RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 966, 5 November 1910, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

THE ROMANCE OF MISSIONS. THE L.JI.S. YEAR REVIEWED. The complaint is sometimes heard that the romantic aspect of foreign missions goes insufficiently emphasised (says tho "Christian World"). An answer to this criticism is given in the opening pages of tho ono hundred and fifteenth report, of tho London Missionary Society, just published. It is pointed out that the early days of romance in trjoring new, untried, and sometimes dangerous fields have passed, and that tho excitement and thrill of missionary stories are not possible in a day when ladies unattended, save by native servants, can make the journey from the Cape to , Cairo," or can penetrate into strange regions of tho highlands of Central, without serious risk. This does not argue or imply that the romance has fled from foreign missions. It' has merely changed its form. A very real romance there is, but it is the romance of consecrated lives, unstintingly devoting their gifts and talents, to patient, obscure, and often apparently unremunerativo work; tho romancc of noiseless change, and tho romance of the romance of the great mystery of the silent working of God's grace. This emphasis on the changed romance in the missionary enterprise is the prelude to a detailed review of tho work of the IT.j\l!o. in its world-spread fields of operations, and it may be said that the report, while deficient in those thrills which have often marked its pages, is rich in romantic records of persistent, self-forgetful work. Tho absence of a deficit on last year's working is a very cheering feature of the report. The accumulated deficiency of £41,488 is staggering enough; but it is refreshing to realise that last year nothing was added to it. The society's' staff of 295 European missionaries, with 962 ordained native agents and 4091 preachers, is far below tho needs of its work, but it is noteworthy that tho Church membership (86,494) shows an increase of 1668, and/that the ' native adherents (300,052) have also increased by 4522. The day schools have 80,453 scholars, and the' Sunday Schools have within 50 of that, number. In its 48 hospitals and 33 dispensaries the society has 38 fully-qualified medical missionaries. /

A COMPLETE DRAMA. GREATEST PASSAGE IN OLD TESTAMENT. Professor. Moulton, of Cliicago, in speaking at New Iving Street TVesloyan Chapel, Bath, said, in reply to a letter asking which is tho greatest verse in' the Old Testament, that the division of tho Bible iijt-o verses was one of tho worst calamities that ever befell it, and prevented its being read like other books, but the greatest passage was undoubtedly Micali vi. 1 t>. 8. It is a complete drama in' which God holds a controversy with His o on tho meaning of serving Him. .Many misconceptions were cited.' The mountains sitting as the judge, God pleads as in a Court of justice, and calls Balaam as a witness. The declamation of the story of Balak, King of Moab, calling Balaam to curse Israel, and the delineation of the character of Balaam, was arresting. He was depicted as a spiritualist who went as far as he could for material gain, yet never vent beyond his message, showing vividly that high spirituality is not righteousness, but an endowment like tenuis. Spirituality and compromise may go together without intentional hypocrisy, but tho essentials of righteousness are' for all. The peoplo are unable to meet God, and the verdict is givon in verse S: "To do justly, and to love mercy and live with a sense of God's presence. - ' l'

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. ADVICE TO FRENCH-CANADIANS. Archbishop Bourue, in a most notable address at the. Eucliaristic Congress, pleaded for an extension of the English language in Canada. While, not desiring to doprive the French tongue of any of the consideration it now enjoys in Canada, the speaker pointed to the growing influence of English throughout the world, and said that until the English language, habits .of thought, literature, and mentality were brought into its service, the saving work of the Church would bo hampered. Only by bringing the English , ftnguo under service to the cause of truth could Canada become Catholic and national in the fullest sense.

Archbishop Bourne, with the approval of Cardinals "Logue and Gibbons, proposed that the Holy See should be petitioned to cause ...the Arch-Confraternity of Onr Lady of Compassion to bo made more universal, so that the whole world might pray that all the English nations should be restored to the allegiance of the Apostolic See.—Reuter.

A STRONG PERSONALITY. THE REV. L. RICHARDS GOES TO MELBOURNE. Under the heading of "A Strong Man for Collins Street," the "Christian World," of .September 8, says:— "Rev. L<Jj'ton Richards, M.A., of Peterhead, who has accepted the pastorate of Collins Street Congregational Church, Melbourne, in succession to Dr. Llewellyn . Bevan, is a young minister for whom a great future is prophesied by those who have watched liis career. AVlien at Mansfield College he was regarded as one of tho strongest personalities the college has had among its students. In many respects lie was a second Silvester Home —a social Gospel enthusiast, an attractive preacher, and a powerful platform speaker. lie had completed his college course he decided to seek a remote pastorate where he might pursue his studies. Ho settled at Peterhead four years ago, and has firm•ly resisted numerous . temptations to larger spheres of opportunity. For several years he has spent the summer in America. The hard air of the Aberdeen coast has lattorly affected his throat, and this, ' perhaps, has made tho invitation to Australia especially acceptable. Melbourne gains and England loses by the removal of a bracing and attractive personality.

