RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1704, 22 March 1913, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

METHODIST DOCTRINAL. STANDARDS. AND LIBERTY OF THOUGHT* DISCISSION BY N.S.W. CONFERENCE Tho pronounced opinions eiprcssod by tho retiring president of the New South Wales Mothodist Conference (tho Rev. IS. J. Meek) on tho question of fixed creeds and freedom ot thought, at tho annual gathering of ministers on. Febru« ary 25, wero responsible for a prolonged discussipn at tho sitting of tho conference on March 7.' The Rov. P. Clipsham had tabled tho following motion:'—"That this confcrenco deplores tho painful and injurious effects produced hy tho retiring address of tho Rov. ex-President Meek, and takes this opportunity of reassuring our people (1) that this Mothodist Conference is • profoundly convinced tliat the doctrinal standards of our Church are in harmony with tlio revealed Word of God, and (2) that, as a Church wo possess all - the liberty of thought that is legitimate or that oould bo desired consistent with tlio definite holding and preaching of tho doctrinal truths on which our Church is built. It also resolves that copies of this resolution bo sent to tho ministerial confcrenco and to tho daily press." When tho order of the day was called on, Mr. W. Robson, M.L.C., raised a point of order that tho question involved in tho notice of motion was of such, "a nature that it could bo dealt with only by a ministerial, and not a representative, conference. He quoted Church ' law in support. The point was supported -by tlio Rov. C. J. Prescott, who also cited from recognised authorities. .

The president ruled that inasmuch' as the motion referred to an address delivered in tho hearing of tho conference, and did not specify' any charges in a triable form upon tho doctrinal beliefs or personal character of tho minister con- ] cerned, it was a matter pertaining to tho conference, and not exclusively pertinent to; the ministerial confcrenco. The Rev. P. Clipsham, in moving his motion, wished tho conference to believe that this was ono of the most painful duties he had over been called upon to perform. Reflection upon tho criticisms that had been made upon the Church of God ■ ha<l caused liim to bo sad. Any trend of modern times to forsake tho principles of tho past, to hew out broken cisterns that would not hold water for themselves was pitiable beyond expression. Critical correspondence had appeared in tho papers during the past weok, pointing out that tho oonferenoo must have accepted Mr. Moek's address, as'it had not made _ any protest. Ho (Mr. Clipsham) disclaimed any idea of starting a heresy hunt. (Hear, hear.) He wished Mr. Meek and tho conference to bo assured that wliat ho said would be said in brotherly love, and in the interests of what ho believed to be the'great Christian Church. The cffccts of tho ex-president's address were exceedingly painful to many people, and damaeed tho spiritual life of many. ("No, nol") It was also injurious to the causo generally of tho Christian religion. Immediately the published it was taken (hat ho spoke in an official canacity as representing the Methodist Church. "I do not pretend for a moment that I am about. |o voice the thought of my Church," was the opening sentence of Mr.Meeks' address. . . . "I aim to say_ what is good for my Church to hear, to indicate what thoughts she ought to think, and what steps sho ought to take in theso perilous times." The. result had been that in spite of this assertion faith had. boon shaken in loyalty and sincerity of tho Christian community as a whole. ("No, no!") Mr. Meek had said .that John Wesley, if ho werp alive to-day, would burn same of his sermons and Te-edit some of his notes on tho New Testament' beyond recognition. (A voice: "So ho would!") That might be quite truei every intelligent minister nowadays would probably do the same thing. But it was borne in mind that theso sermons wero tho foundation of tho 6ystem that constituted tho Metliodist doctrino of their fathers. Mr. ,Meek did,.not in .his address make any reference to nny.!part of tho Methodist doctrine ho ■ wished' to escapo from. All through the address there was a hazy,' indefinite appeal that was calculated to have a worse effect than if ho had said that ho disagreed >'ith any particular portion of - Church doctrine. He said either too.little,or too much. If he had any just grounds for impeaching tho faith, they, 'possessed, lie should have remembered his official capacity and shown them where thoy were wrong. (Hear, hear.) Tlio whole address suggested the idea that Mr. Meek had a suspicion that lie was skating over "cat ice," and that ho was not oven himself too sure about his skates. The Methodists as a Church wero quite prepared to believe iu what was based upon the inmregnablo Rock of Holy Scripture, Takiyg their ministry as a whole, there was no strong desire for freedom not to believe, but they should let tho' people know where they stood. They had made repeated aud heavy draught's upon tho pooplo's liberality in conncctioh with their Church, and the people should know that tho ministers held fast to tho "faith that was once delivered to the saints" and that they wero doing ilioir best to build upon the foundations of which Jesus Christ was tlio Corner-stone. Tho-Rev. W. Glassoii. in seconding the motion, said that Mr. Meek/and himself' had been friends ever since they knew one another, and ho had not the slightest doubt that the ex-president wos sound in tlio faith, and did nit hold any heretical opinions. - The Rev. J. G. Middleloa..said that no one but a courageous man would have delivered the address; but. Mr.'Meek had mistaken tho timo and place where ho should have made tho plea for greaterabort}-. Tho Rev. W. W. Rutlecbje felt that no personal friendship should stand in tho J™)" °f doiiip one's public duty. -Mr. Jleek know that any such utterance would bo liable to public criticism, and thereforo ho would not bo displeased if swell criticism were not altogether pleasing. If the address had been delivered elsewhere there would havo been nothing said about it. Hut under the circumstances it was looked upon by the public as an ex cathedra utteraiico. Ihose opinions had gone forth from the ex-president of tho Mothodist Conference, and the deliverance was regarded as conim 'ho Church and conference. I here was no desiro to 6tart what was called a lieresy hunt, and they wero thero to proteat against the inference that'thore might bo such a thing. The remarks of tho ex-president wero ma<lo to a Jlethodist audience, and if he did not mean them to bo applied to that Church ho was beating tho air. . He moved tho elimination of tho last sentence'of the motion. Tho Rev. W. Stewart, who seconded the amendment, yielded to no ono in loyalty to tho Methodist Church, and felt very much pained at what tho ex-president had said. The Methodist Church did uot want to bo narrow or small, nor did it want to shut out tlio thinker when ho was a truo thinker. All they wanted was to be true. There was nothins wooden about their theology; it was a living theology.

