REUGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 894, 13 August 1910, Page 9

REUGIOUS ACTIVITY.

"THE QUEST OF THE HISTORICAL JESUS." REMARKABLE ARTICLE IN "THE TIMES." The translation'of "The Quest of the Historical Jesus," by Dr. Sclnvcitzor, has'just been published, and is described by the- London ."Times" as "the most remarkable theological work which has appeared in recent years in Germany." The following is part of a very keen review of the book by "The Times": —

The Ixiok, says • "The Times," is offered to the. English-speaking public in the belief that it sets before them, as no other book lias ever done, the history of the struggle which the bestequipped intellects of the modern world have gone through in endeavouring to realise ■for themselves the historical personality of our Lord.

Dr. Schweitzer is a brilliant writer. He has great intellectual force; ho is master.of a trenchant and epigrammatic style; ho has wolfed with his braiii at red heat; he never allows tho' mass of his facts to interfere with the literary development of his theme, a.nd he has produced a book of the highest interest, 110 is not, indeed, and does not profess to be, an unbiassed historian. He has an intense admiration for his,subject— "German theology will stand out as a great, a unique phenomenon in tho mental and spiritual life of our time," and its "greatest' achievement is tho critical investigation of the life of Jesus." "It is.tho most tremendous thing which tho religious consciousness has ever dared and done."

Truly Gorman theological thought is, as Dr. Schweitzer says, a wonderful achievement of the human intellect. But is Dr. Schweitzer singing its paean of .triumph or its 'death-song? , How convincing is his criticism of each' of his predecessors! They have all started with assumption of a human and historical Christ, and they have . all failed' to account for Christianity. Do Dr. Schweitzer and the cschatologists really succeed any better? When they attempt thir reconstruction, they have, like all tho others, to pick and choose, to take what harmonises what their theory and reject what does not. Something they have done-. They have vindicated tho historical character '■ of much which others had eliminated. They have- created a Jesus who speaks and acts as ono of His own time. . But have they accounted for Christianity? Has the world been deceived, all theseyears when they have found much more than oschntblogy in Jesus? Does not Dr. Schweitzer' himself set tlio problem? "Jesus means something'to our' 'world becauso a mighty spiritual force, streams forth from Him and flows through our time also. This fact can neither bo shaken nor, confirmed by any historical discovery. It is the solid foundation of Christianity." ' Whence came this force ?

The critical theologians agree in one, thing, and 'in ono thing only: they believe, or perhaps half-bolieve, in tho supernatural Christ, the Christ of Christianity.. Have they ever disproved it? They have' not. They have assumed, that it is untrue, and with tin's sissuiup-. tion they have attempted to write the life of Jesus. And they havo failed. Perhaps it is the starting-point that is false Hay it not havo been that ono who was tlie Son of God •came among moil, and spoko and taught as the men , of His own time, but always, though using' tho language and .'conceptions -of the time, revealed to man God? Arc wo quite suro that■ Strauss was right, because he eliminated the supernatural? Or the Tubingen School, who.eliminated St.: John ?' ' And are , tlid Gospels only eschatological? ', '

And yet these man havo not labour,ed. in-vain, for everyone who steadily works at German critical theology will discover that although there- is. mtich that seems to him wrong-headed and much with which ho disagrees, he will always como out of his study feeling -that lie has learnt moro and understood more.of Him who was so wonderful that' Ho is sometimes revealed by, those who. crucify Him, is crowned by thoso who hate Him,. ono in whoso words, every thinker and every ago has found all that was best of its own ideas.

