THE RELIGIOUS OUTLOOK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 September 1934, Page 10

THE RELIGIOUS OUTLOOK

Work A verse from a little poem by G. A. Studdert-Kenjnedjr, in “Lighten Our Darkness.” “Because this is my work, 0 Lord, it must he Thine, Because it is a human task It, is divine. Take me, and brand me with Thy Cross, Thy slave’s proud sign.”

Refuge of the Spiritual World Preaching at the Chapel Royal, St. James, on Whit-Sundav, the Archbishop of Canterbury emphasised the fact that the world needed the right spirit to set it right. At Geneva, it would be a spirit of trust instead of suspicion and fear—common action for tlie common good, instead of individual action for tilings narrow and selfish. The Archbishop said never was there more need for truth than in this present restless generation. “We realise something of that need,” lie remarked, “when in art, or music, or literature, we turn from the selfconscious experiments and eccentricities of the more modern works to the great models and see the beauty which abides and in which we find rest and satisfaction. Day by day the material world is too much for us. We cannot escape from its pressure and unceasing claims, and we turn to the spiritual world as a refuge until this tyranny be passed.”

A Famous Family Some stories will stand considerable repetition, says “The Methodist Churchman.” This is one of them, about the Rev. G. ,B. MacDonald,. a Methodist preacher of the nineteenth century. . A Methodist preacher lived in London on. a salary of £l5O a .year. He had a wife and five daughters. If circumstances were similar to those of other Ironies maintained on such a salary, the busy mother doubtless had plenty of cooking and dish-washing, cleaning, mending, and sewing to do. More than likely children had to help with the dishes and the dusting, and get their lessons ,bv themselves. But these girls grew up. Four of the five married. The first became Lady Edward BurneJones, wife of the great artist. The second became Lady Edward' Poyntcr. wife of the president of the Royal Academy, and mother of Sir Hugh Poyntcr, one of the big steel men ol Canada. The third, married John Killing, and became the mother of luulvarcl Kipling. The fourth married a man named Baldwin. Her ran, Stanley, is a former Prime Mini-.ter of England and a vigorous member of the present Government. That record is not likely to be beaten, but it is different only in degree from many a record being made by children of the parsonage, Methodist and others. Stewardship “In view of the empty-handed entrance into life, and the empty-handed exit from life, man asks, ‘Can acquisition be the true aim of living?’ And from Christ’s own words man gets the answer, as lie hears Him declare ‘a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possessetli.’ Man is to regard his relationship to things which are external to him in the light of stewardship; and the great end and aim of life, not to be acquisition, but service—work, with the things which belong to God, for the benefit of God and His Kingdom. Still, while this must be the influenced judgment of the mind, to set service in front of acquisition, tilings external have their purpose in their relationship to mail. Man is to make friends of wealth, of which lie is the steward, for a definite purpose. He cannot carry to the judgment seat of God, when called to leave the sphere of labour, any of the things external to him, for lie goes out empty-handed. So man is bidden to use wealth, which he has acquired, and turn it into service for the Master, so that when he has to stand before the judgment seat of God,jthe result of service will receive him into everlasting habitations.” —H. S. Hollow.

“The Malady of not Wanting” Dr. Carlile preached from the words in St. Mark, “Let us alone.” He began with a quotation from “The Master of Lallantrae,” the scene in the old home at Durriscleer. when the Master is preparing to go in search of his brother. “It is the malady' of not wanting,” says the Master to his old servant, who has expressed the belief that he has the capacity to be a good man. “Does not this represent ■ the feeling of masses of people to-day? The Church proclaims a Gospel that is not wanted, though it is terribly needed. Like Tennyson’s Lotus-eaters, men ask to be left alone. William Blake pictures a man standing' at the foot of a ladder leading to : the liioon, and he cues ‘I want, I want.’ Yet every day there is abundant testimony to the power of Jesus Christ to meet our human ease.” All the forces of evil cry “Let us alone.” Apathy is reinforced by vested interests. Misconception has played a large part in creating modern indifference to religion. There: is no greater task before the Church to-day than the simplification of the Christian faith.

It is amazing that Christianity survives so many shams and frauds which use its name. The malady of not wanting is attributed by "some to changed views about the Bible. But the Bible is still the lamp to the feet and the light to the path, and we have nothing -to take the place of the old lain]). “No man is the slave of evil except by the consent of his own will. There is a cure for the malady that afflicts us, and it is within our reach. It is here that the Cross of Christ comes in. As in tlie long ago, so now, lives are changed by the power of Jesus Christ. Why not now make the experiment of trying Christ’s way?”