RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

i ■:■■,:■-—-*—-,,-■,;:;^- CHURCH AND HEALING. > .-.. :■■.-.. '~.-.''■■ .— ——:•■':/ ■" ■:■:'■'•-■ \ THE EMMANTJEL'MCiVEMENT. \, ) A striking account of the Emmanuel' movey ment for the. religious , treatment of--the', r sick, which has attracted: a great deal of , attention in the United States, is given -in . tho "American" Magazine for December by. r the founder of the movement, Dr. El wood . Worcester. Dr. Worcester, who is! tho rec- , tor of : Emmanuel Church,' Boston, treats a I large" number of nervousiand other:.diseases,- ; by means of religious ; influence,and siigces-' i tion, co-operating with a physician' when > necessary. Ho does; not claim to euro the , most, serious diseases, but-he has wrought. r great benefit to many: patients by a system ! of "sanctified common sense."-■/ ■ -,'' ■ ;:■,.;: :' Remarkable Health Conferences. ' . . The following account of tho, weekly health , conferencie held• in connection with- his; ['. church;'and attended by about 800 invalids , and .'others, "gives an' insight into Dr.'Wor- , eester's'general methods 1 :—- . ".' : .- '"'".'■/■ ■'/"; When our health- conference began it was very'simple'and informal. -Any. one who . wished could offer prayer and'take: part. in. ; the discussion./ -But when wo' were obliged '. to-move into the churoh proper we found this undesirable, and we now conduct the ser- \ vices: ourselves.. On one night Doptqr.M'Comb , speaks and I. conduct/the service; ■•■ Oh the ( next Wednesday we reverse' this order.. Our i service is very, simple. We begin '-by singing- [ five or six familiar hymns, : hymns .that:have p . a certain .uplift, arid power.- The singing /-is' : led by! a small'choir of trained voices,"but the! '; congregatiori all join in , and -its heartiness; : is.most inspiring. ■ Personally J have great' ■ faith in tile .power.'bf' mußic-bver.sad and ■: disturbed minds, arid/we make "generous .use; I of it. After the singing I give, out;: the no-: i ticee, of which; in. a .class as /large as. burs, • there, are'always a good many.: As a;, rule/' . physiciansor 'other.'..clergymen'.'-.are present i who are.invited , to say a word <sf.greeting. • or• encouragement.' I then invariably inform t. the congregation,.that the chief'object-for :. which .we/meet is, prayer, for, our&lves and: for one another, and I read in their hearing' , jihe succinct'arid definite; requests for prayer which are handed to us in. writing' before we enter the church, urging bntheiri tb;carry ■ these'desires in their hearts: before God/Such • ■ appeals would be .presented'-in..forms like ' the following: "An agedw'oriiari ; /whb.;is 'sufi fering great pain asks. your; prayers , that, God' J may. give, her-strength •to hear her suffering-. ■ and—if it ;be ;His»will—that-it"may.' ■.' "A woman about:to undergo a serious operai tiqn asks your prayers/that:.-stie-may-be bus- . tained' and L - that.- the operation- 7 - May-■ "be-/'sucX ■' for: her children's '..sake." , ; 'i:.''A7.rrian' struggling against, strong;drink" asks-you-to- ' pray that he may .overcome. Ins temptation'."., j-."A young-,womaii: : trbub > led"byrremorse;arid. dread: asksv you l to pray ■that;'she:'rnay have. the sense of God's''par.don-arid peace. , ' These -. prayers are spontaneous^'-simple and heartfelt, arid "they are followed, with close .atteri-. , tion and often with deep'feeling. ; Frequently : -we'pause -for silent prayer. ;:•..