RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 568, 24 July 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

CHURCH PAGEANT. WONDERFUL FEAST OF COLOUR AND MUSIC. ■ A succession of lovely pictures, combined with quick, ordered movement and solemn music—those were tho most vivid of the many impressions ono brought away after seeing the English Church Pageant at Fulham l'alaco, Loudon, ou Thursday, Juno 10. A luncheon was given before the afternoon performance, . and in a short speech tho Bishop of London, said that tho keynote *of tho pageant was devotion- to tho Church of Eng- . For tho preludo a movable background, consisting of a verdure-covered wall, had been provided. St. George, in glittering armour, entered, and then canio tho founder-saints • Alban, Ninian. David, Patrick, German, and la, 'After a brief-dialogue, a beautiful ancient hymn was sung, and then tho background was removed for the first scenO, "Tlio Publication in Britaiit s of tho Edict of Constantino," in 313 A.D.. _ Tho picture was an exquisite one. Thoro was .'singing within tho church, and then, gradually, tho lawn became crowded with Britons in flowing garments, lictors and other oißcials on horseback arid afoot, senators and duumvirs; From tho other side camo a bishop and liis attendants, and then there entered two envoys seated in a foiir-wheoled cliariot/ bearing tho text of. the odict in a coffer, attended by trumpeters, officers, and soldiers, and men. with baggage-carts. Tlio ediot was read, aaid tho sceno closed with the singing of the Ambfosian "To .Deum." Tho contrast in this scene' between , the green grass and tlio white, brown ; turquoise, purple.-and rod costumes iwas delightful, but it was perhaps surpassed iu Sceno 2, which represented tho "Alleluya Victory, , A.D. 430," and. was performed by the members Of the Welsh Church in London. In this scene tlio dominant colour was white. Many of those who took part in it represented Britons who had just been baptised, and who had, in addition to their white baptismal robes, whito crosses hung round their necks. The. dialogue was in; Welsh, and tho scone onded with tho "Gloria Patri."

And so, scene after sceno, the history, of the Church of England was portrayed., Where, so much' was beautiful it is hard, to choose, but perhaps the finest scenes of all in tho'afternoon were Nos. 6 and 7. Scene Six represented "Dunstan and the.Monks, A.I). 964." It was a perfect picture. From all sides came ecclesiastics in. sombre robes, townfolk in brown and russet, dictines in black, courtiers, and ladies in many-coloured garments, and ' then King Edgar, Queen Elfieda, and . Archbishop Dunstan. >.. ; ' '' r _j' ; There followed scenes depicting the murder of. Thomas a Becket, tho granting of tho Great Charter in 1215, and a miracle play-and pilgrimage of the middle of the fourteenth'century. Tho had cleared up by the evening, and the .first scenes of the second part were performed in soft twilight, under a beautitul sunset sky!. Had-it been only for one- scene in this part the pageant would have been worth a long journey. Nothing''; more striking of its kind has over been done.? It represented the funeral procession of King Henry V, on November ■ 12, 1422. In the crepuscular light thero came a long procession chanting "Dies Irae.f There wero priests in white with lighted 1 tapers, others with crosses, dark-hooded' figures on horseback carrying banners, officials of Loii; don, knights in' armour, ' mitred bishops, ecclosiastics in red and purple, tonsured monks in white, black, and grey, courtiers, gentlemen and children of the Chapel Royal, and heralds. v

From another point there cam© the Abbot and monks of Westminster, and the two processions passed in opposite : directions until the Westminster monks met the body of the King. Then the processions halted while the Abbot sprinkled and censed the corpse, and all passed ■ out, chanting solemnly,'while a bell tolled; T _: ! .

This scene was followed.by one represen in;* the refounding of King's; College, Cam bridge, in 1446. The ■ rest : of "the- pageant was illuminated by searchlights': bn : ;tho 'top of-the stand. ,■ There!wasan epilogue illustrating the religious history.: of the eigh-teenth-century, and ai finale . .representing tho Anglican Church .'throughout the . world, all present singing the Nicene Creed. ; •;

YOUNG MEN'S SOCIETIES. 1 , ROMAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE. . A hundred and fifty delegates, drawn from an area almost as' wido as' Great, Britain, assembled at Whitohaven to take part in the annual conferenco of the Catholic Young Men's Society. This year's proceedings (says the "Catholic Times") afforded striking evidence of., the power of/the society, and. the majority of' the reports showbd that its influence is increasing in many directions, and \tliat during , tlio ■ past twelve months the efforts of thoso engaged under its banner; in bringing about the regeneration of society on a basis of Catholic principle and practice, have been attended by considerable success. As iii previous years, tlio attontio'n: of the conferenco was focussed upon questions vitally affecting -tho moral and social welfare of the Catholic body in this country.. The papers dealing with theso were of a very high standard; and the subsequent discussions upon the views \iuid suggestions contained in them were characterised by a note of earnest seriousness, those who took part making the , most of the op-, portunity' of interchange of thought and opinion on the many subjects of importance dealth with. ■

