THE CHURCHES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 8

THE CHURCHES.

WIDENING THE BOUNDS. CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND BIBLE STUDY. The Rev John H. Elliott, D.D., who has come to Australia to take up the position of first Principal of the Australasian Chapman-Alexander Institute, which is shortly to he opened at Adelaide, arrived in Sydney from Canada a few days ago. Dr Elliott is a Canadian by birth, in the prim© of lifo, and he received his early training in Y.M.O.A. works, becoming then a New York City pastor. The institute over which he _ will preside is for the purpose of training students in those evangelistic doctrines with which the Chapman-Alexander Mission is associated, so that tho work can be continued on a permanent basis by evangelical workers throughout Australasia. In an interview with a representative of "The Daily Telegraph,” Dr Elliott stated that the institute, which was undenominational in character, had a big field, as the name indicated. "The central idea of the work is to form a Bible. institute on the lines of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, ’ he said, “ with which I have been connected during tho last six months as a field representative. Tho purpose of this work is to train men and women in tho study of the English Bible, and in practical methods of Christian work, with special emphasis on gospel music. The full courso contemplated is two years, but wo don’t expect to bo very stringent about that, because the chief desire and the intentiou of tho institute are to bo very helpful to young men and women who want training to make them more efficient as workers in their own particular churches and in Christian service generally.” Asked whether there had been any diminution in the attendance at churces in America, Dr Elliott said that in a general way there had been a falling off, especially at evening services, but taking the churches qs _ a whole ho thought they were holding their own very well. The city churches showed a more marked falling off; and the reason was that the cities of America were all of rapid growth and expansion. With the development of the automobile and other means of speedy conveyance, people did not centralise as they formerly did; in other words, cities were much less compact than formerly. The peoplo lived outside the main parts of the cities. No doubt tbe Church was having a struggle, because the conditions of modern life made it more difficult for her to maintain the church-going spirit. On its social and institutional sides, the Church was exercising an undoubted influence' on the tone of public life in America, and the Y.M.C.A. was a growing factor in this respect. The most hopeful sign of the times, from the point of view of the Christian Church, was a swinging-back to evangelical lines of preaching, teaching and service. Broadly speaking, ho thought the world was growing better, but Scripturally speaking it was not; ,in other words, the good people in the world were growing better, and the bad worse. Permanent- good from revival meetings depended upon the following up of conversion with work to ensure stability of character.

SABBATH DESECRATION. A PRESBYTERIAN VIEW. At t-fie .business session of the State General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, which was opened at Molboumo last week, a leport was received and considered on the state of religion. It was stated in the report that there was general agreement that the Church was maintaining a hold upon its own people, and never stood higher in their affection and respect. Sabbath desecration appeared to be on the increase, and it was deplored that Sunday sport was common. In one place it was golf, in another tennis, in another fishing, and in another shooting,almost, a!} the public baths around the beaches swimming races were held on Sundays. Sunday amusements were creeping in, as at St Kilda. Sunday labour was becoming more common, particularly in the country. Sunday afternoons and evenings were being used for social purposes alone, and Sunday was being used by multitudes as tho weekly whole day holiday, and was devoted to picnics, excursions, week-ending, etc. Among tho recommendations contained in the report was one to the effect that the issue of a pastoral letter by the moderator on the subject of Sabbath observance, in which an appeal would be made to the people to safeguard the oanitity of the Lord’s day, and to dissociate themselves from all forms of the Sabbath desecration, should be authorised.

JUDE-O-ISRAEL CONGRESS. The proposed Judeo-Israel Congress that was to have been held at Jerusalem last month, during-the least of the Passover, and from which so much was expected in the way of establishing the identity of the Lest Ten Tribes, was at the last moment abandoned, owdng to certain British-Israelites refusing to confer with Jews, so long as the latter denied that Jesus Christ was the Alessiah. "Tho Truth,” a Jerusalem paper edited by a Christianised Jew, bitterly laments -the loss of a unique opportunity, through "unqualified bigotry and utter ignorance of the true spirit of the Bible,” which attitude it calls "an intellectual disgrace to humanity.” A moro pleasing fact is that tho Imperial British-Israel Association has invited twenty London rabbis to be present at its annual meetings this month, and some of tho invitations have been accepted. At one of the meetings papers are to be read on " Our Responsibility to the House of. Judah ” and " The Relationship of Israel and Judah.” A society is also being formed in Auckland, having tor its object tho drawdng together of " Ail Israel” and the reunion of the tv long-divided houses.

4109 CONVERTS AT ONE AIISSION

Four thousand one hundred and nine converts were won during a union mission held in the city of Hutchinson, U.S.A. Tho missioner was Dr Charles Reign Scoville, a Church of Christ evangelist, wdio was assisted by Airs Scoville and other trained workers. About two years ago Dr Scoville held a successful series of missions among the Churches of Christ in the Australian States.

