RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1019, 7 January 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

4 THE ENGLISH MODERATOR. DR. THORNTON NOMINATED. On November 53 the . Nomination Board of tho Presbyterian Church of England, consisting of Moderators who havo passed tho chair and members of tho Standing' Committees, unanimously nominated the Rev. Robert M'Alpino Thornton, D.D., minister of Camden Road Church, as Moderator of the Synod, which is to meet in Manchester in May next. Dr. Thornton, who is a son of .the Manse .(his.-father, the late Dr. It. H. Thornton, was a pioneer Presbyterian minister of Western Canada), was born in Ontario in October, 1841. Ho had a distinguished career in the University of Toronto, and studied theology at Knox College, Toronto, from which he received a few years ago tho degree of'D.D.', After this lie took two sessions of theology in Edinburgh, one at the old United Presbyterian Hall, and tho other at the Free Church New College. This was followed by four months' study in' Berlin University, interrupted by tlio .outbreak of tho Franco-German War. After being licensed in-Edinburgh in.'lß7o, Dr.'Thornton returned to Canada, and was almost immediately called to Knox Church, Montreal. During his foiir years' ministry a debt t .of. £2000 on tiro church property was extinguished. In' December, 1874, he was translated to Wellpark Free Church, Glasgow,-and was introduced to his new charge by Dr. Robert Buchanan, iiis father-in-law, who was at that timo ono of the leadors. of the Free Church. Dr. Thornton's 8j- years' ministry in. Glasgow was a very fruitful one, but in September, 1833, lie accepted a call to Camden Iload Church, London. A debt of £2000 here also disappeared quickly, and the work of, the congregation.was pushed forward with great vigour. Two years ago he, celebrated his semi-jubilee at Camden Road. Dr. Thornton has taken special interest in Temperance work, . and in mission work-both at Homo and abroad, ah'd ho is a splendid orgauiser. His latest effort to further the interests of Pijesbytcriajiism- in London has been in the foundation of a society composed .of laymen who are able,and willing to conduct services'in the-open; at mission centres, or in churches. Dr. Thornton is a breezy. speaker, with'more than'a flavouring of /transatlantic vigour, and with him in tlio Moderator's chair tho work of the Synod ought to be carried through with rapidity.

METHODISM IN THE ISLANDS.

MORE WORKERS NEEDED. . Tho minutes of tho Methodist Synods recently held in Fiji, Now Guinea, and New Britain, together with a number of exhaustive reports, aro to hand. All theso indicate a singularly, successful year from tho standpoint of tho missionary. The report from Now Guinea and New Britain, arc especially encouraging, the general.secretary (Rev. B. Danks) says,. although they' reveal /the urgent necessity -for more missions and workers. One of the outstanding features of tho year has been tlio increased native contributions to: tho general funds so. far as New "Britain and New Guinea are concerned. .There has been a slight falling-off in the.returns from the Fiji district, duo really to tho devastating hurricane which recently travelled over the island. ' This notwithstanding, .'tho natives have shown a remarkablo devotion to the Church. In places like Now Guinea and New Britain, where the vast majority or the people , have, scarcely .more than heard of the Gospel of .Jesus .Christ,- the attitude of the people towards the missionaries ' excites . the warmest admiration. '

AN INDIAN MINISTER.

