THE SUNDAY CIRCLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13942, 29 June 1907, Page 4

THE SUNDAY CIRCLE.

DEVOTIONAL. Healing by Love.

" I bolieve in the forgiveness of ans."

Lord, hero is a man who has lost

The strength which Thou guvcet to him, On a. turbulent sea, ho is tost

And is weak and unable to swim, On tho shore there is standing- a crowd, They will help him, perhaps,' to the bank, But their oeneures are cruel »ml loud, Ho will scarcely his rescuers thank; For -their judgment is hard and their blame, Though deserved, cuts the soul of the . man. And they leave him alone with his shame.

Diviner. 0 Lord, is Thy plan When ho whom Thou lovosfc is sick

We were naughty sometimes in old days, But love gave our mothers true And they understood our bad wavn

When we could not end would" not do right. They saw we were ill and were kind,

And kissed the pained, fever-hot head. They had punished us had they been blind, But lovo made them healers instead. The same gracious pity of heart Saves (i man from tho sea of despair, Makes him brave to do better his part, And bo til rilled by the advocate's proper, Lord, ho whom Thou lovost is sick. Christ, we would fain plead the excuseBut conscience convicts us of sin, Pardon wo need, and the u.»e Of Thy cleansing and healing within. We lift wistful eyre to Thy face— 0 Lord, we arc lost without Thee 1 But we trust in Thy infinite grace 'Mid the waves of life's turbulent sea, Behold us, weak, tired, out of breath, Pity our sin, and our fear, Then this sickness is not unto death. Lovo is strong, and the Saviour is near When those whom Thou lovest are sick. —Mabukxe Fahningham, in the Christian World. Meditation. TKF. PSYCHOLOGY" OF DIVINF, LOVF,. Thero are two great loves in human life— that of_ husband and wife, that of parent and child. Now, which of these is the more profound, subtle, searching, influenliaJ? The answer you will give to that will probably determine your answer as to which aspect of the love of God is tho profounder and more important. I think what you and 1 should be thankful for is that thero are two definite roads, each consisting of steps of human experience, which lead up to that sacred mount from which every love can be surveyed; and when you go up tne prospect is" different, you seo it from a different side. In tho pathway of the lovo of father and child, what you see is the universality of tho Divine lovo and its redeeming depth, its power of going down to lay hold of tho guilty; whereas what you sec when you go up by the other steps, tile steps of tho love of husband and wifq, is rather tho particularity of tho Divine love—why is it that He loves me? How am Ito explain the mystery that the Deity has placed His lovo upon n«, a poor insignificant sinner? And tho ether thing which we seo with great clearness is this, that our own realisation of this love depends upon a choice of our own. God has chosen yon and me; then you and I must choose God beforo wo can participate in this blessedness; that if, to say, whilo tho greatest truth on enrtli i.s that God is love, (ho greatest commandment upon earth is, " Thou slialt love the Lord thy God with all thy foul, and with all thy heart, and and with all thy strength."—James Stalker, D.D. Kxhohtatio;:. WANTING IX HEIGHT. . When I think of tho empty churches and chapels and the general materialistic tendency of our newsraper press, the liumanitarianism of which shows that the drift is from God to man. away from religion to tho humanities, and that our churches are now largely cluljh run with institutions, however good, and that the sermons lack the old doctrinal note and evangelistic appeal, I say we aro wanting in height. But, read English history again, and learn from it that if you lote in height you will lose your power of advance./yr;t will lose t.he sympathy of breadth. Irroon, our

great, historian, tells us of some eight or nine revivals which have swept over our country, each, of which registered its fruits not simply in religious directions, but in vast progressive changes for the people. AJagna Oiarfca originated in that revival which, at the end of Stephen's reign, swept over this land. The first Parliament, was the result of tho preaching of tho Friars. Tho Reformation was the child of the preaching of the Lollards. Tho emancipation of the people was tho result of the great Puritan and Commonwealth era. The abolition of the Corn Laws and tho terrible punitivo system which prevailed in the last century or Iwo was largely due. as wo believe, to the marvellous result of Wesley and Whitcfield's preaching, and, after all, you may say what you like about political and social reform—ar.d thero ig not a single man moro keen on either of thorn than I—but, thev depend upon the vitality and strength of tho religious life of the people, and if you aro going to diminish the height wilb which a community seeks God and lives for Him, you aro going to diminish the power of ita sympathy and the energy of its progress.—F. B. Meyer, B.A. MEN OP MARK. Tho Chicago Advance is " moved to remark " that it was a proty rough joke on Dr Campbell Morgan to Ixi credited by a Chicago preacher with the book on " Tho New Theology." The Rev. W. Aylmer Stark, son of the Bev. Dr Stark, of Bon-Aeeord Congregational Church, Aberdeen, ,]kis been received into the Scottish Episcopal Church. Mr Stark is an M.A of Aberdeen • University, and wao trained in theology at Mansfield College, Oxford, under Principal Fairbairn.

