RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 770, 19 March 1910, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

UNION OF CHURCHES. DISCUSSED BY METHODIST CONFERENCE.' The Hev. W. H. Beale reported verbally to the Methodist Conference at Sydney, on March 11, as to the present position and outlook with regard to the union of the churches. Ho moved:—"That , the conference receives with much gratification the report of tho progress made in. the negotiations towards the union of the Presbyterian, Congregational, and Methodist Churches.. The conference expresses its sympathy with the movement, and the hope that a satisfactory basis of union may bo arrived at that will consolidate the agencies, and multiply the influence of the Churches concerned, and promote the cause of evangelical religion in this land."

Mr. W. Eobson, M.L.C., thought the motion wns too committal. The matter was only in process of consideration, and he could see no signs of coming union. He considered it sufficient to receive the report, and express gratification at what had taken place. f Mr. Gnrrard: Surely tho conference is not agninst union.,' Progress must necessarily be slow, and willininieES for such a consummation mie;ht well be shown. The Rev. J. G. M. Taylor asked what had paused tlie diiSculty with tho Presbyterian Church last year. Negotiations had been interrupted because- of a supposed opportunity for union with tho Anslicnns. These having failed, the matter had been resumed as' between the others. In his opinion the time had not arrived when they. should sink the distinctive elements ; of their, church life Mr. P.JJr.s r . Slade moved las an amendment:—"That the" report be received, and tlie committee thanked for its labours." Tl»> Rev- W.. ,W. Rntledga regretted that this business, had come before them at such a late-stage of the conference. Tno amendments suggested .by the various, speakers -were, too cold. "The Presbyterian Church had sent a communication to the several churches: with,a view to.consolidation and the formation of a Uniied Church of Australia. The Baptist Church had not been able to see its way to join, while the Church ■o£ England had been obliged'to delay action. He hoped.they would at least be sympathetic. •Tho President: ; Why not reaffirm the resolution of last, year:—"That this conference expresses its continued sympathy with the movement towards a closer union between the" Presbyterian, Congregational, and Methodist Churches"? ° Mr. W; Eobson, ,'M.L.C.,- gave 'notice of an amendment:—"That the/conference the report, express gratification at the progress made,- and forward a further rcyort to the general conference." The Eev. J. Bealk remarked that it was necessarily a slow; progress. ; They ought not , to take too niuch . notice of what Dr. Bevan had .•'..said-... in/ -the" light he had said and dbn'o since making tho 'statement alluded, to.. ' ■'" '- / The Eev. W. H. Beale, in reply, exnlained that, a scheme'.of'doctrine had been formulated which no Methodist need hesitate to accept." " ~ : '."' / ' • The motion was. negatived, ' arid Mr." Eobins's amendment carried.

