RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 12

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

THE BISHOP'S "RAID." , MIDNICHT MARCH IN THE STREETS OF LONDON. ■ • i STRANGE SCENES. The Bishop of London, wearing an un-clcrical-looking soft felt hat with his apron and gaiters, headed a midnight march through 'Westminster slums on Saturday, April 4. The procession, which started from the schools of St. James-the-Less, Moreton Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road, was organised by Captains Davoy and Carter, pf the Church Army. Tho Bishop had himself proposed to' load tho processionists, who | bluntly styled the march " A flying skirmish on the devil's strongholds." Facetious bystanders alluded to it variously as "the Bishop's raid," "the Bishop's show," and "tho Bishop's tramp." They laughed, jeered, applauded, and, in some instances, grumbled at tho noise. But the procession was a success, complete and unqualified. Preparations for tho great ovent began at 7.45 on Saturday night. The Church Army ofiicors held what they termed a " handshake," and half an hour later the Rev. T. Greatorex, the vicar of St. Jamos-thc-Less, held a short service in the church.. An open-air meeting outside tho Builders' Arms Inn began at 9.15, and from ten to elevon refreshments wero handed out to all: and sundry. .; Tho Bishop drove up to tho schools in a cab .at eleven o'clock. Tho workers had already formed in order of procession, and his arrival was the signal for operations to begin. MAN! TORCHES. . Thirty torches suddenly blazed into the gloom of the wet April night, three or four acteylene lamps slied a brilliant glare through the . miserable, squalid - locking streot, and tlireo or four gorgeous banners 1 were raised by stalwart bearors. Tho Bishop stood for a minute as if. bewildered by tho unexpected blaze of light, then he greoted. Mr. Greatorex, tho, Rev. E. Rainbow, and a number of Church Army officers. 1 ' Ho addressed the processionists: " I have come to lead the gallant Church Army," he said, "as a comrade and a brother.", Then, amid ringing cheers, he'stepped to the front, the army's pioneer band struck up a • lively march, and the procession, which stretched six or seven abreast and numbered four or five hundred peoplo, sot off on its remarkable mission.

Regency Street, Page Street, . Marsham Street, Great Peter. Street, - Rochester Row, and a series of other streets whoso dwellings are :tenanted ; by the " submerged" were visited. Now and again , the' procession' vrould halt outside a public-house, .and the band would strike up the air of a well-known hymn.' f "Lead, kindly, light," "Rock of ages," "Abide with me," were sung, the Bishop himself joining hoartily, and the crowd which grow denser every moment, taking up occasionally'popular refrains. . The scene was as striking and impressive as it was extraordinary. Hawkers and stallholders were plying their 1 trade with Saturday ilight zest. They paused momentarily, and, staring at the spare, ascetic figure; of. the Bishop, recognised him, nnd shouted with deep-throated enthusiasm, "The Bishop ! tho Bishop!" Their customers turned and chcered. Tho Bishop nodded smilingly,. and marched on, keeping step with the music. . '5 '; IN THE' RAIN. . A drizzling rain was falling, but the Bishop, , apparently unconcerned, walked bravely" on. Devoted "sisters" of the army pressed men and women to follow to the church,' and men i workers, entered public houses upon the customers. "I'll:* come; it's the' Bishop," said one man, lo who' ! lurched"'hfeavily against a Church Army officer. The officer grasped his arm and helped him to the church. . A :,bedroom-, window', in Pago Street was throW i up, and a head was, thrust out. "Hi, you there!" shouted the owner in a gruff voico, " don't you ■ know, we went ito g<f to sleep, and there are thousands more?" The Bishop heard and smiled."- ■, It was shortly after midnight when the' procession, returned. Most of tho torches were spluttering out their last gasp. People of all kinds streamed into 1 the school building. There wero_ rough men, "drunk and sober," women with dishevelled, hair, white, despairing faces and bedraggled gowns. Thoy. filled three capacious rooms—a dense, unsavoury crowd. •; •• .. The Bishop spoke, at two of tho gatherings. His sentences' were short, homoly, practical. A speaker reminded the hearers that they might be "as good as a lord bishop.", These words formed the. Bishop's text. They were true, he said.' He was a man like themselves, a brother and a comrade. Tho hearors appreciated it. A chorus: of "Hears, hears!" followed the'kindly-words of tho Bishop—their "brother and comrade." He urged his hearers to "follow the paths of righteousness, which make for manliness." The attention paid was marvellous, the only interruption being when now and again an oxclaniation of approval broke out. The Bishop .fiiiished at one o'clock. He looked tired out, but he smiled bravely , as ho bade his auditors "Good-night." '