NOTES. The Rev Henry Winter Syle is the first deaf mute to take holy orders in America, and All Saints’ Church, tor tho deaf of Philadelphia, has been consecrated.

A resident of Kansas City has offered £200,000 for educational and missionary organisations of the Churches of Christ, provided tho churches raise £1,000.000 more. A “ Men and Million” movement has resulted. < A notable incident is related in Truth,” a. weekly paper published in Jerusalem. Last month Mr Henry Morgenthnu, the new American Ambassador, arrived in David's City, nn( , being a Jew was received with enthusiasm. By virtue of a speci permit from the Ottoman Governrnen , Mr Morgentliau, along with Mr_Bi7 > former British Ambassador to li |rKe ->- were allowed to enter tho Qi' ® Maehpolah at. Hebron, the . .. which haro been closed since C •A' Edward VII. when Prince of Males.,

On entering the sepulchral chambers of the Hebrew Patriarchs Air Bryce was overcome with emotion, and exclaimed —"Oh, my God, my God! Is it possible that I am actually standing in close proximity to the earthly remains of the blessed Father of all nations?” Ho tlien embraced the Mufti and Gadi, who were of the party, saying to them —‘‘Wo are all brethren of the same extraction.” The latter remark is evidence that Air Bryce, who is well known as a lover of antiquarian. research, is convinced of the Israelitish origin of the British people. A series of interesting comparative tables showing the contributions from the United Kingdom to missions overseas has been compiled by the editor of the London Missionary Press Bureau. The summary, states the “Christian World,” shows that last, year a sum of £2,046,126 was raised in the United Kingdom for foreign missions, and that this year the Alissionary Societies are expending £2,395,134. This sum means an average contribution, for each person of 11 Ja to foreign missions, which compares with 12s 9d per head spent on tobacco and £3 53 lid on alcoholic liquors. The Church Missionary Society heads tho list with an expenditure this year of £400,000, while the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel has £290,000. The total Church of England expenditure this year will be £1,231,362, the Church of Scotland £29,598; the Free Churches £984,723, and the interdenominational societies £149,451.

THE JEWS.

HISTORIC PROOF THAT THE TEN TRIBES 'WERE NOT LOST. (By EDWARD EVANS.) VI. Air J. Liddell. Kelly says I made a " glaring error ” in my first article. The " glaring error ” was a mere clerical error, not in the least degree affecting my argument. I at once acknowledged the error. Air Kelly adds, “ He is still as careless and inaccurate in his statements.” But Mr Kelly has not pointed out the statements which are inaccurate. Let him do so, and I will either admit it or prove that the statements are correct. Perfect candour in controversy is most necessary, fpr the interests of truth are of tar greater moment than any mero personal interests. I cannot eomplimont Air Kelly on the accuracy of his statements, or on his candour. Some of his statements aro grossly inaccurate, and! when I proved the inaccuracy Air Kelly, instead of frankly admitting his errors, took refuge in silence. This was enough to make the angels weep. In liis first article Air Kelly said: " Bible history is entirely silent about the return of Israel from the captivity.” I produced evidenco from. Bib.o history that the Israelites did return from the captivity, according to Bible prophecy, and Air Kelly has not even yet acknowledged his error. Mr Kelly treated the famous proclamation of Cyrus with contempt—ho cast it away as worthless. "Whereupon 1 1 proved that tho proclamation of Cyrus (whom tho Lord spoke of as His " shepherd,” and foretold his name a hundred years boforo he. was born) had tho' ’‘desired effect, for Ezra, who opons his book with a verbatim report of the proclamation of tiie Lord s "shepherd,” says: “ The children of Israel were in their cities, and tho peoplo gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.” But Air Kelly has not even yet acknowledged liis error. I asked Air Kelly to find a bishop who would endorse his statement that Hebrews viii., 8, refers to a covenant to bo made in days still future. He has failed to do so, and he cannot find any commentator of eminence who will support liis statement. In his second article Mr Kelly asserts that the Hebrews were two hundred years in the Babylonian _ captivity, whereas Bible prophesy said it would be seventy years, and Bible history shows that 'the prophecy was exactly fulfilled. Will Air Kelly admit that in this matter lie has made " a glaring error?” In the same article Mr Kelly says the Israelites had been "idolators for about 350 years at tho time of the restoration of Judah ” from Babylon. I ask for proof. The captivity in Assyria and in Babylon was the Lord's drastic remedy to cure his "stiff-neck-ed” and wicked people of their idolatry, and Bible history plainly shows that a cure was effected, for they " returned to Jerusalem as one man'* to build the Lord’s house. In regard to the promise contained in tho book of Jeremiah, that Israel should he a nation forever, we must take the context into consideration. The context speaks of " a. Branch of righteousness to grow up into David, and He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely, and this is the name whereby she shall be called—- ‘ The Lord is our righteousness.’ For this saith the Lord, David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel.” Afanifestly it waa of "the Israel of God” that the prophet spoke, the Israel who received the Atessiah. That the British people are not descendants of the Ten Tribes is evident from the fact that throughout all their generations they never observed tho Jewish rite of circumcision. Even in those times when the Hebrews were most given up to idolatry they adhered to that rite. The Hebrews in the earliest Christian chnrches adhered to it. Wherever Hebrews are found in. the wide world to-day they observe the rite. It matters not how immoral or how idolatrous they may have become they circumcise their infants. And so do tho descendants of Ishmael. Abraham’s son by the bondwoman. Throughout all their generations they have maintained tho rite to this day. Again, there is nothing of tho Hebrew language in the tongue of the British. We are thus driven io the conclusion that tho British people cannot be descendants of the Ten Tribes. Air Kelly is confirmed in his opinion that they are by the words of Lord Beaconsfield, but lie was quite capable of telling the British that “ history would never record their decline or fall, and that it would say, ‘ This is the great, the understanding people.’ ” _ He was quite capable of saying this simply to get their votes. In his heart .Beaconsfield, like Carlyle, regarded the British as “ mostly fools.” There is only one kingdom that, will endure forever, and that is the kingdom of Jesus Christ, a kingdom which, according to Daniel the 'prophet, shall destroy all other kingdoms. My readers will doubtless look for some explanation of Romans xi., 2527, which reads:—"For I would not, brethren, that ye should bo ignorant of this mystory, lest ye should bo wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Ge.ntiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved: even ns it is written. There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; he shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob; and this is my covenant with them when I shall take away their sins.” The Apostle Peter, in -his second epistle, says there are some things in tho epistle of St Paul that are "hard to bo understood.” Tho passage I have cited appears to mo to be oue of those things. But if what I have written on tho Twelve Tribes is correct then there is nothing iu tho words of Paul that is at variance with it. Now- there was more than one kind of blindness attributed to tho Hebrew peoplo. The blindness of which tho Apostle here speakw may not include all kinds of blindness: it may mean only one kind. The word "part” does not appear to denote a portion of Israel, but rather a portion-

