RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 675, 27 November 1909, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION. THE BIBLE AND THE: CRITICS. - When • the- proceedings of■ the autumn assembly of the Congrroatio'nal "Union of England and Wales. opened nt/Sheffield on October 12, a crowded .gathering- listened to an.olo(juont reply to critics of tlio Bible by the I'luurniau, the Rev. Div J. D. Jones,' of Bournemouth. Critics like Wcllhausen, said 'Dr. .Tones, declared that Jesus was ,only a 1 pious I J®""' teaching, a better way of doing the willot uokl. Before they could arnvo ;\t YTellhausens position they, must reduce the Gospels to wreckage. If they accepted even 1 the first three Gospels as being, broadly true* tlioro was 110 escape from the conclusion that' Christ was fundamental' to his• own Gospel. They could not ignore Christ and retain Christianity. If they reduced Christ to the level of-one of the prophets they .might liavo a Jesus Society, as they had a Browning Society, of admiring students, but they could not-have a militant J»w. adoring church. "What, think, "yo,/ of, Christ?' was, therefore, tho critical question for the future Oif Christianity. What! they thought of Jesus must depend upon what Jesus thought of himself, and Jesus assumed naturally and spontaneously ashisown the place which, tho Apostles assigned him. Jesus announced, himself a's tho object of man's search and the answer to man's desire. Certain critics challenged tho' authority' of the Bible's .testimony and denied the divinity and saviourhocd ot Jesus,' but without laying himself- open to a chargo of obscurantism,".he' denied tho • .'competence of , the . mere :■ critic: •to decide upon these high . themes. . To judgo rightly he must bo more than a. critic, he must ,bo a. Christian; ho' must bo, more thana scholar, lie must be "a: saint. How was a man to ltnow .what Christ .could..do if he had never put himself in Christ's hands?VA morbid and corroding criticism. was busy now, eliminating from the Gospel'story every word and'claim that would seem to set Jesus outside the categories of ordinary .human- life, but in spite of the negations-and eliminations of a sceptical criticism he suggested that men might with perfect reason and confidence hold to' tho Now Testament presentation of Christ as autlioritativo and final. (Cheers.) It was -no longer claimed' that tho Bible was an in-.-fallible book, but it had not ceased : to bo authoritativo. The real authority of the Biblo was never' meroly_ legal and accidental; it was moral ..and .essential,, and that. authority the .Biblo retained .unimpaired. The Bible/needed no certificate of character. When he read the old book it was not the "human element" that impressed him; it .was 'tlio divine', elemeht.When in-' South Wales not long ago,, ho inquired aboiit tho revival. Of course, there had been reaction: there always was after .'a timo of great spiritual, excitement. -But tho gains .wero clear and enormous. "You cannot go into 1 any church ill this .valley,'' said a colliery owner, "but jtou will find in it men .who five or .'six years ago were amqngst tho drunkards :and ro : probates of . the district." . Drunkards , and :re.probates five or sis years ago—sober, praying men to-day; : The. seeminglyhelpless s- slaves •of five or '.six years : ago—conquerors over sin and passion to-day. • What accounted for the change? -The men themselves would say that Jesus .Christ accounted for -thb change. He had'strengthened them with might by His ■spirit in their inward man, and brought them 'off moro than conquerors. - . . ; A WORD OF HOPE. DB. WHYTE'S-MESSAGE TO POOR ■ . STUDENTS.,