: NEW EXPERIENCE AT CO VENT . ' GARDEN.' '. A REMARKABLE SCENE. . A correspondent of the "Church Times" sends the following particulars of a remarkable scene witnessed recently in the great London - fruit and vegetable market: — " Covent Garden (he mites) has witnessed a remarkable scene. Finding that the market porters would not attend a mission at Si. Paul's Church, the missioner—the Rov. E. C. Phipps Eyre and one of the parish clergy, the Rev. W. H. Hunt—determiried'to go to tho' market porters. Attended by a trumpeter they descended upon the Floral Hall, and for a short time turned it into, a mission room. Mr. Eyre and Mr. Hunt took up a' position at the entrance to the hall, and tho trumpeter sounded a loud oa.il upon his cornet. Thinking this was a now kind of summons to on orange sale, hundreds of men' camo surging from all quarters of the market. 1 Come in, we. want to have a straight talk with you,' oried Mr. Hunt, aiid ho led tho way into, the hall, followed by the large crowd of market -porters, wbilo the auctioneers stayed their noisy business. Both clergy mounted a rostrum, and Mr. Eyro called for silence for prayer, and_ tho crowd of men stood with bared heads in absolute silence. Mr. Hunt then read the story of tho Prodigal Son, adding a remark hero or there, and subsequently Mr. Eyre .delivered a short address, talking to the men in a blunt and homely, fashion. Afterwards there wero hymns, lod by the oornet, in. which the men joined heartily. Mr. Hunt said he never wished for a bettor-behaved congregation. He was prepared for some rather rough handling, but w&s astonished at the respectful attitudo of the men. Porters who Ikivo been in tho market thirty and forty years confessed that it wfts a new experience, and tho missioners received many requests to coma again." UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND THE CHURCH. ; . : Four new books by four University professors in Amorica form tho subjcct of an articlo in tho current "Hibbert Journal," by a fifth professor, on "Tho Religious Transition and Ethical .Awakening" in that country. It is Professor Arthur Lovejoy, of Washington University, St. Louis, who dea.'.s with the subject, and he dees so id-a keen and searching spirit. Three of tho professorsj it appears, dcelaro with equal emphasis, "that tho Christian Church is now. confronted by a crisis of peculiar trarity and urgency." Certain Movennents —intellectual, ethical, and social—"h»T* progressed (rf late with a rapid Mceleratiw »f usaießtnm, and b®ei», to ai«tsrb )tr»f Mindly tie* twieral mm of frha p»jntlaition." A trmeitional period, it is urged, has been reached, and it. is big -both with peril and with possibilities for tho Church as well as.for "The general view of the world, of man's origin ajid plaoo in it. of tho 00UX6O 1 of human history, with which most

