RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 13

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CONCREGATIONAL UNION. REV. S. HORNE'S ADDRESS. The first session of the Autumn Assembly of the Congregational Union opened on October 11 at Dr. Horton's Church, Hampstcad. Over 1500 delegates wero present, and tho gallery, was crowded with visitors. • After a short devotional service conducted by the Rev. D. Phillips, of Newport, the chairman, the Rev. Silvester Horno, delivered his presidential address. Ho received a great ovation on rising. Taking as his subject "The Church as by Grace Established," ho said the mental and social independence of tho modern citizen had made the old osclesiastical discipline impossible. Tho knowledge of this had too often weakened the Church's moral witness.' Being no longer provided with a duckingstool, she seemed to feel tbero was Ices need for a conscience.'. But sho had now to learn another lesson. She had to realise that sho had worshipped false gods,-and been seduced by worldly idolatries. ■ She had to clear her brain of fantastic ambitions and her heart of carnal affections. Sho had to become primitive in spirit, motive, and aim, gladly surrendering to Caesar tho things that belonged to him, and. to belicvo that to Christianise Caesar is tho surest way to render unto God tho. things that 'are God's. The first principle to bo laid'down was that nothing tho State could do in the real seiisa. either strengthened .or weakened the' Church.- The fact, was that the-world had long ceased to.be impressed by the. formal acknowledgment' of Christianity: by Parliaments and monarch's. The. ono argument to which thero was. . no answer was that the. Church is cstab- : lished by grace. When from. -someChristian centre rcdemptiv.o influence was exerted "upon a district, when, the' lvholo character of a slum was changed, or the attitude of hostility to tho kingdom became an ..attitude of - 1 sympathy and faith,. more had been ' accomplished' for the vindication of;'- the divine authority of : Christianity, . and. for tho exaltation of the Church,'.than when orthodox declarations' were ; put into c tho mouths of kings, or the machinery of tho State, was captured aiid made to servo ecclesiastical ambitions. Two things emerged.very clearly. Tlio first was that tho.Church 'must'cca'so to desire to do the work of the Stato, and, tho Church must, finally abandon the notion that tho State, could do tho work ! the. Church. Just ; as tho State had "wrenched the whole > administration of. justico out of ecclesiastical hands,'just as.sho was-rapidly be-, coming supreme lii the care- >of the poor, the sick, and the destitute,, so, she- was steadily and "irresistibly taking tp herself tho charge of education.'.' The : Church had ; dono much'in tho'relief of social distress, in-.tho course'of afew yearsi.all forms, of social-'efforts would bo taken over;,by tho S.tato', in fulfilment of her sacred I .charge: of'tho well-being of all' her. citizens::.'. That would leave the Church -free to dovoto herself to (two , great -'.'works, ctho . simplification of her faith aiid tho'.amplification' of her mission. , .". .. . ■: Alter devotional addresses by Principal Armitage and Dr.'Ambroso-Slicp-' herd, Mr.- Home- mado a..statement on tlio progress' of (tho central fund. During tho four. 'months i of, his ■ presidency. ho had received in gifts and'promises nearly. £20,000. The total up to dat-o was just over £147,000. Ho hoped beforo tho end of tho year to bo ablo to annonnco £150,000, 'and before he vacated the'presidential chair not less than £200,000.