RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 627, 2 October 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

': DONES OF BUDDHA. ' PEECIOUS RELICS DISCOVEEED. A story, is related.in "Tho Pioneer" of AI; lahabad that, possesses a■ siiigular.faecination. (says a writer in World"), '■■ not , only for the nntiquarj-; but also for tho student of the, ancient'religions of Ihi' East? It describes the' steps by which patience, and learning havo succeeded in . reebvoring , from tho dusty mounds of Peshawar a .crystal casket, wherein were enshrined, more then 2000 years ago, three bones of Gaudama, tho founder of tho Buddhist faith. ■,■.■.'■■:■■ After being cremated, the ashes .of. Buddha —who died in tho fifth-ceijtarv before Christ— wero distributed among tho rulers of the territories which, had siiown . themselves to be most responsive to his teaching. Ten monumental topes were erected over these remains, but twenty years afterwards, according- to one legend, they- were assembled oncei.murc, Mild placed in a single , shrino near •■the capital of Bohar. Two centuries.afterwards,,or'less—in! the timo of tho famous Asoka—they were distributed once more, and '.by' ."this ■means' the stamp of. genuineness is. secured for the many rolics of the Buddha , which aro claimed by this pagoda and that tip and down the land., ! It chanced ihat'durinß the seventh century, when Jlahomet a new faith, in, Western Asia, when .Jerusalem -fell, into. 1 the hands of tho infidel, , and.Mercia was converled' to Christianity in- Britain-ra .famous' Chinese traveller, one Hieiim : mado age of the Buddhist shrines in India. Ho has .placed, on' record, tho exact-j-locatioii-of : the greatest and holiest.of..tliem.aH..: ; lii.-.thoco'Urse ■of ages all traces'• of. this- topo'-wcre'-lost. But a -few years ago an astiilov/Frchcli.autiquary, !£• Foucher, discerned.;in.tho; neighbourhood ! Of Peshawar a .by skilful reasoning he declared to be:the lost 1 shrine.- ; ~ :. : ■ ' ■

The argument appealed-with such force to Dr. Spooneiv of; the Indian Archaeological Survey, that. ho determined to attack ; the. , problem. Undotarcd.by the discouraging results at first obtained, the patient explorer persevered, and within the present-year he : has-been rewarded 'by the discovery of the'ruined tope, in whose recesses there was.found the casket already described. Tho' fact that it was. fashioned by.a Greek is a vivid 'testimonial to the close' international relationships that subsisted between'. the Ganges -'and . the. -Sgean in -■ - the classic age. ■'■..•.■.', : "■'■\'Z+jZl\."':\!~:'&'-'iZ.". ~ The -, destination 'of .these: sacred' bones- -remains to • Uβ,determined,, Following i\vs..tolerant usagft of the.'Government. of ?lndia, it may be presumed that- they will ..be entrusted to the custody of.the official representatives of the faith of Buddha, v '■;..-■ i< . -■ ~:■ ....,' '■':. ~;■■.' .'MissioiSi^TOMß^ib^: ;< ; BISHOP'SJOURNEYTO; 33AST. 'Bishop Ihgham, of the■ Church missionary Society; hns started on an eight months' missionary journey'to tho Far, Hast; Talking;over his itinerary \vith.a ;represeuta,tivo,' the bishop said: '"1 -am iuicliargo of the home organisation of the Church. Missionary Society'in England! but. I realise that we' have not. yet a base of operations , adequate to tho enterprise , of the conversion of the nor.. Christian-world,'hence>l am keen:on obtaining accurate' information for my propaganda hero in'Dngland. > I was' Bishop of Sierra,' Leone for fourteen years, and gained somo' knowledge .'of ■ missionary problems. 'But it is thought I' might help the" society by visiting other regions and' studying the questions that arise at first hand.". , ; . . '•' . ■

