RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1324, 30 December 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

FRESBYTERIAN STUDENTS AT OXFORD. A PERMANENT CHAPLAINCY. A conference of representative members m the Church of Scotland and of tho I mled free Church was held in the hall "1 the I. ailed free Church oltices, lldinli'irgli. on November Jo. to consider a scheme, lor the institution of a permanent chaplaincy far Presbyterian students in resilience at Oxford in conjunction Willi the Presbyterian Church of England. The Very J.'ev. Dr. Kobortson. of Wliiltiugehaiue presided, and the gathering included both moderators, Principal Stewart, and .Dr. Wells. ' Dr. Bobertson said that llley were sending to Oxford about 11)1) young men every year who might be accounted the very cream of their l : niversity life, and there were about Kill more from other quarters. The question was whether they should hesitate to eamniit these men entirely to be moulded by the prevailing Christian spirit in Oxford.. Highly as they esteemed such men ns Bishup Gore, I hey were staggered when lie hold that the episcopal succession was necessary to the continued life of the. Church. That was a very serious position for him to lake, and it was painful to think of men from this country having their reverence for (he past history of Scotland and their early home inlluence lowered by teaching of that kind.

Professor Anderson Scott, on behalf of Ihe English Presbyterian Church, stated there was a crying necessity for tho Presbyterian Churcluv of the 'United Kingdom to have a permanent Presbyterian pastor in Oxford. It was not only the Anglicans that exerlcd inllueneo in Oxford: there were besides the Labiaiis, tho Socialists, and the atheists.

. The Rev. Donald Matbcsorj, who at present fills the position of chaplain at Oxford, emphasised (he urgency and. the hopefulness of the prospect. ' .Air. A. Pndds pairbairn said that the committee of the English Presbyterian Church had .C1.r.110 in hand, and In thought they should aim at .£IO,OOO in order (o erect a suitable building and probably start an endowment fund. A resolution in favour of establishing and maintaining o. Presbyterian chaplaincy at Oxford was unanimously approved, and a joint committee was op pointed.

NEW MODERATORS.

The "Scotsman'' announces that (he Row -Marcus Dill, D.U.. minister of -Uloway, -will be nominated as moderator of the ensiling General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, ami that the Hcv. Dr. Thomas Whitolaw, of Kins Street Church, Kilmarnock, has been unanimously selected as moderator-elect of the General Assembly of tho United !•'■ Church. The other names submitted for the United Free Church moderate rship wore those of Principal Iverach and Prolessor Orr. Dr. Dill is a native of Belfast,' son of a former medical professor in Queen's College, and his family have given notable men 10. the colleges and Presbyterian Church of Ireland. On one sido of his descent Dr. Dill is of Scottish extraction. Educated at Queen's College. Belfast, Dr. Dill' graduated with first-class honours and the gold medal at Queen's University, Dublin, and received his divinity training at Belfast and Geneva. In 18S1 he was'elected to Allowoy, Burns's parish, lie has been convener of the committees of the Synod and Presbytery on Smaller Livings. Dr., Whitekiw, who is about 72 years of age, is a native of Perth, and graduated at St.. Andrews University. After studying at the.United Presbyterian Theological Hall, Edinburgh; ho was ordained to the ministry in Mile End Uoad, South Shields, as colleague and successor to tljo Rev. Thomas It'C'rcath.. He lias held the chargo at Kilmarnock since 1877. Ho is the ..author of a number of theological works. He has been nominated on more thin one occasion for a professorship' in the United Presbyterian Church. Before tho Union he served on the College Committee as convener. He visited Australia in 1!I01 as a special commissioner from (he United Free Church lo lake part in the celebrations of tho federation of tho Presbyterian Churches' qf Australia ami Tasmania.

