BISHOP CLARKE AT ST, PAUL'S

Evening Star, Issue 12396, 9 January 1905, Page 6

BISHOP CLARKE AT ST, PAUL'S

There was a crowded congregation at St. Paul's Cathedral yesterday morning, when l>r Lowther Clarke, Bishop of Melbourne, preached. Dr Clarke took as his subject the Tarnsfiguration of Christ, arid the subsequent incident of the casting out of a devil from the epileptic boy, whom the disciples had been unable to relieve or cure. In the eouise of a lucid and interesting sermon Bishop Clarke enforced the contrast betweeni the Transfiguration itself and the incident mentioned by reference to Raphael's painting of the Transfiguration, now hanging in the Vatican Library at Rome. In his description of this he said that the principal part of the picture, the transfiguration scene, was set in a brightness and glory suggestive of power and spiritual influence. Across the eentre of the picture was drawn a belt of dark cloud, and in the lower part was a scene of sin, suffering, and failure. The eye of the observer could not but be struck by the contrast intended to be presented by the artist. Touching on the incident of the casting out of the devil, the preacher said the story was by no means au incredible one. "There is more in the great spiritual world," said the bishop, "than we. have yet discovered." He said he often felt that the. best and soundest explanation of the actions of some men was to say that they were under the influence of some particular demon—of •nsssiou, of lust, of drunkenness, and the like. The question of the disciples as to why they could not cast the devil out of the boy had been re-echoed by many Sunday school, teachers, philanthropists, and others, who had tried to do something in their tame to relieve sin and suffering. They had tried, and failed, to cast out some of the demons that afflict humanity. Some time ago be read of great public rejoicing in one of the large towns at Home, where the City Council, who had spent large sums in turning miserable dwellings into splendid streets, were congratulating theroselves-that at last they had driven out evil from their city. "But not so does evil disappear," said the preacher. " CSty councils can construct large buildings arid splendid streets, and pull down dilapidated hovels, but until a step further is taken thej real source of both sin and suffering is not touched." All were liable to faflure, continued the bishop, though actuated by the best intentions in the world, through going about the task with their own conception of what should be done, instead of going in, the spirit of faith and humility,, and in all reverence asking God to lead us. The lessons were read by the Bishop of Dunedin, and the Rev. C. 6. Biddle presided at the-organ.