THE SUNDAY CIRCLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14156, 7 March 1908, Page 4

THE SUNDAY CIRCLE.

DEVOTIONAL The Angel of Patience. To weary hearts, to mourning homes, God's meekest angel gently comes: No power has he to banish pain, Or givo us back our lost again; And yet in tenderest love our dear And Heavenly Father sends him hero. There's quiet in that angel's glance, There's rest, in his stiii countenance; Ho mocks no grief with idle cheer, Nor wound* with■ words the mourner's ear; But ills and woes he may not cure, Ho kindly trains us to endure. Angel of Patience! sent to calm Our feverish brows with cooling balm; To lay the storms of hope and fear, And reconcile life's smilo and tear; The throbs of wounded pride to still, And make our own our Father's wil. 0 thou who mournest on thy way, With longings for'the close, of day, He walks witli theo, that angel kind, And gently whispers, "Be resigned; Boar up, boar on, the end shall tell The dear Lord ortloroth all things well." J. G.. Whittieh.

Supplication. Grant unto us, Almighty God, that by increase of love of that which is true, by increase- of vision of that which is fair, we may know Thee more; and, rising by Thy Spirit's gifts into spiritual puroness, may behold Thee, tho Spirit, in spirit and in truth; and so, passing on from strength Jo strength of human endeavour and human reaching, come to the beatific vision of God, which shall give us perfect peace. Comfort us in the hour of death, and bring us safe to the land of eternal rest. Of _ Thy mercy hoar us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.—George Dawson.

Meditation, are prayers ever unanswered?

There are many prayers which are answered, although we do not know it, and still' think them unanswered. The answer

is not recognised when it corhes. This is true of our common mercies and favours.

Wo pray every morning, "Give us this day our daily bread," and then we nevor think of our three meals each day as being answers to prayer. We ask God for health, for raiment, for the. things we need, for prosperity in business,- for friends; all these things com© to us in continuity, without break. But do we remember that wo prayed for' them, and that they como from God as answers to our requests? The same is true of many of the spiritual blessings which, we'seek. Wo ask for holiness. . It docs not seem to us that wo are advancing in holiness; but all the while our life is imperceptibly and unconsciously receiving more of the mind and spirit of Christ, and we are being changed into His image. We expect the answer in a marked way, while it come 6 silently, as dew comes upon the drooping flowers and withering leaves. But, like the flowers and the .loaves, our soul is refreshed and our life is renewed.— Marcus Dods, D.D. EIHOBTATIOJf. THE UNCHANGING OHBIBT. No one church or denomination of Christians has a monopoly of Christ, so that it would be true to say that Ihore and there only were the graces and comforts of His Divine Person to be found. " Extra ecclesiam nulla salus," "Outside the Churoh io no salvation," is a. formula often on the lips, and more often in the thoughts, of ardent sectarians in all the Churches and