THE CONSISTORY

SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES. The Home correspondent of the "Tablet" (London), writing on November 5, states :— Many important changes in the ecclesiastical world of Homo aro involved in the Consistorv. Most important of all of them is tho 'addition of seven new Cardinals, all of them hard workers, to tho various Congregations. The vacancy caused bv the removal of Father Billot from the'chair of dogma in tho Gregorian L'niverstiv has already been filled by the appointment, at tho express desiro of the Holv Father, of t'other Maltiusi. It is onlv laUerlv that tho name of this great and" learned Jesuit bus come before tho public, owing to some attacks niada on his teaching in the north of Italy, especially in .Milan, whew ho was accused of'being violently reactionary. His present appointment is tho best possible answer to these attacks. But lather Matliusi iias long been well known in Komo bv those whose opinion counts. He was for many years a Professor at tho Gregorian, ho "was one of tho first to niako a systematic study of the errors of Modernism and to point out its dangers, lor Mgr. Bisleti, so long the indcfatigablo .Maestro di Camera and Majordomo of Leo XIII and Pius X, election to the Cardinalalo comes as severe wrench. For at least live vears it has been a certainty to evervbodv but the Prelate himself, who hoped that the Holy Father would continue- to allow him to servo for many vears to come in his present position, "which enabled him to render personal service to the Holy Father. It is said generally that he petitioned the Holy Father to havo the honour delayed for some time longer, but that the Pontiff persisted in rewarding his faithful servant. It is generally believed that the office of Majordomo is about to bo entrusted to Mgr. Caccia Doiiiinioni. Another of tbis select body of six prelates who are in constant residence- in the Vatican and in constant attendance on Iho Pontiff, Mgr. Sapieha. a member of one of the most distinguished of Polish families, is likely lo . receive in a few dnvs his nomination as Archbishop of Cracow, to succeed tho lato Cardinal Puzvna, and destined himself lo enler the 'Sacred College after a brief interval. Nobodv has- ventured even to guess at the successor of Mgr. Logan as Assessor of tho lloh Office, but it is believed Hint Mgr. Fompili's place as Secretary of the Congregation of tho Council will be taken either by Mgr. Georgi, at present liegent of the "Penilentiaria, or by Mgr. Cosenzn. Bishop of Caserta, who has recently been entrusted by tho noly Father with "(ho Apostolic Visitation of various diocese in tho south of Italy. A successor for Mgr.. Vieo, Apostolic Nuncio in Madrid, will probably bo found, in' tho person of Mgr. Locatclli, at present Nuncio in Brussels.

PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY,

NEW QUAKER BOOK OF DISCIPLINE. English Friends have held their yearly meeting in 1 lit? early summer regularly I'or upwards of -'fill years, hut never until thi = year had there heen mi adjournment. J ii November, however, now history was made, when several hundred Friends came lo Jjoiulon for the purpose of rovisins lli-o hook entitled, "Christian .Di-eipltM' i>i I In; .lluliiriod-* Society of friends of London Yearly Meeting. Part 2. Christian I'r.iotiec." "Tht» lioofc of ClirMiaii lli-t'ii line" is ihe standard Pet 1)V the siviely for the | [riddance of its members in every-day life. The standard ;-. of course, higher than most Friends' attain te, for, if not. what would he (lie u-o of having such a book at all? (says (he "Chi-Mian World"). Hut. it; contains no ah-olutolv unattainable ideals, and it exhorts friends in such mundane all'airs as pnyimr the Kind's revenue or making the right use of the week-end. Changing social conditions make revisions of the hook necessary from time to time. Part 1. "Church (lovcrnmcnt," was revised and published in ISOB, and now tin sccoiid part. "Christian Practice," has been revival for the sixth iime. 'I'lie ljiisiiie=- of the meeting was very simple. It wn* to consider, clause hy okitise. a pamphlet of about l.ln pajes, the result of lour year- of work of .i committee appointed in 101)7 to revise the !ynk <\;v\ bring in a draft for the new edition. The work of revision, occupied, tlw xearli jncetiDg Jco; tb.rss session* i

