THE CHURCHES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14523, 19 August 1911, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE CHURCHES.

CORONATION SERVICE. CONDUCTED BY PAPAL ENVOY I.N LONDON. Ou June 2uth for the first time sinno the Reformation a Coronation Service in honour of the crowning of a i'rotestant Sovereign was held in a-London Roman Catholic Cathedral. Tho service took the form of High Mass at Westminster Cathedral, followed by the "To Deum." The celebrant of the High Mass was Monsiguor JSelmonte, Archbishop of lidossa, the I'apal Envoy at King George's Coronation. The great edifice was tilled to overflowing. . Additional interest was given to tho occasion by the presence of the representatives of foreign Catholic Courts, ior whom the front part of the nave was reserved. Large numbers of people witnessed their arrival in carriages driven by coachmen wearing the Royal livery, and they were received with a iiuifaro of bugles by a guard of tho Catholic Boys' Brigade drawn up outside the cathedral. Special prayers for the King, Queen, and Royal Family were offered, and at the conclusion of the Mass the "To Deum was intoned by Dr. Bourne, the Archbishop of Westminster. Tho Muss was I'alcstrina's " Missa Brevis, the music of which was admirably rendered by Mr. Richard I'orrys choristers. .Mr. Terry himself presided at the organ. A'FREE CHURCHMAN ON THE CORONATION. Dr J. H. Jowctt, late of Birmingham but now of New York, in ».„ aiticle contributed to the London -Christum World," says7 lturc,J - 1118 , Abb --y, tho Gr,-t part ,>t tho spectacle to attract mv attention was th e large body of bishops (>' the Estab! shed Church surrounding tho privileged area where tho sacred ceremony,was to take place. I tboirdit they were in their rightful .place, but 1 missed the presence ot others who ought to have been la their company. \\ here were tho leaders cf the gro.it I'reo Churches of England? 'i'hi s was " a nat.oual religious KSrvic*, and more than half tho religious forces of the nation bad 110 Share in it. The representation was partial, the service was denominational, and tile invited delegates of the Free Churches were packed away somewhere out of sight. 1 know that the Free Churches have thriven 111 their disparagement; it has becomo almost their native air. They have not been accustomed- to stand as suppliants at tho gates of gorgeous ceremonials, or whine for places in the precincts of the Court. Hut here was the nation's King, being consecrated to lus august aud awful office, and I cannot but thrnk that the serv.ee would have gained enormously in weight had its representation been more inclusive, and if other servants of the Church of Christ had been given a share, in the Coronation of the people's King. "There was something immensely impressive in tho act of turning away from the pomp of military display, and all tho external splendours ot. empire, to tho acknowledgement that the < opts of all true sovereignty and of national well-being are found in other things in another sphere. I confess-1 found it difficult to obtain detachment from, the blaze and dazjdo of tho surroundings and to enter the austere simplicities of. the secret place. The mediate is so prune to become the. ultimate, and tho glittering symbol may hide tho' essential truth. Magnificent ceremonial ' may becomo a . 'garish day,' aud we can be blinded by the sheen of our own inventions. But I am sure that in the Coronation service , the splendid veil was .frequently rent, and we gazed upon 'the unseon and the eternal.' We saw that not in material wealth, not in martial strength and skill, are to lie found our comfort and security, but in the depths and reality of our relation to the most .high. God. 1 think we had one of those moments in the recital of the Apostles' Creed, when we uttered the words, 'was crucified, dead, and buried.' At any rate, I confess that, as those words we're spoken to me, the ornate setting of the serv.ee passed into eclipse, and there appeared the Sou of Cod, who 'emptied Himself,' and was 'made in tho likeness of man,' and in whoso redemption, grace, and love alone indiv.uuals and peoples can become pure, and strong and whole. And he shall W called 'Kings of kings, and Lord of Lords.' " THE KING AND MISSIONS. Dr. Silas M'Beo, the editor of tho New York "Churchman." is an enthusiastic fr.ond of foreign missions and church, unity. He has been takiaig part in the student movement conference at OoxistiUitinople, which has resulted in the formation of student movements in Turkev, G:eoce, and in the Balkan States. Ruiiniauia, Bulgaria and Seivia. Dr M'Bce is contributing inipressiuns of his tour to ills own paper. Here, are some most interesting relcirnccs to the King;— "The King received Mr Mott and me at Buckingham Palace on .Sunday, M;.y 21, the American Ambassador accompanying and presenting us. His Majesty, asked immediately for s.nne cux-ount of our jouriieyings. He showed keen interest 111 the outline of our entire tour, and did not in the least curtail the account of it. AYheu Ru.-.sia and the Russian Church were under discMss.on he took the liveliest interest, and spoke of his own experiences in Russia with- tho utuioit freedom. Hehad bwn impressed by the religious character of tho Russian people, and, that impression bad been deepened by ' what ho saw later of the Russian pilgrims in 'JiM-u.-alem. The simple tact that the World Student Christain Federation had held a conference in Constantinople surprised him, aud stimulated him to ask question*, and our answers seemed to increase his interest. He took the initiative not only in asking quest,cms hut he freely expressed his own convictions with regard to the great question of a better understanding between churches and nations. ]t was plain that his Majesty was thinking much on religious divisions -.out th-..-ir effect on peoples and countries. At one point Ik? said that in looking over Whitaker's Almanac lie had found that there were fifty-six different churches in England. It was clear 'liat such c condition was causing King George, as it is causing the heads of nations in other parts of tho world, as well as responsible cabinet officers and peoples almost everywhere must "anxious mid careful thought."