RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

MELANESI AN MISSION. ANNUAL MEETING. Tho Bishop of Hcchcster presided on November 28 at the annual meeting of the Melamx-ian Mission held at the Church House, Westniin.-ler. Ho referred ill sympathetic- terms to tho illness of tho liishop of St. Aibans, who usually presided at the meeting, anil whose "genius, enthusiasm, and masterful administration" of the English Committee mado his absence tho more to be regretted. After a touching reference to tho death in August last of the Kev. G. F. Bury, the Bishop spoke of the changes which had taken pface during the past year, noting in particular tho alteration of policy which would result from the Solomon Islands having become tho centre of gravity and headquarters o£ tho mission worl;. It wo'ild be the future residence of tho Bishop. That was, of course, a most important fact, and one which had caused a considerable amount of interest, and perhaps some little regret, on the part of those who had been so long supporters of the mission and who hau associated it with its headquarters in Norfolk Island with its l'atesm Memorial Church. There was no intention of abandoning Norfolk Island. Tito change had brought with it the resignation of Bishop Wilson, which had taken phu-o for no other rea-

son than that, tlie future headquarters being in the Solomon Islands, it \ as necessary that an unmarried bishop should take charge of tho work. Bishop Wilscn had always been true in leadership, always lac? to faco with danger, never shirking work, and always anxious to hear tils difficulties of those wlio were working with him, always full of sympathy, always bright and brave, and always a cbep spiritual leader, his lordship added. The now appointment had not yet been made. v

A resolution expressing regret at the resignation of the Bishop, and appreciation of liis seventeen years' strenuous and devoted labours, was curried. A second resolution, deploring the absence of Iho Bishop of St.-Albans and praying for bis speedy recovery, was also carried.

The Bishop of Derby, in referring to tho change of tho mission's headquarters, said that if those great men who were responsible for the ioundation ami carrying on of tile mission work of old were hero to-day they would not have the slightest (iifliciiity in deciding that the step was best for the mission. There was, however, cause for grave anxiety at Home, if'? had hoard it said that it would Ira finite impos.-iblc to keep up interest in tile llelanesian Mission unless there was a continual supply of deputations from the front. If taat was true, vemarked (ho Bishop, it was a disgrace to the Church of England. Tho mission work of the Church of Christ was r.ot a. sentimental matter merely kept alivo by hearing stories of what was going on. "if tho mission wor'< of the Churcli abroad was to take il*i proper placo in tho life of the Homo Church, it must be because tho clergy, laymen, and women were filled to (.'is full with the missionary spirit which throbbed throughout the whole of tho New Testament. Tho Church owed a great debt to tho Melanosiau M ission, for,

said the Bishop, "I believo tho fruitful line.--, of mission work for heathen lands wcro struck first of all by tho Melanesian Mis-ion."

liism p Montgomery, wliilo agreeing that it would b:> something like sacrilege by reason of its associations to displace Norfolk Island, thought that to keen Norfolk Island as the centre would be rather like trying to evangelise Newfoundland from lona, while other great bodies were camped on the shores of Labrador and Princo Edward's Island.

The Rev. It. 10. Freeth having spoken, tho Primate of New Zealand said that ho looked forward to tho time when there would be a united. Oceanic Province.

THE REV. R. J. CAMPBELL IN AMERICA.

THAT "BUSINESS HONESTY". SERMON. Referring to tho Key. R. J. Campbell's visit to America, tho Boston "Cungregalionulist" reports that "Mr. Campbell met two kinds of hosts in Philadelphia; an unexpectedly large group of orthodox hosts, wiio took him into their homes for three days, with lunch parties, 'dinner parties, and auto trips, etc., and other orthodox hosts who rolled up in thousands lo four churches—Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian— expecting lo be shocked with theological eccentricities, but who went away with spiritual emotions aud hearts charged with tho true dynamic of the preaching of tho Cross of Christ. . . ."

The Boston "Cougregationalist" correspondent describes' Mr. Campbell as "beyond question a mystic walking daily with God, and withal a very genial, normal, healthy, 'lwppy companion." llr. Campbell's alloyed declaration that no one could bo successful in business, and remain honest, has been quoted in the papers all over America, and lias been made tlio topic of many discussions. The fact is that ho was misquoted. The manuscript he was reading shows that the following were his .actual words:—"Every day wis hear of como man of business who has failed and gono under owing to the stress of competition; business is war. In private life we should not think of acting as wo do ill business; we consider it bad form to draw attention to ourselves, brag of our performances, or exaggerate our good qualities; yet this is the very thing wo do in business, and 110 business succeeds without it. It is only too true that the successful man of business is seldom the most scrupulous, and the struggle for a footing tends to make men hard'in their dealings with their fellows." This statement is certainly tavere, and is open to criticism, but it is very different from the sweeping denunciation attributed to Mr. Campbell by the American press.

