THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Evening Star, Issue 11683, 15 February 1902, Page 7

THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.

THE NEW ACCESSION SERVICE. The new form of service differs considerably from that which was in use during the reign of Queen Victoria, and some of the alterations are of an interesting kind. The total result of them will apparently be lo shorten tiro service, though not greatly, and it is to lie noted that the directions state that at matins and evensong lie tisalms, lessons, suffrages, and collects “ may used,” whereas in the Victorian service the directions are over and over again in the imperative form—“ shall.” One notable omission from the new form is the prayer for the Sovereign as “ supreme Governor of this Church,” which was directed to be used instead of the collect for the Queen and that of the day. This omission is certain to attract attention, and provide food for comment in certain quarters. Another omission is the collect “ for God's protection of the Queen against all her enemies/' while the collect described in the existing Prayer Book as a ‘ Collect of Thanksgiving for His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne’ has been shortened and verbally altered. In this collect the aspiration “Let justice, truth, and holiness, let peace and love and all those virtues that adorn the Christian profession, flourish m her days,” is put, with greater directness and euphony, in the form : “ Let truth and justice, holiness and righteousness, pence and charity abound in his days.” The substitution of the word “charity” for “love,” it may be observed, is a direct reversal of the course adopted by the revisers of the New Testament. The remainder of the collect is considerably abridged and altered, as will be seen by a

comparison of the old and new version ; New Version. Old Version. Direct all his ccuu- Direct all her gels and endeavors to sets and endeavors to Thy glory, and Die Thy glory and the welfare of his sub- welfare of her people, jects; give us grace and give us grace to ta obey him cheer- obey her cheerfully , fully for conscience and willingly for consake and let him science sake; that | always possess the neither our sinful pas- j hearts of his people; siont nor pur pnIrt his Reign he vale interests may long and prosperous, disappoint her cares and crown him with for the public good; everlasting life in the let her always possess world to come; the hearts of her through Jesus Christ people, that they may ni.r Tiord. never be wanting m honor to her Person, i and dutiful snbmis- I sion to her Authority ; let her Rawi be long and prosperous, and crown her with immortality in the life to come, j through Jesus Christ our Lord. j The modifications appear to be such as to 1 bring the service more into harmony with present taste. j It is worthy of note that our Prayer j Books will in future contain “ forms m- j stead of “ a form of prayer with thanks- i giving to Almighty God.” There are sepa- , rate forms, that is to say, for matins and evensong, and for tho holy communion, and also an additional service which “ may also be used on the same day at any convenient time.” Of the latter service the ‘ To Demn _ is a conspicuous feature, the remainder of the special prayers and collects being selected from the preceding forms of service. It is somewhat singular that in this additional service an alteration made in the .suffrages at morning prayer is not followed. In the Victorian Prayer Book, at morning prayer, the priest said: “Let her enemies have no advantage against her,” and the people answered; “ Let not the wicked approach to hurt her.” In the new book tho priest’s suffrage is : “ Be unto him, O Lord, j a strong tower,” and the people’s answer j is : “ From the face of his enemies,” This is a manifest improvement, and that the older form reappears in the added service «esms to indicate an oversight which is in I

marked contrast to the care displayed else where.

marKeo contrast to me care aiepiayeu elsewhere. Two other points deserve mention. One is the omission of tho scriptural response of priest and people which in the old accession service were prescribed in place of the ‘Venite Kxultemus.’ This omission will be regarded by most people os a mistake. They were a striking feature of the Victorian service. The other point is as to the jnoper psalms and lessons. Psalm uft up mine eyes unto the bills,” is substituted for Psalm ci., “My song shall be of mercy and judgment -a very commendable change. The proper lessons, Joshua to verse 10, and Romans xiii., are retained (the latter shortened of three verses), but alternative lessons are provided—Proverbs viii. to verse 17, from the Old Testament, and Revelations xxi., 22, to, nai., A, from the New.

THE POPE AND BIBLICAL STUDIES. “We are privileged (says the London ‘Tablet’) to make an announcement which must necessarily be of the proformdest interest to the whole of the Christian world. His Holiness Leo XIIT. has appointed a Special Pontifical Commission for the consideration of all questions connected with Biblical studies. Catholic scholars all the world over will have the fullest opportunity of stating then- views and difficulties, and of bringing them to the direct notice of the Holy See. Cardinal Parocchi, a high authority" upon all questions connected with Biblical exegis, will act as president of the Commission; Cardinal Segna and Cardinal Vries will act as assessors; and Father D. Fleming as secretary. There will also be eleven ‘consultors,’ chosen from the different countries of the world, England being represented by the Rev. Robert Francis Clarke, D.D., of Chiswick.” “SPOILING THE TOWN.” The heathen of Akwukwn, an oat-station of the Church Missionary Society in Southern Nigeria, recently complained, through their King, to the District Commissioner that the Christian converts were “ spoiling the town ” through keeping twins, which the heathen regard as forbidden things, and ere in the habit of destroying. They were rather surprised when the District Commissioner told the King that the Christian was braver than he and his chiefs, because he saved 'hi« twin-children and did not kill them. Ho also told them plainly that kill-