-'-.:'•■ '• -~ -".''"'.' ; ' The lesson "consists usually of tlje words of , Jesus' in' a .new.; translation; .■which -; brings" ,: their, meaning:, out-, more: clearly; and which ' has the> effect of: something .that is' fresh and ' novel.'/;- Before,' reciting the ,<Apostles' Creed 1 invite those to jom.who'.'can/cqnEcieritibuEly , do/so;/ As^faras I am:able.to judge/these are in the great:-majority, as few lips ap- '. pear to'be closed. : The address--is-'short; : 1 earnest, practical; and, aa';a rule,' it::.deals-. ' with! matters pertaining -•to" right; thought; '-. and the. conduct of life. 'It is; followed;- ap; ! pareritly with close, attention,, and many. ' sbns.take notes.'An offering is , received torthe. 1 ' maintenance of the.', class, and .'to- help; the '■■ poor to obtain: , the , rest,:'food ' they need.' I;wiH "sayj'here'that'.this.'class. [■ from.the beginning"bas/becn'self-supporting j and riot'a drain-on'the; charities-; of ---;Hhe. . church.- The gifts are .purely .voluntary and [' they come from two sources:/frbm:the.offers '.' ■ ings at the Health Corif erence; ; and':frpm;:gif ts ■of patients who ': desire ; to contribute, to the J work. : ' ':' : '"'•''■:'-■' •:■ ; V .:"v;- ; ':--'' ' T' '-: " ■social : Meetings.-j, \\'-"/ '! :''■'*•" ■'; <;'//:'^ : ':-. • ■,-;■■ ; "The service lasts for exactly -aft hour, from: i ■ sight ■ ■ to . nine. • Before/ dismissing A the /con-.' : 'Igregation I tell't'h'emlJia?' ourrsdcial meet-, ing, will follow .and: that all .who, wish arid .. who are,.pli^sically' ab'le : ;tb reinain. will/be , j, welcome.,.W6 r then-pass'^^out'/intb/'the'large , -' i a few::iniriut«s,'/from: threbl.h'undred .to/four/ i .hundred /persons-'are gathered.'/.The.: rooriis s are large,;!airy, 'arid, pjainly. furnished.: : .'At r one end ]S''-'a':i'gran'd piano,': where /a. pianist, f and :aj violinist , dispense: music. ;i The-motive i of this ineetirig is purely.: social. V.lt/'gives - us: an/opportunity to meet/the many, persons. , who bthefwise'would, have/no opportunityof i : talking/with us,,and. it gives the people;op-, - portunity to -meet.'one another. ' At/the' I ginning I , laid-down two'rules.which I/hlafe j never nad;.occasion to/ modify :-e(l),"Those i ;whb■ qome must/coriie :; iri ''an, amiable spirit.--3 '■Wβ rheet '■: heie '"as : /,.brother's • and ■-sisters /in - Christ."; (2) -,';!Yo% iriay!ialk,,about ariyth"ing. : -■ ybu/choose/. here; except (sickness,, : /ibut/, ;;no '. word. in:regard:.to;.diseas.ei", As'sbon.a's/tlje; : compariy gathers -and ■'-. the music /strikes , up : a .'dozen ; /attractive;.young ;woraeri';;begiri .to- ; 'sefve'.-;.B\ simple; and (palatable .supjier?'; ; This,,of';' course; enhances : the social /spirit;,'.but' to : nieit means' more' :'-,l' attech'an alrhbst.reli-..' j gipus.'significance'.to eating .'arid■;"'.drinking-: - .with those- I love.V': Twice a week; in Emmarir i uel Church, on 'Wednesdays and Sundays',-; a . table is spread where iwe. «at together and: at which every, one is .welcome."During; ithis ' social ..gathering; -.which lasts .for threequarters; of an hour, ; poctor'M'Coriib, stands ' at. one end , of. the room and-'I at the other, ; surrounded by a laughing, happy /group of "': people. :.;When the crowd begins, to'thiii.the: ' 'young folks-frequently/ask .to. be: allowed-to: dance for /a little /while, : a. requesf'/thaV/is', I willingly granted.";, ■ ■/.: 'v.:;i/. ; /h?: I ROMAN CATHOLICMISSIONS. :,j f j. %: . ADDRESS BYcBISHdE LENIHAN. ;;.; ; J; h' v. The Bight ;Rev.