THE NONCONFORMIST PAGEANT.^

The Pageant of Nonconformity, organised by the Women's League of tho London Congregational Union has been fixed for February 12-17 inclusive, at the Horticultural Ball. Final arrangements for hiring the hall hayo not yet been made, but 110 hitch is now .anticipated. That tho pageant will stimulate prido and interest 111 Nonconformity, as well as raise monev for the union's good works, is confidently hoped. The scenes will include incidents in tho lives of Luther and John Knox; the birth of Nonconformity in England, with Greenwood, Browne, and Penry as the chief characters; the Pilgrim Fathers; the Long Parliament. in session, the battle of Naseby, and Cromwell refusing tho crown; the Ejection of IGG2; Bunyan in prison; Baxter before .Tudgo Jeffreys; scenes from tho Covenanting times in* Scotland; and later characters up" to Robert liaikes and Elizabeth Fry. ltev. Hugh Parry, of Seaford, is tho Pageant Master and author of tlio "book."

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Preliminary arrangements are already boijg made in connection with the meetings of the l'an-Presbytcrian Council which are to take place in Aberdeen in ID 13. Three hundred representatives of tlieso churches are expected to be present from all parts of tho world, and the two daily sessions will be held in {lie morning and evening, leaving the afternoon free for social engagements. This will lie tho first time the Council has been held in Scotland outside Glasgow or Edinburgh. .Dr. Moll'alt's decision to stand nomination to the Yates Chair of Nov Testament Greek, at Mansfield College, lias created no little regret in his own congregation at East U.F. Church, Droughty Ferry, and in the Church at large. His present pulpit has a distinguished history, and has eijmo to be looked upon, as a stepping-stone to a professorship, Drs. Bruce and Penney being former occupants. Dr. Jloil'att lias been (he recipient of previous oilers of the kind from America, but tlieso he has consistently refused. In Scotland lie has. oftener than once been nominated for a Chair, in one or other of tho colleges of his own Church, and but for his liberal outlook, theologically and critically, this rare scholar would doubtless have been a Scottish professor by this time.

The death lias taken placo of an olrl Glasgow divine in the person of Dr. Druuunond, Minister Emeritus of Belhaven U.F. Church. Dr. Drummoml was eighty-three years of age. He entcrod the United Presbyterian Hall at tho beginning of the first wesson after ttm Union, pi ths Uolict md EccewJeJV

Churches in ISI7. At tho close of his course he acceptcd a pastorate at Carlisle, where agreut.compliment was paid to his elocutionary ability by the resident dean, afterwards Archbishop Tail', who advised his curates to attend tho Presbyterian services if they wished to learn to 1 read. Dr. Druminond was called to Erskino Church, Glasgow, in ISG2, where he spent ten happy years, afterwards proceeding to St. " John'sU'oud Church, London, to succeed tho late Professor Alexander lioberls, D.l). Here he built up an influential congregation, and was at the same time a great factor in tho accomplishment of tho unioa between the Presbyterian churches in England brought about in 1577. He received the call to Delhaven Church over thirty years ago. Ho celebrated bis jubilee in 190; i, and retired in March, 1900. His colleague and successor, Kev. John A. Hutton, was appointed in ISS9, and l\a.s fully maintained the distinction reflected by Dr. Druminond upon tho cliurch. Dr. Druminond was an ox-Moderator of the United Presbyterian Synod, and received his doctor's degree from Glasgow as lone ago ;is 18(1!). A son, also a D-D., is in tho U.i. ministry in Edinburgh.

SALVATION ARMY.

Tho General had a splendid audience on the Gorman •Kepentanco Day.' Tho Circus liusch m Berlin, said to Ixs the largest building used tor speaking purposes in Europe, was lilled with people. 'At eleven 0 clock at night tho General was still on the platiorm, urging men and women to eonio to a decision. During the next two days tne General was engaged in council wil:n tile lour hundred German officers, afterwards leaving far Denmark. / Ibe Swedish -Social Work Department lias acquired tho island of Kuron, which is to be converted into an inebriates' retreat on the line.? of the New Zealand experiments. Eight hundred Swedish young people attended Mr. Braimvcll Dooth's councils ill Stockholm. The December issue of "All tho World" takes the form of tho annual report of tho Army's social work. A number of important additions to the social institutions took place during the rear, and more aro contemplated for 1912. Among them will bo tlie extension and fitting-up of riverside premises in London, for tho disposal of paper and other work shipped oversea, to cost .fclOOO; erection of home and workshops for 150 men at Plymouth, am Similar developments at Stockport and JJublin; building of first wing of a maternity hospital (lO patients), at a cost 01 iILa.000; and various lodging homes for women m large cities The statistics for IJII include tho followiug:-7,6(i5,150 meals supplied at cheap food depots; 2,. r )S'I,G7O cheap lodgings for the homeioss; SS9II received into Army factories ; 3(102 women ana girls received in rescuo homes, 32G7 .. . 11 woro restored to friends or situations; 127,379 slum families visited: loijl lodging-house meetings held; 21,21-1 sick pcoplo visited and nursed,

THE MEW CARDINALS AND THE OLD VETO.

