RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

HOW TO PREACH. ADVICE BY A BISHOP. "The Right Rev. William Boyd Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon, is emphatically one of tho ' preaching prolates.' His brilliant versatility is marked by his distinction not only aa a popular dignitary of the Church of England, but.by his achievements in the different capacities of author, lecturer, historian, platform orator, and ecclesiastical statesman. But, after all, , his fame rests pre-eminently on his eloquenco as a preacher." So writes one who lias interviewed tho Bishop for tho "Homilotic Roview." , , " 'Amongst my chief convictions,' said tho Bishop, ' is this, in tho first place, that it is profoundly to bo regretted that, through the strenuousness of this ago, countless preachers aro deprived of adequate opportunities for tlio special preparation which is, before all things, constantly needed. My own idea of the proper course of preparation is that it inovitably varies with tho subjects choson for liomiletic purposes. My own mode- of proceeding is notnecossarily at one time what it is at some other. Special Preparation Needed. "'I consider that two all-important elements to be kept steadily in view in tho construction of a sermon . aro interest and variety. It may bo asked how these two olements can beet be sustained. In tho first place, tho preacher may impart interest to a great extent by tho help of facts gathered from his own individual experience, while lie may, of course, profit immensely by what he may learn from the experience of others. _ In the next placo, tho nature of tho subject chosen will have much to do with shaping tho course- of thought during tho process of preparation of a particular discourse. It is j. obvious that each subject will possess an inherent interest of its own, and it is tho business of tho preacher in his study to grasp this essential interest involved in tho topic he has selected, according to tho suggestions of tho text or passage.' " 'Do you attach any great importance to tho particular length of a sermon?' was a query addressed to tho Bishop at this point. " 'When ono reflects on all cases, , replied Dr. Boyd Carpenter, 'a true sermon may bo accounted to bo, always really long, whether it appears to bo so or not. Sometimes the shortest discourse has really been a very long one. For though it conies fully oreated in apparent brevity, yet it must have been the result of a long unconscious preparation' and tho accumulation of a great amount of thought focuesed at that moment. I am freo to,say that the ideal which I have kept before my mind, and which I have pressed constantly ou my own students, has lxxsn that which is so well expressed by Jean Paul Richter when ho says, "Never read till you have thought yourself hungry, . and never write till you have read yourself full." Think Out tho Subject.

" 'Translating this dictum into another form it might bo interpreted thus: —Think out every subject for yourself. Try to discover and to comprehend clearly the real signification of the words on which you are going to comment, so as to secure a clear idea of Ike subject on which you are purposing to lead for. information. I would enforce this plan of procedure in the study because only by subjecting himself to such a process does a preacher become competent to read intellectually on the topic which lie has selected for consideration with a view to tho construction of a. sermon. Then I would, say to the preacher that ho should not attempt to write out any of the notes of his sermon until ho has gono diligently through these two processes of reflection first and of study afterwards.'" ■ , ' MEMORIAL TO BUNYAN. ' PRIMATE ON PROPOSAL TO HONOUR BUNYAN. A meeting of subscribers to tho fund which lias been, started in order to place a memorial window in the northern liavo of Westminster Abbey to "John" Bunyan. was hold recently in tuo Jerusalem Chamber of the Abboy. The Dean of, Westminster pro-, sided, supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Dr.- Clilford..' ■•■'■',. : It by the Rev. J. H. Shakespeare that a movement, on behalf of tJie fund was being organised in America., by ' Dr. Palmer, of Yale. The Primate, in a short address, said lie could not conceive that such a movement as this had not been commenced before, and ho doubted whether people ' realised the strangeness of the fact that there should bo 110 memorial to John Buiiyan in Westminster Abbey. It certainly seemed inexplicable. Ho congratulated the Dean that it, had been veserved for his rulo and reign to see the memorial completed. It was obviously a thing that must' bo carried .through triumphantly, and ho thought that if there bad so far been a lack of financial support, this was to be ascribed-to the fact that people did not know of the proposal. The cost of the memorial could be subscribed several times over in England, America, and the colonies. What modern Christendom owed to John Bunyan it was partly possible to estimate, and they did well to honour him in tho Abboy. Ho floated thein above the things which sundered good men across tho_ centuries of outward change and of men's intolerance towards each other. By'such an act »3 Vicirs that day they might be said to join hands ou bshaif of a common cause, the sot.ting forward of tho Master's message and of work for the bettering of tho world. He hoped that their common enterprise would servo to cem-ent more and more closely the bands and bonds that were iipperishable, because Divine. , Dr. Clilford concurred with the Archbishop in hoping that that enterprise might develop and increase- Christian unity. They were doing this not for the sake of Bunyau's works, or for tho sake of John Bimyan, but for tho nation and the world. THE CHURCH AND MISSIONS. ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP'S APPEAL. In a message to the Church of England tho Archbishops of Canterbury and York state: — / There are in our midst many striking signs of a now interest in tho great cauEe or the missions of tho Church; but there aro still many of its members' wlio have not appreciated the claims alike of our opportunity and of our responsibility. specially ask the mon of the Church \ to realise that this is a matter. which has a right to demand their.; intelligent interest and co-operation as citizens both of tho Empiro and of the Church of Christ.- Wo theroforo call upon all members of our Church hero in England and Wales to uuite in. a more resolute determination to place and keep the mission of the Church to the wholo world in the forefrout of its thought and prayer and action. The cause of missions must no longer be nieroly an occasional object, however zealously supported, of our prayers and offerings, but nn essential clement in tho corporate life of tho Church. In making this appeal we aro the spokesmen of both Convocations of Canterbury and York, and wo quote tho words of the resolution in accordance with which we write this letter: "I'bat this House, meeting in ordinary session for tho first time after tho Fan-Anglican Congress and Lambeth Conference of 1903, desires to give solemn expression to its'sense of tho call of the Spirit mado through those assemblies for a dooptsr and more eifeetnal recognition of tho Church's duty to bring to all lands tho witness and gsnco of the Lord .losus Christ.'" "In particular \h would iinpr<\ss irpon tho Church tbo urgency of the present 'Situation in tho Fiir East aiid in. Africa. N<mv movements—political, educational, and rolicmu"*— aro stirring, fraught with momantotw issues for tho fufcuro of the world. A door of special opportunity is open. Wβ know not when it may be closed. Wo are jcaJous for tho honour "of tho Church, of Kuclaivl, that it may b» among tho. first nwstxvigiim of Christ to <artcr in. In onfrsr •■!>&<■• tho cacw of missions may in thy coruciraf* lif«< of tin Church hold t,hat plu'v? f.tir wbioh wn ytead, (1) ''Wo desire specially to osl) upon ite members to take up with renewed earnestness the observance of the day of intercession and thanksgiving for the work of tho Church throughout tho voild;

(2) "Wo ask tia-cJorgy ; to mako inotruction in the history.and program of mission* a regular part of their miujctry'of tenching, and to usovovery elfort to arouse and inform tlio intelligence of their jwoplo, as well as to win tbeiolp of,their offorincs and prayers: (3) "With whatever authority bolongs to our office,'-vro plead thai every single "parish and congregation in the land should provide not only opportunities for enabling tlio manifest call of Christ to His Church at this time to bo heard, but also come permanent organisation by which the response to tba* call may bo mado etrong and stable." Y.M.C.A. NOTES. (By H.N.H.) Mr. I. J. Virgo,_ the general secretary of tho Sydnoy Association, who has consented to to speak at tho seventh anniversary colebra- ' tioiis of tho Wellington Y.H.C.A., haa now boen twenty-thrco years in tho work. Ho is Y regarded as ono of tho greatest association secretaries in the world. During his recent tour.of tho world it is'estimated that , he sang to 00,000 men. , The annual meeting of tho Dunodin Association was held last week, when a record year's work was reported. The new Y.M.C,A. building in Brisbane, is being taxed to its utmost capacity by' tlio various functions arranged to attract the young men of tlio city. A recent social evening was organised for tho wholesalo warehousemen, and 300 were- present. <- Tho Indianapolic Association has sot some ■ records, which the association world will find hard to beat. In February, 1907, £53,000 wae raised in eighteen days for a now building; In loss than two years tho now building, one of tho most perfectly planned and most comploto association, buildings yet oroctod, wa» opened free of debt. During the oponing week more than 60,000 visitors attended tho building, and in a week's campaign for 1000 members, 1572 were secured, iicnator Bevoridgo addressed art audience of 3408 mon at the men's meeting in tho opening week exorcisos in Tomlinson Hall. Facing the great ♦ audience'of men Senator Beveridge eaid: "It probably could not be successfully contradicted that tho association has become tho greatest force of tho philanthropic, working among men in our generation." . jorriNcs. Prior to his departure from the Comnwtt< wealth Commissioner. M'Kio recoived tho following message from Goncral Booth:—"Affeo-.' tionate congratulations in completion of your ' courageous, labourious, and successful discharge of infinitely important trust. _ Feel y assured of your having still greater victories / in future commands.' Australasia may be certain of my confidence in her faithfulness to vows and salvation possibilities. My.lovd to every lover of the flag.—General." A now convent of tho 'Sisters of the Mission" is to be erected at Petoue, for which tondors will be called very soon. A section, haa been purchased alongside the. present school, and a ecven-roomed houso has also been acquired, which will form part of, the convent. , • • ■ ,'