THE NEW ASTRONOMER ROYAL. A SON OF THE MANSE. Mr. Frank Watson Dyson, F.R.S., who has been appointed Astronomer Royal, is a son of the. manso. His father, Rev. Watson Dyson, was tho Baptist minister at Ashby, where the now Astronomer Royal was born in IS6B. At Cambridge University he was second wrangler and Smith's prizeman, as well ns Isaac Newton student and Fellow of Trinity College. For six years ho was Secretary of tho Boyal Astronomical Society. He served eleven years as chief assistant to Sir William Christie (whom lie now succeeds) at Greenwich Observatory. Since 1905 ho has been Astronomer Boyal of Scotland. At forty-two Mr. Dyson lias an international reputation and holds the "blue riband" of his special branch' of science. His father, the late lie v. Watsoli Dyson, was a minister much esteemed in the Baptist denomination. His last pastorato was at Harrow-on-. thc-Hill. Whilst at Cambridge the now Astronomer Royal frequently rendered useful.service in. village Christian work'. .His sisteri Miss E. M. Dysoiu a lady

missionary of the Zenana Society, lias recently accepted the position of Principal of the newly-founded United Missionary Training College at Ballygung, Calcutta, in which institution the L.M.S., the Church of Scotland Mission, and the Diocesan Mission arc co-operating with the Baptists.

the Anglican mission. STATEMENT BY BISHOP JULIUS. In the course of a'conversation with a Christchurch reporter, Bishop Julius said that the mission had been nothing short of remarkable. "The whole conduct of missions has changed completely since the days when 1 knew and served in thorn lin England. In those days a mission was very largely an appeal to the emotions; there was little instruction, and the results wero not always lasting. But the Church has learned by experience. Tho mission held in this diocese has been very solemn and searching, but there has been little or no attempt to create excitement: An attempt was made some time ago to stir up party spirit, and thereby to .wreck this mission. However-well intended that was, it was the devil's work, and X thank God that it failed utterly. Men of all parties have been here and have worked together with one heart and one mind. They have taught the truth from "theii own view-points, without compromise and with all plainness, and I have heard nothing for which I am not profoundly thankful. "Some of the missioners have said to me that the work has been made easy, for the greater, part has been done by the prayers that preceded the mission, and by prayer the mission has been upheld. The evening services have been most impressive, and I was greatly moved by the fact that .in, almost every case by far the greater part of' the congregation remained for the instruction following the" service. God only knows the result of the mission, and time alone will manifest it even in part to. us. But the seriousness of the people and their eagerness for tho help and teaching afforded by it aro abundant ground for hope for its lasting benefit. . "Most pathetic have been the long lists of requests for prayer, set forth in the form of .prayer by tho missioners and responded to by the people, prayers, many of them, for the deliverance of others, husbands, brothers, sons, and so many young men' from gambling and : drunkenness. A witness these to tho sorrows that lie beneath the surface of our national life.

"Of the future I cannot speak. Some reaction' will take place, but I am confident that this work of God has not been in vain. Many of the younger clergy gained experience, and we hope in the following years to 'extend tho mission by the help of our tfwri clergy to the parishes which have been passed by." Speaking of the street, processions the Bishop said that some good church people had objected to the demonstrations. While he 'respected' their prejudices, ho was bound to say that he was profoundly thankful that a church whicn .was sometimes accused of toe great starchiness was willing to go out' into the streots,. and that so many men were willing, .as one missioner, put it; to "make .fools of themselves for Christ's sake." He thought that the public generally felt that it "meant business."

WESLEYAN TRADE UNIONISTS Wesleyan Methodists were prominent at the Sheffield Trade Union Congress., Among them were 1 : Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P., Mr.' A. H. Gill, M.P., Alderman House, J .P., president of the Dur-> ham Miners' . Association and a member .of Bishop"-Auckland Church; Mr. George ]3eadle, secretary of tho Steel "Workers' Union, who is associated with ,the North Road Church, Darlington; and Mr. John Barber, one of the Ebbw Vale miners!.. representatives...These . and--others were present at the mission services, and the hall was crowded when the Rev. C. Elisor Walters spoko on ."The Dignity of Labour." Mr. Henderson conducted the evening service, and. preached from the. text, ' 'Where there is no vision, the people perish." .