GLEANINGS.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 101, 9 April 1907, Page 6

GLEANINGS.

A lady who lately died at Macclesfield, England, has left about £80,000 m equal shares to nine institutions, including the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Salvation Army, and the London City Mission. The World's Conference of Sunday School Workers is to be held this year m Rome during May. A great feature will be made of the praise side of the convention, and a special manual worship containing some unique features is being prepared. For the first time probably m the history of religious gatherings, some of the great hymns of the Church will be sung simultaneously m four different languages — French, Italian, German, and English. Hymns such as 'Jesiij. lover of my soul,' 'Rock of Ages,' 'All people tliat on earth do dwell,' and others, fifteen m all, are being specially translated, and the translators' have precise instructions to keep to the. rhythm, so that all can sing together, though m different words. The manual will also contain forms of prayer and responsive services, also m four languages. By the generosity of members of the World's Convention Committee, the expenses of the limited number of missionaries will be defrayed. A new plan for promotuig Christian unity comes from America. Tbe Congregational ists of the State of Maine are busily putting forward not a common creed, but a common platform, on which it is proposed that all Christians should unite. The " Common Platform for Modern Christians " covers twenty-one points, most of them relating .to conduct and character rather than to forms of belief., Dr Washington Gladden says that the platform is a noble expression of the essential Christian purposes. "I will" rather than "I believe" is the keynote of all the pronouncements, for it is felt that Christians will agree m points of conduct and practical duty when they will not agree m points of theology. One of the pronouncements runs: "We. will strive for those conditions of healthfttlness and beauty,' intelligence and morality, wholesome companionship and recreation which are God's will for the local community."