church; but.it was not so. God wanted men. to go to church to pray and to bo religious; but there was no good in going io church if, tliey did not: believe in-God. "I don't seo' what is tho good of going to church—l don't sco why I should not play tlio very devil—i£ there is no God," tho Doan declared, and ho went on to argue that there must bo something behind, tlio mysteries of 'Naturo that was a "thinking being," and, .call'that being what they liked, it was still "God." "Don't play tho fool with God," ho said. "God ia in this church to-night j Ho.ishcrc near my hand; Ho is'near'you; Ho is hearing every' word you say; Ho reads, every thoughtyon think. You have callcd Him down, awl He is" by; yovlr side. You avo being, at this moment,' religious, whether you know it oinot."

( Not alone in ; tii<j various Protpstant Churchcs aro worshippers complaining of tho I length of services, but somo of tho regular attendants at tho Great Synagogue,-Sydney, have, begged Habbi Cohen to conclude tlio exercises before the stroke of n00n.,.. In discussing the suggestion the Rabbi points'out. that "it would be unfair to the ancients to' .imagino that approval of shorter services is only a modern view, One of our. oldest commentaries, the Ulccliilta, tells that 'tho prayer of. tho righteous is short.'" Tho reverend gentleman 'went, on to- explain-' tliat the original Ritual as sketched in tho Talmud was crisp and relatively brief. Finallv it was urged that. one. thing was vitallv no- J cessary—that the length of the service should bo discussed noi from the low standpoint of personal convonieilco, of personal faticy ■' bnt from tho; kijzh platform of, personal•'reverence, of cnreml information, of a sincere do.' sire for devotional. improvement in oneself as well as in others. - . .