-, Dry Roman" Catholic .Bishop of .0 Auckland,-/moved '-'• the ; adoptiori ,of the the'. haK-yearly: meeting of St. Joseph's-F_oreignS Missionary .. Society in London. , In doing so, he_said,tlmt he wished'.to;speak.about theVsociety's mis-. sibns in. his- diocese. . Ho: wished ;to./thank; them publicly for having sent such,a number. • of excellent priests to work, 1 among the .Maoris.:. No■ words of his could convey; his. ' appreciation of; .the'great,;; he'_would say,•the. j extrerrie virtue to-be found in everyone of; the priests sent ■' but from /Mill Hill. Their. [. priests , : needed .great patience,; for'.although [. the. Maori-was good-heartedj: and. the/best of i the: savage 'races,/he was 'not: easily: wo'n;to - the quiet devotional practices of the Church. •, ■Hβ preferred the/sound of.the/dr'um arid.the : cymbals,/ arid' the' shouting v of the; sects. ! Their/priests in - New/ had. not; the/ I .great consolation.of..their.jriests in Uganda;, .fbr'instanc'e./where they/count;their converts j by thousands year by /year. .| There/ were; be- : .tween ;three, and, _f6iir-;thousartd' - Catholics. '; ..among-the. thirty /thousand Maoris. , in ' the >• diocese of'/Auckland.' : ., : At the present time': in .New; Zealand they'.hadtobe content/with 'op- • casibnal.; conyersioiis, -e'veri as they, had: in 1 Englaiid; . There was one cause .'of complaint [■ against. the'/Mill ..Hill missionaries:; to ''the I 'Maoris;' there/was'one'precept of the Church. ■ they did riot inculcate/. They aid.nbt impress l 'upon'i t'lie'Cathnlic.: Maoris;/'that they "Were ' bound to contribute.;to the support f of ..their i pastors. /Tlioir good priests preferred to suf- ' fer . hardships' and.'privatioriSr.-rather than/ ; press their legitiniate/claims upon their people. . Speaking of hardsliips- there was .-.one. ■ which could, and he/thought should, be re- ■ moved. It was the custom for; the priest to '" ride.to distant;' mission stations with' a'box . of /vestments and all. things required for: ; celebrating Holy' Mass, etc.- f -He would, sng-: i' gpst that ;'each mission;'station ; be" supplied 1 with every requisite; in; other words, he /. thought every 'station-.-sliould have, a" corn-: ■ plete outfit' of its'o^vii.', It would be cheaper ' in the.long run, for'vestmonts,:etc., , cannot \ be packed up and carried from/place to place without.much , and tear.:- However, that . and many:other'little matters could , best be i- settled by a visit of' their Superior-General; and ho cordially invited Father Henry.to his , . diocese.to see upon.the.spot the'good work' Deirig dono by. the priests, 0f , ., St- Joseph's :; Society./■':■;",-:'■ -■■ : " i ; , :' : ' r. ■•"'. ! . ■."'■''■'•'■' : Father Henry thanked the Bishop of Auckland for; the invitation v and offer'.of- hospitality hold out to: himself ,'• and; said .would : avail of.it on the occasion of ./his" future" :; visitation of the 'Fathers, .which,' in'•:accord-, ance with the rulos of the / Society, would to be undertaken shortly.. ■ -:--. .--'.

