RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 900, 20 August 1910, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL, CONSECRATION OF THE LADY CHAPEL. The first completed portion of the now Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool was opened on June 29, when the beautiful Lady Chapel was set ajmrt from "all profane ajid common uses" and consecrated to the glory of the Trinity. Henceforth the old Cathedral Church of St. Peter, in which tho services have been held since tho foundation of the See, will be deserted, and until the choir and tho cross transepts have been completed daily worship will be celebrated in the Lady Chapel. On St. James's Mount, at tlio end of Rodney Street and within a stone'sthrow of Gladstone's birthplace, tho builder's cranes are busily working on a hugo . pile of scaffolding, and the walls of tlio clioir have already been carried to a height of sixty feet. , But much remains to be do;io in so stupendous an undertaking, and ■ four years will probably pass before the choir and cross transepts are finished. Then there will remain tho nave, the building of which will be a matter of some years more. When complete tho Cathedral will be one of tho largest, if jiot the largest, in the country, and a. congregation of SOOO will be able to find accommodation within its walls. Tho total cose of the Cathedral when completed is estimated at about threequarters of a million. Up to tho end of. last year tho total amount subscribed for general and special purposes, together with the interest received from the investment" of the money was £316,000. This includes the money raised for the construction and furnishing of tlie Lady Chapel—over £50,000 the greater part of which has been given by ■ tho ; members of two wellknown families, the Earlos and the Langtons. Until a few days before the consecration ceremony the amount still required to, complete the- choir and cross transepts was £60,000. On Juno 29, however., the Bishop published u letter from 'Mr. Arthur Earle offering to give another £10,000 to the building fund on condition that the rest of tho £60,00 p id, promised b'efore July 1, 1915. In making this offer public the Bishop mentions that the gifts which Mr. Earlo and his family hs»-o previously mado amount to nearly £40,000. It is anticipated that little difficulty will be experienced iu fulfilling Mr. Earle's condition. It should be added that the chapter-house, which will be closo to tho Lady Chapel, and which is to bo begun- at once,'is tho gift, of, the Masonic body, who are thus raising a memoriiil to the first Earl of Lathom.

Dr. Chavasse, ■ the Bishop of Liverpool, performed the consecration ceremony. Altogether, 23 Bishops, from all part's of England and Wales walked in tlio procession. "The Archbishops of York and Dublin were " also present, and the former preached tho sermon. Speaking at a meeting of the Cathedral Committee, the Archbishop .of York referred to the beauties of tho Lady Chapel, and declared that the genius of Mr. Scott, the architect, con-, sisted in the wonderful way ho had translated into stone all the best traditions of our old English architecture, and at the same time- had, with wonderful courage made his own : contribution.

THE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS. 1 The members of'the suite destined to accompany Cardinal Vincent Vamuitolli, who, as has been just' officially announced, mil preside at -the coming Eucliaristin Congress of Montreal, .have been nominated by the Pope. Two aro ecclesiastics, Monsignor iTerrtinnntl Di Croji, Protonotary Apostolic and Dean of Moiis, Belgium', and Monsignor Stmio. Tampieri, Minutante of the Secretariate of State, both prominent men iii the world of Rome.. A good deal of satisfaction is experienced in the appointment of Thomas, H. Kelly, of Now York, Privato Chamberlain to his Holiness, a genuine Catholic and a sterling Irishman. Quite a largo number ot Catholics belonging to tho various foreign colonies in Home intend to be present. l at tlio Congress, among them Father- Lcpicier, the well-known Servite, ami- Professor of Dogmatic Theology in the Propaganda College, who will read a paper on tho Holy Eucharist. —"Catholic Times."