Rev. David Macrae, the veteran preacher, patriot, and lecturer, was. according to latest advice, l.yin? seriously ill »t hie home in Uia-sgow. His prop-ess since undergoing the operation lees than a year ago has been very slow, jml recently pneumonia supervened, and the gravest fears are entertained.

Rev. R. J. Campbell visited Oxford to fulfil a long-lookcd-for engagement. Ho addressed a. private mooting one afternoon, when about 150 students wcro prewnt, and Mr Campbell answered many (jucslione as to his own particular beliefs. In the evening the Corn Exchange was crowded to hear his speech, more than three-quarters of hie audience being 'Varsity men, Hβ reasoned and quiet exposition of the leading features of tho New Theology was listened to with great attention, and his moral and religious appeals made a great impression. Many who came to " rag" stayed to lieten with care.

Itev. JaniM On , , of Olasgow, who is looturing- on the Virgin Hidh r.t Boston, U.S.A., has been taking up u strongly conservative position on that- doctrine. Ho argued that to o, full and adequate doctrine of (ho Incarnation belief in t.lio Virgin Birth is necessary, and expressed hie conviction that mo't of the disbelief is anions rnoji who are of the naturalistic school in religion, and who deny tho miraculous and tho supernatural. Tho evidence for the primitive, original belief of Chrietians in the Virgin Birth is (ho holds) beyond dispute ; ami w dismisses the nnjument against the belief based on t.ho silences of the other two Oospels and the olher New Testament literature.

Tho Rev. John Aldis entered on his 100 th year last month, bodily weak and with eyesight dimmed, liut in possession oC all liis faculties. Though intor-csfptl still in currout events, he spends most of his time in Ilia study with his Bible nnd his Oreels Testament. On fine days ho walks in his Srarden at lkclcinstoii, iSomor c et, H : « memory for rccdiit events is going, but of occurrence* in his youth ant! early life lii< recollections are vivid and fresh. It ie just 50 years since lie retired from the pastorate of George Street Church. Plymouth, and 78 years since he began his ministerial life at Manchester.

The Rev. W. L. Walker (author of " The Kj>iri-fc__an<l Incarnation." "The Cross and tho Kingdom," etc.) has in the prres an important little volume, which lie has written as an estimate oE and reply lo Mr Campbell's "New ThcoloftT," fvoni tlio standpoint of liberal but decided evangelicalism. Few echolars are more competent to write such a replj than Mr Walker, as for many j-eara he lias made a careful study of the subjects Mr Campbell writes upon, aikl he has no difficulty in dealine convincingly with them. Tho titlo will probably bo "What About the New. The-

RELIGIOUS READING FOR THE HOME.

ologyV and Messrs T. and T, Clark liopo lo issue tla> book shortly.

Tho Yen. Robert Hodgson, Archdeacon of Stafford, has licen appointed by tho Bishop of Liohfifkl to the residentiary canonry in Lichficld Cathedral, vacant by tho death of Canon Lonsdale. Tho new canon wan oduoatod at Kron and at Oriel College, Oxford, of which ho was a Scholar and Ireland Exhibitioner, and has spent all his mijiiek'na! lilo in the diocese of Liehfield, whero he was ordained by Bishop Sclwyii in 1868. Ho ha.? boon a Prebendary of Lichfield Cathedral since 1894, and was appointed archdeacon in 1898. Ho was Vicar of Christ Ulmrch. West Bronnvich 1872-83; Vicar and Rural Dcf.n of Walsall 1833-92; and Rector of Hnmlsworlb 18921904, being also Rural Dean of Handsworth 1892-8.

Dr P. T, Forsyth's course of lectures on preaching, delivered last month at Yale University, have excited groat interest in American religious circles, and a long review of the courses by Dr Raymond; (J. Clapp appears in tho Congrejrationalist: — "Dr Forsylh," writes this critic, "avows his coiirso lo he a middle- road between tho old orthodoxy and tho advanced Liberals, and calls it positive theology. That he does no; slam] with tho orthodox party is witnessed by his remarks, and also liis recognition of tho rights and value of Biblical criticism, tiiourh he drerwi any popular presentation of it. now as untimely. Yet. the lecturer's shafts were directed nia-inly ajninst Liberals. His avowed liirjjet «•&« in," radical HccelianPileiderer wing. Even in his picture of them many of his paradoxes seemed lmrdlv fair for Iho majority at least, and in tho rapid play of antitheses jl was sometimes difficult, to delwmino for whom tho hot shot was intended. Some evidently were directed against, tho Moderate Liberals of the typo that have not retained 1 the special features of orthodoxy which he has not yet given up."