u«iiumaiiu,uons ot unnstendom; but It is 'disproved by the oxperienco of Christians in all ages, and notably in our own. I am not for one moment suggesting that to my thinking it is a matter, of rio importance to what Church, or denomination we belong, but I am insisting that the power of Jesus Christ to inspire and fashion to tho_ noblest uses, the lives «f men, who believo in Him, i 6 independent of ecclesiastical systems. In the best, and also in tho worst, Ho brings to bear on human wills tho holy coercions of His love, and calls men from the death of sin. to the life of righteousness. It is not otherwise with the theologies of Christendom. To many, I know, it is a hard saying, but none the loss it is a time saying, that there is'no fixity in the'doctrinal systems of tho Christian Church. We cannot escape from the law of change, which governs all terrestrial things, by tho simple device of setting down our perceptions of the truth'in written formularies, and binding thorn on all the succeeding generations by the most- stringent methods we can imagine. Every student of Christian history knows that the theology of tho Church has been constantly changing, and that though the old words and phrases linger, their senses alter, and the relative importance men attach to thorn. The emphasis placed on the various parts of the scheme of Christian doctrine is constantly changing. Yet through nil tho changes the one assured and unalterable factor is precisely the solo and incommunicable supremacy of.Christ. To the theologian of the twentieth century, as truly as to the theologian of every earlier century, the problem which ho aspire,? to solve is the problem of Jesus. "Jesus Christ ia the same yesterday ahd to-day; yea, and for over."-Canon Hensloy-Honson. B.D. . BIRMINGHAM AND BILLIARDS. OPENING OF THE DIGBETH INSTITUTE. The Rev. J. H. Jowett and the Congregation of Carre Lane Chapel, Birmingham, have just erected and opened in the shape of the Digbeth Institute a veritable Palace of Delight for the slum dweflors of Birmingham. The opening ceremonies were very successful, and in his speech at the evening' meeting, Mt Jowett went on to say that the Digbeth would stand for clean hearts, clean lips, clean ears, and clean hands; it would stand for clean reading, clean lectures, clean amusement, clean recreation, and clean billiards. Dr Alexander Maclarcn had warned him a few weeks ago that " it will take a lot of billiards to make a Christian." He agreod, " but," added Mr Jowett, turning lo Dr Morgan and Sir Silvestoi- Home, "it takes e. lot of golf to make a Christian, We don't expect to make Christians by billiards, but we do intend to try to teach men that thoy oaji play a clean game of billiards. Whatever devilry there is in billiards tho Son of Man came to destroy. Wo want to present billiards free from everything that over makes the game unclean, so that a man who is founding his life on Jesus may be able to enrich his consecration vows by recreation under conditions such as we shall offer." The institute stood, too, for cheerful disposition. " Laugh and grow fat" was a physiological fact. ("That is rough on mo," interposed Dr Cmpbell Morgan.) Mr Jowett, continuing, laughingly agreed, and added that ho, too, meant to come down to tho Digbeth for a physiological diet of the laughter which would resound in the institute. "I shall'think," he added, "that I have done God's business when by some unpolluted merriment I have brought some laughter into tho drab lives of tho people around hero." Three things they would have in tho institute—plenty of light, plenty of warmth, and plenty of fresh air. Thoy made no provision, for vinegar, tartario acid, or brimstone. The institute would stand also for 'chivalrous service. " Tho Lord has put us hero in a terrible place. We have to go out into this most necessitous distriot and olaim it for Christ. Wo have our Knights and Ladies of the Order of King Jesus, and I tell you that I confidently believo that we shall quickly enrol hero many men and women 86 members of the King's Own." ABOUT PEOPLE. Rev. J. G. Stevenson is launching an institutional scheme in connection with Union Church, Brighton. _ Tho sohomo has, in fact, passed its initial stages, ond tho workmen aro already engaged in transforming some of the property of tho church into an institute for the young people of Brighton. Tho project was discussed when Rev. R. J. Campbell was minister, at Union Church, but its consummation has been delayed. Mr Stevenson's health has greatly improved, and his eyes have almost ceased to troublo him. He ia now passing through tho press, for spring ■publication by James Olark and Co., a novel of English Nonconformist life, and especially upon the education question, whioh is calculated to create a sensation.

Tlie Bishop of London has a happy way of flitting' the nail on the head in his brief, pithy talks on practical religion.. Addressing a largo gathering of men the other evening in the hall of the City of London School, ho told them that the really important factors in the coinersioni of the world, eo far aa it ha 6 gopxs, were. B2t -aw much - ..the Jashaoa-and; evaDgolißt^-*

RELIGIOUS BEADING FOR THE HOME.

though these had done their beat—as the witnesses for Christianity who worked in tho ordinary callings of life and lived among their follows. When lie looked at East London he trusted for its conversion not merely lo the 500 faithful clergy, hut also to the 50,000 comniunieanls who could not preach' or speak the. Gospel, but who were living witnesses of its power.

The serious illness of Dr Pym, Bishop of Bombay, cornea at a most inopportune timo in his diocese. For a considerable period a dispute has been in progress between liimeolf and the Cowloy Fathers who are at, work there. This arose as the result of the bishop's charge, which was based upon his interpretation of the report of the Eoclesiastical Commission, and ended in tho first instance in his withdrawal of the licenses of several Cowley Fathers. An appeal was lodged to the Metropolitan of India, and ho has ordered that those licenses should be returned. Dr Bym went to Bombay in 1903, having previously been Bishop of Mauritius since 1893. It. will be remembered that when in .England in some church circles bis name was associated with the vacant Sco of'Chichester, but this was only gossip, with probably an ardent wish attached.

