THE CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 20532, 7 July 1928, Page 12

THE CHURCH

NEWS AND NOTES. FROM PULPIT AND PEW. The Rev. F. H. Chambers, of the new United Methodist Church, at Westcliff-on-the-Sea, was referee for the “final” in the Rugby League championships. Miss Nutchty, a member of the church at Kentish Town, who died recently, aged 96, joined when she was sixteen, and therefore had a record of 80 years’ membership. Major Beasy, the new divisional commander for the Salvation Army in Otago and Southland, and Mrs Beasy will conduct all meetings on Sunday at the Salvation Army citadel. Sir Robert and Lady Perks last April celebrated their golden weddyng jubilee. It is also 50 years since Sir Robert was elected a member of the Wesleyan Conference at Bradford, Yorkshire, England. A writer in the Dunedin Star is responsible for the statement that there are 339,598 Presbyterians in New Zealand, of whom 140,000 cannot be traced through any organization of that church. The total income of the L.M.S. for the year was £211,075, and there was a balance to credit over expenditure of £5015. The important feature was the increase in the income. London has given £6500 more, the English provinces £16,000 more, Wales £l2OO more, and Scotland £llOO more. To-morrow’s services at the Esk street Baptist Church will be conducted in the morning by Mr J. R. Foley. The evening will be a Baptismal service. “Believers’ Baptism” will be the subject. The preacher will be the Rev. J. Carlisle. There will be a short song service. The Rev. Angus Mcßean will conduct both services at the Central Methodist Church, Leet street, to-morrow. At the evening service the subject will be the second of the series of addresses on Christ and Christianity—The teaching of Christ. The choir will sing “Light in Darkness” (Arthur Pearson), and there will be a short community song service. The Rev. Frank H. Ballard, preaching at a Congregational Church in Bristol, said one of the especial necessities of to-day was simplicity of life, shrinking from ostentation, learning that the wealthy man is not he who has great possessions, but he who has few needs. He said “more of our troubles than most men realize come from soft living and a display of extravagance.” Evolution may correctly be defined as the study of evolving forms during the unfolding of consciousness. Science studies only the evolving form under the “Law of Evolution,” but Theosophy studies also the unfolding life under the “Law of Reincarnation,” as the one law is the necessary concomitant of the other, and both these laws are necessary for a complete understanding of life. Last Thursday night members of the Mabel Bible Class met in the church. Some 16 members of the Hedgehope Bible Class motored down and the lesson was taken under the capable leadership of Mr R. Evans. Several musical items were given by Mr and Mrs Hetherington (duets), Misses Horton and Hetherington (songs) and Miss Jean Hetherington a recitation. Misses Campbell and Hetherington presided at the organ. No one has such intellectual freedom as he whose mind is constantly and freshly stored with the best thinking of the wisest people. Such a person is not bound by narrow dogma, uninteUigently taken over from some other mind than his own. He accepts the stored-up experience of the saints as it is expressed in the generously broad creeds of the Church; and from that acceptance he goes out to explore for himself the further mysteries of God. Dogma is not an end, it is a beginning. Catholic theology is not an enclosure, it is an open road.—Rev. F. Underhill.

Selwyn College, Cambridge, is to have a new Master next October. No better choice could have been made for Dr Murray’s successor. Canon Newsom has had both academic and pastoral experience. After a most successful period at King’s College. London, as Vice-Principal, Professor and Warden of the Hostel, he has spent nine years of invaluable work as vicar of Newcastle. Cambridge Churchmanship will have a vigorous reinforcement. As he is a Merton man, there will be two Oxonian Heads of Houses in Cambridge, an unprecedented situation—perhaps the revenge of the older generation for the athletic defeats of young Oxford.—Church Times.