"WASTE HUMANITY." SALVATION ARMY'S SOCIAL WORK. - An excellent account of part of the social operations of the Salvation Army in Great Britain has been written by Mr. F. A. , M'Kenzie, the well-known journalist and ' - author, under thy titlo "Waste Humanity." In his preface, Mr. M'Kenzie writes: "Ex. peiienco in tho drab and grey back streets' or London and other great cities has long since convinced me, not only of tho unselfish devotion and the strenuous labours of th* Salvation Army officers', but also of the pro. - y dent, economicaj, and businesslike manage, mont of their work. . . The Army's funds _ aro not only spent honestly, they are well ~ spent. . . When I study the actions.ofthese campaigners, when I see them devoting themselves to tremendous and often heartbreaking toil for pittances little more than • enough to sustain life, when I note how they Sa i? r u many of the home ties and comforts \ which wo average men and women consider essential, I feel ashamed of the petty criticism, the cynical suspicion, and the refined scorn too ojton meted out to them." Tho following figures show somo of tha work of the Army's Darkest England scheme in the United Kingdom during 1908. The total . figures up to September 30, 1908, are given in parentheses :—Meals supplied at cheap food depots, 5,899,925 (63,563,143): cheap Joogiugs for tho homeless, 2,180,539 l held in shelters, 6761 . (1<M,12O); number for-whom employment has been found, 22,493 (227,259); ex-criminab received into homes, 438 (8490); ox-criminaU' , ' ™ r lB7 , (6813) > lo3t P° rsons fomd » 53 *' oiun/7i ; o-S ma i es recelTe<J lnt <> rescue homes, d 489 (41,8o8); females sent from rescuo homos to situations, friends, etc., 3053 ,(35,066); families visited in slums, 85,239 (892,496); public-houses visited, 53,000 (597,620); lodgi , mg-houses visited, 1834 (14,705); •lod<nnghouso meetings held, 1132 (5909); sick people . attended, 13,641 (72,394). ' V Owing to tho unusual depression and dis« tress in Great Britain, the Army specialla solicits donations towards its work. ' -JOTTINCs' . ' ' ► P l ' - )7- .J- Damson, who is engaged on arj evangelistic mission in New York, startled Now Yorkers on a recent night by a'novel > religious procession. Preceded by a\ huge cross, ten feet high and electrically lighted (with power from a dynamo conveyed on a handcart), Dr. Dawson led tho parado. The entire congregation which had attended the • service in St. George's-Church made up the procession, which'marched",to the tune'ofl Onward, Christian Soldiers." Returning to» St. George's Church, the blazing cross led th« way through the church doors, followed bjj the procession which had been greatly swolleai' m numbers during the para Ho. Churchmen in the'diocese of Liohfield are ' expected to co-operate heartily in the move*! ' ment to celebrate tho centenary of the birtbl of George Augustus Selwyn, the first bishoa ' of New Zealand, the founder of the Mokuw esian Mission, and "subsequently Bishop of Lichfield. The anniversary of the birth U ' in April next, and it is intended that the celebration'shbuld.itake. place on'/or/abbua..-- ■ . St. : ; George'sYDayf(Appl::23);:' ;' y .';: :•) ; ; * ■H^ ; V > ..;.Should it;.ever/.come■;abftuti.that..religiouW'-'- {■■;• : : / . -instructibn.;:is."> forbidden/in-the" elemenfarj^ ,i '// schools throughout .