/Yet another grave loss has been sustained by the United Free Church in the death of Dr Charles Watson, of St. John's Church, Largs.. It is all but, 4-4 years since Dr Watson settled in that seaboard parish. Had he lived till the end of February ho would have completed his eighty-sixth year, and already preparations for his diamond jubilee as a minister in March had been begun. Though often urged to give his discourses a wider public, lie published only one volume, entitled ""Notes of Lectures on the First Epistle of St. John." Dr Watson was twice married, his first wife being a niece of Dr Chalmers. In 1E63 he married a sister of Lord Kelvin's first wife, and they celebrated their silver wedding in March, 1893. Dr Watson died after a fortnight's illness, die gravity of which was increased by his anxiety over; tho health of Lady Kelvin, his grief at the loss of his friend Lord Kelvin, followed by. the death of his.younger brother, Sir Patrick Heron Watson, the Edinburgh surgeon, and the 6orious illness of his own wife. ;

; Commissioner Booth-Tucker, the, leader of , the Salvation Anny in India, has already . issued, a stirring appeal oil behalf'of tho ' faminostricken district in hie ohnrge. ! Although famine has not actually made its I appearance, the Commissioner, who is an old Indian civil servant, foresees the in- , evitable result of the prolonged drought, which the present-rains have come too late | to avert. He has therefore laid his plans with deliberation' and 'care, ■ and when . famine, makes its appearance he will be able, to break the "rings" formed by native corn 1 merchants, 'who endeavour to keep prices ' high by artificial mean 6, . The Commis; ; aioner'e plans ensure the placing on the 1 market at tho right time of huge supplies of wheat in the worst hit districts, Another interesting side ,to Commissioner BoothTucker's character is shown in a manifesto he has issued from the : Salvationist headquarters at Simla, inviting all civil servants, whatever thoir creed-or no"creeds who may desire to assist in tho betterment of the conditiqn of natives in India. The appeal is headed "Don't Retire," and plays on tho well-known, aversion shown by civil servants of all grades to compulsory retirement at the age of 60. The Salvation Army will give an opportunity, say's the Commissioner, to every one who desires to make . good use .of his time, whether Parses, Hindu, Moslem, Brahmin, or Christian.

