RELIGIOUS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13434, 22 July 1911, Page 12

RELIGIOUS.

The "Record" (Anglican) of London writes:—"'see how these Christians love one another!' The phra=e comes unbidden to the mind as we read of signatures being invited to a strong clerical protest against the action of the Dean of Ely in inviting a Nonconformist minister to read a lesson at the Coronation service to be held in Ely Cathedral. We learn that it has already been signed by 11 beneficed clergy in the diocese, including four rural deans and two canons, whilst other incumbents are being asked to sign, and to invite their assistant clergy to do so too. It is really impossible to write calmly in the presence of such an exhibition of priestly intolerance, and we are glad to tind that a counter memorial is on foot, for presentation to the bishop, the dean, and members of the chapter of Ely.

A dispute as to a certain text recently arose in a well-known Liverpool office. Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists, a Wcsa Calvinistic Methodist, and a Roman Catholic were all parties to the dispute, but not one could produce a Bible, though a prolonged search resulted in the discovery of a Book of Common Prayer and a volume of Dr. Watt's hymns. At last application was made to the lift attendant who instantly produced two copies of the Scriptures, one iu the authorised version and the other in the revised. The curious part of tue incident is that the lift attendant is a professed atheist, a reader of the "Freethinker," and a warm admirer of Mr Robert Blatchtord. This story is told by the Loudon "Christian World."

Ex-Piesident Theodore Roosevelt recently addressed an unprecedented gathering of 12C0 ministers of every creed at the clerical conference of the Federation of Churches of New York City. The correspondent of the British Weekly says—"Tlio meeting was strictly private, admission beicg by registered cards only, and every guest being put upon his honour to make no report for publication. The chairman of the conference. Dr. S. Edward Young, pastor of the Bedford Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, characterises the newspaper reports as exceedingly misleading, and states that the entire assemblage was led in til. 1 Lord's Prayer by Rabbi Alexander Lyons, and that Rev. Father John L. Bclford, of *he Roman Catholic Church, introduced Colonel Roosevelt, and that the audience, composed of the leading representatives of all religious faiths, was most hearty in its reception of Colonial Roosevelt's appeals to co-operate for civic righteousness."

Chicago has become one of the leading Roman Catholic cities of the world, ranking with, Rome, Paris, Vienna, Dublin, ami Munich. as :■. str-:i<rho!d o! fi;-:l Church. Xo other city in the world i ver vivse from a- single ]\'r:~!i with ]!l communicants, to an urcluii-.a of 1 ..'Ki !; . .*".iJ souls in 7") ypav>. villi ISS (atao'ne churches and 1 i:j parochial M-hool-.. in which arc .Sl.fist) pupil-,. The city has German. Ttuli:-.li. French Spanish". Persia.'.. Xegru, S'vn:::i. Hungarian, l'elgiaji. (':<•:!- tian, Lithuanian, j.-.id Catholics of many other nationalities.

Dr. Wilbur Chapman has decided (acrordbrr to t!..- London •> kristiau World") to mortify ji,i Diet illicit an evni:geli-t bv a : iH!lrf->vii!y' i-i'C si!M':l!iUi10<l:l-i piall, Vii.-;e-Iv a largo number of workers were located i-i different centres of ;l 10.-alitv. Dr. Chapman has come to the condition that the machinery mid the responsibilities involved in this complicai-1 plan make it Icsfi suited to rreseiit conditions: and so lor the future he aad Mr. Alexander will make their appeal ai.me or with perhaps a few helpers to the public. *

The "World in Boston" missionary oxposition proved an immense success. The pageant receipts were about .£IO,OOO from 48 representations (in London the receipts were .£6OOO for 60 representations), and another .£16.000 has been received at the Exposition. During the last few days the Exhibition "boomed" in an extraordinary way, and the total attendance was 450,000.

The Deputy-Speaker, Mr Alfred Em. mott. speaking in London as president of the Church Deform League, said he saw in the House of Commons the same kind of fear of speaking earnestly about religious matters that he found among his contemporaries when lie was a bov. Only the great-speakers in moments of inspiration—men like Lord Hugh Cecil at his best—dare speak earnestly about religious matters iu the House. Mr Emmott, "however, went ou to sav that lie believed the House was prepared to give a fair hearing to any matter affectiii" the Church, if onlv time allowed. He had watched carefully the attitude of Labour members towards religious matters, ind was delighted to be able to say that it was. on the whole, a very broad-mind >d attitude, and they showed no inclination to pursue a policy of pin-pricks against the Church of Ijigland.

TJev. Dr. Jowett has been attending the 123 rd general assembly at Atlantic City, Uw Brighton of America. At a great missionary meeting held in the pavillion at the end of the pier, the two speakers were Dr. Jowett and Dr. Matthews, the minister of a wonderful Presbyterian Church ;.t Seattle, with a membership of over 4000. When Dr. Jowett began his speech the whole audience rose aiid cheered. He declared that a missionary church with -i broad outlook would be* strong, convincing, and contagions. There was little jov in the Church to-day, because of its lack of vision and courage. He wanted to see the Church walking with a steadier stride. The Church should move like the waves of the sia against the gambling hell and tiie drinking saloon. "I am glad to tell you,' said Dr. Jowett, '"thatinv mot.W is still living, and in my old" home is praying for my ministry in. this country, I have seen her often, when sewing bv the. fireside, take her glasses off and' look about the room, resting her eyes by the wider view, in order 'to see'the small stitches better. Thai is what the Church must do. It will accompli.-., its own inUsi"n at home ::,nr.- «:;cccssfn!lv if it ha* * large v : si<m ami a world-wide <mtln;,k." In pleading fur a broader avmpylhv. Dr. Jowett, exclaimed, "Let r.oi the Presbyterian CliMii-h look oiilv nt hi-r.-elf. Let. her look o'-i-r at. the' ional Clnm-V ■•That- is vh;.< she did."'shout--!! a member of the audkuce, amid loud laughter and ;:;.; lausc