THE SUNDAY CIRCLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 14

THE SUNDAY CIRCLE.

DEVOTIONAL, At Suxsir. ll(,\v pure, how spue, the hues that lie O'er these wide plains, from sky to sky! As though some brush, of airy skill, Had washed, had tinted, field md kill. Soon falls the change; the daylight dies; The dusk o'erbiinw her boundaries; The suu Hares westward, fiercely rolled 'Mid purple islets ridged with gold. Ah me, ah me! alike they lade,— Brief space of sun, swift lapse of shade; The wistful eye, that saw and loved, The heart so slrsnge'.y, sweetly, moved, Yet, though the creeping dusk enfold .Mv (ainl-hued hopes, my dreams of gold, At- lasl, her patient journey trod', This trembling soul sliait leap to God. —Arthur Christopher Benson. Meditation'. WHAT IS FAITH? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and Ihou slialt he saved."—Acts xvi, 31. What is faiih? Faith is not power. It is n medium of power. That exquisitely line festoon of wire, which hides in that flimsy globule, is not power—it is the medium of power. The. power is something else, born other-whore, and these wires provide the highways for its transmission and communication. God is power—there is no other. We abuse and misuse names when we attributo power to anything else. " Without Me ye can do nothing." God is power. Hut (!od works through a medium. He demands a. channel. " Make in the desert a highway for our (lod." Faith is the highway for the coming of the King just, as these wires constitute the highway along which is transmitted the power and light and speech of the eiernal God. God is power: failh is tlio medium of eonlmunieation.—Rev. «T. 11. Jon-ett, -M.A.

Exhortation, the master's touch. By Gipsy Smith. ' I want io speak about the woman who was honied by the touch of Jesus. She had suffered many tilings of many physicians and was nothing bettered, but rather grow worse. So Mark says. When Luke tolls Iho story ho .leaves thai bit aliout the doctors out. but then he waa a doctor himself. Mark has no. and ho says practically that all her attempts at healing, though they wore many, and though they were the best she could procure, only aggravated and she was worse 'when f hey finished their attempts than before tliey started.

And that woman but represents multitudes. Perhaps you arc longing for spiritual healing, for soul satisfaction, you are. groping for light. You say you want the assurance of sins forgiven, to Tie in possession of peace with God. You believe there is something !rr you that Christians (all: about. Oh, how" many quacks some of you liavo consulted, how many spiritual, physicians you have listened to! And yet you are not healed.

No,'my friends, your cure is the woman's. Her euro came on tho heels of everybody elso's failure. Christ's euro always comes there. When people get to the end of things (lien .Tcsus Christ bares His arm and

shows His omnipotence, and declares Himself tho mighty Saviour. Healing is in the presence of Jesus.

CHURCH UNION IN CANADA. The Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational Churches of Canada have, through a hundred representatives, been discussing at Toronto a basis of church union. Dr Carman presided. Practical unanimity as to a general basis of doctrine and church government has been arrived at by allowing a largo measure of freedom, though tho laity lias not yet discussed the question deeply nor expressed any representative view. Tho report of (lie sub-eommitfeo on church polity was objected to as not being sufficiently definite. The proposal is to place tho local affairs of individual churches in the hands of local bodies subject fo Ihe general legislation, principles, and discipline of the united church. The time limit of pastoral service would be abolished, and a court provided to which either pastor or people might resort in case of a change being considered wise. It is proposed that students should lake three years in arte and lliree in theology. Tho report on doctrine was changed in the direction of simplicity and verbal clearness and then adopted. The final verdict, must, of course, rest with the people and the church courts. In the conferring bodies Ihe number of ordained ministers is as follows: — Methodists, 1790; Presbyterians, 1506: Congregationalism 105. There are 12 Methodist colleges' and six Presbyterian. The Baptists in the maritime provinces are, on the whole, against organic and more in favour of federal unions, while the other Baptists of Canada have only expressed willingness to confer without tommifting themselves to hope of union. The Anglican Church is willing to make the use of its liturgies optional, but insists on the inclusion of the Apostles and Nieciie Creeds, the Bible as tho sole rule of faith, and its own unbroken historical continuity.

