The WORLD of RELIGION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 7 (Supplement)

The WORLD of RELIGION

Bv PHILEMON

Archdeacon F. W. Chatterton has notified the Bishop oi' Waipu of his desire to retire from his chartie of the parochial district of Rotorua at the end of this year. He came to New Zealand in 1884 at the invitation of Bishop Sutcr and, prior to his residence at Rotorua, had served for 16 years in the Nelson diocese, and as Principal of the Te l?aw Theological College at Gisborne from 1902 to 1919. He has been Archdeacon of Tauranga since 1921. This latter position he will still retain and will thus pay periodical visits to Rotorua, while his headquarters are at Tauranga. The Archdeacon's long and conspicuous service in the Dominion is appreciated far beyond the bounds of his own communion and a large circle of friends will wish him many happy years As he retires from the exacting duties of a parochial charge.

The Rev. Clarence Eaton, of Christchurch, President of the New Zealand Methodist Church, is at present in Auckland on an official visit. He is an Aucklander by birth and was in early years connected with the Grafton Road Church, now known as Trinity Collegeiate Church He entered the ministry in 1901, and has held important charges in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. In the last mentioned city he directed for eight years the large Central Mission with its great Sunday evening congregation and its busy staid of social workers. Salvation Army's Choice The election of Evangeline Booth to the high position of General of the Salvation Army, by so larg<> a majority over several male candidates, is a remarkable tribute to her conspicuous record of service and her rare qualities of leadership and an evidence of the Army's liberal views on the ministry of women. No more popular appoint ment could have been made, and the new General will be followed with a loyalty not less than that accorded to her distinguished parents. The women of the Booth family have all been remarkable for power of speech and courage in the face of opposition and persecution. The Marechale was sent by her father to open the Mission on the Continent and, mere girl though she was, the mobs of Paris yielded to her spell. Evangeline stood beside her father in the slums when a child of 15, and the later story of her adventures in the old New York Bowery, will compare with the happenings in Apostolic times. " I am a chip of the old block," she said on her recent election as General and the world will see the old tradition of fearless evangelism and ardent social service pursued under her leadership.

Former Auckland Minister's Work The many friends of the Rev. David Herron, formerly of St. David's Church in Auckland, will be glad to know of the success that is attending his ministry at Knox Church, Dunedin, where he has now completed four years in the pastorate. At the annual meeting last month, an increased membership and a healthy financial condition were reported. The deaconesses of the church, the church nurse, and various members had assisted the minister in extensive social and relief work and a successful Saturday night club for the unemployed and their wives and families has been carried on. The report of the session speaks of Mr. Herron's preaching as marked by vigour of thought, clarity and vision, and deepening spiritual power, and adds that he has won the affection and support of the young folk of the church.

The new pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, the Rev. Dr. Alexander Hodge, who will arrive in Auckland shortly,

is a type of man who will soon make his influence felt in the city. He is one of the scholarly evangelists, university trained and in touch with modern life and thought, who are catching the ear of the British people and winning attention for religion. His doctorate is from the London University, his general attitude to Biblical and theological questions is probably similar to that of Dr. Scroggie, whom he followed at Sunderland, and who strongly recommended him. The zealous evangelism for which he is so widely known will find an ideal atmosphere at the Tabernacle. Modern Church and the Drama The growing use of the drama in the modern church is an important development. On Good Friday last at Blackpool, the Fvlde Players' Guild presented "The Upper Room." The players were all church members, they acted anonymously, there was no applause, and the atmosphere of devotion equalled that of a religious service. During the same week the Wesley Guild at the Victoria Hall, Shetfield, enacted " The Light of the World," and a play entitled " St. Peter " was presented in the Anglican Church at Crewe. A Yorkshire minister writes his own plays and one called " The Athenian " centres round the visit of the Greeks to see Christ at the last Passover. " The Prodigal Son," a brief play for children, given in St. Luke's Church, Camberwell, and in which all the players were children under 12 years of age, so touched the hearts of the people that it was repeated the following Sunday evening. At an Easter Bible Class Camp in Auckland, a beautiful play was presented centreing round the story of St. Peter's denial and restoration. The acting was unpretentious, but the theme and its reverent presentation made a deep appeal. The religious film, the broadcast sermon, the enlistment of dramatic art are all giving the Church new and widening opportunity. Honour to Samuel Marsden Samuel Marsden was born in the Yorkshire village of Farsley on July 28, 1764 and this year on the 170 th anniversary of his birth, cottage homes for the aged, which have been erected to his memory, were dedicated to that purpose. They bear as an inscription the words: " Samuel Marsden was born on the site of this memorial, and received his education for the ministry at Cambridge University. He was appointed chaplain to the settlement in Sydney, and left for Parramatta, New South Wales in 1793. In 1814 he equipped his own ship Active and landed at the Bay of Islands, the first missionary to this land. He preached the first sermon there on Christmas Day of the same year." A further tablet commemorates his bringing the first wool from Australia to England for commercial purposes. " This was stored on this site," says the tablet, " and afterwards manufactured by Messrs. W. and J. Thompson at Park Hills. Rawdon." Marsden died at Sydney on May 12, 1838.

The Bishop of Liverpool, Dr. David has accepted the invitation to attend the centenary celebrations of the State of Victoria, as the representative of the English Bishops. Dean Inge will preach his last sermon as Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral on the last Sunday in this month. His successor, Dr. W. R. Matthews, now Dean of Exeter, will take* his new position in October.

When in Auckland recently, the Dominion Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society arranged for placing 249 Bibles in Auckland hotels.