THE CHAPEL ROYAL; A REMARKABLE SERMON; ■■ An interesting account of, a-service-at" the Chapel Royal,. St. James's, is given by the lady corresponUent in London of' the "Sydney' Morning Herald." '' ":•. . The chapel is but a small one, simpV built .(she writes), a- part of the old palace, low; of -roof, and. 'wonderfully simple. There is a gallery overhead; and over , the entrance is a special part sot aside for Royalty, a wide pew with ■cushions yßWVjihcrjrinling. , downstairs there are , tWiows of pews, , with'such'' high-sides that only one's head is visible, leading right up to. the small sanctuary where the choir and clergy conduct tie service. . The. service begins at a quarter ',I)ast\l2: A' few nioinerits'beforo: thd clock rang out the hour -I heard the sweet , .voices of . boys singing" a processional, hymn, and ;thcn .the doors. were thrown, open 'and an imposing procession made itsw.ay slowly'. towards the .Communion table. ■; The. clergy were vested fifi L e ordinal T cassock aud surplice. Ihe boys. of. the choir, known as the Jungs Singing Boys," wore, old-' lasluoned scarlet coats, arid breeches •of seventeenth century cut, with high stocks, ■ looking, as though.;Pepys might have heard them sing in' the. selfsame clothes ■ lou know , how clearly the littlo man always described clothing. They, wore 110 surplices -or cassocks, merely this'oldworld costume. The gentlemen of the Uiapel Loyal wore, scarlet cassocks and white surplices, wearing over them- anv academic distinction in the way of hood" it-is considered an honour'to s oa. one of tlie choir, and amongst the singers was a Master• of Arts,' wearing his, fur-edged hood. Ihe service was full choral, intoned by. one of■ the clergy. ..There wore hymns and an anthem, ■ but it was verv simple, though the ritual was carried ont in a stately manner. There were lit candles on the altar,. a cross set with seius,-. and some ■■ magnificent gold plate. On either side of the sanctuary were two huge tapestries. The conTcation was a small one. Amongst those I blow .was Sir Algernon, -West,, who was at one time private secretary to Mr Wadstone, a most charming and iinterestiug person. . ■■..,- : The preacher for the day was • the Hon. and Rev. Hr.'T. Trywhitt;, whose text was a very solmen one, ."And God said unto him Thou fool/' The .contest of ■that part of St. Luke was not used But it was. a remarkable sermon..:.,He dwelt on Hio desecration of the-London Sundav with some warmth,.aiid,a.sked liis congregaaonwhat they expected was to become of the soul "of that last product in Forvitudc, the chauffeur," whom no , one treated as,if he were a human being. A mere ■ machine, akin to the petrol 01 tho tyres of society's last toy. Then he touched on rinking, which is the last hunday excitement, and said that though in'itself rinkiug was no harm, yet it kept, a'great many attendants from "a dav* of rest and leisure, .which the fashionable people iu their hunt for amusement never considered.' And every now and then, with awful solemnity, Mr.' Trywhitt repeated the words of' his text, "Thou fool.",; It is, of course, one of the things one- notices most in these days, the extraordinary want of feeling for Sunday. The reproach that the London Sunday is dull-.may well be deleted. We have concerts everywhere, plays at cer-. tain theatres, rinking at the fashionable halls, while the motor is ■' in constant use. Arid in the homes of. the wealthy' bridge parties all the afternoon and ovening. There is no rest: No ono wishes to rest. Nepenthe is best found , by constant motion, and the transition froin one excitement to another. -

BISHOPS AND ROME. REGULATION OF VISITS. 1 Regarding the presentation of statements on the condition of ■ their diocese to the Hoi}- See by bishops mid ' their visits "ad Jimina Apostolorum," nn imputtqnt document has emanated from the Consistorial Congregation by which several alterations are. made in existing -arrangements: ■ A synopsis of the document, already published in Home, will give sufficient information as to its contents:—"The'new discipline establishes for all bishops without distinction, except those subject to Propaganda, a fixed term of five years within which:,the. 'relatio' as to the condition of their dioceses must be completed. . This term is common to all dioceses of a ' determined region. The regulation will begin to bind in January, '1911. In the first year the reports of dioceses in Italy and tho adjacent islands must be sent to Dome; ill the second those of Spain, France, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, England, and Scotland in the third those of Germany, Austria-Hungary, , aud the rest of Snrope; in the fourth those of the two Americas; in the "fifth those of .Africa, Asia, Australia, and othev places not subject to Propaganda. In the fifth year the report must be- , renewed for each diocese. In the same year in which- the report is. sent to the Holy Sec bishop? ninst. fulfil their visits 'ad limina." t'rr nou-Euro-pean bishops it is permitted that the visit,

bo made only every, ten years. Bnt if the year in which a bishop ought to fulfil both obligations (the sending of the report and the making of the visit) falls' within the first two years since he took charge of the diocese, a dispensation ' is grunted'him'for this occasion. Thus for the current year 1910 all bishops are dispensed both from the Apostolic visit and tho diocesan report; and for 1911 and 1912 a dispensation is also given to thofo , bishops who, according to the intervals) laid down above, should make their visit! or send in their report in those two year% but have, already done so in tho yea* 1009. Finally, the decree states that net change is made in the law of the Council of Trent regarding the episcopal visitation of dioceses, and lays down minute 9! rules as to the filling up of the form of! tho 'relatio' by each bishop.'; According' to this, a detailed account is W bo- given concerning the state of a diocese, of tho Faith, and divine worship. ..Information must bo given as to' the bishop, the diox cesan curia, clergy, chapters, parish' , priests and parochial residences, the diocesan and inter-diocesan seminaries, Tcii* gious. institutes, male and female, the people, the conditions of', education, the instruction of youth, religious ;; societies, 1 confraternities, pious bequests, religious and social works, books and journals."