1 £i lle ,r E<)! ! 10 ColTe ?P°'"le!it of tho "TabJet (London), writing on November 2(1 slateslho Consistory of next week ivill 111 most respects Ijo very liko all public V?nastor,o S , ' J ut with ono important dillerence; for now, for the first time, i opo 1 his X s Constitution 011 the abolition oi the civil veto in the election of t.io Supremo Pontiff will bo read for tho new Cardinals, who will then tako tho new oath, "We shall never in any way accept, under any pretext, from any civil power whatever tho onico of proposing the \ eto or Kxclusive, even under tho lorm of a mere desire, or reveal* such \ eto, however it may have become known to us, either to tlio entire , College of Cardinals taken as a body or to individual leathers Cardinals, in writing or orally, directly and proximately, or indirectly and through others, either beforo tho Conclave or during it; and that wo shall never lend aid or favour to any intervention or intercession or any other method whatever by which tho lay powers of any grade or order whatsoever may wish to interfere in tho election of tho Pontiff. So help me God and theso Holy Gospels of God." It is worth noting that 110 serious attempt has been mndo by either of tho Powers concerned in this Constitution, Spain and France (for France need hardly be mentioned) to raise a serious protest against this Constitution oil tho Veto. Among tho penalties inflicted on any Cnrdinal who •should violate this oath is that of excommunication latae sententiae, specially reserved to tho l'opo.

THE LATE MR, DAVID MARTINEAU

Unitarians have lost a veteran eupporter in Mr. David Martineau, who died on November 2-J- in his Sstli year. A descendant, liko t!io celebrated jJr. Janics Martineau, of Gaston Martinjau, l-lio Huguenot surgeon, who, on tl«o Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, settled 'at Norwich, ho was well worthy of. his place in a notable family. For fifty years a suga? refiner in East London, he resided in Claph.nn Park, and was attached to the Unitarian Church at Effra Road,' Brixton, In addition to acting as treasurer of tlio congregation for eighteen years, he was treasurer of the London District Unitarian Society for thirty years, and took an active part in founding several new congrcgu/tious. For half a century he was also a. member of tlio executivo coinmittoe of tho British and Foreign Unitarian Association, and was president for 1879-SO. Ho was an ardent Liberal and was president of the Clapham Liberal Association for nearly twenty years. Ho was co-opted Alderman of tho London County Council in ISO 3. Among his many public services must bo reckoned those rendered to Dr. Williams's Trust, of which ho was a most valuable member for over forty years. Ho was a J.P. for tho County of London, and vice-chairman of the Clapham Union Guardians 19014. One of ins most valuable labours for the Unitarian cause was the formulating of a scheme of ministerial pensions, a work to which ho gavo much tiino ami ripo business ability. Personally he was urbane and courtly, and he combined clear and incisive thought and spccch with a geniality which earned tho respcct oven of opponents.

IN BRIEF.

Dr. Jowott has given a point-blank denial to the statement made by tho London correspondent of the "Birmingham Daily Post" that he would bo, prepared to consider any appropriate opening in England when the tiino conies for determining his future work. To the suggestion that his term of service in the United Stat.os is not likely to bo long, Dr. Jowett replies that he feels perfectly settled and content in America, and hopes to remain iu Now York for many years. Tlio Bishop of London gavo tlio opening address in connection with tlio Islington Church Convention, and spoke upon tho words, 'Any man having put his hand to tho plough.' Tho sight of the plain, unromantic, prosaic, tiresome plough, sa.id Dr. Ingram, made ■ many men and women look back almost ill despair. Tho old Bible-class, the old soup-kitchen, tho old round of visits sromod so trying. But tlio thought that wo had to plough our way to the Kingdom was the most comifortinglhiught iu the world when we understood it. "Wo are breaking up the fallow ground," tho Bishop cried. "Plough away, my brother. The thought of tlio ploughman used to comfort me more in my work in Last London than any other. What is wanted, perhaps for years, is steady ploughing, preparing the way for Die ner.t man!" The report of the Theological Institution of tho English Wesleyan Methodist Church shows that tliq financial position is slightly better than for the previous year. The deficit is .C7-IM, ln:t: this is nearly .£2OOO less than in 1910, owing to tho receipt of .53000 from the general assessment. The expenditure on tho tlireo colleges at Headingley, Handsworth, and Didsbury was about .£1.1,500, of which dCJ ,022 went to Didsbury, .£t,OM) to Headingley, and .£4,411 to Handsworth. Tho .students or. their friends paid _.£I2OO towards the cast of training, public collections provided JCfi-135, and subscriptions .£1122. Circuits gavo ,£OG, and church trusts .£832. Liverpool District stands first in contributions to tho fund with Manchester District gave ,£G2"). and Birmingham and Shrewsbury JJa-l-t. Tim number of students in residence in- tho last Cennexional year was 2, r )G, Didsbury and Hnndswnth taking 68 each, and Richmond and Hcadpgley 50,