"My projected tour have attracted more than the usual' amount, of interest. Only or. two ago I recoived a letter from the Archbishop' of Canterbury, in'which, he tsays: , >;!■ - •-;:''■ ;.;■,.. '; • ;.-_- \;. .-. ■ , '•■! We aro all 'very.' greatly "interested in the thought ;of; yourapproaching'visit to the mission fields of. tlie IVDast.; v,-:..-'■-. --'I shall bo most anxious.*'to: bbfain from; you.'when you return ■ home some of the ; varied information which yo'u will have gathered for our stimulus 'and guidance, and..l very'cordially commend your work, and yourself, to all those who can furthor your any way. , " : ; Asked for an outline-of his tour, Bishop Jngham replied :'."I go' : direct, to Japan, via the Siberian Kailway. Ishall v stay in Japan: six 'weeks, ; and the Bishops;and.'Church.Mission-, iary secretaries will- do-everything 1 to'make my] stay useful. To Tokiq Ishall attend the great Icpnforqnco of. the iniißsi,onn,rjea ) j.qfrj all!j Christian bodies from. Octobet 4 to celebrate' jthe..-.-jubilee of^•■'.the'^introduction;' of ■ modern ; ■Christianity.into Japani.. , / "■'"'..'.'". ■' '' "I then proceed to Shnnghai,,and will study .the. in Mid-China for threo--1 weeks- undqr tho, guidance' of Bishop ;Moloney; : ,and. ; then', pass on to the' diocese of Fuh-kion, ; where, under the leadership of .Bishop Price, who-worked with me in West Africa, 1 visit >s many .as possible ofVtho mission stations.: I shall spend two weeks with; Bishop liahder in j Hong-Kong, and on Christmas Eve 1 will sail for Colombo, reaching■■ that port on January, 5. "From Ceylon I pass on to Tuticorin, and 1 hope to visit Bombay, Jerusalem, Cairo, nnd be btick in England by April 18, in time to -tell the May'meetings 'the things I have seen and heard.'" .' '•.,;...;..'■ ,", „.'./.■ : '■>''.:.■

'"'■ ■ GENERAL. BOOTH. ; : • .-.■■■ .INJURE TO;mS;SIGiT. ■-.;:- : -; : , General Booth's , , eye .trouble, .which; caused' the'abrupt termination, of. his •'motor tour of England, was.found toboinoro serious than was at first supposed.', After travelling all. night, !tho veteran Salvationist, .accompanied by.Colonel Mossvarriyed in' London'from.Newport at's a.m., and consulted Dr. Higgens, the eminent ophthalmic surgeon!-- As a result of the examination, the General-was ordered into a nursing homo, the .fallowing' statement' of his • condition being issued Booth is suffering,,from septic poisoning in the eye. Its nature is not yet clearly asc.;rtairiod,-.but'it.has: probably arisen l from' motor dust."-Iri' the ovonlng'.Di. Higgins made a , second examination;, and subsequently ho expressed , the , opinion' that it would-be at-least three weeks before-the General could' be:about:again. ".; •.:'';■/ '.. . . .- According 'to r o,{ statement' issued- from ;■ the Salvation Army': headquarters the' specialist after his examiuationof .the eye reported that, while-the matter was undoubtedly, serious, so far -as' General-Booth's 1 sight'.was: concerned, yet: ho h6ped for a. favourable .'issue.- It ~ap'pears that the veteran leader,'although ho. uses an' open ! car, rarely! wears''goggles'.' , -''.';,.'.'■; • ; •»'!,'. ' 'The' General's !expected>American and Cana-. diah. tour was postpdned v oh. acciSunt' l of,.!the-' trouble.'.;. ■ ';-.: /;,' ' v.,':'.'!-.>'■■*,.■.■. 'J... ■.■',"■■.'