RUSSIAN BAPTIST CHURCHES. : In September next the first .general conference of the: Russian Baptist Chuifhos is to be., held in St. Petersburg. To this gathering such wal!kn'own British religious leaders as 'Dr.Clifford and the Revs.- P. B. Meyer, 3. W. I'lwing, and J. H. Shakespeare have been invited. If these gentlemen attend they will bo subjected to restrictions .with which they may. come' into conflict. Permission had to be obtained from the Russian Minister of tho Interior to hold the conference. This permission was given, but with restrictions that read strangely to uur liritish ideas of freedom. A codo of rules has' been drawn up. to apply to all sncli gatherings. It is provided iliut tlm ."mini! churches art! not to meet in conference more than once in twelve months, and that conferences .of different sects must not assemble in the; same place at the same time, while no conference is to extend over ten days. Subjects of foreign Powers are not permitted to be the promoters or leaders of conferences, nor may they vote, .or have any advisory voice in the proceedings. Before any conference begins the programme has to bo submitted to I.bo Minister of the Interior and approved, and only such matters are to be included as bear upon the interests of the sect within the Russian Empire. Money collections arc not allowed to be made at any conferonce. At every sitting an official appointed by the Minister of the Interior must bo present. . Another curious rule is.tlint a business conference must not be changed into a religious meeting, nor must religious exercises and addresses form part of a business conference. ■ The members of a business am prohibited from taking part ill religious exercises or meetings, and vice vwsa. Thus, if a famous preacher attends a conference ho will not be allowed to enter a pulpit, but must confine his attention to business details only. These extraordinary restrictions bring into vivid prominence tho position of Russia in the scale of mdightened civilsaton. .

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 1

Tho programme of meetings in coniioction with tho annual gathering of representatives of the Now South "Wales auxiliary of the i.-ondon Missionary Society was opened oii August 4. In the afternoon a welcome was tendered to the ; visitors, who included a deputation from tlic London Society, consisting of the Revs.. Thos. Lord, of Madagascar, G. J. Williams, T. E. Slater, and A. Pearse; In the evening the annual mooting of the Watchers , Band was held,.tho Rev. W. Allen presiding. The annual report read by the secretary stated that thero were now IJO6 members of tho band in New South Wales, the increase for tho past year having been 160 members and sGvo.il branches. Tho membership in the homo division was 20,000, with 1118 branches. Addresses were delivered during the- evening- by the Revs. Thos. Lord and G. J. WilJianis. The society now has 295 missionaries in 'the foreign field, i>loo native preachers,' 2000 native teachers, 84,000 church

members, and 2!)o,000 native adherents. It has 1700 day schools, with 50,500 scholars'. _In addition, there are 37 medical missionaries and 55 hospitals. '

THANKSGIVING DAY.

METHODIST INNOVATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Tho inauguration of "Methodist Thanksgiving Daj," which is to be observed as a perpetual institution of the Methodist Church of New South Wales, took place in the Town Hall,. Sydney, on August 9. The idea has been boriowed from the United States, where, however, the movement is a- national one; and it will mars' each year'the anniversary of the arrival of . llov. Samuel Leigh, the first Methodist minister to conduct services in the State. At last conference Mr. W. llobson, M.L.C., and llev. W. Woolls Hiitledge I carried a motion with this end in viuw. I A.special service was held at 3 o'clock, Rov. Dr. Yoimgman, president of the General Conference, presiding, and Kev. J. E. Carrulhcrs assisting. Hcv. fi. H. Sugclen, M.A., master of Queen's College, Melbourne, delivered a vigorous and inspiring address, 'hi which ho traced the growth and purpose of Methodism. Tho "Great Methodist'"Family Gathering" in the. Town Hall in the evening was remarkable ior the enthusiasm displayed' by a largo congregation., llov. C. J. \Presctitt, M.A., president of the New South Wales Conference, was in the chair, and associated with him were tlio ministers of the different city and suburban Mothodist churches. •

Rov. 0. J. Prescott, M.A., said that they were present to thank God for well nigh a century of blessings. When Kev. Samuel Leigh arrived in Sydney in 1815, ho had to wait for the news of the battle of Waterloo. "Wo are here," said 'Mr. Prescott, \ "to give thanks for' all the goodness showeredupon us during, tho past 100 years, and the best monument we can raise in that connection is.tho liviugmomimeiit of good men and women." (Applause.) Rev. Dr. Youngman (president of tho General Conference) said thero were perils even in connection with celebrations of this kind. They must not forgot Him who was the giver' of all tho good tilings they enjoyed; they must not glorify themselves, nor blow then own trumpets too loudly. The thing to bo kept in mind was that man. was not here to get what ho could for himself, but to help those who needed help. (Ap-. plause.) "May God speed the Thanksgiving Day,',' ho concluded. Mr.. J. W. Eggleston, of Melbourne, traced tho progress of social improvement during the , 100 j-ears that embraced the centenary of Methodism. He recounted ■ tho difficulties which beset, the reformers ■" in connection with the abolition of slavery and tlie protection of child life. ' . ' ■ Rev. E. H. Sugden, M.A., master-of Queen's College, Melbourne, conveyed greetings and goodwill from tho. oldest Methodist preacher in the world to-day —llev. "Father" ; Dr. Quick. (Applause.) , .-•■-. . ' •■ -

