THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 818, 16 May 1910, Page 2

THE CHURCHES.

NEW PASTOR FOR CHURCH OF CHRIST. INTERVIEWED ON MISSIONS. Mr. S. J. Mathieson, the new pastor of the Church of Christ, Vivian Street, arrived in Wellington from the south on Saturday, and commenced his new ministry yesterday. Mr. Mathieson is a young man. a New Zealandcr by birth, who went four years ago from Dunodin to the United States, and has spent most of the intervening time at Drake University, Desmoins, lowa, He also attended tho University of Chicago, and has held missions in many of tho Amorican States. Ho was present at tho great convention of the Churches of Ohrist hold in America last October which was attended by 60,000 delegates and at which a single communion service was attended by 30,000 persons, probably tho largest number wno were over present at such a service. Mr. Mathieson left America towards the end of last October, and spent some, time in England, holding a mission in London, lie then went through France and Italy on a motor cycle, visiting the principal places of interest, and spent some time in Palestine and Egypt on his way to India. In India he 'visited the principal historical places, and about twenty different mission stations. Interviewed by a Dominion representative oil his impressions of India and other places, Mr. Mathieson said that while in India converts to Christianity aro not being mado so fast as could bo wished, it is uecessary for Christian teaching to permeate the minds of the peopta before largo results are achieved. Tho medical work especially impressed him. "The influence of tho medical missionary to-day," said Mr. Mathieson, "is greater far, I think, than that of the missionary who simply does evangelistic work. Present missionary efforts are mom likely to ensure success since it is recognised to be most desirable that educated men and women should bo sent out to this work. Ths time is past for the uneducated man to have a wide influence, though of course he can do good. "Many people blame the missionaries," said Mr. Mathieson, "for creating unrest in India. I found that, that is truo in a sense, though it is unavoidable. The mission schools are reaching tho lower caste Hindus, and as the outcome- of the education which the schools provide, these are given positions by tho Government independent of their caste, and tho higher casto natives are then dissatisfied because they are unwilling to serve under them. This is tho explanation of tho criticism of missionaries. There is a reaction now in that-the higher class are attending Government school i inoro than they ever did before." It had been said that Hinduism had revived during the last fifty years, and had more vitality-ir it now than it had before tho introduction of Christianity into India. Mr. Mathieson was informed by prominent religious workers in tho country that the explanation of this was not discouraging to Christianity, the fact being that Hinduism was compelled to do something to counteract tho progress of Christian work. In somo places hospitals havo been established for peopelc of tha lowor caste in tho name of Hinduism, something that was never known before tho introduction of Christianity. Mr. Mathieson also visited China, tho Philippine Islands, and New Guinea on his way to Sydney. He did not see.much of tho mission work in these places except in tho Philippines, where the missionaries, like'those irr India, had their own problems to solve. "Does Christianity meet the needs of tho 20Kb century?" was virtually tho subject of Mr. address at the morning service of the Vivian Street Church of Christ yesterday. The preacher argued that while Christ's teaching was given, in consideration of the conditions of His time it was founded on principles which, if applied to the twentieth century, would solve our problems and lead us to overcome tlio unfortunate circumstances with which wo were surrounded. In the course of an eloquent and thoughtful sermon tho preacher said: living in times when we should understand the responsibility that rests on those who are truly followers of Jesus. We aro not, I hope, as Christians simply in an army and attending to a dress parade once a week." Christianity was demanding the strongest typo of men and women, and appealing to their inner souls to acquit themselves like- those who had a great niessage, and were facing obstacles so serious that it required even the' spending of flesh

and blood to K ra PP'o with them.. Ho hoped they might ho known as a cntirch interested in the salvation of all classes of people, which had a broatl vision, with sympathy towards others who were following Christ to the bnst of ■' their ability, and that they might do somo Uiing individually and collectively to bring about the fulfilment of tlio prayer fcliat all who loved Christ might bo one in Him. "I believe that to-day Clirisi is being taken out of tho cemetery and put into fho counting-house, into tho world's business life," declared thu preacher. "We are beginning to loso the distinction between clergy and laity, and to see that all life is sacred." Tho preaciior aiso stated that "tliero aro practically no atheists in the world today; atheism is dew]"; and quoted tho pronouncements of leading scientists in support of the existence of n. personal God. God was going to-day into India, into China, into \friea. Tho outlook filled them witli tho brightest expectations, and their comrades were the world's greatest soiiis. NEW CHURCH AT EASTBOURNE. The new Anglican Church nt Eastbourne was declared open on Saturday afternoon by the, Rev. Joshua Jones, vicar of Lower Hutt. In spite of rain the church was crowded for the opening service, the Mayor and members of the, Eastbourne Borough Council being among those present. The usual scrvico for evening prayer was followed, with special hymns and prayers and lessons.