.-': ■ ' Those who-saw General Booth on his former visit to; South Wales. , two years i'.ag'o." (states the ."Daily News")i.and. again- when nis motor trip was.abandoned, wero strjick by.tho change, in.his-appearance, and the ijninion ,was .freely expressed-that, though ,, ho might continue- in active work:in the Salvation Army tor.years, yet this would.probably be.his,last motor tour.: j" A.correspondent'.who ; met the General during tho ; t6ur ; at the;house of - one .-of his hosts thus describes- his simple .life:—For .'breakfast-.'a cup of-Ceylon, tea, a : round of-toast;'.'and egg, t a potato, or a .tomato for' dinner ;[. tea again"in the-afternoon; and- bread and cheese before he retires at night. His addresses during the motor campaign : range from three to seven; and two at least last an'hour' each. The morning is 6pent in writing.■■'■At half-past twelve'he'eomes : to' his- hostess-with the.''pathetic, almost childlike, appeal: '"I ■ want' my.' lunch, .and- then I,: want a sleep.' I'm .very..tired.' tliis.'irioriiihg, so-, .you'll excuse me'i£:ri«ive'tho table before you: hive-:finished." ,:I ■:■•.'.' ; '- ;> : ;f .■•■?■■■''■' >■' '..->■ .'■ ; .'At 1.55 the white.car is;at .(he'dobr;". the: baggage is placed '.in!' the' • rtd,"car.'■; "I want', ,a; snapshot;' says the_V.6l)n-of..the host.- .Tho General stands in the-.'ShadowVof I the doorway, not 'quite, in.focus..- .-,\' !: c v../:.,"; v; ■■ .-.'. 1 "General,: ".lolding.' aphotograph.'-' -' .'•-.... ''.:,-'.. :1 ~:.'.'. • : 1 ".Who is-, it?' I .can't', seo'.it,' I'm '.'nearly'--blind/'. • . :■'.•■'■•■■■■":;.■:;/■/..::;: . . ."."Bvahißoberts. .Finei face, isn't itP"'• . . ' "Humph! I know/him; Ha! a disappointment."' '•' .•■■■. . ■'■ •'■.' •■"■•■' ■ "Have yon ' got 'him ?". ;'I : ask the amateur photographer.' .. ■'".''■ '.-'■!''.■ ■','. . "I've , got him , twice.":: \ •■■■■■- * ■-. : Then, to-his-host-and.hostess, tho-General' 6»ys: "J've enjoyed my stay. You havo been very kind. Tho Booths'always give a lot 'of trouble,'but they ato.'wbrth-;it.'.'..- ' . •'■ , IN PRAISE'OF NEW YORK. A CITY WHEHE OLD-FASHIONED : ■■:/' .BELIGION IS WANTED. ■ Most people; without knowing why, hold it as road that New York is'a wicked cirj,, and that tho wickedness is the work of New Yorkers. That is not the opinion of tho l!ev. Dr. A., Edwin: Keiewin; pastor- of, tho West EridPrcsbylerian Clnirch; Show me, says he, a' tninisrer with a message, and I will show.' yolt a churcli.of is occupied. Show. mo-.si New York preacher who does not apologise for the Gospel, and' I will show you. a l congregation -tlmt needs, a. now and' larger church home. Show mo a'congregation whero: the members help each other, :not where the masses have all things done foVthom by the few,, and l>will show' you a church spiritually alive; Show me & real New-' Yorker,' and 1 inll- ehoK 7pk a ■ Ban- jrto : w 'tryteg to. pwk^

bpUi-.enda.nicet, give his children an education, 'end raisn'thom'in tlie'fcai , o£ tlio Lord. Show iiio a chyrch'of empty'pews, rind I'will show you n district of New York occupied by birds of passage—tourists,-. buyers, and plcasuro- .'■..' senker.v men 'and women drawn to -Now-York's . great; holds from . every corner of two continents. : .