The annual reports received from the Englisliy Scfttch, and Welsh branches'showed a total membership of 12,585, /rat 39 branches had failed, to forward figures. : Tho Young Men's Societies are entitled to hearty congratulations on tho widespread interest taken in their conference at .Whitehaven, the. cxcellehco of the programme, and tho success which crowned their proceedings (says the same paper editorially). ; The support tbeyi receive from bishops, clergy, and laity is : merited by faithful service. Tho societies, wherever established, are centres of a wholesome Catholic influenco and tho members are ever, prompt.■ to lighten the labours of tlio clergy by their self-sacrifices. In many a mission they are, as it were, this right hand of the pastor. Tho good movements in which they have taken an activo part are countless, aiid they deserve no small share of tho.honour duo to Catholics for'having so effectually contributed to the defeat of tho Education Bills of the present Government. The societies havo figured largely in soino of the greatest Catholic demonstrations held to protest against ' tho measures, and tho able papers on the subject read at tlio conference year after, year' by Dr. Sparrow have helped in no small degree to stimulato and direct Catholic opinion. The Young Men's Societies are not only maintaining their strength in England, but the organisation in Ireland is attaining something of the vigour an 3 pojver which , was; hoped for by its founder, Dean O'Brien. Doubtless, in these days, when plans aro rife for tho con-, federation of Catholic societies, some link of pvert sympathy between the British and tho Irish socipties, were it only for these annual occasions, will soon be forged. DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES. A YEAR'S ACTIVITIES.

At tho recent arniual business meeting of 'Dr. Barnardo's Homes, the report for 1908 was adopted. Sorno 67,634 children had been dealt with in 42} years; 2518 were admitted last year (1937 permanently mid 518 -tem-Two-thirds came from .the pro; vinces through the provincial ever-open-doors and one-third from tho metropolis ; 8245 boys and girls of all ages were under the care of the association at the,close of the year. Some 20,670 young people had boon emigrated; over 11,000 applications were received at tho Canadian branches for the 943 emigrants sent out during the year. The chairman drew • attention to the remarkably low death-rate among the children boarded out by tho homes in rural districts—only, 2} per 1000, against 120 per 1000 among babies in Bedfordshire. The death-rate covering all tho homes was only 9.42 per 1000. Tho statement of accounts and bal-ance-sheet wore adopted, showing tho,total incomo for the year £234,458, of which £7244S were donations, subscriptions, and col- •

lections to tho general fund, and £77,133 were legacies. The total amount subscribed to tho homes, sinco their foundation by tho late Dr. Barnardo in tho year 1866 waß £3,964,886. Two principal extensions wero proposed for tho coming year—tho formation of & Boys' Garden City- on tho plan- of the existing Girls' Villago Homo . (which accommodates 1300 girls), and tho erection of a muchneeded hospital at:tho latter placo, for which funds wero being raised in Australia and Now Zealand. "

A REMARKABLE MISSION. GIPSY SMITH'S RETURN FROM AMERICA. < Looking remarkably well'after llis arduous tour in tho United States, Mr. Gipsy Smith, ■ tho well-known evangelist, landed at Liverpool recently. ' ' Responding to a request from a "Daily News ' representative for some details of his latest visit to America, ho 6aid:—"l • havo spoken 600 times altogether; to three ; and a quarter millions of people in tho ag- - gregato, which is a modest estimate, and have travelled 20,000 miles, in ' ten months." Asked his opinion. of America and _ the Americans, Mr. Smith replied:— 'Itis a great country. I havo been moro impressed than ever with America, its and its possibilities. Tho Americans are truly a , great people. I havo been to both Australia, and South Africa, but. America is undoubtedly tho greatest'country of the lot. You have no conception what America and its people aro .liko until you get amongst them and thoir big cities. The word which they use so much—' hustlo' —exactly fits tho lifo over,there:" The evangelist mentioned that this mado his seventh trip to the .United States in tho -jast twenty years. He will make another trip across tho Atlantic in- tho autumn, 'spending October in Chicago, a part of November in Cincinnati, and then return-, ing to England.to spend the,balance of tho winter there. t .[ . " I'cannot," ho added, afford to.bo out i of this country for two seasons together.'' Ho had liot, ho went on to say, been in ■ every city in tho States, but, nevertheless, he had. addressed meetings in about 45 cities , and had brought his mission to a close in Canada, whero he ,visited only ono city— Toronto. "At present America is ripe, said Mr. Smith, in answer to further qucs-' tions, "for the biggest evangelistic campaign that I think tho world has ever known, especially amongst the malo population. 1 never saw such crowds of men so deeply interested,in tho work; and it is real genuino pntliusiasm, not a transitory condition of mind and feeling." '- v '"

