PERSONAL.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 26, Issue 10, 1 October 1936, Page 6

PERSONAL.

Bishop Graham-Brown left New Zealand for Sydney en route to Palestine, on 22nd August.

Mr. John Wilson, representative of the Melanesian Mission, has been touring m the Waikato and Waiapu. Dioceses during August. He visits the West Coast of the South Island m September and October. Miss A. M. D. Dinneen toured m the Wanganui Archdeaconry of the Wellington Diocese m August, and afterwards m the Bay of Plenty. For Critics Of Missions (At Home or Abroad). — Canon Streeter quotes Prof. Emil Bruner: "The spectator sees every fault, with the exception of one, that of being a spectator. The spectator makes no mistakes, except that of doing nothing. The theologian who is a spectator is like the scribe who does not recognise the wonders of the living Spirit of God, because they are different from what he has worked out for himself. One stops being a spectator the moment one is ready to compromise and that has taken me a long time." It took me also a long time; but I am not proud of the fact. I would add one more reflection. When a whole civilisation is drifting towards a grand catastrophe, it. is open to anyone to adopt, towards those who are doing something to avert it, the attitude of a mere spectator; but if the catastrophe comes, he will cease to be a spectator — he will be part of the spectacle. How Missions Work: By Canon Streeter. — "If Christianity were taken seriously we should see bad men made good, and good men made better, on a sufficiently large scale, and m a sufficient number of countries, to change the public opinion of the world. That done, political machinery like the League of Nations would function m a totally different way from that m which it functions now. It is no good blaming statesmen for the present failure of the League. Statesmen everywhere are limited by the effective opinion of their respective countries. In their public actions they can neither rise far above, nor sink a long way below, what that will allow. If they do either, they are at once disowned by the nations whom they represent. The only way to reform the world is to reform a sufficient number of the nations m it, and to reform a nation you must reform a sufficient number of the individuals who compose it."

Missionary Co-operation: African. Venture on the Copper Belt. — Attention is called to an important new venture m missionary co-operation of. which little or nothing has yet been, heard. It is no less than a scheme, whereby Anglicans, Methodists, Congregationalists, Scottish Presbyterians and Baptists are combining to meet the needs, evangelistic, educational, social and recreational, of the African workers on the Copper Belt, of Central Africa. Such a piece of co-operative work, was recommended by a Commission, of the Department of Industrial and. Social Research of the International Missionary Council, m its report on. "Modern Industry and the African," published three years ago; and in^ terest m it was renewed by the emphasis laid m the report of the Government Commission investigating the cause of the riots which occurred, m May last year, on the need for religious work m the area. In January last it was decided to form a team, representing the various societies from whose fields the mine workers are mainly drawn, with the collaboration also of the United Society for Christian Literature. Both. Government and mining authorities have shown themselves sympathetic towards the scheme. Do We Give Too Much? Example of a London Parish. — The Vicar of a parish, some years ago was told by his churchwarden that they were £250 behind and they feared there would be a heavy deficit on the church account at the end of the year. Thiswas m the autumn. The Vicar called his Church Council together and put the matter before them, telling them it was their job to raise the money . The church m question is a missionary church and givesgenerously to missions. The council were told to think the matter over and they would meet again. At the next meeting they said they could do nothing, and suggested that the church gave too much to missions. The Vicar said, "We will not give a penny less to missions — we do not give enough. If you cannot do anything, I will." He is a man of great faith. He preached several sermons to his people on the responsibility of churchmanship, and then stated he would sit m his church on a certain

day and receive contributions from the faithful towards the £250 required. I was present at the Thanksgiving Service on the Gift Day, and the vicar announced that the amount raised was £439! And each year since, the Gift Day has been a success. This Vicar makes it a rule to preach at least one missionary sermon a month, and makes the missionary cause not a separate but an integral part of the worship of the church. "Bind The Nation Together." Message for China. — In the House of Lords on Monday there was a debate , on Far Eastern Problems, especially m regard to the present position m Northern China. Lord Addington, m the course of his speech said: "I think there are signs that both m China and Japan the rulers are becoming aware of the ultimate issues on which peace and prosperity depend. The patriotic movement m Japan has m it the seeds of an exemplary spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion. The New Life Movement m China aims at the creation m the individual of a more responsible and constructive attitude towards the affairs of the State, and the position is, I think, treated from a fresher angle m the following cable received from Dr. H. H. Kung, Minister of Finance m the Central Government of China: — "The world to-day is m a state of chaos, degeneracy and disintegration, because men are dominated by selfishness, jealousy and materialism. Only the inspiration and guidance of a higher will can change human nature and conciliate men and nations, so that there may be peace on earth and good will among men. The Oxford Group is a movement which transcends geographical divisions, racial distinctions, party differences and class conflicts. I believe the principles and discipline of the movement will help to bind the nations of the Far East and of the world together m a common, moral and spiritual awakening, which is urgently needed to evolve a new and better social order." Lord Addington, m conclusion, said: "I hope the Government will do all m their power to promote and facilitate co-operation between China and Japan, and m the creation ■of such a better social order as will

smooth away any differences and difficulties that may arise." F. C. LONG, General Secretary.