RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 805, 30 April 1910, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

WORLD EVANGELISATION

"Divine Imperialism!" Dr. Dunlop called it. At any rate, it stands as the greatest missionary movement the world | has ever seen. Its objective is no less than to evangelise the wholo world within a generation. Already it has swept over America, where last year 4500 business men drew up a national missionary policy. It has stirred Europe,.'and Sir A. Ffaser, the late Governor-General of Bengal, is giving his whole time to it. It is spreading to Asia and Africa, 'and now 138,000 students and professors are .enrolled under its banner. This is the Students' Volunteer Movement, and it came 'to Sydney a-few clays ago. It'was sprung as a surprise packet upon, the largest gathering of men of the Presbyterian Church vet held in Sydney. The wholo force of the Presbyterian Church in the State is behind it, says the "Sydney Morning Herald." At the meeting' the Moderator-General, the Rev. John Ferguson, presided, and all the leading theologians and professors of the Church were on tho platform. Dr. M'Laren, of Melbourne, said that to-day was a time of .crisis in the. history of tho world. Everywhere there was a growing feeling of nationhood. There should be no desire to Westernise the Orient. There was a divine purpose in store for the Japanese, for tbe Indians, and for tho Chinese. Education in India was bringing forth a great unrest. Turkey,, which had been dead morally and spiritually, at one stroke became free, and was breathing the, breath of life and living again. China was destined to be the greatest empire the world had ever seen. "I am-an optimist," continued Dr. M'Laren. "I do not live in a fool's paradise. : I know what science. has. said on the subject." But already through tho press the churches had a larger ffift of speech and through sejenco' had a larger gift of healing than in the' early days. It was a world-wide laymen's missionary movement, and he asked their co-opera-tion. (Applause.) :._ Principal Harper, D.D., said' that great things .were coming to pass in the Christian Church all over the world. Thousands of. young men'were .giving their whole life with heartiness and enthusiasm that were amazing and un-. precedented. They were'-seeing visions and dreaming dreams. All they asked, was prayer, sympathy, and money to make Christ known to the people of the whole world. Onco more the Church was an' army with banners. ', .

Mr. William GiUanders. opened his. address by saying' "I am not a minister. I am tiot-a missionary,. I am only a business, man,"''and then-he;spoke of the wonderful, work of the. students' volunteer- movement. It was certainly the .greatest movement; that had ever como to Victoria. The hour had struck in the history of the Church. It was the supreme business of the Church to evangelise the world. The movement started with three students, now there wore 138,000. It was the greatest crisis in the history of the Church. It was a world-wide evangelising , movement.

The provisional committee were elected,' and their action in starting the movement was-endorsed.

A DYING BISHOP'S FAREWELL LETTER.

For some days before his death it had become' generally known that- the late Bishop of Lincoln. (Dr.. King) Was lying in a precarious condition, and the touching messages sent by'him from'his sickbed to friends outside,! all indicated that his earthly course was quickly drawing to a ( close. The last of these messages was.to'the diocese at large, and .was:.'ihVtho...follbwing,.terms :— .

"Olcl Palace, Lincoln, March 2, 1910. ;,'.'My dear People,—l fear I am not able to write-.the letter..l should wish to write:. 1 have for some time been praying: God to tell me when. I' should give up my. work. '.\ Now He lias sent me in His loving wisdom a clear answer. It is a very.great comfort to me to be relieved from the responsibility of leaving you. All I have to do is to ask you to forgive the many 1 faults and innumerable shortcomings during the twenty-live years I have.been with you, and to ask you to'pray perfect my repentance, ; 'and."strengthen ,my faith -to_ the ;en3.l;'All.'.has'been !done, iii perfect" love arid; wisdom., My great' wish has been to lead you'to bo Christliko Christians. In Christ is tho only, true hope of unity arid peace. In Him we may be united to God and to one. another. May God guide and bless you all, and refresh you with the increasing consciousness of His Presence and His Love. —1 am, to tho end, your friend. and Bishop, ' , f "Edward Lincoln.".-'

