CHURCH PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19143, 8 October 1925, Page 13

CHURCH PROBLEMS.

BAPTIST ASSEMBLY OPENS, SCIENCE AND RELIGION. NEED FOR UNITED MOVE. "We are met to-day in an age of wide disparagement of the Church, which arises not from the sceptics or unbelievers, but from many who bear tho highest principles," said the Rev. Dr. C., H. Laws at he Baptist Union Assembly yesterday. "This disparagement of the Christian Church so general to-day does not spring from a process of scientific development," he continued. "We believe today that modem science is becoming more and more the handmaid of a spiritual interpretation of the universe. In the midst of the explanation and the detail of his lecture, the only bit of philosophy Sir Ernest Rutherford let drop -was one short sentence: 'lt is not matter at all.' This goes to show science is approaching religion m the light of spiritual interpretation. The state of affairs to-day is not due to an historical criticism of the Bible. Those who know anything about that at all know the stiletto of that criticism has never yet touched the vitals. "The disparagement to-day arises from the conviction, right or wrong, among a large mass of thinking men and women that if our faith be true then we ougnt to have a remedy for the great sorrows and injustices .of -the world, and ought to be able to prevent them in the actualities of life. It. is lack of venture in the Christian Church that we find at the present time; ft is the ordinariness of the work and the limits we are putting round the practice of human brotherhood; it is the trivialities which many of us discuss and keep so apart while thought is surging and civilisation is -rocking upon its foundations, and sin .dances-flippantly down the Jroad before us. Time to TaJte Coats Off. "What you and I have to do to-day is not to sit back and find fault with those who find fault with us, but take our coats off and fire our hearts with the passion for doing good and make that passion of the Christian Church fill the world. I feel that- the great problem of the Ch'urch to-day comes from inside and not outside - it. (Hear, hear.) The Lord is not limited or straightened in Himself by aay circumstances which are diverse to the work to-day,, but is limited in us, hi 3 people." In conclusion, tiie speaker said the speed of a flock of sheep along a country road was that of its slowest member. Re would not say this applied to the Church, but it remained that every man who did not put- all his earnestness into the life of the Church was a stumbling-block in the way of God. Out of the conference now opening nothing but goad could come, and on its work was the blessing of the Church and the city as well. In his inaugural address to delegates in the evening the Rev. F. E. Harry, president of the union, said there were those in the Church to-day who were concerned I over the progress of science and its apparent conflict with the truth of the in- | spired word. The Christian Church had no need to trouble about science. It was a true saying that the heart made the theologian, bat it seemed that great scientists, great philanthropists, and intercessors were all great believers. Professor Ward, of Cambridge, in referring to the statement that the_majority cf scientists were unbelievers, had said he never found a study of science unhelpful to religion. The Church need not worry so long as it went on producing Christian men, and transforming character. This was the correct ariew to CHrarch's Heed of .Life. The creed was to the believer jvhat- the backbone was to the body; it gave strength, symmetry and beauty. The Church needed life to carry it forward and the dull drone should forsake the pulpit sind become an undertaker. Their work should be red-blooded and virile. No one charged them to-day with being full of new wine, and they were forced to ask themselves whether they were too cold, too cautious and calculating. He was not a pessimist, but there were widespread signs of immorality and unrest. Nothing less than a mighty revival would save England from the curses sapping its life's blood. The world showed signs of impending catastrophe, and it was net the yellow, but the white peril, which faced it. So long as. the wealthy continued to vaunt their wealth they would create jealousy and discontent. There were many virtues of the spiritin jeoparly to-day. It was so easy to placate the d*jsires of the flesh by letting one's self go, and giving place to unrestrained emotions. Lord Balfour lately asserted that all the great movements which had affected human life had been irrational, .meaning they had come in the nature of a spiritual surprise. Order must prevail in the Church, whose crown was not chaos, but Christ.

WELCOME TO DELEGATES. MEMORIAL TO MR- S. H. MATTHEWS The delegates to the assembly were occupied in committee meetings during the clav, and were welcomed at a special tea in 'the evening. The Rev. Joseph W. Kemp was in the chair Welcomes were extended by Mr. iiJ. Eade, ilr. A. T. Dow, and by Revs. Dr. C. H. Laws £.nd S. Morrison, on behalf of sister charges. Replies were made by the Revs. E. Evan;-, and A. H. Collins. . At the evening service a memonai tablet to the late Mr. Seering H. Matthews was unveiled. The Rev. H. Knowles Kempton in performing the ceremony said Mr. Matthews was. well known m Auckland commercial liie for 50 years, and he had been an indefatigable worker for the Church He was first treasurer of the Baptist Union, and for 30 years was secretary of the Auckland Tabernacle. To-day's celebrations will commence with a praver meeting at 7 a.m., which will be followed by a devotional service at 9 a.m. The union will hold three sessions for the transaction of business durine the day, delegates gathering immediate! v after morning sendee Following the afternoon sitting at which discussion will take place on the various reports, ~nd ministers will entertain visiting ministers and their wives at tea. This evening musical selections, will be given bv suburban church choirs, while addresses will be delivered by the Rev. H E. Ed ridge on "Prayer an the Tew, aid the Rev. T. Keith Ewen on u 'Tower in the Pulpit."