-the ./country. ;(says/.^.theV.-/'/'■/< '.: not, at;.allamppssible,:;the;.Church", will,haTe ! !".'.■:■■'■■ ji-'' \closef^'attention/.to- :th^^^^ ■jchobls.:- "-That the-/authorities/- are realising; y?.:,' 1; , : this..faot;.-is,.slio^ , .;by'^'thei:.;VactionV;-Mi;the\-! , >.v'V-'N) National.Spcieiy,%hJoh,u^ndmg;ffiss;Hetty 1 jK:;! //: ;Lee -into'■various.parts* of, - ■: '.struct: .'clergy .working. ; pf /Kindergarten: '/•: :'£ The ."ptandard^ ; 'deMnb^»".Jtfiis-' t system\' , ;-aa-?^''''' : . : conducted in a/ typicarschb^lj/the'rriethods q? W, v '■% the;-'sarid-tableVarid:;other: ■'-", appliarice'sj; being.*-'''///i ;much-;.the'same"/as;those. employed in at;'l«asl>-' v '-'"'. :: .l':one'. WellirigteriiSunday-fscbMl.l/:.The/.. ,! Stan-i1;:-■.'!: dard" concludes'r^f-JApparently^thenew 'systera ~'hr - : \: do^s/fcster,;..iri./th.e;ch^^ ence,;: arid,;.iri; : 'avfujrf;sterj~ i: /;.//; irig-stone to''their-.-.-jind'erstanding.■,the' i ."higier''i."'•' S meaning as /they. grow/ ; olderL; /To commit/ to -v niernory/the- words-, of, the Catechism is,- ripti:--;- -': ; really. diffi_CHlt-.for- , .'a:qKUdj"!;b j nt'fo:,geJi i: childito grasp easyiSiatiir.-!, r .-,'' ? ?. -.■'• And vttiat.is; the/aim of ;• the ;Kindergarten;<;/:■': v ■Sunday^schc^l.:;;:-. , /:;/^::-:;:'-/-^*/:^,;:;;^;:^;',? 11^-^;;,^, ;;!.:Th.eS'"AMn.Dißhop:; i 'of-'.-,Yorfc/'!^peaidng''. : .at' ses , . ; : ' meeting/oqrV.'.'the:. /, : ' Assooiatioh,-; said' they /must/ all/be : ;, . ly thankful. that/at last'.tHe. position and :)'.. of '-the '; laj'; feader v^ ''wa'f'faised'i : t6ViHe..i^gnii 1 -';./>:'.'■■•": .'tiqn' it deserved ;., >lt -wa's.- a' real 'disaster tiiat- ■', / .-'-,'■ :a': selves, /some: special■ /gift," of ; "ministfy : shquli-,/"'--.- "-;• .have: Seen/ obliged :to -es:ercise : it' outside "- .limit's-;bf- thfeir.owii; CTurch.:. Gradually/arid|!.j: ... .coherently.: that '.recognition/ had ,been.>ob-,;,..;' .tained., :lf,religion-/wasr,to/be/brought homev \-'-/ :: :-'•■. to the!:lives "arid consciences-;of- ;, in these great '■ new;riatiqns'abroad and ; also :;-//,' at hbme,;:we must/.in !: a : J"riiore.'arid ; inore;deJ; . >' : / finite way 'find recognition; arid /official, placeS: // ; ;fb^hbse,.hiy/ministries; the: first,,time brqught:/f<ir.--i ';■-■;/../ .ward rjai seriesTof-cohefent/regulations for" th'e»./;:/'. ;/ 'management'^qf./:^ J ■/■ admitted rbffico';iand;Tnbt'.,tq":an!-qrder/-,-v''.; / .of'.the" Church; :sori.of.layman,/iibt.ari-iriferiorfs'o'rt bf ;clergy-l-'.c-:<:. rhani/- ; : -/:•>:■:;■;-:^■''^■^'■■yy^---^.y-:--[-'- : \'-' .'.-.: -■;•':■'.. J .", ./An episcopal '■■ring,' and.,:'£iß7,'" : have been-f -" ; ■/: :presenJted : :;to:.the'/Bishbp; of ::'P // goes tb, Japan as Bishop;-AwdryJs/ : succ^ssor)iJ'-S-Vi. by many of,those who.ihave' appreciated:hiajj;.: ■ ■■'■' Work'in; that/part of /the/diqeese /of 'iWuW ': : .lj-.'.- ' Chester: specially icomniitted;/ to'. , ,his. : chargeJ;;..//;:"? Inv a,, letter .written '/on'-..bjehalf .of ik&. sub-i;-, ! :/ : . sonbers, the hope, is expressed/that., sornes.;/./' thing/wul:be.■■purchased-with"thejmoney-'thatiVV: .' .will.be. of hiajc'l/: new duties..: :.Ihe aoknowledg'merit,:/of.'.tljis 'many-sided/.act/off, / : .v : inspiring; kindness." ; ; /,;'■;;;:'-"" : ;/;';^\/j/: , UW';; . ;.