THE WORK OF A CONVERTED .BRAHMIN. The Rev. John P. Asliton sends tho "Christian World" some reminiscences of the Rev. T. K. Chatterji, of Bhowaniporc, Calcutta, an Indian minister who died recently., During; my furlough in 4870 (writes.'Mr. Ashton)- bur'missionaries first met him." Ho was then a young Brahmin priest in Ranaghat, who had-begun to learn tho falsities and deception of idolatry, and. at the suggestion of an. 'enlightened Hindu friend was studying tho; .Psalms and Gospels in Bengali. The. character of Jesus had captivated his heart,' and lie saw in Hini the refuge and Saviour he was seeking.- Bofore my return he had been received .into-the Bengali Church, and with unusual courage had-sct to work to learn English with the lads of the Institution. How vividly I can recall him, when his literary course, was nearly finished, sitting with tho two, others in my divinity class as a student for the ministry. Next, I remember Mr. Chatterji as bishop-evangelist of- six village churches amongst the rice-fields. Many n time I accompanied hi'm in his visits to the churches and schools a few miles from his village home, where now the new Arthinaton buildings are rising. Ho was highly'ircspected and beloved by the petty fahrier sand fishermen of his picturesque, district. After 'some years he-was promoted to the pastorate of tho Bhowanipare Bengali Congregational Church, an 'offshoot from the Collego and the most conspicuous Indian congregation in Bengal. Very nobly ho.filled this pastorate. I was a frequent'attendant at tho services, ■when opportunity served, for there were scarcely any preachers, English or Bengali, who attracted me so.-much as this modest, gentlemanly Brahmin, with his pure and classical Bengali and his earnest, lucid appeals to his countrymen, young and old. to adorn tho Gospel of his beloved .Tesns. . For twentv-fivo years lie has held this prominent position, and in manv' ways his voice and nen .have been a blessing to his people. There was something very winning in ,his ways, as'those will agree who heard and knew him when, eight years am, lie visito'l our English churches. The' Tj.Jl.'S.'.District Committee .honoured Ipm by a/position amongst them, and nil 'nlons wo: recognised him ns one on I whoso judgment and enthusiasm w« could rely. He wps popular with all classes—vill-tiers, +)io poor of tho shins, the highly-eclucjited mo'uWs of his Calcutta- congregation and his fello"' m:ssionaries of ill rlorrvees. ■ He will lie | sorelv missed. Such sympathetic, devoted leaders are only top few in number. •

WORK OF THE S.P.G.K,

A SPECIAL APPEAL. ' ;The great variety of tlio ,work of tho Society for tho Promotion of Christian Knowledge, as tho annual report points out, makes it very difficult to write its record. A suggestion is mado by which its aims and it-s wants may become bet-, tor known. A century ago, when tho society was 112 years old, a system of district committees was started, which was intended to cover tho country with willing and enthusiastic helpers. There ■are still places where thi3 idea is living, but in many others it is practically dead. An appeal is made to revitalise' this system. With regard to financial matters the bookselling account mado a total contribution of £7010 to help tile work of the society. But there is a decrease of £723 in the subscriptions, £10G3 _iu tho benefactions, and £*1272 in tho legacies. which arc the lowest for tho last thirty-live years\ On the other hand, tlio total money grants claimed during the year amounted to £28,552, i this sum being above the average of former years. The surplus available for general purposes amounts to 1

£32,055, the lowest available balaneo for the last twelve years. Both the Archbishops havo warmly commended' aspecial appeal which ,tho, society has, issued. At the monthly general mooting.of tho society on November 8 the Kev. J. A. Cruickshank in tho chair, tho Bishop of Guiana, who was on tho eve of his departure for his large diocese in South America, gave an. interesting description of missionary work in that part'of tho world. Ho expressed 'his'gratitude to tlio socioty for tho many ways in, which its help'bad boon given, and remarked thai; lately ho had been astonished to livid that there were 110 fewer than eight, methods in which tho. socioty was helping missionary work 111 South America. Refer-' to the: many activities of tho S.P.C.W., the Bishop- specially emphasised the grants made for-the training of natives to bo'clergymen and tho help given in producing vernacular works. Grants of money nnd books amounting- to upwards of £2153/ were voted

CHURCHES AND SOCIAL SERViCE.

BISHOPS .READY FOR UNION. . A conference to consider tho co-opera-tion of State and Church in social service was held at Caxton Hall, London, at the invitation of tho Earl of Meath. The Bishops of London, Hereford, arid Ripen'were present, besides pthOr . lead-' rs of. the Anglican and Free Churches. After an exposition by Ilov. F. 13. Meyer and others of tho "working of the National Union for Christian Social Service, Rev. J. F. B. Tinling read a psoer on tho .possibilities of co-ordination through a national agency. The Binhop of London criticised tho paper as under stating tho progress which co-operation between . tho Anglican and . Free Churches'had already made. It was misleading to give an idea that tliey were not already working together for social improvement. He himself had asked every parish priest in his diocese to work with' representatives of all denominations for the samo object. Tho Dean of Norwich said there was a general thirst for union among the Churches,: and suggested that a small committee should bo appointed to approach Convocation, tho Free Church Council, aijd other' organisations; suggesting a schkne of united'.work.- ' At least half a dczen bishops, said the Dean' of Lincoln,' would support such a raovoment. A resolution was passed declaring that' adequate social service, -capable of meet-' ing tho needs of unemployablos, epileptics, and other, suffering classes, would only be possible through a compro'jensive plan of co-operation by the £itato and all tllo'Churches. A committee 011. tho lines suggested by'tho Dean of Nor-' wicli .was appointed.

