RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 11

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

"NEW-FANGLED RITUAL."

BRIGHT. SERVICES ASSAILED,

Mr. J. Ramsay Maedonald, M.P., does not believe in the talk about brightening our church services, says a writer in tho "British Weekly." ll© was present- recently at- the ordination of a new minister (Rev. U. S. Stewart) of the church ho attends in Lossiemouth, and at- the luncheon that followed tho service, in proposing tho health of tho. local Presbytery. (Elgin), ho protested strongly against' 1 tiio idea that those in charge .of congregations could meet- the problems- of., tlie present by brightening the^servieo;: 1 .;. 1 ■. What wan wanted, he seemed to? suggest; was tho staid, solemn. 1 iinprossiveness =.. of the old-timo minister.' •>-As tho years went by and JJio difficulties of. Lite got greater, he said that, more and moro lis felt that there was nothing more precious a. minister .could do than leave with the young soma impression that dwelt permanently m their minds and came up and helped them in times of crisis. Some months ago, while travelling in tho Central Provinces of India, lie and a party of iiiends, on reaching' the edge of a precipice, found themselves suddenly face to faco with one of tho most magnificent views in tho world. For a minute or two they gazed in silent awe, and tiien thero came to him through tho sueneo the words of tho old psalm, "I to the hills will lift mine eyes," sung softly by one of the company to the tune "l<Yench." That, said Mr. Mac(ioiiiild, \vas tho sort of tiling ministers could bring about, and in tho luune of all ■ they held sacred and dear he besought them never to allow any newfangled ritual to take tho place of tiro old, simple, form through which such deep and solemn impressions had been conveyed. There are those who will bo greatly surprised to find tho leader of tho Labour Parly and'a man of advanced Liberal opinion holding views 011 ■ matters of religion so signally conscrrativo; but thero are others ef us who think ho is perfectly right. Mr. Maedonald appears to feel ' that ho owes what is best- in. him to the simple, bare, but impressive Presbyterianisin of the early -days of tho Free Church, and it is plain that 110 regards the cld-fashion-od ministers with -deep and reverent affection. These men of tho old time wero big men, with big Rimes, 1 ho said, and the best ho could liopo for their successors was that they might fill them as well as they did.