Christian theology has hitherto been implicated, promises to be almost unintelligible to tho young peoplo now passing through schools and Universities." And in this transitional period tho three professors agreo that "tho mass of religious peoplo and their official loaders have thus far, for the most part, shown' discouragingly littlo ability to discern tlio signs of tho timc-3." Especially grave, Professor Mathews, of Chicago University, points, out, at onco, for the Church and for secular, society, is tho "existing breach between tho Church as an organised body and most that is really vital, ardent, and triumphant : in tho intellectual and the moral life of tho time." Tho Church'has lost touch with the intellectual movement of the period, so that there is a possibility that-it will cut itself off from the "moulders of pul>> lie opinion or tho makers of the new ago." "Tho Church and the Changing Order,""Jesus Christ and the Civilisation • of To-day," "Christianity and the Social Crisis," "Sin and Socicty"—these are tho respective, titles of the books by the professors, and show what a wide area they cover in tho consideration of this "crisis'" period. : _ • Tho Bishop of London has; just bonded a "midnight rally to round up drunkards." Tho Church Army, which organised (he march, advised abstention 'from taJl' hats. ' Tha Bishop appeared in a black Homburg hat. The brass band led off with "Onward, Christian Soldiers," and the. procession toured the slums of Westminster and Pimlico, stopping for addresses by Dr. Ingram and others, usually outside public-houses. Goodhumoured banter was .tossed. between tho orowd and tho procession. The St. James's schools would barely hold the crowds who wishod to enter a.t 1 a.m. The Bishop spoke, ompasisiug human brotherhood. They had brought torches through the dark streets, ho said, bccause they were bringing the- broad message of cheer and hope; It was not a happy tiling to go home with nothing in one's pocket, owing to its having been spent on drink, and finding tho wife sad, and tho children without boots. Workers oould have happy homes by taking tho pledge, which had wrought miracles'in tho florae.' Tha olosing hymn was drowned by the hearty singing, started by some men, of "He's a. jolly good follow." ■ The Rev. F. B. Meyer is in South Africa, making a tour of the principal-cities, and. conducting revival servioes in the' interests of the English National Freo Church Council.' St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Napier, has increased its Foreign ■ Mission contributions by 50 W.'cent. this year. . The Rev. A; N. Johnson, home seoretary of the London" Missionary S6ciety, speaking at the annual meeting at Adelaide last week, said the year, would close with practically no deficiency,' arid he. looked forwani to the time in the near fiuture w'hen the Society, would havo ample funds in; hand, greatly to oxtend its work. ,

JOTTINGS. ' . A National Pilgrimage to Rome, under the 'leadership of the Archbishop of Westminster and the Bishops of England; has been organised by the Catholic Association, and will • leavo London on October 19 and 20. - ' Retreats • for working men have been inaugurated by the Jesuit Fathers in England. A houso in Cheshire, standing within tea acres of grounds,,and having accommodation . for over twenty visitors at a time, has been rented for the purpose, and an experienced Father will bo in residence to give the' spiritual exercises. The institution lias been opened for ail sorts and conditions of men; , for tho leisured classes, and for the busy workers of the towns. Tho> project has the. warm support of neighbouring; bishops. The Episcopal Synod of India'and Ceylon recently passed a resolution dealing with In-, tercommiinion, as to which the Synod expressed their desire to further co-operation with Christians of other denominations in all matters in-.which'.' united; action is possible without : violation of principle, aad their thankfulness for the advance in Christian fellowship during years; but, so far as IhteroommunKm is concerned, the Synod must be guided by the decisions of the Lambeth Conference, aiid'cannot dissooiate themselves from 'the' action of-tbo'whole Anglican Communion. 1 They'earnestly counsel patienoe and deprecate any. acts which might-tend to promote dissension in'the English Church in the effort. to promote union with other bodies.