Mr. T. H, England foreshadowed tho following amendment:—"TliaV a reference to the public discussion that has arisen"in connection with tho retiring address of tho liev. B. J. Meek, ex-president of tho conference, draws attention to tho fact that in that address tho liev. B. J. Meek intimated that tho views therein expressed voiced his own opinions, and not those of the Church. Tlio conference takes this opportunity of assuring onr (1) That this Methodist Conrerenco is profoundly convinced that tlio doctrinal standards of our Church are in harmony with tlio revealed Word of God; (2) that as a Church wo possess all tho liberty of thought that is legitimate, or that could bo desired consistent with tho definite holding and preaching of tho doctrinal truths on which our Church is built." Tho.Hor. Dr. Brown said fiiat if any harm had been dono by tlio ex-president's address, moro harm would still bo dono by carrying a resolution on tho subject. ("No!") This debato was only accentuated by tho impression that Mr. Aleck was entirely wrong. Tlio Rev. K. J. Kodd said it was not what Mr. Meek said, but what ho left unsaid. There wero many things ,lhoy were suro Mr. Meek bcliovcd in that did not find a placo in (headdress. His orthodoxy and fundamental loyally to their doctrines no ono questioned, but liodid not malco his position clear. So long as tlicy were truo to tho principles of the Church they could allow, freedom of thought. This spirit of freedom of thought was growing moro aiuV mofb.

Lot .no old man'scent heresy because■"» young mail spoko iu Eomcwhat unfamiliar phrases.

