RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1085, 25 March 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

A GREAT PREACHER. THE KEY. J. H. JOWETT. Some remarkable tributes liavc been passed by the press to the Jicv. J. 11. .Jiivv'eti, 111.A., [lie Congregational -Minister of.Can"s Lane Chapel, Binningbam, wlio luts accepted the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue, New York. "The news that Dr. Jowctt has decided to leave Birmingham will be received with the deepest concern, not only by the l''rce Churchcs, but by all to whom the cause of national righteousness is dear," says the "Westminster Gazette." "During the fifteen years that lie lias ministered at Carr's Lane Chapel his power and influence have steadily increased, and he has been a great power for good not only in the -Midland city but throughout the country. No doubt fifteen years' stress and strain in the service of one church have had their effect upon a constitution not naturally robust, and for this and other reasons his decision is not difficult to understand. But ho will leavo vacant a place in the Free Church ranks which it will be almost impossible to fill. It is true that the sphere to which Dr. Jowett goes is a very influential one; the Fifth Avenue Church is said to bo almost 'as much a national institution as St. l'aul's Cathedral'; but the Free Churclibs on this sido are not so rich in commanding preachers that thev can witness the departure of a man like Dr. Jowett without the keenest regret." "Dr. Jowett's decision," says the "Nation," "though first affecting Birmingham, where lie has well sustained the ministry of his great predecessor, Dale, deprives the English pulpit of perhaps its most perfect . master of style. Few men in any modern Church can have excelled Dr. Jowctt in the art of preaching. Balance and gravity of handling, a certain persuasive moderation of temperament, arc Dr. Jowett's distinguishing gifts, and very rare gifts they are." The "British Weekly" says that "in Dr. Jowctt wo lose the greatest living master of the homiletic art. AYo lose one of the most powerful and deeply instructed among evangelical preachers. Wc lone a man of the choicest Christian spirit." "The religious life of this country sustains a severe loss bv the decision of Dr. Jowctt to accept the call to New York," says the "Daily News." "It is a loss primarily to Birmincham; but in a less, though vcrv sensible degree, it is'a loss to the. nation. Dr. Jowett's influence is as widespread as it is profound. It owes.nothing to sensationalism of extravagance. It is the slow but sure growth of a character of rare temper, of a mind of finely balanced parts, and of a spirituality that is unfailing in its gracious appeal. Few men of our time have won a more secure place iu the hearts of men of all creeds and all parties, and it woulij be difficult to name anyone whose removal ta another sphere would create more sincere regret."

NEW TESTAMENT CRITICISM.

STATEMENT BY DI?. lIA KNACK. Professor Harnaek, tho great German theologian, during.his-recent visit to London, nrado ■•aii-'interestiiig statement (published . iii" the' "Christian World") regarding tho present position of New Testament criticism,, in tho course of conversation with the liev. J. li. Kushbrooke. He said: "Two things may be set down as certain. The first concerns the external criticism of the. X,ow. Testament, by .which I ■'mean;-, the. ;litcra-iiy f - criticism. The present tendency towards the adoption of more conservative positions will not weaken. It will come to bo still more generally recognised that the literary criticism of fifty, forty, and thirty years ago was excessively radical, and adopted positions which timo has rendered untenable. The sccond certainty is that the internal criticism will . not tend to more conservative results, but quite the contrary. In regard to that, we shall have to learn to see our religion in its intimate connection with tho history of religion 'as a whole, and to recognise that Christianity not only presents contrasts to,;other- religions, but also stands in a-close inner connection with'them. Tho higher-religions are not to be-conceived as antitheses, but as representing various stages of truth." Will not such a conception lead to considerable popular confusion, both in your country and ours? "Assuredly: it will be a long time before the great mass of good and true Christians—naturally and rightly conscious of their deep debt to their own faith —are able to see clearly in such a matter. The new point of view is certain to bring much unsettlement, but I am absolutely certain that it will not lead to a weakened sense of the value of Christianity. It will servo to make the truo worth of our faith more evident; the larger understanding will have an olfcct- quite other than that of a deprecation of Christianity. Tho comparison of Christianity and other faiths will still leave our religion supremo in its unique worth." . And in its claim to represent the world-religion of the future? "Yes, Christianity, as developed from history in its simplest and therefore its strongest form, fully sustains its claim 'to world-empire." "Let me add a word of explanation," said Professor Harnaek. "When I say that Christianity must be studied more closely -in connection with other faiths —that this is tho method prescribed for the future—l do not mean that the Evangel of Jesus Himself, or the proclamation by Paul and the first missionaries, can be proved to have been appreciably conditioned by the Greek spirit and culture. Tho preaching of Jesus and the Apostles must be studied more closely in relation to file Judaism of their day. The influence of tho Greek spirit makes itself felt already in tho second generation, but not in the first. All which we call the sacramentarian clement is derived from internal influences which operated only in a limited degree through the medium of Judaism, but in the main directly, and after the close of tho first century,"