day for rather more tiiau three days. T)io draft bouk which the committee, siiijmilted contained thirteen chapters on such practical matters ..is public aii<l„privalu devotion (three chapters), love ami unity, Christian service, Christian living, Education, and counsel as (o' marriage,' and lo parents, teachers, children, and to those in perplexity. Tho last was an ventirely Hew chapter, and was adopted with ■some amendment and addition. The first paragraph of this chapter has (ho heading. "Causes of Perplexity," and the second ojioJ "Warning agauist ineincore llniibr," begins as follows:— There is u warning which in love oral tenderness we are bound to give. To some minds there may come n temptation to take up religious ilillicnllics, as a novelty, or as an intellectual interest rather than to regard them as a serious problem, the solution of. which is demanded by the nc«U of the soul. Such an altitude is fraught with danger. One who harbours doubt unnecessarily may become indifferent to (ruth or drift into a purposeless existence with loss of spiritual capacity. ;' A new paragraph *is to be added for those in moral difficulties. A whole chapter is devoted to "Business and Trade." The changes made in this and other chapters dealing, with outward affairs are in the direction of a mora liberal outlook on life.

METHODIST FOREIGN MISSIONS,

A CENTENAIiY MOVEMENT. Tho movement for the celebration of tho centenary of tin.' English YVcsleyau Methodist foreign Missionary Society was publicly inaugurated at a series of gatherings in Liverpool on November 13. Liverpool was chosen for this inauguration because, it is to be next year's conference city, and the hopes entertained that the movement would bo launched in a spirit of intense enthusiasm were realised in all the meetings. Tho promoters of the movement have been careful to explain that it is not primarily a financial one. At the same time, it is confidently anticipated that the income of tho society will be increased during tho two centenary years bv at least .£15,000, and that a fund "of .£200,000 will be raised for tho adequate equipment of the mission stations for aggressive work. Consequently promises were gladly received, and including an anonymous gift of .i'jQOO, already announced? they amounted to .KI2OO. The collections realised over .£BS. The proceedings began with a meeting for ministers in the morning, at which over 100 were present. The president of tho conference was in the chair, and the Revs. William Goudie and C. W. Andrews, 8.D.. spoke. In the nftcrnuon the president presided over a meeting of local missionary officials in tho Liverpool Central Hall. Mr. Andrews made a spirited appeal to business men to promise not only money, but so much timp a year to the cause. Mr. Goudie explained the objects of the Thanksgiving Fund. Tho Rev. C. W. Posnett, who has just returned from Mcdnk, painted two pictures of the transforming power of (he Gospel. Mr. Andrews declared that as the last 25 years had been the epoch of homo evangelisilion. so the next 23 yours should be the era when the cry of the outcast abroad.should he answered in like manner.

These gatherings were followed on November 14 by two meetings in Chester, at both of which (ho president look part, -Mr. Gaudic awl Mr. Andre.vs, with the Rev. C. W. Posnott. were again the.speakers, Mr. Andrews following up the point made in Livei-pool that the work of financing the Missionary Society should no longer lie left 1o the women and children among I hem, but. should enlist the zeal and'business ability of the men. A number of.. promises nf financial help were made at both gatherings.

BEGINNING TO THINK,

REV. B, C. GILLIE ON EVANGELICALISM. Preaching at Marylebono Presbyterian Church on a recent Sunday 'morning, the Itev. H. C; Gillie," concluding a series' of sermons on Evangelicalism, said evangelical Christianity could not bo said to have had a time of easo during tho last fifty years. ■ There, had been' great' upheavals' of thought. lii regard ,to the demand for intellectual reconstruction and new methods of Bible study, to a large extent the evangelical churches chose to close the doors, liflfflho drawbridge, let down the portcullis;" and bar out the new npvement, but such nn attitude could be. nothing less than calamitous. Many young men had Iho choice forced upon them either of intellectual sincerity or of "salvation," and they chose sincerity. Mr. Gillie added that he thanked God tlfat in the Presbyterian churches ministers were not denied tho right to think. One thing that inspired hopo today was the fact that not a lew of the noblest intellects passing out from tho universities were marked by unswerving intellectual sincerity, absolute devotion lo Jesus Christ our Saviour, and. a profound sense of the need of intercessory prayer. Yet for not a few evangelical Christians | the question still remained, Were they going to accept: the task laid'on (liein, and begin 'to think?