( •Priiicipal-Whyte. gave his opening address"to. -the Now College students of the United Free Church on October 13. Tho proceedings were to hdvo taken place in the Kainy Hall, but so great was tho demand for admission' that an adjournment was made to, tho Assembly • Hall; Dr. 'AVliyte,'in-the.'-course''-of 'his'address, said: Your present, principal has often looked for :a; gbod opportunity of spoaking a word of hopo andencouragement to the poorer students ■ among j-ou, a word of hope and encouragement such'as- no "other man can possibly speak.; Looking back-.OOr years ho- 'saw! a. poor .' littlo felloiv of twelve , years old who , was saying itoihis mother, "Don't'cry, l 'mother, don't bo afraid, ■ don't cry, '-for I' -will, go .and servo, my time; but, mind you, I'am going'to be' a minister." At that a gi-eat smile of lovo' and pity-broke over her strong' sorrow-seamed, face when sho turned awayi homo wiping her tears with; her-' apron.-.. The 'next :'tiitie' !, l;. ; seb'"that' clittle man he' is sitting, on V gravestoiio jin .the,parish kirkyard, 1 iu 'his-dict^libur," teadmg ;,the "Paradise Lost" that' lib had 'received ;as/ ii; birthday gift. • And: to 'this - day he ..will -rbipc'mlier lio'w John Milton's great■ visions and -CTqat dialogue?; held his head: and his heart .'high and sifb : ab,ove the j :sorigs;' and:' stories ; gf the'workshop. Again, I . see him every Saturday night, in old James Mill's kitchen, : sitting among the Chartist weavers .who l :were waiting the arrival of the Dundee '■ carrier who brought. to them ■ their weekly■ parcel of Radical papers. - When this : much-looked-for packet was opened, your future principal" got'the. now number of John Cassell's "Popular Educator"' fbr 'next .week's study,. arid tile new 'numher of the Same publisher's " Biblical. Educator for to-ihorrow s'-readihgl ' Threb. or' four'years so pass on.' And; nOw.'as, oftpn as. ho. is travelling, in the: Grampian express to; Forfar, or to liogiepei't, or to Aberdeen, when' tho' tram' has l Kirriemuir' Junction, lie always up iir his carriage iiv prder to catcji a passing, glimpse !of the; little mud hut in which: lie taught his first school. , Poor little souls! They were.;'not taught 1 , much!' For; their teacher had always to learn, himself at night what ho taught to them; next, morning.' But with all that it was always a. sweet and happy hour they' had together over tho Bible lessons and- tho Shorten.Catechism.

A kindly critics > had 5 onco said that Alick Whyto would sooner get- to the planet Jupiter than toAberdeen—(laughter)—but it was not so. Ho really got'to that splendid old'seat, the planet- Jupiter notwithstanding.' (Laughter.) And'now. gentlemen, ihe concluded,- often 1 count up your priceless benefits ■ and always magnify your matchless opportunities; as you' are tho students of' a college: which- beafs a nanio 'of honour and love throughout the whole''of. evangelical Christendom. Believe iuc, there aro thousands of theological students and/other , thoughtful young :mcn throughout the world'who-; greatly-envy you to-day for; your splendid opportunities as students', of. tho Now College, and for your splendid opportuil-. -ities as .tho future .ministers of this Flee and United Church of Christ iii Scotland.:' 'When; you count up your benefits.6ometimes-:remem-, her' the great men who have laboured here, and wliose labours have .done/so much: for sacred scholarship, and for; evangelical, preaching. (Applause.) ' ■i THE HUMAN WESLEY, ' ; NEW LIGHT ON HIS STOEY. . Tho vital significance of the new journal of John Wesley, of which tho vEev. Nehemiah Curnock-is editor, lies in the questions "Will it involve .re-writing,-Wesley's life?" .To this 'question, which .' arepresentative .of the "Christian World" put to Mr. Curnock, ho answered 'unhesitatingly, "Yes."; *v _ **lt will not, of course," said Mr.: Curnock, "modify the' story, of' tlio childhood, or his boyhood-at' Charterhouse,:: But fresh - light and touch new information is thrown on the whole Oxford carcer, : and especially on ' the. history of the Holy Club. Even' moro vital is tho whole Wood of new matter dealing with the voyage to America, and the life in Georgia! In fact, us regards .Georgia,: on the most sober (estimate,- tho now- matter gives us.'a now and absolutely authentic view, not - simply of John Wesley himself, but of Oglctliorne, tho foundor of tho colony,', and., of tho. development of the colony itself: - " ...