CHURCH UNION IN SCOTLAND

PIiESS OPINION'S. A rccent article, by Dr. Donald Macmiilan on "The Ecclesiastical Situation in Scotland" in tho "Hibbert Journal" produced leading articles in tho "Scotsman" and the "Glasgow Herald." Tho "Scotsman" says that "the article is calculated to harm the great cause of ecclesiastical union in Scotland. Tho discussions of tho committee havo been jealously guarded from tho public, and consequently the writer must .be in ignorance of tho vital matters which alone could form the basis of a judgment 011 the question. Without that knowledge he sets himself to discuss in e.n unfriendly spirit that movement for union 011 which depends the whole of the future ecclesiastical history of Scotland. The article is a travesty of the present ecclesiastical situation in Scotland.. Dr. jUaemillan docs not hide tho fact that he is opnosed to (he whole movement for union. Not being of the committees, lie-will at least make their work difficult." The "Glasgow Herald" s::ys: "On both sides it has been announced that there is to lie no sacrifice of principle. Those who think tho whole thing impossible must wait on those of larger faith. This, too, is to be remembered— thai; the churches could not neglect the call ni the country .to confer, and that, whether the mill object is accomplished now or not, the Church life of Scotland i:, bound to bo richer and fuller bccause' the conference has been held."-

"RALLY ROUND YOUR LEADERS." A DEAN'S OPTIMISM. Tlio "South London Church Fund News" for February publishes tho following interesting letter, which tlio Dean of Westminster (Dr. Armitago Pobinson) wrote in November last, when he was unable, owing to illhealth, to attend a meeting oil behalf ol the fund at Mortlake:— "I should have tried to speak of strong encouragement and great hopefulness. November always stimulates all tho optimistic elements, of my nature. Perhaps it is that as the world looks gloomier outside wo turn . tho more to the vision splendid of the other world in which we live. "Anyhow, it is a great moment of our history in Church and State. The Church of Christ is called to make unparalleled efforts, unless the first, days of her enthusiasm be a parallel to claim men and women for her Master, and so to hasten His Kingdom. 'Pally round your leaders' was the constant call of the earliest days, and it is that call we must raise and must obev today. "As one who has a special post of observation, and also has studied long the history of tho Church in the first days, and also to some extent tho history of our Church in England, I see that never wore the leaders of our spiritual battle since the Apostles stronger, wiser, or better than now. Never had we so many wise and spiritual men_ as our bishops, never were the English clergy, as a whole, so eager, active, and devoted, never (though here wo are weakest) was so much true help given by our laity. . "These are strong words, but not sudden thoughts. We are moving steadily forward. The call, 'Rally round your leaders,' most lie heard and obeyed especially by those parts of your difficult dibeesc which stand a little outside of' tho main stress, and to which you must look for loyal support if the work is to be at all worthily done."

NEWS FROM RdME

The following items arc taken from the "Catholic Times" of January 3: — Mgr. Bavona, Titular Archbishop of Earsola.. and actual Nunzio to Brazil, who has been appointed Nunzio to tho Court of Austria, is a native of-Aquila, and is now in his oothyear. Ho made his higher studios at tho Apoliinare, Rome, wlicro ho obtained his degree in Theology and in Canon and Civil Law, in which department ho so distinguished himself that ho was appointed to the Chair of Law in that institution. Later on ho was appointed Auditor to the Apostolic Nunssio at Madrid, where ho remained till I'JOl, when he was nominated Archbishop of Farsola and sent as Nunzio t-o Ecuador in succcssion to Cardinal Gasparri. Here he remained till 1006, when ho was transferred to Brazil, whoro iio had full scope for tho expansion of his powers as a rising diplomatist. Ho possesses a phenomenal knowledge of international law and procedure, and enjoys in diplomatic circlcs the reputation of being ono of the most eminent representatives of the Holv See.

