A NEW RENAISSANCF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 49

A NEW RENAISSANCF.

A STRIKING SERMON BY REV. W.

SCORGIE.

As a result of the bazaar projected and carried to a successful issue .towards the close of last year by the members of the Young Women's and Young Men's Bible Classes in connection with the Mornington Presbyterian Church a fund was created for tho erection of a new classroom. This building — a commodious and well fitted structure, with necessary adjuncts, which has been erected under the supervision of the Church Committee — was opened on Sunday afternoon. In addition to a full muster from both Bible classes, there was a good attendance of members of the. congregation, the hall being crowded. The Rev. W. Scorgie conducted a suitable dedication service, and Mrs Grinling, the former leader of the Young Women's Class, gave a short address, congratulating the members upon the progress they had made, and wishing them every success and_ happiness in their new home. Mr Grinling (for the Young Men's Class) and Miss Jeffreys (for tho Young Women's Class) also spoke. In the evening the Rev. W. Scorgie preached a striking sermon on '' Tho Possibilities of tho Bible Class Movement." from the words—" Tho Gospel of the Kingdom of God" (Mark 1-14). The preacher commenced with the statement that the great need of the Church to-day is a revival, and for that revival prayer was continually being offered. Was it not possible that these prayers for a revival were being answered "by God in the noblest possible way, although, perhaps, not in the way that was generally anticipated, and that God was giving the world a renaissance rather than a revival. A revival was a movement that touched men only at one point, although that point was the central one of the soul. A renaissance was^-a wider movement, which came to quicken all the life of the man. and to elevate tho whole tone of the community. It might not be so spiritual in character, because it had a so much wider spread, but the wider movement which Had been growing in the Church contained the fundamental principles which would make for a revival. The forms which this new movement — which he ■would call the new renaissance — had taken were four in number. First, the Christian Endeavour movement, which, in 25 years, had circled the world and . captured for Christ the most earnest youner men and young women in the churches. 'Second, the Student Volunteer movement, which had done for the colleges and universities what the Endeavour movement had done for other sections of society, and which had sent hundreds of missionaries into the foreign field, and was preparing thousands mere for the same work. Third, the Bible class movement which has caucrht congregation after congregation, and lifted studious minds to the study of the one - supreme book. Taking the Presbyterian Church alone, it had enrolled in its membership 2000 of the best of the young men and 2000 of the best of its young women. One feature of the movement was its spontaneity and its independence of those who are looked upon as the official heads of the Church. The motives of the movement were significant of its future, that of the young women being "The utmost for the highest," and that of the young men " Be strong, and show thyself a man." Fourth, the Sabbath' School Reform Movement. The day was coming when -every congregation would be called upon to give its best to the Sabbath school, both in money and in men. When these four forces were calculated and considered, the new renaissance was seen to amount to a revival, for ir was influencing the children and the voh net men and young women, the church that is to be. There were three great laws underlying the new renaissance — (1) The law of s> y.e, the fuadameuUl Us of aJLI religious

' life; (2) the principle of sacrifice; (3) the principle of service. Love was the motive, sacrifioe the form, and service the avenue for the spiritual activities. The new renaissance had annexed to itself these three principles — the highest love, the noblest sacrifice, and the finest service. That was a guarantee of its permanence and its future, because it linked the movement to the Eternal God. The great purpose of the new renaissance was to create, m the individual soul the quantity and quality, the solidity and intensity of the Gospel of Christ. There was need for quality in the manhood and womanhood of to-day ; the highest type was needed to do the work of God. But as well as quality there must go a largeness of life and outlook. The new renaissance would move out on wide l,ines and conquer the world for Christ. There was also need of solidarity, men whose character would resist temptation and face indulgence and fight and overcome. They should also have intensity and enthusiasm. The purpose of the new renaissance- was twofold — (1) To develop the great lines of activity in study of the Bible, witnessing for Christ and giving for His kingdom ; (2) to foster the spirit of co-operation. It was an ai?gre*sive movement which would alter ' the old conception of saintshin and break down the barrier between the secular and the sacred. It would cultivate a higher ! conception of the idea of church memberi ship. No. longer would men crowd all their religion into one hour on Sunday, ! nor be content with resting in a pew listening to the preaoher ; there must be a personal contact and a ready heart to heart sympathy which would revolutionise J church 'life. 'The age was changing, and ' a new generation was uprising, permeated ' with the spirit of the new renaissance, and in that spirit was the hope of the ! world for the extension of Christ's kingi dom.