"One of the' regular announcements, . printed each week' in the calendar of the Temple Baptist Church, Los Angeles, Cal., is the'following:—'Out of Christian' consideration for others, the women will please remove their .hats before tho beginning of tho sermon.' There is general conformity with, the request. In a large audience, of several thousand, there will, of course, be occasional transgressors. But when the number .of tho offenders is exceptionally large, the startled ears of the offenders are in danger of" being greeted' with' a pronuncia'mento from tho pastor, the Rev, Robt. ~J. Buirdette,. a pro- . lniuciainento somewhat as follows, intended for nobody in general, but well understood by everybody in particular: —'If. the lady with the : beooming hat;will kindly notice bow hard: the man behind her is dodging, trying to seo the preacher,' she will', undoubtedly bo ~ obliging enough to take down her millinery, postpone her halo, and conform, to > the cua- , t toms of this church.' .The effect is generally . that of a 'take-down sale.'." • The organ of the Archbishop of Rouen, Mgr. Fvuset, has made an important an-' nouncement, which will be welcomed not only by moderate Catholics, solicitous for the material welfaro of their clergy; but by all thoso anxious to see the subsistence of the Roman Church in Franco, rendered less precarious. Ac- ... cording to the episcopal organ, the "Bulletin Religieux" of Rouen, the Pope, in the first two audiences .granted to. Mgr. Fuzet, gave his consent to the conversion of mutual aid societies among the clergy into a, form which : would secure for them the advantages afforded by the French Law. This decision will, for one thing, greatly facilitate the task of those French prelates who favour the formation ;of tho mutual aid societies among tho clergy Which would ■ bo. entitled to take over tho. property, assigned to them in' the Bill; dealing with the devolution of Church property. A short paper in the "Contemporary Review," by Professor Gwatkin, deals ably, and conclusively with certain • recent' ■ attacks on the Fourth Gospel. The argument. that the silence of the: Synoptists .as to the raisiug of Lazarus is' adverse to tlie historicity of the ono Gospot which does record it is singularly ■weak. The desire of the Jewish authorities to kill Lazarus sufficiently accounts for any reticence about him during his'lifetime. ■ The . silence of tho Synoptists. testifies, however, t-o tho extremely early date of thoir writings. "A striking ; discovery at Fordingtoa Church,has just been >made, in the' shape of a slab of Purbeclc marble, iwith a Roman inscription cut- into it, which' was found in the: course -of tho restoration now in progress," says tho "Guardian." "The vicar conjectures that in, this slab .wo have the tombstone of Aristobolus, the first recorded Apostle to Britain, who is said by Eusebius to have been one of tho Seventy' ordained by our Lord and consecrated by St. Paul as a missionary to Britain; while Welsh tradition adds that he camo over with the family of Caractacus 011 their • return from captivity in Rome. Fordington.is itself a part of Dorchester, which was, of course, a great Roman city." It is not often/that ministers reoeive. large' bequests, but by the mil of the late Mrs. Rylands, of Manchester, ; who left a fortune of £3,500,000, several ministers have bonofitcd. Hero is a list: —-£5000 to tho Rov. Charles Silvester Horne, of Whitefield Tabernacle, Loudon; £5000, two• stalls, 1012-and 1043, in tlie Royal: Albert Ilall, -her square omerald brooch set with diamonds, her emerald and diamond chain bracelet, and her emerald and diamond ring, to Urs. C. S. Homo; £3000 to the Rev. Walter Huckett, missionary at Samoa, and, by the codicil, anotlier £2000; £6000 payable in ordinary shorts of Rylands and Co., Ltd., to the Rov. Samuel Gosnell Green, D.D.: £5000 (in addition to tho £5000 for the executorship) to.' the Rev. John William liiddle, Congregational minister, of Strctfwd: •!. £5000 to Jeanio, wife of the R«v. Dr. Fairbairn, Principal of Mailsfifild College. _ Besides' tJiis, Mrs. Rylands left cams varying />»« a £1000 to £25,000 .to a la.ri:« uuuiW of religious and charitable institutions of kinds.

. Th» JLnj;licau Archbishop of Brisbane, who i» »t pr»eent in England, had a great re•teptio* at his old parish of HoTHsay,' wlioro he held a confirmation. In an outdssr procession through the principal streets, which wero crowded with people, the Archbishop was escorted by 20 working men carrying torches- : •