Tho ikv. C. J. Prcscott said tliey had to consider tho man who for forty yearn had been going round in his oircuit work, and ask themselves whether ho wan ono who would teach tho young that all tho old things wero musty. It required tho conference: to. know him a3 tho quarterly meotinp and his circuits knew him- to understand what ho'meant by tho expressions in .his.address.... In his (Mr. Meek'sJ • appead for liberty, it was as clcar as daylight that lib hold for himself and tho Church thoso. essential , verities, that wero as old as tho stars. This discussion had brought out that they stood for tho great essential verities, and, in doing that, thoy had done everything to satisfy their people and mako tho position quite clour in relation to tho. outsido world. Mr. Prescott concluded by moving tho "previous question." Tho Rev. G. W. Payne seconded. Tho Rev* J. Woodhouso gave no.tloe of i his intention to move, as a further"" amendment, "That in view of tho recent discussions on tho liberty of thought, wo declare—(l) that this Methodist Conference is profoundly convinced that tho doctrinal standards of our Church ore . in harmony with ' tho revealed Word of God; (2) that, m a Churoli, wo possess nil the liberty of thought that is legitimate or that could bo desired, consistent with tho definite holding and preaching of tho doctrinal truths oir which our Church in-, built."' After several'others had 6poken, ' • The Rev; B. J. Meek said ho had very little to say. Ho was very, sorry , that tho conference had had'so much trouble over the mutter. It was his message to tho Church, and lie was. going to 6tahd by lt« Ho was astonished that so many intelli-gent-men should-misrepresent aim, as ho had'bceh. misrepresented : during tho debate. Mr; Rodd had 6aid there was no time for. a re-statement, but there was time for a re-statement. Ho was perfectly confident that tho conference would do the right,thing, , , .. • On the "previous question" being put, Mr.- Clipsham's motion was lost by 111 votes to 47, and Mr. England's imendment was carried by 105 to 47. On tho further amendment by Mr. Woodhouso being submitted, tlio- voting was. 148 ift favour and' fivo against, The president (tho Rev. J. E. Carruthors) said that Mr. Meek might be assured of tho personal lovo and confidence of tho' members of the conference.' . :

THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING RAOES, PASTORAL LETTER BY OARDINAIi" BOURNE. In a recent pastoral letter ; Cardinal' Bourne, Archbishop «o£ Westminster* writes. •( • A few months ago, in tho National Conpress at Norwich, wo called attention to tho urgent need of constant intercession' for tho return of tho English-speaking world to tho unity of tho Catholic faith. l In so doing!wo were but recalling to the minds of .tho faithful tho' great movement of prayer inaugurated •by Leo XIII,, in 1897, when: 'ho instituted' the Archoonfraternity of Our Lady of Compassion; and extended and amplified by,. the present Holy Father, when lie en-: larged tho ijurposo of that Archconfra-, ternity and included within its scope all! thoso who uso tho English.. languago as their mother tongue. It is surely impos-,' siblc, ' dear children in Jesus Christ, to, exaggerate tho importance of this-object •ok prayer. which, lias boon so earnestly cbiiin'iendcd.. to us. Were, it to bo attained in all its fulness, it would, mean a gain 'to the unity, of the Catholic Clniroh of 132,000,000 in, on area wherein wo number, at present not more than 23,000,000. Who can estimnto tho enormous power that such, a transformation would exert, for tho sprwuTof Christianity among tho; 1080 millions of the still unbelieving world; and what a force would como into' existence for tho solution of social problems, whioh aro to-day insoluble, .beoauso' tho remedy'id being Bought apart from, and very often in direct opposition to, the teachings of' Christianity? Humanly . speaking, 60 ohango may well 1)0 regarded as a hopeless quest. But God luis wroughtiJnoro wondjous'.phausyj, in tho past;.and' onr l duty? definite, is to-do'our part, lnfinitcsimall?"'" small though it be, in co-operatipg'with that Divino purpose by tho means th.i,t havo been authoritatively'proposed to ,us; Wo beg tho clergy to givo'new pr'ominciico,to tho Benediction'of tho Blessed Sacra-.;.-nient, which,-in accordanco with an order of. tho Hierarchy, has for moio than forty years been offered .on tho-second Sunday of every month for the oonversiou. of England.. It is 6iircly not enough, in order - to: keep , alive . Iho keen zeal which - such: .an object: should' inspire' in every Cathoiio heart, merely to announce tho purpose of tho Benediction. It would be* ;well, periodically, to givo a long-continued: 1 course of instructions on these _ '6econa Sundays, to bring before tho minds of the faithful nil tho motives that may make our intercession for England and tho English-speaking races fervent, oarriest, had full of hope. Such instructions might deal, ■in 110 spirit of 'hostility to, others, with the real facts .of tho separation of. this" cbimtry.from tho centro of, unity nn"~+iie _ sistecnth" century. .' . , Nor let .anyone eay that theconversion' of tho English-speaking races is a matter of small concern to him becauso ho is not British-bom. True though it bo that t-lio Teat majority of those who to-dayspoak' English, hut do .not-recognise tho author-. .. ity of the Holy See, are tlio descendants of tlio men who, rnoro than threo ceu- ; . turies and a. half ago, look easier course . and accepted tho ' ecclesiastical supremacy of the Crown of England;."yet it must .never be, forgotten that, to. our, great sorrow, there are to ho found in every English-speaking land' hundreds and thousands of tho descendants of tho children of St. Patrick, wlio, through adverso ' circumstance's "and want of, religions teaching, havo long aso. forsaken the religious allegiance for' which their forefathers would linvo died at home, l'or _ both classes alike, whether'we lie-tho spiritual offspring of' St. Patrick or of St. Augustine, or unite in our blood a Catholicancestry which derives from both, wo. must offer up an unceasing prayer that. .God, in His great goodness, may hasten: the day when all without exception moy .1)0 brought once again to that, juiity of faith and worship which can be found' only in obedience to the Holy See.