in" twins was murder, and just as murderers ;u e punished so anyone convicted of twin-murder would he dealt with accordingly. The Rev. T. J. Dennis says: “ This must have come as an eye-opener to those who thought to bring trouble upon the Christians. ... I reckon there will be no more twin-murders at Akwukuu. GLEANINGS. The Rev, Samuel Kelso, who died in Melbourne on Januarv 25, in his seventy-fifth year, was one of the early ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. He came to Australia from the Synod of Ulster, Ireland, in 185 8, and during his residence in Victoria had only two ministerial charges— Portland and Stawell. There is sometimes a curious irony m the sequence of events. A little while ago Canon Gore wrote a letter to ‘The Times. A day or t'wo later Canon Knox Little replied to that letter, and characterised one of Canon Gore’s statements as a “roisrenresentation,” referred to him as belongin'- to the “screaming traitors at home,’’ “ hysterical screamers ” class, and spoke of “ bookworm and armchair theorists like Mr Gore in the seclusion, of Westminster. Tha ironv of the situation lies in the fact that Canon Gore has been appointed Bishop of Worcester, of which Canon Knox Little is a canon. Possibly (observes a London contemporary) Mr Knox Little now wishes that ho bad been a little leas violent in his language when criticising the letter of Canon Gore. It is scarcely polite of a canon to speak of his own bishop as “an armchair theorist” or as a “hysterical screamer.” The Dean of Warwick arranged a popular concert to be held in the cathedral early in January, in aid of the funds of a local hospital for children. A stage and platform were erected in front of the rood screen, and a charge for admission was to be made. The programme is of a semi-sacred character, and the Dean is ignoring the criticism that has ;been made by a High Church papers. , There is a peculiar fitness in a concert for the Jenny Lind Hospital. The great singer herself took the deepest interest in the; suffering children, and on more than one* occasion went to Norwich specially to sing for tfieir benefit. Among those who offered to sing this year were

Madame Alboaii and Mr Charles Santley. Bishop Grimes, in Ins annual pastoral, says that £24,000 out of the required £40,000 for the building of the new cathedral has been subscribed, nnd that the work of construction is proceeding steadily. About £I,OOO per month is how required to carry on tie work, and Bishop Grimes makes an urgent appeal for further funds. The pastoral concludes with the statement that the Catholic nopnlation of the Canterbury diocese is 22,000.

Some excavations carried out in the Catacombs of Rome have resulted, we are informed, in the discovery of the body of St. Agnes, one of the most interesting figures among the primitive Christians of RomeAbout the year 1600 the casket contahring her body was found on a marble slab hr the subterranean vault under the church, and was reinclosed by Pope Paul V. in a silver case, which, with its contents, has since been missina.

A “Wesley Memorial” church is to lie built at Kingeweod, Bristol, by the Free Methodists, at a cost of £5,000. When the (Ecumenical Methodist Conference met in London in September several of the representatives from the American, Canadian, and Australian Churches warmly endorsed the proposal, and promised their help. A site has just been given by Mr Robert Furber valued at £4OO, and designs have been prepared free of cost. Kiuguwooil : s closely associated with the name of John Wesley. Preparations are being made on a most elaborate scale by the Roman Catholics cf England to celebrate the silver jubilee next year of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIH. With the approval of Cardinal Vaughan tin international committee has been formed to carry out the necessary arrangements, and it has been decided to present the Pope with a tiara of gold, which will be inlaid with diamonds, to the cost of £50,000, the gift of an Italian lady. The names of the subscribers to the gift will be inscribed in a costly album for presentation to the Pope, and as part of the jubilee celebrations pilgrimages will be made from different countries to Rome.

The ‘ English Churchman ’ recently pointed out in its columns that Lord Salisbury has nominated to bishoprics three of the writers in the celebrated book ‘Lux Mundi’—namely, Drs Talbot, Paget, and Gore.