'■'To begin with, we .have ' a new. and verv much more vivid and picturesque account of tho voyage to Georgia, which I havo discovered to bo in the handwriting of Benjamin Ingham, Wesley's friend. . The fact is that: Wesley got his friends 011 boartl to make copies of his journal to send to different 'people—for instance, liis mother, the Holy Club, and Samuel Wesley, at Jiluudell's School, Tiverton. "Wo- discover now that John Wesley was not only intimate ■with, but was confidential adviser and secretary of Oglethorpe, thus leaving his mark, on colonial government.- W 0 have, in place of small fragments, a complete set of documents dealing -with tho famous trial. And they show- that John Wesley brought tho trial 011 his hpad by his unflinching support of Oglethorpe in antagonising tho, planters,; first -oil', negro slavery, then, on'-an apprenticeship system that was practically white and then on tho, drink question lho planters hated him as tho most influential enemy .of these practices of theirs. ' /•Then- in regard to the love' affair," r said Jfr. Curnock, with a, smile, "the theory has always been thaUhc girl was a flighty, supefiicial creature. Now, on Wesley's own showing in an exquisitely: beautiful account of it which lie wrote a: year, afterward, we find that it was precisely the. reverse. Sho'was very youiig a pupil oi his,'highly; intelligent, in good'circuinstnnces, ,nnd having, property. If he Lad married her: she i .would.. havo . given' him an established colonial position of. great influence apart from his own personal power.' But she .bloke, off .everything suddenly : by "niarrving another.: man., - Wesley , himself was,, ast ho fraiuly explained■ ; to her,, under a . vow r hot. to murry so long as ho bad any chmico of carrying ;tho-Gospel .to ; tho:.'lndians, He was clearly very, muehlin lore with her." - • - Mr. Carnock eaid .that tie -late part of the

life was not revolutionised like the -Georgia : but ho,.added, "I nevcrknow what may - turn up., I am in an hour's timo 1 Route to see a grandson of Charles Wesley, who Bays that he, has somo matter of remarkable inter-' est. there is certainly a great mass of material--lying-- hidden somewhere." / - v : • . ««W--> 0U - Mr.:.Cnraock was. asked, :> '■ nrl, tli'B now matter gives us a more human > Wesley and loss of ,'tlio-tireless ridt-r'?'' '! «j ' , ve .D' mucl > .more: human,'\ ho replied, I and, at the samo,time; more remarkable. Tho story, of tlio. love affair gives us im intimate i !'• wow ot Ins emotional nature, and tlio now.'' ■' matter m rclatyon to Oxford shows- tho extra-- ■ ordinry, charm and winsoacDCSs of In** character." BAPTIST MISSIONARIES, . A PUBLIC APPEAL fOR £60,000. Theork of.tho■ Baptist Missionary Socretj ■claimed-.tho attention of tho Baptist-CoinrroKj at Reading 111 Octobcr. A valedictory service was held, when lcavo was taken of. twclva nowmissionaries; £ ■ -• < • The general secretary (the RcV. J. Wihoii>' stated -that during > tho last year, especialiv " since . the spring meetings, they .hod rcctfved and accopted : an unusually - large ..number -off ' missionaries owing to' the exigencies of soverah. ■ countries, more particularly tho: Congo, wlioro) tne work, liad, win carried on under most, (.tv-r inp ,circumstances,l Smco April this year S missionaries had been pent'to Africa,'Bsvcn<to! the Congo, eight "to China, six to India, and-!' one to Ceylon, • \ . 1 .