• MISSION TO CAMBRIDGE UNIVER' . SITY. A GREAT IMPRESSION. : Referring to tho mission .which ,tlio, Bishop of Kensington and Dr. Frero con-' ductcd at Cambridge University recently, tho "Guardian" says:—There has bccni (lothing on the some scale, attempted in Cambridge, at any 'rate for n good many years. Tlio fact that tlio chief missioner ivas a bishop was of enormous value. Tho mission was emphatically a missionof tlio Church, the official Church, and many peoplo stnv tho Church for the first time as an aggressive evangelistio force.. It was much that the vice-chancellor should welcome tho missioncrs, and nil who wero 'well informed knew that tho' mission had tho cordial'approval and tho blessing of tlio Bishop of My. But if in eomo way this could liavo been made moro | widely known, it might have helped still further to disabus3 tho mind of tho ordinary undergraduate of his persistent belief that missions aro not quite respectable. The Bishop of Kensington preached sermons ■ every evening to very largo and increasing congregations, llis i!iiect and straightforward liiethods'and his profound earnestness produced a great im- - pression. No one could be in any doubt w5 to what ho meant. Aud it was appavvnt from tho thanksgivings that wero given toward the end of the mission that very many had learnt for the first timo tlio'joy of reconciliation to God through tho Sacraments., of llis Church. l)r. fc'rero" preached daily at 5.30, and his scr\nons were not addressed only to members jf tho i University. Half the church was tilled with these, but the other half was crowded with ladies, l'ew who hoard it' ivill soon forgot the wonderful address on "Spiritual Ambition" delivered o;: Saturday afternoon. Intercessions had been uttered for the mission literally nil ever tli'o world, and a feature of the Itself was the intercession services. Ji-.;' tho crowning scrvic.o was the cov;wre!» Donlnumion, when the' whole floor of lite church was filled with uiulergir.ihi.'.v. sWhat this means only those who kin-w Cambridge will understand. It sliov.-ul how deep tho mission had gone, and was f. revelation . t<J many of the extent, of'tlio good that had been done. ■ The following up of a mission in a university is always) a difficult'thing,' and a heavy responsibility rests, now uiKin chaplains and deans of colleges. But their work lias licen made easier by tho fact that both misBioners did their best to.open tip rood relations between tlioro wlm'camc to llieiu and tho clergy in* their colleges.,