The general impression to bo gatheredfrom the attitude of tho Dominion as a whole and from the deliberations of the representatives, is that union, at anyrate between tho three bodies, is practicable and keenly desired. ABOUT PEOPLE. The Rev. J. Scott Lidgeft has accepted the editorship of the, Methodist Times. The Dr Clifford Testimonial Fund has realised a net sum of over £5000.

The Rev. Pi a J. Campbell has temporarily abandoned his practice of extempore preaching. On a recent Thursday ho read his midday sermon at the City Temple from a small manuscript book, and explained that lie had been medically advised to spare himself tho strain of extemporaneous utterance.

Dr John Watson, who lias had a bad fortnight with influenza, has left England for a lecturing tour in America. On his return he will settle near London. Meanwhile the furniture of his house at Sefton Park, Liverpool —including his billiard table and a .part of his library—is to bo sold by auction. Dr Watson is nominated fov the Principnlship of Westminster College, Cambridge.

Another good story of Mr Silvester Home is given in the Wliitelield's Signal and contains, his recent visit to Carrs Lane Chapel. Mr Home says be is always on his good behaviour when ho goes to Birmingham and tries to avoid all political references. 110 read, however, for tho first 1 lesson the account of Samson's death, where the narrative says, "and tho house fell upon the lords!" Mr fforne was much chaffed about his nlleged political allusion, but he ; sticks to it that tho reading was quite innocent.

General Booth docs not intend his forth coming world-tour to lie his last. Afhr visiting Japan, and, perhaps, China, lie will arrive in England in July, and will start off again for a preaching lour on the Continont. Then the famous motor will be brought into requisition again for a. tour in the eastern counties. The general hopes there will be time for a visit to Holland and Germany, and the year will bo closed with a campaign in the United States. Shortly sJlor, jhe general hopes even to visitAustralia.

Professor W. W. White, of Bible class fame, has returned to America after a very brief visit to England, undertaken for the sole purpose of securing the services of an expert to lecture to Bible students in the United Slates on the subject of the Virgin Birth. Professor Orr, of Glasgow Free Church College, has accepted this invitation. Before he begins his course of lectures ho will have placed in his hands by Professor White a- series of articles on the question written by a number of prominent theologians in Great Britain and on the Continent. and representing various sides of modern thought in regard to the doctrine.

Hiss Jessie Ackermann. the intrepid lady traveller, who has been five times round the word and visited every country on the panet, is the subject of an interesting character' sketch in the Sunday School Times of January 4. Miss Ackermann, whose health failed a year or two ago. has completely recovered, and begins this year in jubilant spirits and glowing health. Her hair has become grey, but it is no sign of age, and she is ready and eager for fresh work. Miss Ackermann is very tall; lier Christmas cowl »id. "Greetings to you and your family irom the whole two yards of rue!" Her height, has no doubt stood her in ifcod stead during' of her visits to half-civilised nations.

.Mr A'on Ogden Yogt, the secretary of the American United Society of Christian Endeavour, 'has resigned that post iu order to become ft 'eiiecial secretary for

RELIGIOUS READING FOR THE HOME.

young people's work in connection with the l'resbyterian lioartl ot Missions. It was only as recently as 1903 that the Christian ftndeavour Society lost Mr Yogt's predecessor Mr ilolin Willis lker who also retired to accept a Presbyterian missionary seoreta.'yship. Mr Baer has sinco been elected to presidency in California anil Mr Yogt's new appointment is due to the readjustment of ofice forces consequent on this change. His successor at the Christian Endeavour headquarters is Mr William Shaw who has boon treasurer of the United Society for 20 years.

Mr Tom Richards M.P., has had the courage, to go down to WaJ«s and point cmt tho objectionable features of Welsh football —a- piece of daring whicli lecalla.ihc merci* loss attacks Mr John Runts usc<l to nwbo upon the drunken working man. Mr Richards is himself interested in football, but ho objects to the offensive and insultin!? behaviour with which Welsh crowds sometimes ' celebrate football victories. Speaking- on Sunday at. Blaina, lie told them that they should also try a.nd find some less objectionable method of rojaioinff over their vielorv t.lian by singing filliiydoggerel songs alternately with the sacral hymns that were associated with soii)o of the most- blessed experiences of their parent-; ami friends'. Mr Richards is a Congregational deacon and 'a frequent preacher.