Tho Rev. W. Fancourt (Island Bay; and Rev. J. Sykcs (Upper Hutt) read the prayers, and the Rev. C 4. P. Davys (St. Peter's) and Rev. ,T. D. Russell (Potone) read the lessons. Tho Rev. Joshua Jones, as vicar of tho parish, gave an address in which ho traced the development of the church in Eastbourne and in the Hutt district generA year ago hardly inoro than a dozen worshippers met. in the schoolroom for worship, and now tho congregation of the church numbers between 40 and 50 members. Mr. Shortt presided at tho organ at Saturday's service.

Tho church is of Gothic design, and is built of cammerated concrete, finished in rough caste on the outside, and is plastered within. It is roofed with red asbestos tiles and .surmounted bv a steeple. Mr. F. dp .J. Ol'ere is tho architect The church will no t be consecrated by the bishop until the small debt on it has been extinguished.

SICK CLERGY RELIEF FUND. On tho occasion of tho animal retreat and synod of tho clergy of tho archdiocese of AVollington, hold about tho beginning of tho year (states a correspondent of tho New Zealand "Tablet") a special meeting of tho priests was convened to consider tho advisability of establishing in the archdio-ceso_.-i sustentation fund for tho relief of sick and infirm members of tho

clergy. Previous attempts to set up such a fund were discussed, together with tho obstacles that hindered any action from being taken. It waa now pointed oat that the number of clergy in the archdiocese was rapidly increasing, fclio diocesan roll of priests being tho third highest in Australasia, while the need of having a sick clergy relief fund was growing more and more apparent. The priests of the Society of Mary being members of a religious order were no!, exactly on tho same footing in. this respect as tho secular clergy but their religious superiors had consented to their making common causo with tho other priests of the archdiocese in this project.

As a result of tho discussion it was decided at once to establish a sujtentation fund. This would, it was stated, bo supported in the first place by annual subscriptions from the members of the clergy. In the next place, the project would no doubt be aided by donations or bequests from eharitablo persons; for many of the Faithful would be only too glad to give generous support to a fund which would preserve their devoted clergy from want in infirmity or old age after they had spent their health in their apostolic labours, Rules ware formulated for the good government of the association, and submitted to the sanction or his Crace the Archbishop. A management committee of six priests was next elected, with the Very Rev. beau John M'Kenna, of Masterton, as 0 Shea, S.M. V.G., as treasurer, and t tfc - J ;, Hlckson . S.M., as secretary, the other members of the comrmttee being the Yen. .Archdeacon Dnvo.v, S.M., the Very Rev. Dean James M'kenrn. and the Verv Rev Aur Keosh, S.M. ' Iho rules and list of first year's subscribers have now been printed and put 111 circulation. Most of the rules concern only tho priests in the- association but Rule X refers expressly to the laity, and states that "all the laity who contribute to the sustentation.tunl shall be reckoned among the diocesan benefactors, and shall bo entitled to a share m the diocesan suffrages for such benefactors." This slnuld be an extra inducement, if anj were wanted, to members of the faithful to become benefactors by donations or bequests. They will thus help to mal.e provision for "those who have borne tho burden of the day and the npats • in their service, and they will a r . the same time avail themselves of -lie benefits of the special prayers and si images of the Church. The Rev. Fathers O'Comiell and Kimbell, S.M., will hold a mission next month at Otaki. The work among boys in the Roman 'Catholic parishes of "Wellington is gradually increasing (states the "Tablet"). Another Boys' Club has been started in tho Thorndon parish. A SOJOTJEN IN GOSHEN. • MISSIONARY ADDKESSES. Mr. William Bradley, of the Egypt benoral Mission, who is spending several days in Wellington, addressed a men's meeting at the Y.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon. .The occasion was a "Bible Study Rally, in ■connection with, tho weeknight classes for Bible study which are to be held at the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Bradey s address was based on tho first chapter of Joshua. He drew largely from hi 9 own spiritual experiences and those oi othsr men with whom he had been in :ouch, and he dwelt with emphasis and iitting illustration upon the abidin" value of a careful, reverent stndy of the Scriptures. In the evening, Sir. Bradley spoke on missionary subjects to a large congregaion in the Vivian Street Baptist Church. He gavo reasons for the belief that missionary enterprise is indispensable to every modern Christian church, if it is o bo a church of power. Referring to us own 13 years of missionary labour in Egypt, h-9 spoke of the remarkable pro- ' gress irhjcli Christian missions have >een making, in that country, even against Mohammedanism, and described the work connected with his present station in tho Land of Goshen. Hr. Bradley will address a number of meetings in Wellington before leaving for Sydney next Friday week.