ARTICUES QF FAITH

A PRESBYTERIAN DECLARATION- ■ The most 'important act of the .Presbyterian General Assembly, recently held at, Atlantic City,' U.S.A., was tho adoption as "essential .and necessary" of the following five articles of faith:— "(1) That the Holy Spirit did so inspire, guide, and move tho writers of ..the Holy Scriptures; as to keep them from error. (2) That our Lord Jesus Christ was born of tho Virgin Mary. (3) That 'Christ offered up Himself a sacriiico to satisfy divine justice and reconcilo us to God,f according to tho Scriptures. ■ (4) And on tho third day our Lord Jesus 'rose from the dead with the same body in which Ho suffered,, with which also He ascended into heaven and there sitteth at the right hand of His Father, making intercession. (5) That the Lord ?esus showed His power and.lovo by working mighty miracles. This working was not contrary to nature, but superior to it." AVe learn from "The Churchman" that tliis action was taken in response to an overture from New York, alleging that false doctrine--bad been held by some candidates, that ..had been accepted for ordination. Tho declaration was not intended to be exclusive Other articles might bo equally . essential. Tho assembly urgetl the presbyteries' to take care not to admit candidates into the ministry unless they declared their agreement in opinion with all the essentials and > necessary articles of the Confession of Faith. Parents and teachers of tho young were warned of the prevalence of many insidious doubts and denials of the faith at this ■ time, and they wero urged to be diligent in teaching the children tho Scriptures.

C.E.M.S,

The Archbishop of York recently preached the inaugural sermon of the Lichfield Diocesan Union of the Church of-England Men's Society. Lichfield is the first to establish a diocesan organisation in connection with the society, and 106 branches, with a membership of 3000 men, have, become affiliated. The Archbishop's visit was marked by a striking 'demonstration in ' the Museum grounds and a service in. the cathedral. Upwards of two thousand men formed in procession and marched to the. cathedra], which was crowded to overflowing. The .Archbishop, in the course of his address, said they must advance in raising the ideal of their English manhood «o far as they had opportunity and influence. - There was much to be done—they had hardly begun their ta-sk —to change the wholepoint of view as regarded sexual morality among the α-veragc of men in the country. There were times coming, it i might be,.when the Church of Christ would have to look to m'e-n such as they to .strengthen and deepen whtu might bo, called Christian public opinion \tjKjii the sanctity, of marriage and'the stability of their homes.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR

1 A STATELY CEREMONY.

Tho nineteenth convention of tho Now South Wales Christian Endeavour Union will begin on September 8 and' continue to the lath. Tho annual council mooting will be held on September 9. Conferences on "C.E. and the cstoßsiooi of tho Kingdom," (Hid -"later,-

mediate Work," will bo hold on the Monday afternoon, and in the evening the president (Mr. J. B. Spencer) will deliver his addrcjs. Tuesday afternoon will be devoted to mission work, and a No-License demonstration will be held m tlio Lyceum Hall in'the evening. A "School of Methods" will be lield on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday night the consecration mooting will take place, when tlio sermon will dc preached by Ilcv. t . J. Cocks. In addition to these- meetings there will bo daily Bible readings and conferences dealing with all departments of. C.E. work. It is expected that there will be a large number of country delegates present at the convention, the recentvisits of the president to the country centres having greatly stimulated tlio societies. \ • ■

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CONSECRATED. The consecration of Westminster Cathedral, the'majestic Roman Catholic fane, the 0110 example of Christian Byzantine architecture. in London, was carried out on June 28 with a wealth of ancient rites and ceremonies. The cathedral has been erected at a cost of £250,000. x '

The Archbishop of Westminster, Dr., Bourne, was the principal .officiating prelate, and with him were the entireItoman Catholic hierarchy of bishops of England. The nnisk, always so. excel-, lent, was rendered by tlio permanent choir, numbering some forty voices, reinforced by chosen choristers, and theGregorian modes were used exclusively, being -specially selected by refercneo to MS. in, the- British Museum a-nd • at Cambridge University.

Tho rite- of cuiisecration began at 7.30'a.m. During the morning the-. Union Jack : and the-Papal. Flag-were broken side by side over the main entrance.

Vested in amice, alb, and girdle-, white stole and-, cope, wearing a plain mitre, and holding the pastoral staff in his loft' hand, the Archbishop,. preceded by acolytes carrying lighted tapers and accompanied by the clergy, his grace commenced an.external circuit of tho church.

Three times the circuit was made, tho Archbishop sprinkling the walls high up, then Lhe walls near the foundations, and lastly the walls about the height of his face. Returning again to the door of the cathedral, Dr. liourno knocked threo times with his pa-storal staff at the door above the threshold while repeating, in Latin, the words: "Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the Kin'g of Glory shall come in."

