RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

NEW CANON OF ST. PAUL'S. APPOINTMENT OF DR. SIMPSON. It is officially announced that tin? King lias lieen pler.scd to approve tiro appointment of the Rev. James Ciilliland Simpson, D.D., Canon of Manchester, to Ijo Canon of St. Paul's, in succession to Canrm Scott Holland. Coining so soon after his appointment to Manchester, which took place only in April last, when lie sncccedcd the present Jiishop of' 'Lincoln, tho choico of Dr. Simpson is in tho nature of a surprise, - but at tho same time thcro arc-fow men among tho clergy likely to commend themselves to the Primo Minister so well qualified to fill tho post soon to bo vacated by Canon Scott Holland. To do Mr. Asquith justice, it must be admitted that ho appears t<> recognise tho heavy responsibility which rests upon him in regard to tho important ecclesiastical appointments which it falls to him to make,- and there aro signs of caro and thought in his selections. The new Canon's record indicates that ho will: not be unsympathetic with the iatmqsphero awl tradition of London's great Cathedral and bis reputation; as a preacher is not unworthy ■of tho'pulnit from which men liko Dr. Liddon,- and Canon Scott Holland and the present Archbishop of York have stirred multitudes under tho dome. Dr. Simpson is not a man who cares to. utter party shibboleths, but his views are pretty evident from some of the books and papers ho has. published on theological subjects, as, for instance, "Christian Ideals, tho Thing Signified" (an inquiry into tho Anglican Doctrine of tho Eucharist), a volume of essays entitled "Fact' and Faith," a book of sermons dealing with tho Atonement, and entitled "Christus Crucifixus," "Preachers and Teachers," and contributions to - Hasting's Dictionaries. Ho is an ardent temperance advocate, and has great sympathy with social rein which respect his views have many poipts of contact with those ofi the man, ho succeeds. Dr. Simpson is a Londoner by birth, his father being a London and Liverpool merchant, and his-mother a Scottish lady; ho is forty:fivo years of ;a2e, and was educated at tho 'C'ity pf London' School and Trinity College', .Oxford;" .Ha obtained a First Class in-Interne' Humaniores in 1888, and a'First : iri ; Theology in 1890. After' a further period of training at Chuddlesdon, ho was ordained to a. curacy at Leeds Parish Church, whero lie had as a_ colleague the .present Archbishop of York. Tlireo years Inter he was, appointed Vice-Principal of the Edinburgh Theological College, and, in 1895, became rector.of St. Paul's, Dundee. In 1900, ho returned to Leeds as Principal of the Clergy School and lecturer in tho parish church. Hero his power in tho pulpit ■ became very rfiarkodi" and ho exerted a powerful infiuenco on' the men' who carno under him.—"The Church Times."

CHURCH UNION IN SCOTLAND. Dr. Donald Macmillan, of Glasgow, writes in the "Hibbcrt Journal" on tlio "Ecclesiastical Situation in Scotland." Ho says that: parishioners,- irrespective'of their particular Church connection, havo'tlic right of electing ministers to the vacancies in tho Established CJiurches. ' "When a ; vacancy odours in a parish, an adult can make application to tho kirlc session, and, if his claim is allowed, he is put oil tho voting roll as an elcctor." He thinks that tho Disestablishment movement has. practically passed out of Scottish ecclesiastical politics. Dr. Macmillan has no sympathy with tho attempt to effect- a-.pacific ■ union . .between tho Church of Scotland and tho United.Freo Church. Ho says-that tho proposal for conference was sprung upon the General Assembly of tho Church of Scotland in 100" by tho late Dr. Scott. ' It was suggested at the time that one oi tho first acts of tho Radical partv who had just gone into power, might bo a- Bill to disestablish tho Church of Scotland; henco Dr. Scott's, hasty .'action. , Dr. Macmillan argues (1)' That 0110 large Church in a country is not a stronger moral and Toligions forco than ten or twenty (2) That tho people of Scotland wero never such' enlightened Christians as they are at. the present day, and thero was never a greater proportion of/thorn. i|v connection with tlio Church; 0) That 'spiritual independenco means tlio. right and power of the majority to do as it likes with the confession, tlio constitution, and tlio property*of the Church.- leaving a minority no appeal; (4) That if thero is to bo- any union there must be concessions, and if there be concessions'thero will bo fn;sli disruptions; (5) That tho only good thing that can follow from tho conferences that aro taking placo is an agreement on tlio part -of the two Churches to' go back each to its own work in a more friendly and generous spirit.

NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP. At Romo on December 31, in, the Chapel of tho Propaganda, Mgr. Edward Kenealy, 0.5. F.C., was consecrated Archbishop of Simla by Cardinal Gotti, Prefect, of Propaganda,- tho CoGonsecrants being-Mgr. Bourne, Archbishop of Westminster, and • Mgr. .Jaquet, Arphbishop of.Salamina. Among thoso present at the imposing ceremony wero tho Father-General of tho Capuchins, with the members of his Cnria and Provincials of Rome, Tuscany, tlio Marche, Milan, Palermo, tho students of tho International Capuchin College, and thoso of tho'Urban College.' The ne\y Archbishop will reach his dioceso some time in March. Ho was received in private audience by tho Holy Father. Simla, the seat of tho .-new Archbishopric in India,, has for many years been o-prved. ecclesiastically ' by tho Friars Jlinor Capuchins, having hitherto formed part of tho Archdiocese of Agra. The Capuchin Franciscans liavo now in India two archdioceses (Agra and Simla), two dioceses (Lahore and Allahabad), and a Prefecture (Rajputana) in- their care. Thcso missions aro served by upwards of 140 friars and '20 secular priests. There aro 113 churches and chapels; 4 colleges .with about COO students; -29 orphanages/with 1700 orphans; and 66; day schools. Tho new Archdiocese • isformed. •of territories taken-from the archdiocese of Agra and tlibjdipceso of Lahore;"--'The'geographi-cal " measurement' is about ' two-thirds the sizo of England. LAV SECRETARY OF THE L.M.S. ' At a largely attended meeting of tho board of directors of tho London Missionary Society, a recommendation was brought up by tho Consultative and Financo Committeo respecting Mr. F. 11. Hawkins's offer of services involving his retirement from his present professional business, in order that ho may become an official of tho society. Tho committee recommended tho directors heartily to accept tho offer so generous-' ly made, and ask Mr.- Hawkins to-be-, come lay secretary of tho society. A3 Mr. Hawkins specially wished that his remuneration should bo fixed on tho basis of simply picviding for himself mid his family a reasonablo amount of comfort, the committeo proposed that for the present his allowance should, bo at tlio rate of £400 per aunum, and stated that Mr. George Oliver Jones and other friends huvo guaranteed tho hum of at least £300 per annum for threo years towards the allowance which it is proposed to give to Mr. Hawkins. Mr. A. J. Sheplieard, chairman of tho committeo, explained that in connection with his recent deputation visit to China, it had boon borne, in upon Mr. Hawkins that it was tho will of God that' lie should, at whatever cost to himself in worldly, sacrifice, devote himself entirely to the work of the society. Ho felt,tho call to bo so strong that he had no alternative but to obey it.

