RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1205, 14 August 1911, Page 3

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

ANGLICAN ORDINATION CANDIDATES. IXCKKASING Xl/MIiEKS. The ]{cv. Paul Petit", Honorary Canrn of Canterbury (Knglandi. in letter to Hi?. "Church Times" >t:iles:-The recent ordinations show us thai, by Gr-d s hltssing, prom-ess is being made. The figures for Trinity this year (M are well in advance of lln> Trinity figures of Hi? remit year, viz.—2ll9 in 1 illl>, and «" average of Ul.'i in Hip Hue? prccedi'lfe yens. A i.Tiiipleti- review of Ihe ordinations in re./eiil ycirs gives further ground far happiness and encouragement. T)nriii" I In- ecclcMaslicnl ysar l!HI9-1910 there, were 1.71 admissions to the Diaconaie, as against an average of 03:! in the three preceding years. The year 1!H13-l!Hft was, Iheri'lort, one of crinsidorabb advance; and this gives all the more significance to Hie following figiin'S, which, as will be seen, have been higher at all the ordinations this year than at those of 1'JIO:-1909-10. 1910-11. Advent 232 2Gt Lent ; 31 fit Trinity • 200 200 ■103 537 It seems that,' without being unduly sanguine, we may anticipate, after the September ordination, a total for the whole of the present ecclesiastical year considerably in advance of even the vn-y much improved total of last year. THE POPE AND THE PEACE MOVEMENT, AX INTERESTING LETTER. The following important letcr has been Font by tht> Pope to Mgr. Falccnic?, Delegate Apostolic to the United States:— "It is with pleasure we .have learned from you that through the initiative of some of the most eminent parsonages in the United States of America ardent efforts are being made io ensure to all nations the benefits of peace. Assuredly, to promote concord among men, to restrain warlike tendencies, 16 keep at a distance the dangers of war, and to remove the burthen of what is called armed peace, is n most noble work; and everything which operates for this end, even if it decs not reach at once and fully the end iu view, still is a noble thing which (-•ntitlrs him who does it to praise and is of utility to the public. And this so much the more in our'times, in which tho numerical importance of armies, tho destructive power of armaments,' and tho progress of military, .science, make possible wars the thought: of which must inspire even the most powerful rulers with fear. We are therefore exceedingly glad of what is being itana; and if it seems good to all, in a special way must, it kz approved by us, who, called to the Supreme Pontificate of the Church, tako the place of-Him who is the Princ? and God of peace; and willingly wo give our sympathy and the h-rlp of our authority Io those wlio prudently co-operate in tho work. Wo feel sure that those eminent men, possessed cf such strength of intellect ami wkdom, in endeavouring to make our storm-tossed century a century of peace, wish to open to the nations the high road which loads to the holy and general observance of the laws of justiceand charity. By the very fact that peace consists in order, he will in vain hop? to bring it about who doe.s not try with all his might to ensure that t.hoss virtues which are the beginning and chief foundation of order may l>e ' everywhere hold in due honour. We recall to mind tho example of many of our predecessors,, who. when the times permitted it, did so much for tho civilisation of. the nations «ind. to establish firm bonds 'between empires. ■At present we can only address our prayers to God, beseeching the Lord Who knows the hearts of men, and Who can turn them wherever lie wishes, that Ifo may assist thosp who devote themselves to promoting tho cause of peace nmongst peoples, and that in His goodness Ho may grant peaco to-nations who with a unnni■nious wish desire it* Mwfchat these may .rest once for all in the'" sweetness of peace, freed from the calamities of wars and strife. Meanwhile, as a pledge of Divine favours, and a proof of our goodwill, we impart to- you, venerable brother, with all our iiKirt. thp Apostolic Benediction. Given at St. Peter's, Rome,'on Juno 11, 1911, the eighth year of our Pontificate." ...

A GERMAN HERESY'TRIAL, PASTOR JATUO CONDEMNED. Great excitement has been caused in Protestant circles in Germany by the decision of the "Knruchkollo-jiiim" of the National Evangelical.Church, condemning Pastor Karl J a tho, of Cologne (says the "Christian World").- The "Spruchkollogiiinr' is a new tribunal established by the General Synod of Prussia last year for dealing with matters of doctrine, and this was its first sitting. The court, consists of thirteen membcr.s-4iigh Church officials, University professors, and members of 'Synod—and Professor Hnrnack assisted as theological assessor. Hitherto questions of heresy hnvo come under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the Church, which has taken no drastic action, and there liavo been, at least in rocent years, no cases of deprivation. The new tribunal was created for more effective- action, and by a largo majority it has decided that Pastor Jatho's views in regard to the creed of the Evangelical Church are incompatible with his continuation in (he ministry—that is, virtually ho is excluded from the. ministry. Pastor Jatho is regarded in Germany as occupying a theological position corresponding to that of some Unitarians in this country. At the same tims, it is recognised, even by his opponent*, that ho is a man of great intellectual gifts, of noble and disinterested character, and of extraordinary devotion to his ministerial work. He hns one of the largest, most intelligent and most earnest congregations in Prussia, and lias held withm the Church many young people who would otherwise hav.> drifted aw»>. During his twenty years in Cologne he has won the profound affection and respect of a. large vction of the community, and within a dav or two of its being known that the "SpruchUollcghim" was to deal with his case, six thousand people signed a pditioii of protest. Hundreds of thousands oV signatures have been appended to other petitions, and all over Germany meetings have been held m his favour. When one or two pastors were reproved by (hi! authorities for taking part in these meeting?, eighty. Berlin pastors at once petitioned the Supreme Church, Councilagainst this interference with minisicnal liberty. The whole Liberal press donoimces the decision against .latho. It «cems probable thnt-lw wi 1. continue his ministrations unofficially-in Cologne, as neither he nor his supporters wish to lire-n. awav from tho . Church, though there is .a" possibility of a new Nonconformist, body being formed Hitherto there has been no serious disruption i>l the German Stale Church. CHRISTIANITY AND WAR. A "perplexed Sunday sclifol teaciier" writes to the "Christian World regard, ing the reported prmiouncemen of tho Prudent of the "Baptist \\ov\A Alliance." at Philadelphia, that, 'war is a I crime." The President deduced this "• ten cut a- "a natural corollary from ufSainental Baptist doctrines. incorrespondent, who is « good Bapt.i.-t, readilv admits that there are enscs • in which war is a crime, but it is the universal condemnation that staggers him. vTto "fundamental Baptist doc nnes, i, (lie absence of any formulated Bapkt creed, ha has been looking up the "Decoration of Faith." published m mil of the primitive congregation of ■'Go'neml liaptisls » at Amsterdam. Art.do "i roads as follows:— "That magistracy is a holy ordinance of God; that every soul ought to bo sub-jc-l lo it, not for fear only, but for contho sword cf God. whicli ,w,H'd 'in all lawful adminislral.ous, ,s to be defended and supported by servants ,1' (Jed that are under Meir wvernmen u'illi I heir liv«s and all lint they .have. •■(),.,• l "rrs|H.ndent. who is interested in Iho "r-.TiitiHinr force, certainly has m ll i< ancient declaration siiiticient juslih'•■ition, as a Baptist, for his support of a vidimlw citizen army (says the "Chrislin, W.'i'ld"). Tho muUe.r is <m<> in which mo member nf anv denomination can lay dmvii 'lie !««■ lor':ill the rest. It is best , referred I; , thai old golden rule which i.|(iiii!s 'in things doubtful liberty.' and at the same time urges 'in all things J charity.' '•'