' PRESBYTERIAN IMPdICRANTS. ' About thirty immigrants belonging to the Presbyterian Church arrived in Sydney, by the Norseman recently. Tho women-were met by Mrs. Lamont, of Mosmau, and the men by the Rev. W.A., S. Anderson, convener of tho immigration, committee, when it was found that a good number '.were .communicants.of tho"Church' iir'Scotlaiid." Tlio committee asked- the;: Government Bureau to provide a list of the Presbyterians expected by the various boats,, so that it might be known beforehand whom to expect,- Mr. Wood is continually receiving, immigrants at tho Church Office, and has been very.successful in getting employment for them.

, DR. MORCAN AND AUSTRALIA. A movement is on foot in-Austra-lasia, through tho Congregational Unions, to invite Dr. Campbell Morgan to visit tho Australian Stales and Now Zealand for six- months. "It is felt (writes a correspondent of the ■ ■Christian World") that tho times'greatly favour the project, as tho evangelical movements largely helped by the-'suc-cessful .mission of Dr.' Wilbur Chapman mid Mr. .Alexander', need to be followed up by shell Bible teaching* and practical preaching as Dr. Campbell Morgan's. There is a most promising state of feeling in'the several denominations towards a sound and earnest mission upon Hie , lines of Dr. Campbell Morgan's ministry, and an assurance, of enthusiastic co-operation.; in all tho centres of population. It is- upon this that the Churches mainly rely as tho inducement to Dr. Campbell Morgan lo accede • to tho invitation which will.probably soon be forwarded to London."

BsmsH and cerman churches,

and German lovers, of peace will be glad to hear that a permanent organisation has crystallised from, the interchange of visits between, the,representatives of the British and German Churches. "The Associated Councils of Churches in the British and German hiiipircs for Fostering Friendly Relations Between the-Two Peoples" is tho long ,bi)t well-omened title.of the new body. There will be a council in each country, whose duty will •bo to continue the work of mutual understanding and friendliness which began on those memorable tours. Mr. W. R. Dickinson, M.l'., is secretary of the. British Council, and sends us an imposing list. of members. The Archbishop of Canterbury is > president. Various Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops, and Free Church leaders liko Dr. Clifford, Dr. Horton, Rev. R, J. Campbell, Rev. J. I). Jones, and many others, have also joined, while the laity is represented by the Duke of Argyll, Lord Hugh Cecil, Mr. t}. Cadbury, Mr. 'I'. Hurt', Mr. T. Rowntren. and inauv moro. . ' " ~ ■•■'..

JOTTINGS.

Dr. Frodsliain, .Bishop of North Queensland, questioned , concerning Archbishop Wright's decision in regard to the use of ■ vestments, said- Dr. Wright could only speak authoritatively as a diocesan bishop, and as to his DTcn reading of the application of tho English law in his own diocese. ])r. ■Wright's sweeping statement that vestments were deliberately discarded by the Church at the Reformation, had, with few exceptions, the weight of Knglish scholarship against it, and ho liad littlo doubt that if tho I'rivy Council were appealed to it would rccerso the decision of 30 years ago. . The 'Presbyterian Mission'at E!at, Africa, has be-on compelled three times to remove t.he bads or side of their church and enlarge it to accommodate the crowds, tlvo largest attendance heing 3600 people. . . ' !; The Bov. Ernest Northcrofb Merringtoii, M.A.. J'li.D., who has recently been inducted to the pastorate of St. 'Audroiy's Presbyterian Cliurcli, ' Brisbane, is spoken uf as, a .man of strong character and pronounced convictions. Hβ is the son of the late Mr.-James Jlayfiold JSlomngt-on, who was well known and' most highly respected in Now Zealand ami Australia. Forty-seven representative Germans have, lately been , on a study torn' of tlio Y.M.C.A. movement in Groat. Britain! They visited 13 of the principal ceutre:.j ami rocard their investigations as «t----tain to be. productive of-good rosuit*. They phcod a. beautiful wreatli on tlio grayo of Sir George Williams in St. i'aul'e Civtk'draU.