A GREAT THEOLOGIAN

The citizens of Glasgow gave Dr. G. Adam Smith a fine send-off on his appointment as Principal of Aberdeen University. The Lord Provost said: "No man'of Ma ago had exercised a greater influence upon the theological thought of .Scotland than their guest.Dr. .Smith was no: commonplace man. He had been built in an' heroic mould, and studenti and-others who- had been' brought under his influence would join in paying him the high compliment of admitting that he had been .the moulder and inspirer of their loftiest ideals. As a Hebrew scholar, as the greatest living authority on the Semitic languages, as a writer on, the historical books of the Bible, as ono of the foremost preachers in Scotland, as a traveller in the. Far East, as an expositor of the lessons to bo learned from. a contemplation of the greatest themes in literature, Dr. Smith would- take his place in history beside tho noblest names of the past. He would be fevered and remembered perhaps most of all.for his deepand practical interest in the sunken masses.' No philanthropic cause existed. in' the city which he had not been willing to help by word or deed.' Having lived'among the poor and become acquainted at first hand with tho problems that face the social reformer in this country, he had not allowed himself to indulge in mere theorising, but had laid such communities as Glasgow under - lasting obligations, for the direction in which ho had pointed to the treatment and. solution of the acutost of social questions."

LONDON MISSIONS,

There is inspiration for the ' now Wellington Central Mission, in the story of the triumphs of the London Mission, which it may some day. emulate in the variety, if not in the scope, .of: its activities. The last anniversary meeting of the London Mission, under the old regime, was lately held at the Leysiau -Hall. The chairman pointed out the change to the London Central Committee would mean greater extensions among the new populations in and around London, and the, solving of the problem of deserted chapels in the inner belt of the metropolis. The Rev. Dr. Scott Lidgett, as superintendent of the South London Mission, paid a warm tribute to the devoted work done for twenty-one years by the secretary, Rev. AV. D. "Walters, and. then went. on. to powerfully set forth the vital principles of the London Mission. These were evangelism, concentration on ;*lic centres of population where the need was greatest, unci social service. Mr. Walters s:>id that ivlien.lie took up the secretaryship, • which he was . laying down at conference, though he would be associated with the new committee for a year, during the transition period, the income of the" general fund was .£2OO a year, and they needed £1000.-

Since then ho had, by metinegs all over the country, secured £100,000. They had 11,000 persons in the whole mission as members, with forty buildings, and 30,000 folks attended the services every Sunday. The Rev. J. Ernest Eattenbury told some remarkable Btories ol reformed lives.: through the Lyceum Thbatro services. The Rev. J. Gregory Mantle pointed out that at the Beptford Mission they had risen in six and a half years from 221 members to 1664, and had raised last year £610 for foreign missions. The Rev. E. A. Bennett,' of St. John's Square, said they were in good heart and hope there, .. —-i -Klioir prospects were exceedingly bright.

THE BIBUE AND SCIENCE.

Father Fonck, president of the Biblical Institute, recently gave a most_mteresting conference in the Sala ria, Kerne, on "Natural Science and the Bible" (says the "Tablet"). Several hundred persons were unable to find a place in the hall when ho began te speak before an audience consisting pi Cardinals Martinelli and SanminiatelhZabarella, a great number of bishops, prelates, professors', and students. Between the first and-second part of tho lecture there was an interval filled by interesing views, illustrating the flora of the Bible. The learned Jesuit dwelt on five points which must bu borne in mind when discussing the relations between natural science and the inspired text. In the Scripture it is not the Divine intention to teach natural science. The common language of the people is used, so as to be understood by them— and not the exact language of science.Therefore, natural phenomena are referred to according as they are perceived directly by the senses and not according to their scientific entity. Apart from their gift of inspiration the inspired authors were ribt more learned regarding natural science than those. around them, and yet there is not in the whole of the Bible a single error in things relating to natural science.

