THE BISHOP’S SERMON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12553, 15 July 1901, Page 5

THE BISHOP’S SERMON.

MR. W. W. COLLINS AT THE LYCEUM. Mr W. W. Collins was entlinsiasbroadly received by a very large audience in. th« Lyceum last nigbt, when he gave an address on the text, “In things essential—* Unity, in things doubtful —Liberty, andi in ah. things—Charity.” He said that 'the observations addressed by one section of the Church to another, as a mere quarrel,; did not concern rationalists, but the contest for State supremacy did, and it ,was the object of ecclesiasticism to obtain, that supremacy, though such a contest, would! damage ecclesiasticism more than the State.’ .Bishop Julius, about a year ago, deplored! the rupture between Church and - State. They regarded that divorce as the greatest! guarantee of civil and religious liberty.At one time the State was dominated by the Church; Then Parliament Tepresented-.the Christian churches, but to-day Parliament represented the people. From the time; the churches dominated, the best progress'; and! civilisation had been accomplished yhen undoing the church work, and there was no reason to regret the change of position* Ecclesiastical and civil powers were absolutely apart. If all churches united in one common object they would be again the predominant power. There was safety, in ecclesiastical differences. While the churches differed the State was safe. Past history showed that the people’s liberties depended! on their keeping ecclesiastical power from interfering in State management. Bishop . Julius, in his sermon to ’Orangemen,: said:; “The supremacy of Rome in any country was fatal to that country’s gopd ” ; but the supremacy of any ecclesiastical organisation was equally fatal. When the Bishop attacked the Church of Rome, which . was* the greater portion of the Christian Church, the oldest and the most, powerful, he practically conceded the point against all sections, and impeached the jm.sition he him- •, self occupies. -In every religious movement tolerance was advocated as.a fundametital principle, but when 'jj«y church gob' ’.supremacy those principles were forgotten. The ’Bishop declared that one great, danger was that Rome was gradually securing l the bulk of the education ,of the colony, and said : “All honour to her for training her .children and doing what , very, few Protestants would do.” Here was the real object of the Bishop. He wanted the Elate to undertake religious instruction' in .State schools. It used to be'- said that the system was Godless, hut it was not so.. Certainly ecclesiasticism was excluded, but morality was taught. The cry of Romanism was raised to introduce the Bible into tho schools. It was a most audacious-pro-position,’ and it was unjust to call -.our State school children heathens. if. they were, they were the most orderly andupKiral heathens on earth. Tho Church should! ■ teach parents their duty towards children. d Dr Elmslio made the statement that “ the absence of Biblical teaching in our, schools was one of the reasons for -the prevalent juvenile immorality.” Yet statistics.'•prr.vsd that Yew Zealand juveniles compared .more than, favourably with dnidren of v other colonies whore theY had Bibles in schools. Within the Church the efforts to reform ’ Christianity had hot, from the time, of Luther, proceeded ou moral grounds, bub on ecclesiastical. The churches were rival systems competing for priority and superiority. Too religion of the future ■to •*' - win hack the masses must be a practical ■religion. It must place happiness oh this aide the grave and not oh the other. Tho churches had been'striving lor power, and ■pelf, while the people were dying for sympathy, and that was why the"lecturer; had; dared to differ from the Bishop of. Christ- , church.