-■ • , . ~ Our congregation is like a big family. \When sorrow comes to a household, .other members descend /upon that-home in*-droves. No man or woman belonging. to the Wjst Endcongrojja. tion cau feel thnt.ho or blio' is alono in New York. -■ ■ ■■•■'■-. • : :'■:■■• ■■'. ■■''~•' '■Spiritually, .says.Dr; , Koigwin,, I beliovo the secret of pur.fticccss.isthe fact that tho pulpit * lias never, made any; apology"for the'.Gqsnel. We preach' tho Bible without nny defence. The Bible needs no defence. ■•''■ : . '"' ' :.' ; __I have., great faitlr in the people of 'New. York. ■ You.,will hear unthinking persons Bay •. that, the \forld has outgrown old-fashioned religion. I don't bclievo it.; The. old-fashioned rolißton is-what they; want. , Down in their hearts New- Yorkers have a consciousness of the .existence /of tho Kivino Christ arid the : : Holy Spirit which no. amonnt-of.argument can ■ ■take from them. What they want,"what'they ' are Imngrj- for; what they will re.spond to. 19 the old-fashioned,' Gospel of .Christ.' crucified,' ■without apology, without defence, ignoring nil , the futile,-fatuous arguments hurled at- it.'by J .men who havo made a purely . intellectual, S .n«fr. a■ spiritual,-study>of tho Gospel. ~;: 'ii w A 1^ mcnts ""Wished- at; intervals abonf the lnhdehty,; godlessness, and wickedness y, m ■ 1? funeral are an outrageous libel f Who. supports New -York's scores.of theatms, ; hotels,! and wine rooms? Now- , YorW? Nol V l>oll ,t you:know/ that the average New 'Torkei : has.all.be can-do to make hisrsalarv'.andhi! expenses meet?.:. :o?hat Dhase (if New'Tork/lifn ' is', supported by outsiders from all -over ! thir continent and Europo ■.'.:■. ■', ' :■ ',- , .f. ..

i,iv-;;.":;v;,r,,;/;^oTTiNCs.,;V/ 1 ,-.- >Ys.. :!■'.■;' rapid' , growth, of,':CJiristian hndeayour'm_tho'pa?t, it continnos to-ndd to its, numbers,-y'At , the Seattle Conven-:ion ■ there.was- reported,a .total.enrolment of 69,138' societies, with a membership of 3,456,900. This great , hpst.has been still further increased by tho; addition ,-of. 2355 -societies,. with' a.mem. ■ ;benhip-.of- 94,200,..making the present-net en-' rolment ,7U93 societies, with* 3,551,100 ■■mem. bers. _Tho Presbyterians havo the largest num. , ber of societiesi.followed by the Disciples, the , Congrogationalists,. and the. Baptists., Nearly fifty thousand .persons have joined-the Comrades of tho Quiet Hour, and over-25,000 have a enrolled'ini.the,.Truth Legion as .tithers/. ,<■:•.. ■ '"TbeV decision arrived at -by ■ tho New., South', Wales- Baptist -Union to .erect a church-house-—a s6rt of: denominational, the :e;to of the-;Bathurst Street Church; Sydney,,is'.tlio most:'.distinctly.'fonvard movementof this religious body ofj recent'years: (states , - the ."Daily Telegraph"). to bo expected, the. younger and more', vigovoiis seo-'v tion.of, the/denomination urged that aniimmo-diato-istart;be made with the Undertaking,' : but , tbe.i older servantc- of - the - pHurish—men! whose : beards and' hair,.ha,vo. grown; "white long, sincecounselled co,utinn','and adviged thotaeetih|! ! to "hasten, slowly,";: "I should not think anyone would charge. Ibis assembly with unduo .'hast* ih : tho -matter," 'reported tho : ltov, , A. J.: Wai-,\ dock, to one of these-, -patriarchal' advisers. l "Seeing. that .this proposal has been dangled before our eyes, for 2QYvears, to my knowledge, and maybe .for.'.spine lnn ( 9, beforo tlialj'no one . can say we'have .not. hastenpd-..510w1y,"-■• And so on. through.the':diEcussioii,'.whcu' tUe ; jiiein-' bers of tho .oldJscliool, few of them admittedly,) ,'had the , temerity to plead.for ','timo to thinkYit,over," : tho .youngs blood ■ came .-.to ithe. foro .and.-. parried the thrust,, with tbo, result, that. at the close tlus/meeting was' , almost unanimous.

