THE CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 20771, 11 May 1929, Page 12

THE CHURCH

NEWS AND NOTES. FROM PULPIT AND PEW. a Papal saloon train, furnished with an oratory. Mothers’ Day will be appropriately observed at the Central Methodist Church, Leet street, to-morrow. The Rev. Angus Mcßean conducts both services. The preacher at the Esk Street Baptist Church on the Lord’s Day will be: Morning, Mr Hayward; evening, the Rev. J, Carlisle. The evening subject will be “A Tree, an Apple, A Theft.” A great reconciliation between science and religion is at hand, and it will be much more on the side of religion than on the old scientific lines of matter and motion.—Canon Peter Green, at Liverpool. The Right Rev. Professor Hewitson, Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, will conduct the service at St. Andrews Church, South Invercargill to-morrow. Mr T. H. Taylor will sing a solo at the evening service. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, as the result of negotiations with Mr. W. Gordon Sprigg, has practically decided to spend six months in Australia and New Zealand next year on a "Bible ' Exposition Crusade,” says the Christian World. A new Roman Catholic enterprise is announced in the Italian Press, namely the establishment of an international bank to finance the operations of the Vatican. A broadcasting station, on a short wavelength, is to be built by means of the grant from the Italian Government. A Papal Cabinet is to be created, and the Vatican is arranging for the provision of Major Robinson is touring Southland on behalf of the Melanesian Mission, of which he is New Zealand secretary. He was a member of the New Zealand Staff Corps, and served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in the war. He will be preaching at All Saints’ Gladstone in the morning and at St. John’s at night to-morrow Sunday. He will also give a Lantern Lecture in St. John’s Hall on Monday evening. Commissioner and Mrs Horskins, who have recently completed seven years’ Missionary service in India and the West- Indies, arc visiting Invercargill for the weekend. Major Beasy, divisional commander, accompanies them. The commissioner will conduct the services in the local citadel tomorrow and a lecture on life and labour in India'on Monday evening. A very interesting series of meetings should result. Rev. A. E. Smashall, of Littlehampton, speaking from the chair of Sussex Union at Brighton, said it had been claimed that psychology had discredited belief. If it were true that ' in religious lives accessible to psychological investigation, nothing requiring the admission of super-human influence had been found, the churches would have to put up the shutters. Psychology was too ready to commandeer philosophy and theology, and failed to give a receipt for what it had commandeered.

Religion and theology ought to nourish themselves on all truth, however discovered, and neither philosophy nor theology can afford to neglect any discovery of science. The grander the revelations of science the more sublime will be the theologj' that comprehends them and the more robust will be the religion that looks up into the face of an infinite and eternal God of all truth. Science really is the handmaid of religion and should be honoured as such. —Mr. John Naylor in the United Methodist. Mr. Arthur Varley, a Congregationalist, in an -address from the chair of the East Riding District at Hull, suggested that the tide had turned in the Church. 'The marvel was that in the tremendous changes going on elsewhere the vital existence of the Church had been so little impaired. The churches must be prepared to institute salutary improvements, and be willing to introduce alterations in method and appeal. Mr. Varley pleaded for further equipment and use of the lay preacher in Congregationalism.

Speaking at a Free Church Council meeting at Lyndhurst Road Church, Hampstead, Rev John Bevan, MA., suggested that the “tide” against the Church at the present time might be in the Providence of' God. The cause of people’s indifference was not the lack of fidelity of Christians. The reason lay rather quite outside the Churches, in the effects of science and similar invasions. In due course the people would come again to worship. What he felt concerned about was whether the Church would have the congenial atmosphere and the right message when they did come.

It will doubtless be interesting news to the residents of Invercargill to hear that in connection with the 107th Methodist Maori Mission Anniversary to be held in connection with the St. Peter’s Methodist Church on May 25, 26, 27, that a strong and gifted Deputation of Maori Chieftains will accompany the Rev. A. G. Seamer, Superintendent of the Methodist Maori Mission. Some eight brilliant vocalists and instrumentalists will give a “Grand Musical Festival” in the Victoria Hall Tay Street on Saturday evening,—take the services at St. Peter’s Methodist Church on Sunday 26th and repeat their Musical Festival on Monday 27 in the St. Aden’s Parish Hall for the benefit of Clifton—Woodend and Tisbury people. It is hoped that large numbers will avail themselves of tickets early. Everyone in the world is concerned with the search for that Truth which will satisfy them eternally, but in that search each one contends against another; and hence there is confusion, struggle and pain. They lack the certainty of purpose which will determine their course through life and so rely on another for their comfort, wellbeing and understanding. Because they admit that they are weak, because they maintain that they cannot stand without the support of another, they have been given crutches that will support them temporarily instead of developing their own strength to go forward in search of the pure waters of Truth. If you would find that Truth you must put aside all those things upon which you have leaned for support, and .look within for that everlasting Spring. It cannot be brought to you through any outward channel. In search of the Truth that shall sustain, uphold and guide you, you have looked outwards and sought for it objectively, and thus have been lost in the shadows of manifestation. To find that Spring of Truth jou must look within, you must purify your heart and mind, not in the worship of externals do you find the spring of Truth, but in the adoration of Truth itself. It is difficult for you to realize that your own understanding dwells within, that your happiness lies within yourself, because you have been accustomed to look to objective things for your understanding and yorfr truth.—Mr J. Krishnamurti.