IN BRIEF,

Mr. Bonar Law, (ho now leader of (ho Unionist party, is tho son of the Rev. James Law, M.A., an Irish Presbyterian minister, and a .Glasgow lady, tho daughter of Mr. William Kidston. His father at one time held a charge iu Now Brunswick, where tho Unionist leader was born in 1838. lie is a Presbyterian, a sincerely religious 'man, who keeps his Sundays as sacred as did Mr. Gladstone. He has attended Regent Square Church in London. At a meeting of the English Wesleyan Theological Institution Committee ' in Birmingham, the otter of Mr. Michael Gutteridge, made at tho Cardiff Conference, to give .€SOOO towards tho establishment of a hostel for ministerial students at Cambridge, was considered. Dr. Davison, who presided, Dr. James Moullon, and Dr. Lidgett strongly supported the idea, and after discussion a resolution was unanimously passed heartily approving the proposal, and appointing a representative sub-coinmiiteo to go into the details and report to the committee next April.

Accounts which appeared in the daily papers of tho remarkable experiences of Kdir.h Ballard, (if Gillingliam, Kent, are confirmed by the 'N'oslcyan minister sla-' tioned there, lie states that. Miss Ballard has been connected with old Christmas Street Wesleyan Church in that town since infancy, and up to the time of her illness had been n worker in (he Baud of Hope. Tor nearly six years she has been confined to her bed by funetinii.il paralysis, and for live years she lias been practically helpless. According to her story, she heard a mysterious voice, which she believes to lie the voice of Christ, lelling'hcr to rise and walk. She obeyed the voice, and has walked round the bed from which, she has been unable to rise- for over five years. No violent, permanent change has taken place, but. (ho joints of her limbs have been loosened, and.she is able to attend to hfir own needs, which for tho five, pears preceding had been quite impossible.

The Rev. W. Griffith .Tonkins, IS.A., of liildderstiold, has been unanimously invited to the pastorate of Princes Street Congregational Church, Norwich, the see lie fur over l() years of Dr. Harrott's ministry. Mr. Jenkins, who is Ihirlyoighl: years of ago, was born at Pemmtcumaivr, where his father hold a Congregational pastorale, 110 was educated at Iht.la-Bitngor College, and graduated at. London t.'niver,-ilv. After a pastorale of "J- years at Pontypridd, ho accepted the pastorate of llighlield Church, Huddcrsiield, in succession lo the late Dr. ltobert Bruce. ,

The liov. .Ti'.hn M'iS'oill recently conducted n week's mission at: Iho boauliful Presbyterian' Church at ,Stokc Xowinglon. At the concluding service, Mr. M'Neill drew a graph in picture of his lather, "old John M'Neill," who every morning- when he slarloci in the. dark for work at Iho quarry used to turn round on I lid threshold and say. "Another day in (tod's noine!" Appealing (o young people In join the church. Mr. M'Noill t;aid, "Don't think you're too young. Last Sunday 1 received my, own little girl, aged twelve and a half, and I can assure you she gave im intelligent, account of how it stood with her spirit.''

The King has been nleasod by loiters potent' lo appoint the Kov. Edward Grose llodgo. M.A., lo the mebendal stall of Tottenhall in St. Paul's Cathedral, void by the promotion of Dr. fiidgewny to the bishopric of Salisbury. The new Prebendary h the Kural Dean of Marylcheme* '~ „• ■%,