:Tho•'Rey.-' i Can'on' 'Artliur Sutton■ Valpy, who died last month,•",left large ""bequests/ 'to ; tha Catliedral arid , cHaritiesV-. He ■' bcquedlhed ■JEloop.',':to' ; tho J ; Dean -iand r' Chapter .of; MTiuchester for. tho improvement W. , do-, coration: of- somp ,' par t-' qf-j.- the "Cathedral, •fMKbto tho■'trustees', of tho'v , jQioceso' 'of■ .Sf. Albania 1 for..the. repair ■ of.- the pafish: room>at 'Wiggintoiy built by: him in -memory of his, to tho'North 1 nnd : East Eondon Church Fund; Bishop of'Condon's-Fund for 'North.-Xo'ndon,' Bishop .; of':. Winchostcr's' "Fund/. Society for Promotmg.-fjJhvistian. Know* ledge, "Socio.ty; for- tho Propß.gation ' of: -.'.theGospel, National . Societv, and.. Incorporated Church Building ,■ Society..'--(In his will ho ■ left ■■: XIO.OOO. to the'-. Dean and - Chapr tcr of -AVinchestor 'on ; trust .for ar.peiv manent capital endowment;;" of 'which ,tho ,in- ; comet should bo applied -for repairs or ornamentation of tho fabric of Winchester.- Catheidral; to the ■ .iglejiiy 'fpritthe Diocese of; :%o(;hesterir ; dUOdO, loach" tfvflMs BLshop of Winohoiwr's ITunrl, lUMlPorßnifluth ■: Church of / EnglaTAi Soldi'crsb.amt Sailors' : Institution,' and the '-Church {'of: : England. Soldiers , ' and Sailors' Institutes- , . Associates; anil - \£lo,ooo-"to tho Bishop v of-.' Winchester, for-building-a church in that diocese, prefcrenco being Aldcrshot and'FanlWbugh; 'This .bequest- was -afterwards . : revoked because, "of tho: Budget ichafges; The gross . valuo. : '.pf .Canon : Vnlpy's estate, is -JC216.C86. •-..', ;"; -■~'.■: :'•:■-■■ ; v : -' ; '"':'T' v :

Directly afW.'Archbishop.Wright"arrives,ni ■ Sydney.it'is expected the' election:of a I'rimati ■ will take! place. The choice will rest with' the Anglican Bishops of tho Comonwealth, ,buli . they are limited, as they must elect one: of'the three' ArchbishopsTTSydne'y,. Stelb'ourue,.. and Brisbane.' Sydney: is tho. mother-diocese, and. lias .had the Primacy: heretofore,:-but the right-. ■to. it-was. ceded-to give the .Diocesan Synod ;;a-: lifreo'lwnd'in the election of ; its) Archbishop,-. iThe: principaV duty of tho Primate'is to pre-j.' !- : side'at'the General Synod,' the-Meral Church;.' -Parliament, that-, assembles ohce in five .years. l-'ThaUsyiiod'.would naturally .meet'in thocitj, "of the hew. Primate, and probably the convem- , ■«nce of the.large body of. representatives,.will be thought of, among,-other matters, when.the;' ■ election'comes off. : ...;.,..■ - : !.,;.■''■■. ' Amongst the! speakers at the : World's, Con-; fentioli of Christian Endeavour,: which is. to meet at Agra, India, oi\ November »20, will lw,' jr.iss EllavWeatherley: (president-elect- of the British Kndcayour...Union),-.and.,Ecv.-F. E.-; Clark, D.D. (founder of-.tne .Christian-Eiideav. our' movement). It is',tiia intenlion.of a rajsRionary in one of the outlying districts to take ldlO Endeavnurers; fromhis: station,to. the con-. volition, and -aV they are..unable to:pay the