D Rj'IIIFFO R D'S' CO t'L EAC UE< : rev; ,c,;h:;avatkins's:caiieer: A biographical •skctclrof 0:H. WatkiHs^'Jl.-AiV'Dri"Clifford's new colleague, '-appears in tho January -issue of "The; AY<stbourno~ ParkTßecord." As a :youth Park C'liapcl,'.'arid',*'under'.Dr:; Clifford's preaching,.'...deeded. t<j,,bo 'baptised and' to enter, ;the ministry. ; Dr.- Clifford, with his accustomed sympathy, aided Mr. AVatkinsih- all-'liis plan's,', and not long after. the latter- 'proceeded to the Slidiand,-Baptist. College.- at ".Rotting: ham. JCherff ho had a brilliant" Career, passing" iji succcssivo' seasons, the ' Intermediate- and'; Final' .B.A. examinations,- and after. a rather - longer interval, took liis tit' Loudon University in classics. This was a notable distinction;-.'as no_'_bther. man in 'any Baptist College had taken bis M;A.' in classics, for somo forty years: Before leaving Nottirighahv "Mr! AVatkins won the Pegg scholarship- of, the. Midland College,, and, proceeded^. io Oxford, spending tho first; ybar as; a' Tion-colle-giate student, and'the secoud*and third years as,a student at Mansfield College under Dr.: Fairbairn.. .At Oxford he graduated, in'- the Final Honours: School of Theology, • and ■ secured; 'With two other ' students, . the Baptist TJniou Scholarship .of 200 guineas, which enabled him to proceed still further with his studies. He went to Germany, first to Berlin/ and later to Heidelberg, where he is now preparing a thesis-in German on tho -Apostle Paul, for presentation to. tho Theological- Facultv, with a view to securing the Degree of Doctor of Theology.' '' . .. EICHTY-EICHT. DR. GUINNESS ROGERS'S BIRTH- ' DAY. . Dr. Guinness t Rogers celebrated his eighty-eighth bir'fhday, on December, 22, arid-received-by way of congratulation nearly a hundred presents, letters, and telegrams., .Half\a, dozen ' newspaper reporters interviewed *. hint- during the day, and.'with them -ho-discussed -current affairsrr-pblitical, social, and ecclesiastical—revealing a wonderfully tenacious grasp-of the events of tho day. Iu most of' tho newspapers (savs/thc "Christian .AVorld")~ Dr,; Rogers's birthday was mentioned as liis ninetieth, .rliis ;s anverror; , He" was 'born on December' 22, -1822, "and, "consequently entered on his eight-ninth year. :To an extraordinary. degree. Dr. Rogers maintains his: vitality and - retains' his faculties. L His ': eyesight; "long ago •* impaired, is- now very -feeble, -' but his hearing isl excellent,:• and his is good, though","as "might' be expected, he cair no longer :,bear any . continuous hard mental strain, tires after niuch. conversations -

To tho interviewers who' waited .jipbh him, Dr. VRogers spoke .with all .his. old'invincible optimism;as to the.future of religion arid democracy? ~ Dr. Bogeys made .it v.clcar * that- .though ,he clings firmly J to'. the'.;bld * Evangelical posit ions he sympathy with credalism, and i believes that a crccd is only of service' in proportion as the spirit of it : permeatesithe daily relationships of tlso persoifrwho' accepts it as the basis of his life.- .The Uiblo, -he says, remains unassailable) as the of conduct, and, as'icontaiuin'g-a-.working -faith for time; and eternity. ;;Dr. Rogers's .former' his interest; .'iti'.tho jrelfare.of. tho .churches has not ;nbated.- The continued ''decline in chur<& membership - statistics ' does not d ist'r e's s, b r ..depre bs, Kim._-' he thii^ks l .tli3t,'.if,. church,."memhfirsjiip wcro so;\easy. as .nowadays, and if by moro rigid disciplino on admission the ; menibership "of the churclies were" further 'reduced"the' witnosV of' the churches might-be mOro cffcQtiveiy"" j

EVANG'ELIGALS IN CONFERENCE.