The death of Principal Rowlands. r,f Brecon .Memorial College, at. the ago of 70, removes a picturesque figme from Welsh public life. It is exactly half a century ago that- he entered, as a student, the college of which be was at the time of .his death tlio official bead, lie had been a tutor since 1872, and was apnointed principal in. 1897. Two years after his cntraneo a.s a student' he, in common with the late Dr Ilerber Evans and three other fellow-students, touched /by the fire of the Great Revival of 1859-60, undertook a mission throughout North Wales. The fruits of tliat- mission are still evident in many a retired hamlet.

SILENCED CONVICTION'S. A Minister's Ai/rfcnNATivF.s. Rev. T. Rhondda Williams, in a message to his people at Greenfield Church, Bradford, wrote expressing bis thankfulness .that the peaceful church life at Greenfield was not purchased at the cost of silencing .conviotion. He was afraid that at Greenfield thev were bo accustomed lo the declaration, safely and fearlessly, of their convictions that they were apt to lose the sense of its value. "Tliey had," Ito continued, "but fo look outside to see what a precious boon it was. When Rev. R. .T. Campbell recently said that- many ministers did not speak out plainly what they thought, a country minister wrote to him to say that ho had a email, church whose deacons had intimated to him that he would either have fo leavo off preaching the new theology or leave the place. The minister confessed that with a wife and four children dependent upon him ho had yielded to pressuro and had been hedging ' ever since. There were many such cases. It showed tho need for churches like theirs to hold the banner high. The success of a church, was tested by various standards, some of a very doubtful value, and judged by some of which Greenfield would not stand high. Among other tilings, .he regarded it as a glorious mission to try to secure throughout England a pulpit of whoso clear infogritv no one could 'oe in doubt, and which should make an intelligent effort to give fo the whole round of life a religions interpretation which should not conflict with established knowledge.

FROM ALL SOURCES. The Governor-General of Canada, Earl Grey, is a frequent and an appreciative worshipper in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, whoso minister, Roy. W. T. Herridge, D.D., was called to Frognal Church, London, and who has recently issued a volume, "The Orbit of Life." Tho Earl of Aberdeen used to intend the same church in Ottawa while GovernorGeneral.

Gipsy Smith has had romarkablo success in his mission at Portland, U.S.A. At the dosing meeting Rev. .T, E. Clancy, on liehalf of the pastors and workers, presented him wiih a splendid gold watch. At his last Sunday evening serivec the hall was packed with the largest.'number it had ever held, and two overflow meetings were arranged.

Most of tho London institutional churches aro now provided with "dark-rooms" for photographio purposes. A now camera club has been opened at Upper George street, AV., hi connection with the Mitryloljoiio Presbyterian Church buildings. Lectures and demonstrations are to. Ix 3 given, and a "dark-room" will be accessible on four days a week throughout the year. Young and old may now enjoy the pleasure.? of photography.

Dr' W. J. Dawson was one of tho principal speakers at tho December festival of the Boston Congregational Club, in commemoration of the 300 th anniversary of the establishment of the Congregational Church at Scrooby, Lines. Taking for his tlicmo Puritanism and Liberty, Dr Dawson asked whether, after all, the ideal of the isolated and highly individualised church is the most serviceable to-day? Modern Congregationalism should bo courageous enough to contradict; its own ideals and substitute a federal Congregationalism for an individualised Congregationalism. As sons of t.he forefathers wo must reinterpret their ideals in tho light of the needs of to-day. President \V. D. Hyde also spoke and urged that tho time was ripo for tho rise of an aggressive, reckless Republican party within tho Congregational Church. Things' '(ho said) need to bo dono that ban be successfully accomplished in no other way.