of blindness, partial blindness—“ blindness id part.” There was a blindness: common to Israel which, I believe, iijy tho one referred to by the Apostle)]', and which is often, iii various ways, aW! luded to in the Now Testament as jtijf matter of mystery. There was $). "blindness in part” common to all] Israel under the law, but it was not'* then a culpable blindness; in whomsbf.* ever it remained, however, after the j advent of the Son of God it became) a thing of blame—blameable.Jn propojt-'! tion to the measure of light given fori its removal. The law foreshadowed; j and the prophets foretold, “ goed-. things to come,” but neither priests' 1 nor prophets could, under the old eove-'j nant, see the end of the law and the; full import of the many jpropheciee i respecting the gospel age to come. ;It. was only partially seen, just as the ’ divine glory on the face of Moses was' only partly seen through the veil which!; he put on; but after the Alessiah’s ad*-’ vent God gradually unfolded '.the liid-j den blessings confessed in.^r^. "Blindness in part.” liappbriyd to tho " remnant according. to the elec-; tion of grace.”; that js, to;; “the churches of God which ip ; Judea* are in' Christ Jesus”—to all churclie^'composed of Jews. They partly shared the, same blindness which veiled tho vision of those Jews who had .‘‘.a zeal for; God, but not according to knowledge) This is evident from much apoTolib; testimony, of which the following .is; just a- sample':—IfV 1 fV Thou seest, brother,how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they aro all zeal-! ous of the law ” (Acts xxi. 20). Hof# is indisputable proof that the veil waa not wholly removed from the many, thousands of Jews who believed. This, partial blindness on the part of be- i' lieving Jews gave rise to much coptrovorsy and contention with thejr;■ more enlightened brethren who know 1 that tho Christ was "the end of tljar law i'or' righteousness that it -.war done away with in Him. This par* ' tinl blindness of believing Jews continued while the temple worship exist-, ed, hut when that wonship ended, when tho temple was gone, the " blindness in part” was bound to fall from every believing mind. Tho ", fulness of the Gentiles ” had now reached its goal. The old covenant had virtually come to an end when Jesus died, but the revelations and demonstrations relating to each covenant wore not complete till the end of the Apostles’ - ministry arid the of Jerusalem! Then, arid not till then,, did the fulness of the Gentiles come in. The Jews then found themselves on tho samo footing as the Gentiles, with only ono Gospel for all. The new covenant is a dispensation of fulness, of everlasting righteousness for all Israel and for every soul under Heaven. With this grand truth before us we may more fully see the gracious import of the words, " And so all Israel shall be saved,” that is, bv the Deliverer by faith in Him, bj the new covenant, all which are specified in the context. The word “so” manifestly refers to the way, mannei or method of salvation as therein explained.