LENT SERMONS,

The mid-day addresses at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, during Lent, given by the Rev. 15. K. Talbot, M.A., of the Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield, have been characterised by brilliance; of phraseology as well as by the strength and clearness of the preacher's delivery. In introducing his subject,. "The Cross of Christ,".Mr. Talbot said: "Refuse the appeal of the Crucified, and you miss God—not the genial com-, monplaoe of complacent Sunday hours, but the Rock that will stand when the water-floods descend and' there' is. non» to help.' Tho Cross-is inot the pathetic tale of" a martyrdom; it' is; God iin action. That is our Charter when,all the philosophies of tho world are torn to ribbons. Have we a God worth calling God, with Whom we can be bold to live and dare to die? I cannot and ,dare not believe in la God who is indifferent to moral issue, whose goodness' is finally flouted. Look up! God reigns' from tho' tree; hot preaching a theoretio reoonoiliation, but actually meeting evil face to face. It is the folly of God, striking in across the wisdom of, the world.'' It is generally .agreed that • the Lenten addresses at St. Paul's this year were high . above the average, and the attendance probably constituted a record. ■..-'■

JOTTINGS./

A full meeting of the Executive Com-: mittee of-the. Church of England Men's Society was held recently, when the Archbishop of- York presided. The secretaries! report show that 92 new branches' had been added to the register, increasing the membership by 1333. The Archbishop said he' had heard: from two 'independent sources of the great enthusiasm evoked by Mr. Woollcombe's visit to Australia. Mr. Roland Green, Fair Home, Bourno End, Bucks, who has undertaken to. link- branches ; at Home and those in the colonies which are desirous of corresponding with one another, reported a large number of applications for this special work. Major Storr explained to the committee the opportunity presented by the World's Missionary Conference for bringing before our branches the question of mission work, <and it was, decided to apply for three" tickets, so that C.E.M.S. may be represented at this great conference by those.who would afterwards vim* many centres and address meetings'. '!.-.' More, than once has- ex-President Roosevelt,,- in , his "African Game Trails," made passing and approving remark on mission efforts.- The. Church Missionary Society have received a detailed account of his visit to its activities in Mengo, Uganda, when he; opened •it new block of hospital buildings, ■ including a ward that is to bear his own name. In the course of his speech, ne said: "I do so immensely admire ' the' work that is being done here. 1 have the■ keenest' sympathy ■ with; the spread of the British Empire, and'l have that sympathy because' the -spread of that rule means'benefit to the people over whom it goes. And you peopk. here are londering the greatest possible service that can be "rendered to your country and your mission when: you make the domination of that country and the living ot that flag synonymous with the extension of all that is highest in what wo call civilisation to a people who have, been left behind in the race for life." Envoy "Darkie" Huttou, who was formerly "the.'. Salvation Army pupil of the notorious Charlie Peace, and who nas hisself served over twenty-three years as.a convict, including rliree and u hill years m a dark cell and chains, is conducting campaigns at various corps in Scotland. The.Envoy is one of the best-known north-country "specials." The Rev. J. H. Shakespeare, secretary of the English Baptist. Union, has decided to accept the.invitation to visit America in the early summer in the interests of the World Baptist Alliance. Sir. Shakespeare's' great scheme for a United Evangelical Free Church of England has already found many sponsors. The Revs. J. H. : Jowett and Charles Brown, president and presidentelect of the Free, Church Council, have announced their -intention to espouse its advocacy, and many other eminent Free Churchmen have already indicated their agreement with' its central principle. Possibly by next March,' when the Free Church Council meets at Portsmouth,'the daring proposal will have come within the range of. practical politics. . . , The R-ev. A. M.. Gardner, has . been appointed manager of the great Missionary.' Exhibition —the World in Boston — .to he held in April, 1911, in the New England city. A guarantee fund of £12,000 has been raised, and tha exhibition is to .be the 'largest'., ef its. kind over held.' Eight thousand- stewards are being trained by ;300 teachsrs. The Bishop of Salisbury announces that, as a sequel to his mission last year to Sweden, hs has been invited to deliver' the Halo lectures at Chioago, U.S.A., in the last, week of October and the first week ef November, and to tako as his subject, "The National Church of Sweden." "There are an immense number of Swedes in U.S.A., especially' in the Western States (tha Bishop says in a letter to his diocese), and the Archbishop and the Bishops of London and Winchester think it my duty to go if you'will spare me." tfnder the ; presidency of Archbishop Bourne and the vice-presidency of the other bishops of the province, a per-| manent committee has been formed of representatives of ,- various Roman Catholic societies in England*and Wales, to arrange every "year for a National. Catholic Congress in England. I