A deacon within asked,, "Who is this King of Glory?" and received for reply, "The Lord strong and mighty, tho. Lord mighty-in battle." Tho door was .opened, and the- Archbishop, with his immediate ■ assistants, entered tnu church. Ashes were strewn on the floor, and tho Archbishop traced' upon them a cross composed of the letters of tho Latin and the Greek alphabets arranged saltirc-wist.

. The consecration of tlio high altar ami of thirteen side altars next pro- ' reeded, and in this part of tho ceremony fourteen prelates were engaged. Archbishop-Bourne consecrated the.high altar, the Hishop of Middlosborough the altar of St. Patrick and the Saints of Ireland, the Bishop of Menevia the altar .of St.-George and-the English .'Martyrs, the Bishop .of St. Andrew, the altar of St. Andrew aiid the Saints of Scot-land, and so on. .• ' Tho consecrator, having first dipped his thumb into.a preparation of water, ashes, salt, and ,winc, duly blessed; marked the altar-stone with five crosses, the choir meanwhilo chanting the anti'phoii, "I will go unto the Altar of God.-"' "ri.:i ....... ~.

Seven times the consecrator went round the altar table, sprinkling it with blessed water, and, this ceremony concluded, the Archbishop next went ill; procession- ■ round the interior of the church three times, (luring which the walls (on which had been-traced twelvd crosses, lighted candles being placed before them) were asperged and blessed, as well as the floor.. '■ '. :

While the ceremonies were taking place in the cathedral the multitude gathered in Ashley Place and Anib'rosden Avenue witnessed the procession of the relics of the saints from the hall of the church, which, followed immediately upon the consecration of the altars. Among the people were the Duke of Norfolk, leading his little- daughter by the hand.

After this the public wore admitted 1 to the cathedral to. witness the "burial" of the relics. At each altar'the "sepulchres" or recesses in the altar stones for the reception* of the relics were anointed with chrism. The "sepulchres" were then closed .and cemented, and the plains •Oγ sides of the altars anointed and incensed.. Incense was burnt on the five crosses at the centre and angles of the stones, and the twelve crosses round the .walls of the church were marked with chrism.

The service, which began at f 7.30 in tie morning, did not. finish until 2.30 in the afternoon. , .

GENERAL BOOTH AND HIS ARMY.

The veteran leader of the Salvation Army, ,in conversation with a ; correspondent'of. the "Christian World, ,, claimed that the Army was never iu a better position. "Wo have more officers, more .property, more soldiers, more zeal, and better training than ever we had, and we aim at efficiency and permanency." General Booth mentioned that six months ago the presentKing and Queen, when Prince and Princess of Wales, discussed .for an hour with him the work of the Army amongst his poorest subjects, and their misery, poverty, and tho-.vice surrounding, them. (They also arranged to visit tho Hadleigh Farm Colony. The death of the King prevented that. inspection from taking place, but he was expecting to have a hearty expression of sympathy from the' King and Queen' when.they paid their promised visit. General Booth described a new department, of' work, "The Home League," by' which women will' be trained* to visit the homes of tho poorest, and help them with their children and domestic duties. "If tho ladies of -the Christian Churches would only give themselves up to the rescue of their fallen, drunken and prodigal sisters, what good could bo- .accomplished!" Tho General's object in visiting Lancaster recently was to raise £1000 to ensure the commencement , of a building scheme for new headquarters costing £3000. It is understood he was successful.

JOTTINCS.

Tlic Hev. Win. I'ascoo Crook, who came to Australia in 1803, formed tho fii-st Congregational Church in. Sydney on August 27, 1810. The centenary of this event will be celebrated in'all* the Congregational churches in Now South Wales on August 28. A y.JI.C.A. movement of very widescope is being planned'.in America for next year. There will bo twelve leaders chosen from the associations of the world, and Mr. J. J. . Virgo, ■ secretary of the Sydney Association, has been asked to fill one of tho positions. Over 300 Melbourne newsboys ha/l a great treat recently, when tho Salvation Army delighted them with a ireo tea and entertainment in the City Toiuplo, Melbourne. Commissioner Hay gave the boys a short talk on tho evils ot juvenile smoking and gambling. Tho Salvation Army's -Anti-Smoking ,md Gambling Leaguo has a membership of nearly 25,000 of the young folk of AustraliiMmd. New,. Zoalaad.