train fare, 'they purpose to,Agra,;a, journey of four daysm going, and the same, in. returning.,'On arriving at Agra,they, \nllfeet up their .tents and live under, canvas. /.-A flag lis being sent-to tho convention, by the Australa!sian ■ Christian- Endeavour, .'Onion, around which will ho ejouped tho flr.gs that aTO boing.. '■sent: by different Australian Stato unions, t' The Eohian, correspondent of.'the , "Pall Mall:. GaVetto" says:—"Tho Vaticanv; is following,-■-ivitii > keen,' interest. the reports': coming 'from; •En'iland- with regard to, a: possible, npppint-, : ment,bf an Irish'ropresentalivo. to tho-Holy. See 'intended-to act in'reality'as a diplomatio agent, for ■ the wholo.' BritisKEinpn-e. ,.t.:;: ;;■ '.. ■ trntil- lately one.'.of the niost'fcinarkablo.fciv' ainples -of a rigid' ecclesiastical! protectionism.; .was presented by Zion City. UioVheadquar era. of the late Dr. Dowie.. peculiar/ prophet was himself ahye and flourishing iio. other faith was allowed to gam a footliold. within the territory., underpins control. But. "our little systems have their day,, and Viion Citv is .now-'under-: the adnnnistraliou;o£. a. receiver The embargo on outside products is-; consequently- .'withdrawn; nrnl on -.a' recent. Sunday both the Baptists and^lolhodists' held, 'meetings in ; the- Zion City.Hotel, formerly, the, ■Elijah Hospice.-i.: •'; •" '•;' ■■ ■"'; ; :-'■'.'■'.■ ■': 'At- one-of'thb'best-lmcwn" Congregational'. , 'churches in Londou, ,tho prcacliev. lor.the day. recently announced/ without explanation, that, the ■ first lesson- w taken from ■ Kedosinsticus.;. l It-was- interesting to sec (say's ~tho " Christian. World") liow tho cttngregation took tho an-, nownccment. Some,, of course, understood,.,at once, and, having no Apocrypha;. in -their, Bibles,,' quietly' settled: dp\vii.,,to'. listen. ■..■lμ.. other- cases Bibles thl;en Vl up. with tho , ?- usual confidonce, but. in a moment; or two a.. look of uncertainty and bewiWerment loUowed.-v Annarcntly Ecclosiastes had. been tried in tbiuVs Some who wcre'rather hazy—as»most too-; ple : are—about the order of tho , books in tho,.' second half of: tlio Old Testament begun'fur-! tively to.try to"discover the Unfamiliar Scripture ■ Tho .'lesson was appropriate and strik-. ing,' and one■.realised, qnco' , moro. with liow , much- advantage, certain of tho Apocryphal.'. books miglit bo used'moro often in Frco Church services. We'are,- in fact, largely tho victims of an antiquated decision of tho.. Bibln Sooiecty. . In tho days before jnodern Biblical, scholarship the society mode it a- rulo. not;• 'to publish tho, Apocrypha m any of its Bibles. Most of the groat publishers of Bibles, indeed,, have got into the way of-leaving out tho Apo-, crypha. Even if Iho wholo of the. Apocrytha is not drawn upon; tho,Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclosiasticus at least .would. n\ost helpfully' enrich tho .field from which Old Testament, lessons aro, drawn. .... .....:. .

Statistics of. Congregationalism havo justbeen brought up to date. , Comparison with , tho returns -published lust year! show an in-: crease, of >13,52 i, church members, ■ with thosmall iiicrcaso'.of 8091 Sunday-school scholars/ Whilst-the •■•figures-of Great, Britain und'AUs-; tralasia.' F show n .slight, decrease iii '.'churchi memueyshin,- tlio.Tiiiitcd Slates, Canada, South r Africa, .and 'Natal, report an increase.:..Tho' number! of■ stations reported by tho London-! Missionary, Society "only : represent ' head- '■ stations, nnd.donot include u.largo numberof out-stations .'which uro worked in connec-. -tion with the society.--.'No statistics lire avail-1 able for the Continent of,Kiiropn, although in' 'Sweden, nlone, there arc " l'Vwi" CotigvcKft.,tio'nal churches, with a membership of quite' 100,000, : './ %i !.:;,!- :.. • - ;.-.-.