IS."PILCRIM'S PROCRESS" READ?

A REMARKABLE SALE. '

Tho literary contributor of the "Sketch" says lie heard some discussion tho other-day as to whether. Bunyan's' "Pilgrim's Progress" had any,, salo. at the present time. .It is a classic that everyone is supposed to have read, but is it read'by tho, great, bulk of tlio. people to any'extent:-' Mr. James,Bowden, tho lay-secretary and general 1 manager of the Religious Tract Socioty, told tho contributor that some years ago. they'did-not'soil'two" hundred copies.-a. year of "Pilgrim's Progress," but when they took to having it illustrated by Mr. Harold Copping everything was changed. - During tho last two years the Religious Tract Society has' sold over .200,000 copies of. "Pilgrim's Progress" - at prices' ranging from a shillln K -guineas.. Tho book.has now ia regular' average salo of about 35,000 copies a year. Assuredly this'is an of pictures, but, "Pilgrim's Progress" lends itself particularly to illustration.

A BIG OFFERTORY,

£1680 CONTRIBUTED. Last year, says the- Meibourno "ArS" s >' the Lydiard Street (Ballarat) Methodist- Church congregation established a record, ill contributing towards the church tho sum of £1059 13s. 9d., that, amount having been contributed on one Sunday. >This.'year that:am'ouiit has been exceeded by £600, tho'day's contributions aggregating ': £IGSO ' 10s'. sd. ; Tho"-minister, the Rev. S. J.:.Ho-' ban, announced to tho'congregation a" month ago, that die was desirous of raising £1400 .this .year,: in order to pay off the whole of. tho debt upon tho connexional property, which represents approximately £20,000. The offertory-was received at tho anniversary services, on a recent Sunday. In the morning the contribution was, £829 10s. 6d.,' in'the ; afternoon £178 10s. 6d., aud in tho evening £672 9s. ml., tho. total "being' £1680 10s. sd. Tho result was announced at tho closo of tho evening service, when the congregation sang "Praiso God from Whom All Blessings Flow." Mr. Hoban intimated that tSis was tile first time that tho church had been free of debt, and the,congregation then repeated the doxology. Ho said that in tho afternoon a young girl stated that she did not have as. much money" as she would like to Mve. She then took a valuable ring off her' finger and put. it. into the offertory plate, - The highest contribution for tho day was a cheque for £100, and only £10. was' contributed by non-adherents- of the church.

C.E.M.S,

. Recently a conference of the executive of tho Church of England. Men's Society and representatives'of the social questions committee' adopted a scheme 'for tho formation of an Anglican immigrants' welcome committee, whoso work it will bo to take in hand the welcoming of- Church of England immigrants at Port Melbourne. The committee decided to appoint a lay agent to meet incoming steamers and get in touch with the: new ■ arrivals., and Archbishop Clarke, has approved of tho selection of Mr. P. A. Ray, of Carlton, to that; position, at a fixed yearly remuneration'. The council of tho tlio'-,' ceso has promised financial assistance towards tho project. ,It is estimated that between 3000, and 4000 Anglicans have coiuo to the Stato during the past fifteen months. The new c'omraittco will be a permanent body, which will report annually.to the Synod. ' The committee,. with the lay agent, will not undertake to find employment for tho immigrants, this matter being left solely in tho hands of tho Government.

'Dr. Jowett is to_ be _ the Lyman Beeeher lecturer at Yale in. 1912. His predecessor at Carr's Lano Chapei, Birmingham, Dr. Dale, had tho honour thirty years an;o.