Y.M.C.A. NOTES. , . (Br H.N.H.) .Tho Board of Directors of the Welluigton Association have decided to extend a cordial welcomo to, Dr. Joliu Q- A. Honry. who contemplates visiting Wellington ana New Zealand early next year., Dr. Henry is at present pastor 'of the First Baptist, Clinrch in - Los Angeles. .He has, recently concluded a five yoars'; temperance campaign in the "United Kingdom, and at ills meeting a 130,000 men and women took the total abstinence pledge, aud 25,000 made confession of Christ., Dr. Henry is a spraker of great iKiiver aud force, and has; published a book .entitled "Tho Slaughter of Young Men, Mr. J. J. Virgo, tho general secretary of the Sydney Association, who will bo the chief attraction at tho Wellington l-M.C.A. s seventh anniversary celebration, will .complete his twenty-five years of successful sety vice as general secretary. His is tho outstanding personality of association;, work rn Australasia. Mr. Virgo will leave Sydney on September 1, and visit the associations of Auckland, Ohristchurch, and Dunedin prior to visiting Wellington,, r . A New Zealand Secretarial Conference will be held on Wednesday, September 22, ( at Wellington. ~ Mr. W. Gillanders, 8.A.,, National Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. for Australia and New Zealand, has resigned l that position, and will prooeed shortly to Amorica. . Tiho president and secretary , of ( the AVeJlington "YiM.'C.A. have; received "An intimation: that-the Rev. W. P. Nicholson, <*4Mr.'Hemminger' (of the Chapman-Alexander Mission Tatty), will tour New Zealand towards the end of the •> ' ■; . Tho Boys' Department df the Wellington Associationcontemplate;: holding a Great Boys' Exhibition in October. - ; - " the London Y.M.C.A. lias jusfc celebrated its 65th anniversary in the Egyptian .Hall of the Mansion House, with the Lord Mayor of London presiding. This association is proceeding with a < great scheme to erect a cen-' tral building, to cost £100,000, as a permanent memorial to the late Sir George Williams. ' /. , . Victoria, the only 'prqvinqial oapital in ttio Dominion of' Canada, as well as tho largest city ou tho-.Pacific Coast without an adequate homo provided, held a great midnight, jubilation when it was announced to a waiting throng that £20,000 was pledged for an association building! In the last 36 hours, £6000 was pledged, and £800 camo ill cash. It vas decidedly a popular campaign, the contributions coming, iu in small sums with very littlo support from the woalthier citizens..... ■'

JOTTINGS. For the first time in the history of. Christian Endeavour a lady has been designated as presidont of tho National Union of Great Britain. Miss E. M. Weathcrby,, a most ardent Endeavourer and worker among 1 tlio young, has- been elected viccprosident of the"; union for the year 1909-10. which carries with it election as , president next year, when, tho C.E. battalions assemble at Liverpool at Whitsuntide, 1910. , It was felt, at the Whitsuntide meetings at Bristol, that' Miss Wcatherby was worthy. of 'the highest post in the gift of her, C.E. comrades. She is a good speaker and a capabio organiser, and possesses a most sympatlictio and' winning niftmier., The election of Jlisa Wentherby shows the'elasticity of Christian Endeavour in giving to women workers .equal honour and responsibility with the nialo workers in the • movement. Another prominent woman (Miss M. Jennie Street) ..as befcn appointed to succecd the late Miss Marianne Farningham 'as., editor I .' of. tho "Sunday School Times,"

Commissioner Bootli-Hellberg, olio of tlio best-known Continental leaders of tho Salvation Army, died in Berlin last month. Ho added tho "Booth" to his liamo on his marriage to Miss Lucy Booth, tho General s youngest daughter, in 181)5. He was one of tho first to join the Army when it was started in- Sweden, being at that time a stupent in tho University of Upsala. Ho suffered imprisonment on its behalf in those early years. After years of useful leadership ill Sweden, ho was appointed with his irtfo to tho joint command of India, and tlio Bootn-Hollborga also served in Franco and Switzerland. two or tlireo years tlio Commissioner had been in bad health, and had retired to Stockholm with his wife. ; It was on his return from a trial of .tlio Karlsban waters that ho collapsed at Berlin and died in a few hours. ' ' '' . '■

Mr. Maclaren, who has left Manchester for Scotland, sent an affectionate message of farewell to hisfotmer congregation, "it is hard," ho wrote, "for 1110 to look forward to.boing uprooted from Manchester,.and still moro hard to contomplato separation from Union Chapel, to which so much of-my lifo has been given, and. whero there, are so many precious to mo for all theso years. No cliango of place, no lapse of time, can ever makoany difference in my attachment to and sympathy with tho chapel and its work,;' .the ties that .'unite mo to, many beloved hearts there - are too sacred ■ ever to be loosened. I hope that my friends will tako' tliis loving farowolM address to them individually with • grateful remembranco of our long yearsi of unbroken affcction and happy ; co-operation."

At tho annual meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowlodgo, tho. Bishop of London said that in spito of its 211 years, tho society was able to adapt itself to all tho changing needs of the presont day. It had been well callod tho "Jiaridy inan" of tho £huroh. Its training colleges wero something to bo proud of. The society produced about 15,000,000 publications annually. Last y«ar it Jiad circulated over £60,000 worth of Christian literature, and its.grants had boon closo on'£Booo. The wholo working oxpoiisoo wero paid by profits on publishing. ■..., ■ v