The Rev. John Walton, M.A., the father of the late Attorney-general; was one of the finest statesmen missionaries'in Wesleyan Methodism. Ho was torn in 1623, his father being a local preacher in' tlie Leeds Wesley Circuit. Mr Walton, began to preach at 18 years of age, and in 1844 was accepted for the ministry and sent to Richmond College, where he had such companions as Geden, Dr Piinsbon, and Samuel Goley. ' In 1846 he was sent to North' Ceylon, where,, he laboured for 14 years chiefly in Tamil work, and became the chairman, of the district and general superintendent of the Tamil mission there, Returning to England in IE6O, he became popular as a preacher and a splendid business, man. Wanting :a man of experience i for South Africa in 1877, the .Conference ; laid hold of Mr Walton, and sent him 'there, and by his tact and goneral ability lie formed the South' African churches into a Conference, of which he was prosidont for two years. In. 1886 he returned to England, and in- 1887, at Manchester, received the highest honour of his Church— the presidency of'the English Conference. Next year he was made a missionary secretary, which post he held (or some years, when old age and infirmity obliged him to becomo a supernumerary. ' In June, 1904, lie passed hence, after a well-spent, ardu- ' ous life, at the good ago of 80 years. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BIBLE. I The Prime Minister (Sir H. CampbellBannerman), who was acompanied by Mr M'Kenna, M.P. (President of the Board of Education), and Mr T. Lough, M.P., (parliamentary secretary to the board), received recently a large, and representative deputation—organised" by the-- Churchmen's Uniori-of Liberal' Churchmen who had attended to express their agreoment with the principle of simple Bible teaching in olementary schools. The Prim© Minister, replying to the deputation, said they were awaro, of course, that they were preaching to tho. converted. Ho was old'enough to have been in the Houso of Commons when Mr Forster's bill was passed, and. ever since that time they had had that system in operation without any complaint, or difficulty, or grievance whatever, and all of a sudden when they wished to give a new development to education this question was raised, and the most extraordinary language used 86 to the teaching of the' Bible. When thoy heard ! the teaching of tho Bible spoken of as I " poisonous-corrosive poison " one rubbed , one's eyes and wondered whether one was ; reading the type correotely. He did not profess to bo very easily moved or touched in these mattes, but it went to one's heart to hear such language, used. He had no hesitation in saying that if they were driven to a secular system within tte next five or 10 years .it would bo tho direct work of those persons and authorities, in tho Church or out of it, who insisted upon having their particular doctrines taught in : the common schools of the iand. Mr M'Kenna said tho views the deputation supported represented the only basis | on which Christianity could bo preserved : as an integral part of the teaching in their J public elementary- sohools In his judgj merit there was .no alternative, to secular 1 instruction except simple Biblo teaching, and ho was sure that if simple Bible teach- ■ ing was not preserved in their schools I they would have nothing boforo them- exI cept tho purely secular system they had | seen in, other ports of tho world. He would deprecate that result extremely. Ho did not think those who were in favour ! of secular instruction had ever quite ; realised the full extent of the loss which thoy would suffer. Ho did not speak only I of tho loss of tho Bible, which they might term their greatest national inheritance, from their sohools, but tho loss of the moral instruction itself. All secularists were in favour of ethical teaching, but thoy I seemed , to overlook the fact that moral instruction.had to be given, by instruments tho teachers, who knew how to teach only as thoy themselves had been taught. Ho rested his anchor upon the Biblo, and it was most gratifying to him to find a body representative, if not of tho bulk of the clergy, 'cortabily of the overwhelming- bulk of the laity, willing to join with Christians who were not Churchmen upon a basis of common Bible instruction. FROM ALL SOURCES. , Sir Joseph Compton-Rickett's suggestion that Mr Jowctt should modernise one of the old mystery plays and present, it at tho Digbeth Institute lias been anticipated by Whitefield's. In connection with the debating, society there arrangements are progressing for the presentation in dramotio form of two of Dr Sheldon's stories, "The Crucifixion of Philip Strong" and "In His Steps," which have been dramatised bv Mr Neil Forsyth. J Some interesting and suggestive figures arc given by the Rev. E. Theodore Carrier in tho Methodist Press concerning the ratio that Methodism in England and Wales , bears' to tho population. As the result of his inquiries he showed that in 1811 the population was just over 10 millions, and Methodist members numbered 143,860, or a ratio to tho population of 1.70. At tho end of the next three or four decades it figures respectively 1.61, 1,56, 1.49, 1,60. During the years of the new century tho, latio.Jgures are .1,75,, 1.72,. 1,7J,J.73 r .-L7^

1.71, 1.72. Mr Currier pointed out that tho convulsion ilinl took place in Methodism in tho middle of the last century had mado it much poorer. Tt tool: ,50 years, he said to recover Hie figures of. 11:50. hut if there had been no dissension and the- normal progress ha<l been maintained, Wesleyan Methodism would have been richer to-day by about a quarter of a million members. Still it may bo queried whether this low is not more than compensated by the vigour and strength' of the other Methodist bodies.

Mr R. W. Perks, M.P., speaking at a gathering of the Louth Wesleyan Circuit referred to the manifesto on Christian .Socialism. A i»an who propounded such theories as these contained in tho manifesto, he said, diminished his power as a minister of religion. H 0 appealed to his hearers not to he misled because tho signatories could write "Reverend" before their names. If men were to be treated, not like human beings, not liko responsible creatures, but Liko a State-owned product, to be guided by tho Stale (lovernment, inspected by (he State, made to work by tho State, and if every institution were to become a department of. the State, they were sunply paving the way lo one of the Vilest, pits of despotism and the curtailment of lberly the world had ever seen. 'J'hank liod, thero would be a powerful effort to rescue the country from such a pit of despotio tyranny as these hundred gentlemen were blindly endeavouring to force upon their fellow-creatures, and as Methodism had its work to do at the beginning of the last century in shielding the democracy from the dangers .of the Frenoh revolutionary movement, so he believed it would be the duty of the Methodist, Church to-day, so closely ,jn touch as it, was with the rank and file of the British population, to present lo the people a froo Christianity, which would be the barrier against, the inroads of secularism, infidelity, and Socialism.