-. vTho Rev. W.'Sutton Page, a well-known In-' ■ uian.missionary, -stated that an appeal was li(y' : mi nnrf }°' f in- Great, Bnb.in for, .£00,000,; winch'. would' bo 'devoted - torn ards tho reorganisation and maintenance of - tho train-i ■ mg . college .founded 'by .Wflliam . Carey at SorJ ampore.' 'The society- had', been ' greatly en-K----couraged' by the, : Vay tlio churches: had reJ , S on jMnnn thn .appeal, , for; already upward* '. ■ .ot AJUOO had* been, received in donations • audi- ; promises. ..It, wps thought that rthe'Bum-Tpouldf bs raised mthm five; years: : , • AN INTERDICT. VIOLENT ATTACK ON A BISHOIP. ' ' , Tho.littlo. town of.Adna (it has only : v people, and < it' has lost much of its power and/ influence', since th© Adriatic began to flovrl v i away : from>:it) presented : a- strangO' and ■■ usuar epectailo-this morning {writes tiw lfom®! 1 correspondent; ofs the. London "Tablet" Oi>) tober .10). r Tho country people -of tho distort/-' : do not read tho papers, and • when- thoy ar-| nvod shortly -after dawn to hear tho first/ s M-ass at .tho. Cathedral they wcro aniazed'-txW ,: the doors wero closed tight and that} - the bells Avluch used-to call them to tho eer-/ 1 vices were, silent in • their ? tower.-' r ■ to the other churches of tho town only'to findathem vail closed. - There was /no • ifasis tbcro/ that day and : no 'ringing > of bells, nor hodV ' Jhere: been, for-' the - previous week,' nor' Willi i there be for the next week, . For Adrians, un..' v "Interdict" for fifteen days, of' tlio celebration;;o£ .Mass and ~ all ■ ■ functions; if'there are any dead, in the place- v they aro borne privately to the grave ;-if thereare. any children to be baptised'.the sacra-' • - - inont.is administered privatoly; the' dying ro-< • ' ceiye the Viaticuih, but without any of tho; ' ceremonial practised in : -Italy.' A .fortnight . agoV -' Adrians, fearing to : - lose their - Bishop!, 7;V5. hooted him and; spatvupon him and stoned# him.. as he passed > through - t^icir : streets; ?. V, that when he arrived at-tho raihvaystationl- ' protected■ at- last by. the police he l was-bleed-4 ■ ing profusely from a dangerous wound-in hisf* ; - forehead, and his' white habit (Mgr; BoggiaiW - '3 a Dominican) was, etaincd with grcaipmcarsrTs of his. blood. , ]?or Adria is jealouplr proud' on its dignity as an it back, to the third .century,' and the .BishopJ,,'; stoned tho other day 19..the ninety-third of th«/ line. _Ho is not by any means .tlio first wliol'• has , fixed his , residence in tho neiphbonringv - • town,of-EoTigo;'''V'That'.-b^^Va\iri^:-:baCfc v .''.fai|;v-'' the. .tenth century;.when, the '. waters of th«f Adriatic flowed away from-it:' and'.tlie'.city.f. '■ I began to be striclcen.with' malaria;-and Eovigol : - v grew l at the expend of tho -unhealthy town.} >' After the, Couucil of Trent the diocesan scm-* v inary also'- was -built, in < tho rival - town.; o_athedral-chapter ;iV'as -6till-in Adria;' but 'soma • •time ago: it began to bo rumoured-that i.tjith 1 it' th«:'-diocesan' arohives,'. wqr<i to f & moved -to "Eovigo.; l The ; attack- on, .tho iii : _which' about a. thousand persons/tho' ma-j i'*joritv. perhaps women,-took.'parti was provokedf- ! by the suspicion thaHve had come to the town} ! ; with, the intention -, of taking aya^.'with • himJ .the i arohives."H',, .. ..- .