A GREAT BIBLICAL SCHOLAR. ■': PRESENTATION TO DR; DRIVES. . . In the ' Ciiapter House- of Christ . Church, Oxford, Dr..Driver, one;of the most ■distinguished:Old'.Testamentcßchol- .' ars-of the day, was "presented with "hie.' portrait, subscribed'for-bya large num-' ■ bar-of his. friends and* former'pupils. Th* '■•:. picture, painted by ittr. Briton Riviere.'; .H.A., ynll -worthily coinraemoratevone o£ ' the.greatest of the scholars-who'Have- oc- ' copied; the-Chair of/Eebrew in Oxford, '■ The Yice-Chaucellor.'inigivmg (expression/ to; the universal appKriatibn of. Dr. • DriverX services to:3ri)Kcali science,, drew, ; attention especially to the '.•professor's re-\ '" assuring mffiienco-'uirenrorigious opinion, : to his success in.creiiting of younger . fellow-workets—the sorest- evi-l i dence of a fceacherfs capacity—and* to'.the/'; combinatiomin bisicharacter of ■ the-qnali-J ties-jof reverence and fire, so well bronghS out by'the artist. In accepting-the ; por J : " trait, Dγ,". Driver, after ''conveying his ■ thanks with much warmth of feejing ■ took a survey of Old Testament'etudies during.'his-time: He'pointed-jout thata Ms work had fallen in.a^ieriodyofi^ransi-1 ■-. non.ni which.. English-, students had'been. , • compelled to acquire those principles' of thoroughness and/scientific method better. ■ understood by our, Teutonic cousins than/ by ourselves. Since-he succeeded Dr. Pusey ;in; 1882 Professor-Driver hasde.voted himself to the promotion of exact . •scholarship_ and judicious criticism. ■ Hiei early work on the Tenses-in-Hebiw.ifirstl '. published in-1874,-revised and.enlarged in... :'-1892 (third edition), laid the ' of. the. modern studyof Hebrew grammar: in England on philosophical and comparative, lines; and though many other books- . of the. utmost value, especially his "In-. • I troduction to the; Literature of tho Old| ' (Testament," have come from him during; . these productive years, this.still remains! his most independent and lasting contri-' bution, the work of a master of language: ■ and nieth'bd. .Characteristically in his; address Dr. Driver preferred to talk! ': about his subject.father than about'him- ; self.. He summed iip the leading princi- ' pies of Criticism—Lowe:. Highcrj Historical; and in reference tothe of the. Hebrew Text, which in ..ah epoch''■ of emendation like our/own is a matter of concern, to every he made a remark of exceptional. value- : 7"E«jard to probability, and the exercise dWelf-criti- '' cisin-and self-distrust are probably the surest guides." , "

'~.;,',■; :'..>:', JOTTINGS.' •;:..:. :■ '..'■ .'.The'.Bishop of London,\speaking at.tiie -aiuiual meeting of the Hiimpstead Co.un- '■■■■'■ cil of.Social Welfare, said;lie'bad.spent', ■a. good deal of time in London in trymg to' draw.people together for the good ; :of _',- their common city, and when they'once;! unified the'-Christian/sentiment of'. '. don nothing in. the' world;would-stand ' againrf them. >'The 'reason 1 , they weak in public sentiment;to-day wasi'be-..-!--cause they were divided:* , Hotwerit neaely*'--:-ih'and .-in , , hand with .Bn cOlifforcU X& r #*" Congo : meeting tlie , other' day. "I feel! 1 quite .differently towards; him;"-.added! '•■ the Bisbop, "from what I did., I dis noti .. know the hiaji before.. I know him now,.'-,-'and I. thmk hq).likes-ineibetter.", s z;;-\' . "rifteen items!" exclaimed a minister ' at" the' Victorian. Methodist Cqnference.ashe glanced down the order of service submitted in the agenda paper as a special. sernee for children. "Fifteen' items, and ■■ the service not to exceed one honr! Why,-.' that means only four minntes for each ■ .item. A prayer might occup.v'.niore than, four minutes." "The' Lord's Prayer," replied the president of the conference (the Rev. J. P. M'Cann). "is a'short prayer, - And,; according to Dr. Fitchett, it would! .'bo.-a good thing if all the. prayers were, as.brisf." "Hear, hear/'-oliorused ministers and laymen ■ loudly. ■ ,'Tonr minutes!'' remarked a reverend gentle- , 'man reflectively. "I have heard a prayer that lasted W- minutes."' "And I heard .': a prayer for 2? minutes," confessed another "minister. . "Shame 1 .; shame!", ctfed , members of the conference as they gazed , at him reproachfully. But '.(says th» "Argus'" report) he was heedless of their ' 100k5.,. He'was turning his mind back: ■ over many services. "It was a good riiany : years ago," he added.. .' :.' ' '-:

