THE SUNDAY CIRCLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21668, 11 June 1932, Page 4

THE SUNDAY CIRCLE

RELIGIOUS READING FOR THE HOME IN THE HOSPITAL. v . Because on the branch that is tapping my pane A sun-awakened leaf-bud, uncurled, Is bursting its rusty-brown sheathing in twain, _ > ' I know there is spring in the world. Because through the sky-patch whose .azure and white. My window frames'all the day . long, A yellow bird dips for an instant of flight, 1 know there is song, because even here, in this Mansion of Woe, „ , . , Where creep the dull hours, leadenshod, , T Compassion and tenderness aid me, i know There is God. * —Arthur Ginterman. A PRAYER FOR OUR NATIONAL LEADERS: Guide, we beseech Thee, 0 Lord, the. leaders of our people, that they may be men that fear, only Thee, men of truth and hating covetousness, neither regarding persons” nor seeking rewards: and so strengthen them by Thy spirit that in singleness of heart they may always endeavour to loose the bonds of wickedness, to hndo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, that the nation may be ordered in equity and righteousness according to Thy will: through Jesus Christ our Lord.—Amen. FOR THE PEOPLE IN THESE DAYS OF ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY: . Grant, 0 Lord, that the men and women of our country may at this time devote themselves heartily to the common cause in a spirit of mutual helpfulness and sharing: that so we may all know the joy of service and the discipline of selfdenial, for the sake of Him Who died for us, our Saviour Jesus Christ. —Amen. FOR THE OTTAWA CONFERENCE. Almighty God, Who rplest in the kingdom of men, and has given to our Sovereign Lord, King George, a great dominion in all parts of the earth; Draw together, we pray Thee, in true fellowship the men of divers races, languages, and customs, who dwell therein, that, bearing one another’s burdens, and working together in brotherly concord, they may fulfil the purpose of Thy providence, and set forward Thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, to Whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all glory and dominion, world without end. —Amen. A TEXT FOR EACH DAY’S MEDITATION. „ “HAVE FAITH IN GOD.” Sunday.—“ The Lord, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee: He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.”—Dent. 31*8. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage.” —Joshua 1:9. - 1 . Monday.—“ Let not your hands be weak for -your work shall be rewarded.” —2 Cbron. 15:7. “ The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.”—2 Chron. 16:9. •, Tuesday.-r-' 1 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed;, a refuge in time of trouble;” m ~ “And they that know Thy Name wid put their trust in Thee; for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee. —Psalm 9:9-10. . ) , Wednesday.—“ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”—Proverbs 3:56 and 26. Thursday.—“ Thus saith the Lord God. In' returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”—lsaiah 30:15. “Fear not; for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” —Isaiah, 43:1. Friday—“ Fear ye not. neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time and have declared it? Ye are even' My witnesses. Is there a God beside .Me?” —Isaiah 44:8. , “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of for I am God, and .there is none else.”—lsaiah 45:22. Saturday.—•“ Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.”—lsaiah 50:10 , , “I, even I, am He that comforteth you.”—lsaiah 51:12. . . _ ._. —H. R. Higgens in A. C. W. SEED THOUGHTS. The time of business does not with ms differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of the kitchen, i possess God in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees before the Blessed Sacrament.—Brother Lawrence. “One of the real reasons why .there are so few Christians is that Christianity ia a very stern creed, a creed for heroes, while we are good-natured little people, who wish'to have a good time and give others a good time.” —Dean Inge. 'You can debauch and pollute your imagination till both your heart and your life are filled full with all the corruption and uncleanness of the second death. Or you. can fill your imagination with visions of beauty—created and uncreated visions of love and holiness and heaven, till you are rewarded, at last, with the Beatific Vision- itself. —Dr Alexander. Whyte. A Hindu lecturer on educational subiects was addressing an audience of educationists in South India when he paused and said; “I see that a great many of you here are Christians. Isow this is not a religious lecture, but I would like to pause long enough to say that, if you Christians would live like Jesus Christ, India would be at your feet to-morrow.” —E. Stanley Jones. i THE DRAMA A REDEMPTIVE FORCE. “Religious drama,” says Professor H. Augustine Smith, of Boston University, «is fast coming in the revival of the fine arts. Every church should have its dramatic class or guild. It is the norm of expression for youth.” If the Church will not present the drama in its exalted form, it may expect its youth to go the Hollywood way or to attend the professional theatre. The drama is a great redemptive factor in the life of youth and of us all.” THE ARGUEK. Once upon a time there was a gentleman who looked extremely like a Skye terrier, and who spent all his days arguing violently 'about subjects which had been dead for 50 years. . And he might have gone on doing this for ever, but a kind angel took, him by the hair and showed him a Vision. And the Vision was of a silly little dog, who, whilst worrying the skin of a hyena which lay upon the sitting room floor, was eaten by an extremely large lion. And the atguer became an entirely reformed and sensible creature. . M., in C. W. THE OXFORD MOVEMENT. The centenary of the Oxford Movement falls next year. St. Mark’s. Guild Christchurch, has arranged a senes of lectures in preparation for the observance which promise well. “The Dawn of the Movement,” “ The Movement in the Parishes,’ “The Social Gospel of the Movement these have already been arranged for. Other lectures will deal with the Religious Communities, Foreign Missions, Art and Music, and other aspects of the movement. ■

THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEME. They have in Christchurch a method «l helping which seems to hold possibilities. It was inaugurated about a month ago by a club connected with the Mothers’ Union and given the above. suggestive title. The idea of the scheme simply is that a family or individual in a’position to share fqinething of what they possess should make friends with a family or individual suffering by reason of the present depression or unemployment. As well as the many families in need, there are hundreds ot • girls and young men w'ithout homes or work, who badly need our help. The names of those who would welcome fltfch a friendship will be obtained from those who are in close touch with them, and a special feature of the scheme is that.it should be kept as private and unofficial as possible. . . * • INDIVIDUALISATION NEEDED. Bishop West-Watson, Christchurch, has written in the June issue, of the Church News: “A few years ago a newcomer from the old world could not help being struck by the prosperous state of .the country and the wide open door of opportunity. It would be a tragedy if the present distress were allowed to bring us down to the bad conditions of much of the old world. On the other hand, it may be used to develop links and friendships between many who can give help and the many who need help. A common trouble should draw us together. We must/ try to. refuse" to think of ‘ relief workers ’ or -- ‘ the unemployed ’ in the mass," and determine to think of them as individuals and families who ! have just as good a right to work and wages as ourselves, but who ■ have been by the dislocation of the economic system deprived of them, generally through no fault of their own. And the best way to individualise is to become personally acquainted with some of those who are in distress.. The ‘ Good Neighbour ’ scheme which is being inaugurated in Christchurch should give an opportunity for such personal contacts. I hope that it will enlist many supporters and helpers.” THEN—AND NOW. • Archbishop Julius was evidently in quite a good vein at a Youth Work meeting in Christchurch recently. “If my old father,” said the archbishop, “ were to say to me, ‘ Get down and hold your tongue/ I’d do it —I couldn’t help it. It’s the way I was brought;.up. But my boy wouldn’t ■” The rest, was lost in laughter, as all eyes, concentrated on the dean smiling broadly in bis corner. “ I remember an old chap in Australia who told me he hadn’t been to church; for 20 years. I asked him why. He.said, ‘ I can’t because I don’t believe in . the devil!’ I replied, ‘Who ever asked you , to?”’ __