The annual'gatheriug of "the Evangelical party, tho; Islington; Clerical Meeting took place at-Slildmay Conference Hall Over-1400 clergy .ivere present. CanoiuKuowling,"Professor of Divinity ;at Durham University, in a paper on New Testament criticism, said there was nothing to fear in the closest critical ' examination of the four Gospels.:. vßut ho strongly deprecated the present - and somewhat fashionable: method'of giviiig preference to one .or more of - tho Gospels, as the authority ' for.'.our .Lord's ..-life. and and, ho "expressed .even stronger. objections to "a;'.' Life"-of Christ that ignored the Fourth Gospel ,or tho, testimony in the Epistles of St. Paul. The Dean of Canterbury read a paper strenuously opposing the "proposal to relievo tho consciences of young clerics by omitting the question at--tho ordination of deacons which demands thatthey • shall "unfeignedly believe - all "the Canonical tho; Old .-and .-.Now- Testament.Canon Hay veteran mission, preacher, in' a: paper" bh the re-, lations between, Anglican's and 'Nonconformists, advocated interchange of pulpits that.hCospecially-roused, the meeting. Ho had never, he said, been able to discover any real legal bar to. Anglican clergymen preaching in Nonconformist. places of worship.. If .aii£ canon law existed forbidding the clergy to preach in unconsccrated buildings, it had long since becomo obsolete. Tho Bishop of London, he added,' did not suffer from the disease of episcopal caution, and. if-lie: .would invite Dr.. J. H.-Jowett, of Birmingham, to preach! at St. Paiil's, and Dr. Campbell-.Slor--gan to give one of his marvellous Biblical expositions in AVcstminster Abbey, ho would be doing ;an act; which would receive widespread approval. Rev. J. E. Watts-Ditchfield read a'paper strongly opposing .any extension of facilities for divorce. Rather than allow its buildings-to be used for the marriage of divorced persons, 'with 'tho possible exception of tho" 'innocent party, tho Church should break with the * State even at tho cost of disestablishment and I disendowment. .... -

DR. BARRETT'S. FAREWELL. • In the.presence of a very large gathering representative of the. Freo Church life of Norwich and Norfolk, Dr. Barrett, who recently closed his ministry at .Princes '; .Street' Congregational Church; bade farewell to his church and congregation. -Div ■ Horton : presided, and conspicuous -on' the"platform was Archdeacon Polham,: sou of a ,'former Bishop o'f Norwich.-;. Sir Georso .White paid a-warm tribute-to Dr. Barrett. Mr. Cozeiis-Hardy,' on behalf of. the churQhtand.coligrcgatiouV presented tho retiring-pastor-with; bonds for ari auniiity -bf-;^^»and;-a;;c|)w«d ; fcir;tC62; - tho balano&oK'tlio -contrlimfioris.'- ?tDri > Bar---rett, rß^^in^;un%r^.'..^p^cmbtrdii, : I said he'lioped in his retirement ;to; serve! : tho churches and - resurno; his- 'literary; work'. .-Ho also desired to-assist in-the I s estabH'shiueiit.'of! a\! new JConpregatiorial. Churcli'.'in ' Normch; ::for ; M'hichr a "sife! has been given by. the: -late J. J.V-Col--man, fori unless Congregationalism captured the suburbs, of tho cities in-two generations it-jnisht be extinct. . : 'NEW YEAR;. HONOURS.

jletho'dists . figure in tho Nc.w :Year'/ Honours : list. , Mr. has been made a baronet. Sir Prmoo is a Keighley Methodist, connected for many, years with DevonChapel, jn whose :choir ho has. t peen '.'.thirty-three years. . Tho mombers recently gave him a 'testimonial.iii;tlic form of n book address in leather, and silver, and' a bronze model I #,"a- Grecian lyre. .. Sir I'ririco is a trustop of tho chapels in tho circuit, aS J.IV,- arid employs" nearly- 2000 peoplo'.Tiulris Vinach'iricry -" works. '..{-.The other JiOnouf. js;. a: "knighthood ,JotJ>r. R. AVAsko, off-Hull,who i twic® la si year contested tho" Contral 'Division unsuccessful! }\ 7 • gold medal "of tho ' London "" University in 1000, receiving his LL.D. degree. :He is connected witn .the J7eslejan'Churcli. ■