Interest is now being actively., aroused . in the World's .Missionary Conference to be held in '.Edinburgh ,iu June. Preliminary meetings are- to, take place in all.. the principal towns in the country. .All' the denominations are co-operating foru the, tucoess of. a. mammoth conference , , which will represent the.labour and in.j , terests of practically all the churches oil Christendom. ....>•■ '. ' . ■ ■ Dr. R. IV Horton sketched, recently a., promising future for the Sunday. school in Great Britain.' Already, in Protestant Sunday schools there .'were, he said, M),GOO teachers' and. 6,000,000' scholars. One of the best signs was seen in the eliortt of the Sunday school'to adapt itself'to hew conditions, and. by; grading, by providing clubs and institutes to fill up the gap between child, life arid the 'mature ■ life of the Church. A different type- , o£ ■■ teaching : was called for to-day, and ; it. was very gratifying to see the teachersi trying to'ijualify ■ themselves at everyi; point, for the onerous duty they wqw, called to' discharge. - - '■''■•. •Dr. : Campbell Morgan has cabled to . America decliniug the invitation to Fifth Avenue Presbyterian. Church, New. York.. General Booth, in the course of art. address to a large gathering at Barnslej, last monthj. said that ■ while the doctors, Iq'.d him he still had 10. j-ears' fishtin. him, He could not see why "it should not be 20. . "ily path has Jjeen besst with], thorns." he said. "Sometimes I think my. back ivill : break under the burden, and! my heart will burst through the trials.; and disappointments associated with mj. irork 'and. my position. But Heaven is, worth suffering for!' I mean to have a. good.time when I get there"! It's 20 yean, since I had a'rest. Kveii when I've been : sick I have had to ho working at something or another; but when. I get well through. the Pearly Gates, have kissed my darling wife, andheard. the Salvationists shout 'Hallelujah!'. I ant going to ask Peter whether I can't have three months' ■ holidav." .-■•''. : '. ■■'

■ Professor -Ronton! lectured in Melbonfm' last week on "Jesus or Christ" referrins to the articles in the "Hibbert Journal supplement.: After examining some of tha contributions'to the discussion,' Professor Rentdul said , that-three ■features were' forced upon the reader. The first was , the truth expressed some months ago by Dr. James Hastings that it was not our' science, but our particular philosophj,, that was perilous to faith. That was absolutely true. It was not high criticisnv of the Gospels and other Biblical writings* but man's philosophical bias that altered and disturbed his attitude to tlie Gospela' and tlie Christ. Secondly, tho unbiased criticism of the Gospel records went to prove that this attempted separation' nfJesus from' history and from the Chriat' of faith was contrary to historic fact, and had no historic standing Thirdly, the influence exorcised by Jesus upon all critics came not at all from the , merely human Jesus whom they tried tot separate from Christ. The Jesus th&tf constrained the homage and .won tke\ hearts of men—even the noblest Unitairi ians—was Jesus Christ of the Gospels ana, of St. Paul and the Redeemer of the early Church and of all Christian theology. "I*. you could ..eviscerate Jesus of all thr.f makes Him the Christ," the lecturer d«\ dared, "you would malte an end of th<. spell '.vhich arrests the reason and inak<<« Jesus Christ constrain men, as example- : uuiota , aud redeemer." •'•.-'.