RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1174, 8 July 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

, o PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLIES. A.YXUAL MEETINGS AT EDINBURGH. The fiencral Assembly of <hc Church of Scotland was opened on .May 2!i, with the customary ceremonial. The 1-ord High CniiimUsioiiiT Ibis year is the new Peer, Lord Glenconner, who holds this ancient ollicc fur the lirsl time. The proMiitalion of the keys of the city and the levee tcok place in the new handsome galleries of I lie liny.il Scottish Academy, troni which tbo Lord High Commissioner, Lady Glenconner, and suile drove ill slath by Princes Si reel, and Hie North L'ridge lo St. Giles" Cathedral to attend divine service, and .subsequently to the Assembly Hall to open 'the Assembly. At. St. Giles' the retiring Moderator, the liov. Dr. Jl'Adam Mnir, Glasgow, occupied the pulpit; at the Assembly Hall, Principal Stewart, St. Andrews, was installed as Moderator; the Lord High Commissioner's commission was presented, and a gracious letter from King George was read. The Assembly extended a cordial welcome to the new Lord High Commissioner, Lord Glenconner. They also gavo a hearty greeting to the new Moderatpr, Principal Stewart, of St. Andrews University, the Assembly being, through him, associated with the live hundredth anniversary of (his seat of learning in the "Primatial city by the eastern xrarte." The list of well-known members of the Church who have passed away during the past year, read by the retiring' Moderator, included the names of Dr. MncGrogor, Professor Flint." Dr. Haggart, of Lochcarron; Dr. Wilson, of Newabbey; Dr. Alexander Williamson, Lord Pearson, Lord Low, and others. A number of delegates from Presbyterian churches in Wales, in the colonies, and in European countries, and from the Scottish Synod in England, were introduced, the list of delegates including the liov. Ivo E. Bertram and Mr. James Hunter, of New Zealand. In St. Giles' Cathedral Pastor Jacob Primmer, immediately before the beginning of, the General Assembly's service ill connection with the celebration of the Lord's Supper, rose up near, the communion table, and, holding in his hand a copy of the printed liturgy which was to be used in the service, in a loud voico made the following protest:— "I, Jacob Primmer, out of loyalty „ to Christ and obedience to my ordination vows - , and realising that Scotland's worship of God is being revolutionised greatly by this service, solemnly protest against the' use of- a printed liturgy, with repetition of Ihe Lord's Prayer, Creed, and Aniens, which teaches 'the real presence,' and is therefore Popish and illegal, being an innovation on our worship which the Constitution of this country declares 'shall remain and continue unalterable,' and which his Majesty King George on his accession to the Throne a year ago vowed to 'inviolably maintain and preserve' So help me God." UNITED FREE CHURCH. An atmosphere of sunshine and cheerfulness pervaded the inauguration of the United Free Church Assembly in the historic building on the -Mound. Consonant with the gravity ami dignity attendant on tho opening of (he great annual eccleciastical court, there was all the pleasant bustle and friendly greeting inseparable from the meeting of hundreds of clerics and Church representatives from all parts of Scotland. Tho sermon was preached by Dr. Young, who dealt with .the present religious condition of tho country. The retiring- Moderator nominated as his successor Dr. James Wells, of Pollokshields, Glasgow. : The motion, having been seconded by Mr. Thomas Ogilvie, l Aberdeen, it was unanimously adopted.

A stalely entry was made by the newModerator, clad in his Court dress and robes. Accompanied by the officials, he was received by the members up-stand-ing, and he proceeded to take, his place in the pulpit now vacated by Dr. Young,' who-made formal intimatiou-iof the appointment. Nearly fifty minutes were occupied by Dr. Wells iii the delivery of his address, in which ho gave a, comprehensive review of social.and homo mission, questions as bearing on.the Church. English and Irish Presbyterian corresponding members and colonial and Continental deputies wore received in the earlier part of the'sitting of the Assembly on May 24, and in the afternoon consideration was. given to the report on statistics, showing a decrease in the membership of tlio Church.

