SUNDAY CIRCLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23707, 14 January 1939, Page 4

SUNDAY CIRCLE

RELIGIOUS READING FOR THE HOME THE CONQUERING SECRET The promise of the dawn Above the darkness shines; The sleepless hopes of a coming day, Like radiant angels, point the way O’er fresh horizor lines. We leave the day that’s gone Behind us in the dark With many a trembling word that’s dead, And many a faithful wound that bled, ' And many a stumbling mark. But we beat forward still Toward the kindling sky The good the dead years did not lack, The courage born of strife and wrack, The faith that does not die. The grace that conquers ill. And pity’s balm that cures Through mist and sunshine by our side We face our fate, whate’er betide— Love evermore endures. —Lauchlan Mac Lean Watt. PRAYER “Thou earnest them away as with a flood.” “Thou has set our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.” —Psalm xc. Lord Thou has been our dwelling place in all generations.. Thou hast beset us behind and before and hast laid Thy Hand upon us. We dwell in the midst ot spaces and subject to forces which, had we no instruction would always be ready to overwhelm our inner sp .'it, the winds from such vastness causing the tiny candle, which our soul is. to smoke and go out. But this also we equally and more incontrovertib’y know—that our souls lie open m Thee; that Thou carest for us one by one, and carest for us enough to trouble us with Thy rebukes and to lift up our heads with Thy forgiveness and patience and direction. With this, which i oui condition, help us to be content, knowing as we do that it is Thy Way with us to do abundantly above all that we may ask or think! Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BIBLE IN SPAIN In spite of the civil war, writes the Rev. W. H. Rainey (British and Foreign Bible Society’s secretary for Western Europe), in introducing his annual report of the work in Spain, the Bible Society’s work continues to be carried on as far as circumstances allow. While sales have been small, they have taken place from time to time, either over the counter or by correspondence. One day a customer entered the Madrid depot and bought a Bible. While he was talking to the superintendent an air raid took place. When it was over he left with his purchase under his arm. Next day he came back to say that he owed his life to his visit to the Bible House, for on arrival home he found that his house had been badly damaged by a bomb. The circulation in Spain was 36,259 books, as compared with 211,286 for the previous year. Such a decline, however, was expected, and is quite natural. It is marvellous that under the conditions obtaining sales have been so large. C.M.S. MISSIONARIES Leave was taken recently of a band of Church Missionary Society missionaries and new recruits. This year 269 are sailing for the mission field; they include clergy, teachers, doctors and nurses. Sir Robert Williams, president of the society, who occupied the chair, said how small was the number of missionaries and recruits compared . with the millions who were crying out for the message of the Gospel. Dr Wilson Cash, general secretary, said that the new recruits came from all parts of the country, and represented the Church in all its branches and the C.M.S. in its fellowship. One by one the missionaries and new workers stood up as the secretary introduced them; some had been in the mission field for more than 30 years; others were returning after their first period of service. The continent of Africa claimed the largest group. MORAL REARMAMENT “It is beyond doubt,” writes the Bishop of Liverpool in his diocesan Review, “that what is known as the Oxford Group is a living power, perhaps the most effective, among the agencies of moral and spiritual rearmament. This does not become untrue because the leaders of that body skilfully advertise the fact. Yet this movement has no esoteric spiritual secret, newly discovered and applied. Its defects are notorious. Its power consists in the simplicity and directness with which it puts first things first, and keeps them there. Its challenge to all the churches is this. Why is it that so many people of every nation of every degree of intelligence and of every condition of life, have . had to wait until they have made contact with this movement in order to find what should be manifest wherever the religion of Christ exists? It is not the business of the churches to solve world problems; they are quite unable to do so. But it is the business of the churches to inspire and nourish the spiritual and moral life of men who can solve them, and to produce followers without whom great leaders are ineffective.”

SOCIALIST CHRISTIAN LEAGUE The annual conference of the Socialist Christian League was lately held in Christ Church Institute, Watney street E.l, and was attended by delegates from all parts of England, representing various groups. The topics had previously been discussed by the groups represented. The chairman (Mr J T. Harris) showed how their basis of membership was suitable for the critical needs of the day, and the diversity of opinions within their ranks. He was glad to note that their differences in theology made no difference to their co-operation, and that their differences of opinion about methods of practical action did not mar their fellowship. They were making a witness within their' respective religious organisations, their political party, and in the trade unions. The Rev. R. W. Sorensen, M.P., opened a discussion on their special contribution to organised religion and to the Socialist movement, emphasising their responsibility to both the spiritual and the practical side of Christian service The Rev. St. John B. Groser spoke of the facilities that they had for getting their fellow-Christians to co-operate with them in bringing about a new social order. Their efforts for conversion. he said, must be ba?ed upon the good done to the one converted rather than upon their usefulness to the movement when converted WANTED—BUGLES AND DRUMS A C.M.S. missionary from Uganda appeals for bugles and drums from England for Scout troops and school? “African boys and girls—and we are thinking of Girl Guides, too —love to march to the sound of martial music.” At least two native masters said to him before he left for England: “We want you to bring back a band with you when you return to us.”

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCHES “ Life ” is the subject of the lessonsermon in all Churches of Christ. Scientist, on Sunday. January 15. The golden text is. “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death ” (Proverbs xii 28) Among the citations which comprise the lesson-sermon is the following from the Bible:—"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God. and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” (John xvii, 3) The lesson-sermon also includes the following correlative selection from the text book of Christian Science:—“We all must learn that life is God. The continual contemplation of existence as material and corporal—as beginning and ending, and with birth, decay and dissolution as its comnonent stages—hides the true and spiritual life and causes our standard to trail in the dust.”