- ; -Mrs./Hawkins,', of-Portland ; Placeijv i - ; =-;; widow/ of the'late .Mr : Christopher';:JEawkins[J-'. ;''i ./..: of Wpbus, ,has?,giveri ,;£2ooP" : for the cqmple-.;; ■ / / : : fcion-"of"the? school }•.. for:/.chpristefs-\oftTrnra'"':;; 'r;/ ! f.Cathedrali the /fburidatiqri-stbrie of : -wh^ch;;isha[: i'.''; ; . , months agq.gaye £20,000 for- the completibnJ-V :*, ''■ of-, the. westernivtewers /and^'spires/ofvthe>l:.-..\ Cathedral. ■- : - :^''^' : '\-'^ r^S;-^'~-^:l';\ ;;>:;";. //j-'iVvv '-'.-'•■ The Bishop. ofc'Londbn: gave some gbo.d/ad-j■.'■"''■.'■ .■/"; vice to .the boys- of-the. Stroud. Green.and l ' T .".' Hornsey/High School at.tlieir"recent .prize-.''.;;:;- : . ■ giving'.;/ He-said that ./the .'five'/secrets of in-j ■':'.'.'.-■,;. ;fluence;which-he;had learned by tUe study 01-/>■.•//■.; men both in .the .East and the .West .End. ..■/ / ■Loridori' : . were:—Be? absolutely"' straightfbr-', "=, ward; don't puf'bn;.■'side ) "^airs ! /pr ."frills*' a/. ■<';■' : :' ■..have...'avsensjr'qfsHu'mbur;';''cult'ivaW/.'rgeniaB :,■■':.;:' sympathy.; practise ..the; Christian faith;.■/ '■ - ■/.;.-■ ■•;;.: /Professor , G.Gurrie; Martin has: been- ap-i '■'■'',■"/}■ ,pointed joint foreign secretary of the'-Londonn ■-~ : : " Missionary Society in London, arid will,, it is/ t '/ assumed,,succeed'Dr,.Wardlaw Thorripson:^^in,/' ; / ■the , process of - years. /Professor Martin has ~'"•';.: : ■'■ .for the last-four -years ;been:tutbr in.," : : ".-.- "Testamei\t.':subjects'''at;both :Laricashirei-.' ; an'd' .:/;• '■ , Yorkshire liidependent Colleges. / .::.v: -. '■'■■ ■■";;•' >. ■;-/:■■'•:;' ..-—Among ; the -'many-schemes".v launched;'■'i afc". , . :: : : - 'different, times^for ; -popularising/the ministry, V" i'ofj'the. Church of,'England, "&m; /give..: more* '.-•■'■'..'! i: -.promise.' of good, results; than "that bf tha ■, : ;'-.;- Vicar qf;St. John's,- Stamford-Hill:./-:-:/;:/:■:- s / v :,/ ,^'My/,idea,";;said/.*the/Rev..-'J.'vLenthalli•/,;/ '■■'■■ DaTids;'to.a'.member.'of:the; "paily News'" / :.-.. -. \ staff, "is-to:recruit , a much;larger '■'. ~i ■:■ ' of our ministers'.from/ tHeirariks/bf .qurpopu.'/-" v":' ■latipi-:-.tb^y. >^it=^was.>aUV'vei7.'.: Avell,* whert '. : the: vast, bulk :of,;our.Vpppu]atiori : was 'agriculr ./■ / tural qrprbfessional, , ;to recruit:the., ranks of : • *'/.., '"■ the ■ministryVfrqm/th'e.'professiorial /■ But to coritinrie'.that system exclusively- tc-«':, : > ■.- day is-hardly tlie way to go"-to work.; I be- /.: Hove much of: the. popularity 'and strength of •'••" • the Nonconformist ..Churches' is due to .'the '■.'■" fact .that '■ their .'ruiriisters are .largely drawn -- : ' . from.-ithe;'- middle: and sometimes , from Jtha ! '' '-'-'"' working classes. .At.' any rate,. in. tho hbstcJ': --. : ' : which I • am- opening: early in the New ;Yeat-'' ■■ ■ • , just .-opposite-, my '.church,, there, will,':!, hope; :■•:■ : ' . be meriof all classes, who are'k'e'en on: enter- , : ..*■'■'. ing. - the: ministry, for, the / love : of' the'. wort ■■'■'■''- -?■ ".•"'■:' itself. The nibvenient.will.be.self-supporting, '■' : ; ,i-"'i as men will pay/for their board: and lpdg- ■ :':' ,irig, just_in the ordinary/way. vThe bnly/ex-.-O ' , : pense will bo the.cost of a resident chaplain '; to conduct the services iirthe hostel'andtelp/ : ;: / ;: .the men' at thoir studies!"- •■ :';:;;; :'{•••■ t .>/.-_ '_-v;"X r .'.""..''