Sir. R. R. Simpson,' submitting the report of the Arrangements Committee, said he put himself into early communication with tho Earl Marshal in regard to having a fair representation of their Church at the Coronation of the King and Queen. The Earl Marshal wrote, stating that he had the..lung's authority for having four representatives from the-Church at the Coronation, and ho requested that, tho names should bo sent without delay. As it could not bo delayed until the General' Assembly met, tho Arrangements Committee, at their meeting, appointed the .■■moderator (Dr. Wells), the Uev. Dr. Henderson, the Rev. Charles Jerdan, ami himself (11 r. Simpson) as the representatives of the Church at the Coronation. Tlif.v had all received the King's com maud to be present. FREE CHURCH. In the programme of business submitted, to, the Free Church, Assembly the conspicuous item was the report of tho Sustentation Fund Committee. The Moderator, the Rev. Professor Alexander, presided, and when the session opened thcro was a largo attendance of members and tho public. After the benediction had been pronounced. Professor Kennedy Cameron took the chair, and Mr. Ronwick, a student, on behalf of his fellows in tho College, presented Professor Alexander with gifts, in recognition of his election as Moderator. In replying, (ho Moderator said twenty-six'years ago ho was appointed by the Foreign Mission Committee of the Free Church to be Professor of Biology and Chemistry in Bombay. Ho alluded to the other appointments ho had held, and said he had had a .somewhat varied career. He possessed Some 600 lectures in science, theology, and history which he should never probably bo called upon to use again. THE WESLEYAN ITINERANCY. EXTENDED TERM UNDESIRABLE. Last year's Wesloyan Conference- in England passed a resolution on the subject of the itinerancy to the effect that the opinion of the Methodist people upon the extension of the ministerial term should be ascertained, but before that step was taken a special committee should investigate all this considerations and necessary safeguards involved and tho method of securing this enlarged power. This committee, which consisted of forty ministers and laymen, including five mem hers of Parliament, met in January and again in May, and came to the decision that no legal change in the limit is desirable. The following recommendations will, therefore, be submitted to conference:— 1. That conference reaffirms the principle of the Itinerancy as a fundamental feature of the polity of Wesleyan ?dcthodism, as vital to its connexional system, as favourable to the freshness and vigour ■>i the work of the ministry, and greatly valued by the Methodist people. 2. That conference continue to provide for a longer period of serviro in a circuit than three years where it is clearly desirable. Such cases occur in many circuits and missions, in rural districts and in the pastoral ministry of great circuits. Experience shows that in many cases the term is not long enough for a minister to gain the knowledge of (he individual members of his church and congregation and tile local inflv.ence w'nvn are necessary to the full discharge or nis pastoral and public, duties. :l. That conference, subject to the conditions contained ill the, next clause, fix no determined number "t yi-ars as a limit to the residence of a minister in a circuil. Any such period, e.g., five years, (is-igncd as a limit, would lend to become (lie normal term, which would bo very undesirable, in many cases, and wholly inadequate in others. I. That conference attach to any extension of the form 'beyond three voor; (he following_*n!'c<r'rjrds: (a) That (lie invitation be given as the pnlilv requires from year In year, (b) That in no -a-o shall Mich an extension be made where there is not practical unanimity in regard to it in the quarterly meeting, or in the committee to .which the power of invitation

belongs, (o) Each invitation, with a rcc.ird of the rontons for it ami the vole of the quarterly mooting or other inviting committee, shall lie reported to tlio stationing coimnitlee, which shall moot, if necessary, for the ]iiirpa>c; and by the stationing committee be reported to conference witli a recommendation upon it. S. That it is not necessary nor desirable for conference to apply to Parliament' for powers to enable circuits to avail themselves of the services of ministers for a longer period than three vcars. The committee adds the suggestion lhat' if conference approves and adopts its report, conference should reconsider tlio idea of ascertaining the opinion of tho Methodist people on the subject.