--V.tir "■ ;;;, : V '.ij- If 0 CONFERENdH. •« CENTENNIAL OF CHURCHES OF 'One of Christianity . in" -tiines .wal held;, last/, ,V month in;Pittsburg, tbj.ihfrk: ffie-' , (Khtenarj'''bftV-', : the. Churches; b£-;.Chri4.'lAßfitweeM 50,000', and/ • 60,000, delegates were,/expected:- to?be' ppcseht i ;; from; all parts of .the jVorld,' arid 1 a'privato - let-W; tor .recently ..'received- .from, -Pittsburg'' states) V ; that the committee •'had7called. ;j 'for.*' 10,0001 - rooms. -Already the Churches of . Christ hold? ; i a , world's record for the.-largest communion.)'' service,' 10,000 persons.having uiot. ; ih-'oho ; meot-},' ing -ill St. Lotus at:tho .time.of tlie World's ' Exposition. Brom. an -historical review of this!'- ' remarkable, Tlligious .' movement, published '■ in.) '"'i • ' cbnnection,with, the .recent centennial 'c«lobra-'| tious in .Australia,'::w<S-;extract - the'. inter&ting references'to 'its■ founders -To Barton IV. Sloiio must .'ba awarded- thU- - honour of :being the hrst of the pioneers; Ho) aud'. his,.associates announced .to the>Chureli/ and; the .world,'oofn f June 28„',18M, that' they. toote • .from :that day..forward-:'aud. forever ."the Bibli ; alone as a l'-ule. of .faith and practice -to,'th? ■ • exclusion .. of all 'humaii'.'.'or'eeds,:','confessions, 1 " : and disciplines,' and, tlio namo. Christian to thef, '■ exclusion oC all- sectarian -or ■ denominational' ■ designations, or '~Thomas ! CamiMJ.;: the; father., of,' Alexander Campbell,; did nofl >', ■ coitie to America until 1807, aud tho 1 former's I: .^Declaration,.and Address," froni which the/ ' Centennial dates, v'was :not;. published :■ until\ i ra .: 1809.,. Quite independently: of' each.'other,'': Bar-17'A on , Stone and. the • Campbells- started- jav" ■ the -United-. grinda, and eventually joined: forces,'with thof ' ;;i one-great end' in wiow, <uairieljv the advocacy (' :h-? of ..the; plea,', for a,,return ',to; ;:"' tiamty ut faith':; and' : : practice.' WheW - Thonias . Campbell, : prcyiously'i tu Presbyteriaiii • i'i ministoi,. published Ins "Declaration and Ad-'-dress, "vAlexander Campbell had not -left: Scbt-V'' ' ; : : land,. for America...'When niid : s6a"-'nictl'.-' ,-„ w ?, s ' make.:,the; discovery.'Uhat both' hafij'■ left the Presbyterian .'Church: under. ■»'■lik«! im-> Kpulse. .liv the "Declarntion-. and Address,"' tliel - principles were- enunciated-, which.havo : guided*.',., the! movement, ;over : ::'sijice. J it. was; .Thomasi I .",'' Campbell who aunounoed the historical senti-< '- ■: ,mcnt v the'. Scriptures 'speak;: we spealc;-'' .v a " (l ' ,^ r6 . tlie.-'ScriptuifeS' are;;silent 'aro.i'.: '; silent.. ,110 also declared, his conviction-"that/' ' tho sacr«l .word was 'alUsufficient ahd' aloho-v'"'''''' sufficient as a basis of! union; and',Christiari''coM' : operation, - and Urged the'; entire >- abandon-ii ■nient of everything ; in religion for,whichi thera: could i not :lx> produced a' divino 'warrant.. But,i' from tlio' moment -Thomas Campbell concluded- 1 .. to follow tho cxamplo of lus son in relation' baptism, -the mautlo; of' leadership' l passed - to/t ■: the..latter..---'Without .rivalry.',or"--:jealousy,vaiidf•' in.the same perfect confidence and'loving e6m'-r ' : ; panionship,: they,, continued.to '.'share'- tlio,: la- ,V;;' hours of , the, cause; they, espoused,-' but: it. 'was/ i'■ Alexander :who,, henceforth, -stood;, in: tho 'fore-» front,; strong, .resolute,^aggressive,:.tho;recog-J v/, nised ;leader- of., the,'. Reformation,ihtenselV'' f '' hated by his' enemies, ardtntly: admired aniV-'. ' -. loved by,his friends. r.