The Hov. Dr Francis K. Olarfc, founder of the Society of Christian Endeavour, has been travelling for some months in South America, lie visited the west ecast, addressing meetings in Peru, Bolivia, and Chili. Ho then crcesed the Andes to the Argcntino Republic. This journey is now a simple and even a pleasant trip in tho months, tho time taken between Valparaiso and Buenos Ayrcs being onlv 48 hours. In the latter city Dr Clark stayed several days, addressing various meetings and churches. He proceeded to Brarl, taking Afonto Video en route. One of his principal objects in this visit, is to attend f-outli Americna Convention of tho Christian Kndeavour Societies, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro durinir May. Dr Clark will afterwards go to the United States by way of England, reaching homo m June. He is accompanied by Miss Clark. FROM ALL SOURCES. Recently a largo swarm of hoes found their way into Kirlrhride Church, Cumberland, during divino service, which had to be brought to a closa in consequence. It was found that thoir homo was in a cavity of the wall. This was opened out and a largo quantity of honey extracted. Tho S.P.G. anniversaries culminated in the stons-laying of tho new house, which will bo completed in less than a year. The present incomo stands at £192,436. and it is lioprd that £200.000 will ere long bo tho minimum amount raised each year. Tho C.M.S. income is about £277,000. Between them, theso two grcßt sociotiea contribute nearly half a million annually to tho missionary cause.

Most. r*op]i> dispky remarkable ignorance of the histories of the writers of thoir favourite, hymns, and it io, therefore, pleasing to notice that (he cratencry of tho death of John Newton were rclebratod in April in becoming fashion in tho little Buckinghamshire town of Olnoy, where for wwral years ho was eiirate-in-eliariro. Nowton was for many years the friend of William Covi-per, the author of those, wellknown hymns, "Glorious things of' Then aro spoken," and "How sweet flip name- of Jesus sounds," and majiv others. The town wm gaily decorated with flags, and .great numbers of people visited tin? Cowper and Newton Museum in Cowper's house in the market nlsce. A special service was held in tho church, at. which tho Bishop of Durham preached (he sormon.

Tho story of the origin ami progress of tlio Now Theology controversy, with penportraits of the chief champions on c;toh eido, is told by Mr Arthur l'orrift in tho Sunday Strand. Mr Porritt regards tho famous paper on " Changing Sanctions in Popular 'Theology'" by Mr Oumpboll at the London Congregational Board in Sep. tamber, and tho simply by -Mr Campbell o[ a precis lo the Christian World, as tho letting loo=c of tho flogs of war. Since then the noiso of hottlo has rolled round tho country, and distinguished divines have darted at enoh other tho.ir sharpest epigrams. It. would bo interesting to learn how many of them regret the cutting things recorded by Mr Porritt.

Towards the erection of chapels, eclioole, etc., the AVcslcyan Million Guineas Fund has now distributed £250,000. The total number of twentieth-century schemes is 924, of which 464 arc new ohapok Tho total outlay has'been over £2,250,000, and of this only about 163 per cent, remains ae a debt on tho buildinge. This is a most excellent record, and a fine tribute to the original organisation of tho work.

One stop leads oii to another in tho matter of rational Sunday observance—or of Sunday-breaking—according ae it may be considered. Six years ago the Royal Scottish in Chambers street, Edinburgh, was thrown open to the public on Sunday afternoons in the face of no little, opposition. Order and quiet, howover, ha.ve been observed, and, lnrae n,tt<";ilances have shown an appreciation' , that cannot bo disputed. It has now been officially determined to throw opou tho National Rallcry and the National Portrait Gallery at, the foot of tho Mound, on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 5 o'clock. It may lw mentioned here that in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee the art galleries aro likewise now open on Sundays.

The return of the statistics of the Presbyterian Church of England for the pait year shows that the number of congregations has increased by five, and now etands at 345, or 40 tnoro than there wore 10 years ago. The average increase in tho membership has been for some yeare past over 1500 a year, but during 1906 tho net increase was onlv 540. tlm nromil membership being 85.775. The number of sittings provided is 177,304, and the church buildings, exclusive of manses, are valued at £3.476.627. The debt restinsr imon these buildings is lWuvod at £117.941; IVr* aro, including Emeritus ministers, 355 ministers in thn home Church and 7B miseionaries on the foreign field. ( Thirtywon native pastors nrr> entirely sunporlod bv their own contrrorations, and thoro wo now 318 organised congregations and preachinir stations, having a total communicant membership of 9161. The total income of the Church, including £33.779 for rm=. S'onary jmrposos, was £294,774, which, allowinjt for th« difference in the amount of legacies received, is the same ae in the previous year.