English Church Union meeting, held about the°end of November, owing to ill-health, and his place as chairman was taken by Lord Stanmore, who said; “It is idle to talk of forcing the Catholic party out of the Church of England; such a thing simply could not be done.” The students of St. David’s College, Lampeter, recently forwarded to each of the Welsh bishops a copy of a resolution, “protesting against the undue preference shown in the ordination of ex-Nonconform-ist ministers over men who have been lifelong members and workers in the Church of England.” A reply has been received by the Methodist Church authorities, Sydney, from tlm Federal Prime Minister to the effect that the Imperial Government will sanction the appointment of a Methodist chaplain in connection with the outgoing contingent, providing that there is a troop of Methodist men in the contingent. In the Presbytery of Melbourne South & motion was moved recently with the object of giving a more official tone to the proceedings of Presbytery—“ That it be an instruction for moderators and clerks to wear their gowns, and, if graduates, their degree hoods.” After a lengthy debate, the motion was negatived by 15 votes to 12. The ‘ Church Review,’ London, was responsible for the recent statement respecting the proposed omission from the Coronation service of the celebration of Holy Communion, also the anointing of the Sovereign with oil, in accordance with ancient British usage. Canon Bindley refused nomination as the first Bishop of the newly-formed diocese of Gippsland (Vie.). By virtue of being King of England, His Majesty is a clergyman of the Church of England. For centuries past the monarchs of England have been prebendaries of the Cathedral of St. David’s, in Wales, j The King has his prebendal Stall, just like 1 those who hold similar offices in the edifice, | and it is expected that next year the Kifig j will visit the cathedral and take the seat • to which he is entitled. No other person j is allowed to sit on the Royal prebendal stall, on the back of which a silver plate bearing the royal arms is fixed. The pre- J

bendaries are supposed to preach at least one Sunday m the three, but naturally King Edward is relieved of this privilege. ihe opposition raised in England, on the ground of expense, to the appointment of Dr Montgomery, the late Bishop of Tasmania, as secretary to the Society for Die Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, has been overcome by the liberality of a lay gentleman, who has offered to pay for three years the difference between Dr Montgomery’s stipend of £I,OOO a year and that received by his predecessors in office.

Dr Francis Clark, the “ father ” of Christian Endeavor, has promised to attend the annual convention of the English “N actional Uunion,” at Manchester, next Whitsuntide. The Rev. Dr Alexander Maelaren is expected to preach the convention sermon on the occasion.

Jack Cook, the American boy evangelist, is conducting very successful services in England at present, after which it is understood that he will visit Australia. The lad’s name is Claude Hanbuiy, and be was born on July 11, 1886. An English contemporary says: “ There is nothing sensational in his methods. He maKes no appeal to the emotions, tells few anecdotes, and says little to excite smiles. His principal endowment is a remarkable flow of language. He has a very animated delivery, and a good voice.” Dr Joseph Parker, of the City Temple Church, London, pi’efaces his latest and greatest work, ‘The Pulpit Bible,’ with the words “My last will and testament." “These are"grim words, I know,” he says, “yet they fit Die times that are upon me, so I use them for all that is most solemn in their meaning. I have for a long period been working upon ‘ The Pulpit Bible,’ which is to complete and close my ministry. I respectfully leave it to those who are coming after me in the Evangelical pulpit of all churches.” Speaking recently at the Royal Society’s annual dinner, the Bishop of London said: “ More books are needed to make non-scien-tific readers understand the great principles and the main applications of the discoveries of experts. They were grateful to those who, like Sir Michael Foster, had produced works which enabled them to leaxn how to enter into the heart of knowledge. Thereby, and as he spoke for

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his Nonconformist brethren as well as for himself, great sympathy and better understanding could bo established between science and religion/’ A camp meeting is being held in Launceston, Tasmania, by the Seventh Bay Adventists of that colony. Similar gatherings, which have been very largely attended, have been held annually during the past three or four years in the suburbs of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Ballarat. At these annual gatherings the families of the Adventists camp out in tents for about ten days or two weeks, holding services several times each day and evening in a largo pavilion. About one hundred camp meetings arc held each year in the United Slates, at some of which four hundred families have been encamped on the ground, and as many as twenty them sand people have been in attendance at some of the services. It has been found a most popular and successful means of reaching the masses of the people. At these gatherings the ablest speakers of the denomination are usually in attendance, and the leading doctrinal themes held arc presented. As a rule such meetings arc held in close proximity to large cities, where such conveniences as the electric light for the grounds can be secured, and good railway and tram facilities, etc., available. Mr Green, the late senior verger of St. Paul’s, was a very strong Tory,' and protested to Canon Liddon against bis walking about the nave with Mr Stead “talking politics.’’ “You know, sir,” he said, “if it was anyone else you would blame me for not stopping them.” “Perhaps you are right,” said Liddon. When some prebends were paying their fees for the honor of being styled a prebendary, one appointed by the Crown during a vacancy of the See, a great Radical, came up last. ” Appointed by the Crown, I think,” said Green. “ Yes,” said the delighted prebendary. “ Then the fees are double, sir,” was the instant rejoinder.—'Church Review.’ iso more notable Englishman (says the New Zealand ‘Tablet’) has for many years post “ gone over to Rome ” than the Rev. Frederick George Lee, D.D., lately Anglican Vicar of Lambeth, London. Dr Let has long been hovering, so to speak, on the outskirts of the church, and was at kst •

received into the fold, almost on bis seventieth birthdav. by Father Kenelm Digby Best, at the Oratory. He has long been a firm believer in the Real Presence, Purgatory, priors for the dead, the intercession of saints, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin (which ho defended in a pamphlet published in 1881), and hi many other distinctive doctrines of tho Catholic Church.