The "Osscrvatorc Romano" announces the appointment by the Emperor of Austria of his Highness Prince Schonburg-Hartens't'eiii as • Austrian' Ambassador to the.Holy..See in place of Count Szscsen di'Tomorin, who ' has lately been. promoted to Paris. Tho new Ambassador is ono of tho youngest members of the Austrian diplomatic service, being only forty-six years of age. He is not a stranger to Rome nor to diplomacy, inasmuch as he was attachpd, t-Ojj-.tljc Austrian Embassy lioro f ronibrlffilOl.rt-o-.|1f)02!i 0 ;• • Cardinal Delia Volpe has been appointed to succeed tho late Cardinal Sogna-as Prefect of tho Congregation of the Index. For sonic years previous to his elevation to the purple he held the position of Mnggiordomo to his Holiness. It is understood that two important decrees concerning religious communities are, to bo issued shortly by the Holy See. The first- is to deal with the reception and general status of lay brothers, and tho second to make it still more difficult, to obtain permission to leave a particular. Order with a view to becoming ii'secular 1 -priest.

BIBLE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

DR. MORGAN'S CONFERENCE. At the animal conference of tlio Bible Teachers' Association in London Miss Emily Huntley gave the first paper on "The .Scriptures for the Primary Department.'' The paper elicited an interesting discussion, which was led off by Rev. D.. J. Hiley, who thought the danger of the new system was that they went mad' on theory and method. 11c contended that whatever they taught tho Christian about God must bo accurate. . It would not do to say "this 'is all right- for-tho present, and can be corrected later on.'' In the course of the discussion Dr. Campbell Morgan raised tho question as to tho place of Bible teaching in theological colleges, and Mr. Hiley gave some instances of the lack of knowledge of tho most elementary facts in the life of Christ amongst theological students who were graduates. Rev. Albert Swift thought that the fault lay with the churches rather than the colleges. It was a disgrace to the churches that young men of twenty or twenty-ono should como, to tho colleges without being well grounded in the Bible.'■■ At. the close of tho discussion a resolution was carried approving of a graded sehemo of lessons for Sunday schools.

' UNITED FREE CHURCH.

The income of the I'.F. Church of Scotland Central Fund for 1009 was £172,352... In 1910 it was £170,459, which would leave a debit balance on tho year of £1893. Other accounts nut tlio "dcficicncy at nearly double that amount: but'it is on all hands regarded as certain that by the time tho equal dividend comes to be paid tho yield will lie quite as good as last year, if not bettor, and £170 will lie tho lowest salary paid for tho year to any ministor of tho Church.

CARDINAL AND PRIMATE.

In Armagh Courthouse on January 26 a meeting was held under the presidency of Mr. M'Crum, D.L., for tho purpose of organising; a presentation to Miss Alexander, daughter of the retiring Protestant Primate, Archbishop Alexander, on the occasion of her leaving Armagh. The attendance, which was representative of all creeds and classes in the primatial city, included his Eminence Cardinal Logue, who in the course of a speech said ho had-mi opportunity of knowing what Miss Alexander had done. Her work was done with great efliciency and without ostentation. She went among tho people like a sunbeam, a prime mover in the most useful work of the city, the Nursing Association. She was a very pleasant neighbour, and it was but right that the.y should give hor a testimonial of their esteem, showing how much ■ they valued hor and her illustrious -father. - He too was a delightful neighbour, always agreeable. Ho occupied a considerable placo in literature, and it was an honour to tb.sir city to have him among them; as indeed-it also was to have Miss Alexander, who had written .1 ('.harming book jon Armagh, showing that she inherited the distinguished talent of her distinguished father, and 110 less diEtiuguishcd mother.