An interesting sidelight is cast on Thomas Hardy’s religion by a note of the editor in the New’ Adelphi for March. Mr Middleton Murry describes a conversation that he had one afternoon last summer with Hardy, who told him that when he was a boy there was a possibility of his taking orders, but circumstances prevented it. “But I,” he said, “have often regretted it.” Mr Murry was surprised; but. on reflexion, he came to see that the difficulties were not so great as appeared at first sight. There was something profoundly Christian in Hardy’s sympathy with the world’s miseries. Anyhow, “he paid the Church a noble tribute in ‘hoping it might be so.’ ”

Mr Hoste, director of the China Inland Mission, recently cabled that the troubles in China had so far cleared away that missionaries who were ready could now go forward and accordingly from the South Miss Naomi Grey, daughter of Mr John Grey of Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin, and Miss Reta Dobson, daughter of Mr Thomas Dobson, Canterbury, wiH leave Dunedin on or about August 2 and finally leave New Zea-

land on August 14, for China, via Sydney. Miss Grey, who is quite well known here, will speak at meetings to be held on the evening of Tuesday, the 10th inst., in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Elies road south, and on the evening of Wednesday, the 11th inst., in the Y.M.C.A.

In Russia, the observance of Easter called forth a splendid exhibition of the power of faith in face of persecution. The most desperate efforts were made by the emissaries of the Government to pour contempt on the Christian significance of the day, and to entice worshippers from their duty. Yet never, since the revolution, have the churches been so thronged with devout crowds absorbed in the commemoration of the Resurrection. Actors who had been compelled to perform on Easter Eve got through their work as quickly as possible and rushed straight from the boards to the churches. Factories and schools were emptied of old and young who insisted on taking part in the solemn rites that make so strong an appeal to the inherent mysticism of the Russian soul. In the Toronto Globe of February 28 an account appears of a banquet arranged by Rabbi Ferdinand Isserman at the Holy Blossom Synagogue, at which addresses were given by Father Burke, of St. Peter's Catholic Church, by the Rev. Harold Young, of St. Paul’s United Church, and by the Rabbi himself. Father Burke said: “It is full of promise for mankind that about this table are seated Jews, Protestants, Catholics, Masons, Knights of Columbus, members of the Holy Name Society, rich and poor, for the purpose not of settling their theological differences, but of finding a common note upon which they should unite.” The Rabbi said the Hebrew religion was the grandmother, the Roman Catholic the mother, and the Protestant the daughter. At the close of the ordinary meeting of the Southland District Committee of the Presbyterian Bible Classes held on July 2, a brief social hour was held for the purpose of bidding farewell to Rev. M. A. Gow, who, as Youth Convenor, has represented Southland Presbytery on the District Committee for some time. To estimate fully the value of Mr Gow’s work for the Bible Class movement in Southland is well nigh impossible. Sparing neither time nor effort in this cause, he is one whom leader and members hold in highest esteem. His presence at the regular monthly meetings of the District Committee has been a source of encouragement and inspiration and sincerity, such pure, refined zeal, such boundless optimism and faith characterized his devoted service in Bible class work. The Southland District Committee gives thanks to God for the work that Mr Gow has been enabled to do in this Presbytery, and prays that he may be abundantly used of God for the extension of His Kingdom in the new sphere of labour to which he has been called. OTAUTAU METHODIST CHURCH. There was a good representative gathering of members of the Otautau Methodist Circuit Quarterly Board, held at the residence of Mrs A. P. Harrington on Wednesday last. Rev. S. Bailey (Invercargill) presided. The balance-sheet, showing a small deficit for the quarter, was read and adopted. The action of the Ladies’ Guild in promoting a sale of work for August was approved. The report of the Sunday School disclosed a very creditable state of affairs, and definite work was being maintained in that department. The state of the finances were in a healthy condition. Reports showing satisfactory progress in the Bible classes were also received. It was resolved that the Church anniversary be held during the incoming quarter. The question of arranging a winter mission -was left in the hands of Rev. Thomas. After the disposal of routine business the meeting terminated with the Benediction. It was resolved that the next meeting be held at the residence of Mrs Collett.