The Rev. J.- P. Gorrie, ex-chairman of the Canadian Union, says that tho« recent conference in Toronto, on "Church Union," which is summarised on this page, was attended by representatives of churches from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the East, to beyond the prairies in tho West. "Though," lie adds, "great progress was mado, we must vet be far from satisfied. Some of the conclusions reached, and their phrasings belong to a bygone age. To declare permanently for some of the statements tentatively adopted would be to turn backward the wheels of time. We can rejoice, however, in the great trend in our own direction. It in the preliminary and preparatory meeting of our own representatives we felt the great need of an outstanding man, as tho discussions showed; we were overjoyed the next morning to hear Congregational principles championed in the general conference by one of the ablest and most widelyknown of the Presbyterian Church. There are. strong men in the other churches who stand in tho lead, and who arc practically Congregational in everything but name."

The first week's work of the Salvation Army's Anti-Suieide Bureau has amply justified its formation. There were 211 applications for interviews; 75 callers, men and women, rich and poor; and in addition 136 applied for advice by letter. For the callers every arrangement was made to ensure privacy. As far ns can bo seen in'such cases, it is claimed that 194 lives have been saved in a week through the advice and help of the bureau. Generous offers from outside have been made, including an offer from Dr F. M. Willey to aid victims of the drug habit, and several promises of situations from employers. General Bootli urges the need of a classification. Some, he says, only need shaking up to have their thoughts turned into another channel; "others are saved right away by religion," others may be helped by emigration; idleness, misunderstandings, and quarrels are responsible for other would-be suicides. So satisfied is the General with thp results of the London bureau that stens have already been jaken to open bureaux in the provinces. Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, and Glasgow will be the first to posses 6 them.

Saint Andrew, a Scottish weekly religious journal, has died after an existence of about eight years. It was al first started in the interests of the Church of Scotland, and was well backed. About a year ago it came into the hands of the legal Freo Church, and published some good articles, notably the sketches of preachers. In its farewell article Saint Andrew says:—"lt has for some years now been recognised that a semi-religious journal has but little hope of success in Scotland, no matter what may be its particular aims. Two have already ceased publication during the year that has just closed, while existing journals are fighting an uphill battle. A variety of adverse circumstances contribute towards this unhappy state of things, the two most prominent being the apathy of Church members, and the rapid growth of Secularism, among the jwojjlo

during the past few years." "There arc rensons and reasons," but perhaps the explanation is a. good deal simpler.

REV. R. J. OAMPBEfiL ON "ATONE-

MENT." The New Hihbcrt Journal contains an interesting article by the Rev. 1!. J. Campbell on "The Christian Doctrine of Atonement as Influenced by Semitic Religions Idias." He begins by remarking on the difficulty of transferring tho contents of a term and doctrine such as "Atonement" not only from one language to another, but " from one civilisation to another, from East to West, and from the ancient to tho modern world." He takes exception to Dr Denney's recent work on the Atonement on. the ground that "he takes "too'much for granted in regard to his sources," It is, ho observes, "of littlo use to analyse New Testament statements about the relation of tho death of Christ to the forgiveness of sins, and such like, unless we possess an accurate acquaintance with the historical and psychological background of those ideas." ■ This background ho seeks in the Hebrew conceptions, influenced in llieir turn by the contact of Israel with Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, and other religious systems. Ho describes the' Ceremonies of tho. Jewish Day of Atonement and tho various shades of meaning of tlie Hebrew " kipper." the word from which we get our words " atone,' 1 " atonement," and their equivalents. At, tho / root of the earlier sacrifices lay the idea that "the noblest individual life is the life which is lived in terms of the whole, the life which is the most perfect gift, to the life of the whole." And that ho holds is the essence and highest expression of atonement. Dealing with tho bearing of these ideas on tho New Testament theology, he observes: "The Pauline, theory of Atonement is not sell>consist'ent if regarded as exact statement, Instead of what it really is, a symbolical or analogical presentation' of the ethical and religious values presumed in the Old Testment saerifiieial system and applied to the work of Christ, . . . l)cep down honeath Semitic modes of worship there' is the truth that the most acceptable offering to tho Dcijy is that which demands the most, from tjie individual for the life of the rtfee. This is tho t|'uo Atonement., and there is not, and never has been, any other. . . . That a life was once lived in terms of the whole, and took the consequences of so doing, was the.true Atonement, 'Whose full effect will bo realised only when tho whole race has become conformed to its spirit and likeness."