. His Grace Archbishop Redwood will preside over the apologetics section of tho Australasian Catholic Conference, to bo held in Sydney in September. His Grace will also read a paper to tho conference ■■■■•;. Dr. Wilbur Chapman replied to his critics at one of his meetings in Melbourne last week. He said that in America nobody would daro to say that ho was a trickster, or a. sensationalist, or anything else than the best, of friends to the ministers, and a most loyal adherent of the Church of Jesus Christ. Ho thought the people of Melbourno were coming to believe that. In spite of what hao been, said in some quarters, there had been, no attempt on his part to play on emotionalism, and there had been no stooping to tricks' to porsuado men to come to Jesus Christ. (A voice: "That is a newspaper opinion..) The newspapers wcro all right. Though no did not like some of tho letters that wcro appearing, what the newspapers said themselves was all right. One man, through reading the report in the "Argus" the other day, had come to Christ.' "I am not i' trickster; added tho evangelist. " I have only preached tho gospel of Jesus Christ, and when I wont on the platform I have asked God to give me power to reach the people;; There has been no conscious emotionalism, as ' God is my iudge. I can absolutely, honestly, and sincerely declare that, while I have known geu» orally what my attitude to an audience was. going to bo. I have never .yet known what particular lino I was going to take." .. ■ Recently the Methodist Episcopalians dodiciiM a. n;-w c'"urch in U.S.A., which was. opened with a debt of 52,000 dollars. At the dedication ceremony a board was produced, marked off in squiiros, and those squares olfored for sale, at 50 dollars nach." In 65 minntes squares were sold to tho value of 32,000 dollars, and signed promises, to be redeemed in three years, handed, in by tho congregation. At night 10-dolkr, shares wero sold, : and another 3000 dollars 1 obtained from 'the, visitors. The doxology was sung after each thousand dollai's. It is generally l understood tlrat Baptist* in America aro moro orthodok than theil brethren in England, and Dr. i)kcd oxperienced some. little difficulty •in persuadingfcho Fifth Avenue Church tho other day that no treason, to Baptist principles was implied by the adoption of an 'infant dedication' service. Tho ritual was basqd on that prepared by Dr. Hunter, revised and elaborated by Dr. Aked. It was, and is still, a'not uncommon feature of the service at Pembroko Chapol, Liverpool. The firot 'infant dedication" service took place in Fifth Avenue Church a.few weeks ago (says the "Christian' World"), and tho ceremony seems at onco to havo won a- placo_ in the atfections of Dr. Al;ed's congregation. A member of the church remarked: "It was a, beautiful,and touching;ceremony; The Baptist Church has always' needed just such a ritual,, and Dr. Aked deserves great credit • for having been bravo enough to' introduce it." ' ■ ■•■.■■■ ■■■■;_• The Rev. C. Silvester Home has decided to defer his projected visit to Australia which ho had planned for next year. He has consequently consented to stand for the Chairmanship of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, and has bren nominated by .tho Council of tho London Congregational Union as well as by Hampshire Union. As it is "London's turn" this year, Mr. Silvester Home's election—-especially in view of. the . great denominational effort which tho Rev. J. D. Jonus is to launch this month, and whio'i Mr. Homo would enthusiastically suppoit —is almost a foregone conclusion. . : General Booth nnd staff arrived at Dover' from tho Continent recently, and proceeded to London. . The Genoral appeared to bo ■veil, and in high spirits. Whilst in St. Petersburg he had interviews with some of the prominent statesmen and ' philanthropists. He was received at tho .Marble Palace by the Grand Duchess Constantino, and was entertained at tlic home of General and Aladamo Sabouiolf, where some forty of the leading people of St. Petersburg listened to an exposition <if tho Army's work and intentions regarding Russia.' Great interest was aroused, and it is understood that Gen-..' cral Booth lies. been earnestly entreated to commencu "immediate operations" in Russia. He was greatly impressed with tho magnitude of tho oppevtumty and the groat usefulness possible to llic Army. A great missionary .congress of laymen just held in Toronto recommended that tho Canadian Churches should v:\iso annually £2G'.1,000 for homo missions and £G40,0U0, tor foreign missions. There was a further recommendation that- tho churches should consult together so as to avoid a duplication of missionary activity. . This was greeted with prolonged clwering by 4000 delegates.-. Jit ports •from all parts of tho Dominion sliOiWd re-, markabl* increases in mission funds. Tb* Rov. Dr. C. 3?. Aked—who' was asked by a witty critic before ho loft KnglnnJ if, hisgospel in New Y<Jrk would be "Simply Trust" —has an article in "Ap'plcton's Magazine" on "Tho Gospel for the Rich." Ho lays down these propositions: First, money is only honourably owned when it is tho proper cqnivalent of services rondored; second, money has been dishonestly obtained when men anil ' women havo boon used morely aa instruments for producing wealth; third,*iio argument of money-giving can atone for money-stealing. The Chicago " Advance" observes that tins kind of peaching ought to mako Now York " sit ue *' and " take notice." .