RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

!£ — BAPTIST WOHLD CONGRESS. MIX-CALL OF NATIONS. Philadelphia, where the Baptist World Congress was held in June, contains 102 baptist churches, with a total membership of 1,1,000. The inclusion of the, suburbs raises the total membership to 70,000. Statistics prepared far Iho congress give the number of Baptists in tho Btat.es as 5,383.!)!], so that they form Iho largest of all the evangelical bodies. Tho Philadelphia. Baptist-Temple, wherein tun sessions are held, speaks eloquently of, tho strength of the denomination. The splendid auditorium provides in floor, galleries, and platform, accommodation for no fewer than 3300 persons. Promptly at 2.30 on .Monday, June 10, Dr. Clifford mounted the platform, and was greeted by a crowd that all but filled tho building. After the opening devotional proceedings, tho chair was taken for the session by Dr. Conwell. Speeches of welcome were given by Dr. H. Ferris, of Philadelphia; by the .Mayor of the city, the lion. John E. Keyburn; and by President Augustus 11. Strong, of Rochester Seminary, the special preacher at the London Congress in 1905, when ho delivered a theological pronouncement of such profundity and length that the Metropolitan Tabernacle was half empty at its close. On this occasion he spoke in lighter mcod of tho Baptist movement and its representative men.- A reference to Mr. Lloyd-George was received with a crash of cheers, the whole assembly uprising and manifesting an enthusiasm which demonstrated that tho British Chancellor is one of the most popular men in America. T'r. Clifford's responso was in his happiest 'u. A reference to C. 11. Spurgeon, win would, if he had lived, have been 77 that day, led to tho entire audience rising in ' silent ~ commemoration.

The roll-eall of nations took place in the, evening, and the public interest was so considerable that arrangements were made to duplicate the proceedings as far as possible in a neighbouring church, to which the speakers were transferred by motor-car at tho closo c-f their addresses. The representatives of about sixty nations responded to the roll-call. A series of three-minute speeches were delivered during tho four-hour session, ever which Dr. Clifford presided. England was ' represented by the Rev. J. W. Ewing. The Rev. E. U. Thomas, of Carmarthen, easily demonstrated' that Wales had contributed to America most of her great men. Ireland claimed to have given Philadelphia her first Baptist minister in 1081. Haiti, Cuba, Mexico, and other States had their spokesmen, but perhaps the summit of interest and excitement was reached during the speech of the Rev. Paul Bcsson, of tho Argentine, who (introduced as the "Martin Luther of Argentine") spoke of tho struggle for religious liberty in that land, in which victory after victors hat- been won. Others who contributed interesting speeches were the Revs. Herbert Anderson (India), A. H. Marshall (South Australia), and R. S. Gray (New Zealand). The oratorical power of the Rev. P. Vincent, of Paris, who brought "greetings to the country of Washington from ■ the country of Lafayette," aroused another characteristic display of American enthusiasm, as did also an energetic speech by a Japanese representative. At the close of each delegate's speech his fellow-countrymen joined together in singing somo verse of a native hymn, and as the melody was usually familiar tho whole assembly took up a multilingual chorus. Tho speeches as a rule were pithy and forceful, but many an orator found that the indispensable three-minute rule crippled him. But with' all deductions the "roll-call" was a magnificent demonstration.

DR. DIXON'S'WELCOME TO THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE. WHAT SPURGEON SAID. In alio hislip.it spirit?, with renewed prospects of full congregations, a busy church life, and a high place in the denomination, tho .Metropolitan Tabernacle welcomed its new-pastor on Monday, June 2p. Dr. A. C. Dixon, whoso kindly face 'and Mark' Twain head will soon be fainiU nir.-to-.io'iidotf sevoaon-tastei;s, : sat'amone. past horces of the Tabernacle pulpit and a surprising number of veterans of_ the Tabernacle' pews. Pastor "Tom" Spurgeon, Rev. Archibald Brown, Pastor Edwards, "Deacon William Olney," and "Eldor V. J.Charloswortb" (the old-fashion,-, ed titles aro still in uso at tho Tabernacle) represented the Spurgeonic tradition. Lord Kinnaird (chairman) represented the wider religious public. Almost every, seat in the auditorium was occupied .even thoso in the remote upper gallery. Mr. Olney, speaking on; behalf of, tho officials, quoted somo remarks of 0. H. Spurgeon,. D. E. Mocdey/. and others, which had a distinct bearing en' Dr. Dixon's succession to tho historic pastorate. When' Dr.' Dixon visited the church in ISS9, Jlr. Spurgeon wrote in "The Sword and the Trowel": "Ho is a brother as great in heart as he is tall in body." Moody's remark was to Dr. Dixon himself: "If anything happens to Spurgeon vou ought to go and succeed him.". E-ev. Thomas Spnrgeon, who was welcomed with cheers, whole-heartedly welcomed his second successor, whom ho described as "a preacher and a man." Ko one would be gladder to hear of Dr. Dixon's harvest than he, who once sowed that sime. field. _ " Dr. Dixon, whoso Tismg brought tho audience to its feet with loud cheering, spoke with' deftness and humour. Ho told a story of how his wife had prophesied to him, on their bridal tour, that one day she would see him in Spurgcou*s pulpit He could not bo C. H. Spurgeon, or Thomas Spurgeon, or Archibald Drown, but let them work with him on tho simple lino of belief in ihe old Gospel and the old Book, and ho would . trust them with the rest.

IN BRIEF. An increase of OC'B in the membership of the churches was reported at the Canadian Congregational Union meetings at Kingston. No fewer than 1387 Congregationalhts had been welcomed from Great Britain at the ports of Quebec and St. ,Wm. Mr. Dav delivered a scholarly address from the chair on "The Spiritual Renaissance." .Mr. T. 13. Macaulcy (son-in-law of Dr. Lawson Forsior) was elected chairman of the Union for next year. Mr. Copp was chosen president of the Home .Missionary Society, and tho Rev. E. C. Woodier of the Foreign Missions Committee. Somo 07 members have been received into tho fellowship of (he new church at Calgary, including "quite a few from England!" A church house has been established in connection with Zion at Montreal. The Rev. J. T. Tucker, a Devonshire student at Montreal, has been chosen missionary to Central Africa. From the Maritime Provinces it was reported that a "fine spirited lot of men are down by the sea, doing good service. Represents fives of the Church of England will visit St. Petersburg in the autumn with British members of Parliament, and Bishop Eulogius, n prominent member of the Duma, has" organised a cnmmittco of distinguished Russian ecclesiastics and laymen to receive them. The Archbishops of Vilua and Finland and M. Izvolsky, former Procurator of the Holy Synod, will join in the welcome, and visits will bo made lo the chief cathedrals, churches, and monasteries. It has been definitely determined not to proceed with the arrangement lo hold the nevt Y.M.C.A. World's Conference at Helsingfors, Finland, in 1011. Edinburgh Association has liccn asked to renew its invitation, not lor next year, but • for 1013. Mr. Christian Phildius, one of the three secretaries of the World's Committee of the Y.M.C.A.-at Ueneva, has closed a tour of IS weeks in Hungary, Austria, Koumnnia, Servia, and Bosnia. There are 31 Hungarian Associations already affiliated with the World Alliance, and 28 other centres are contemplating a start. Mr. Phildius also inaugurated associations.at Belgrade and Sarajevo. The King look special notice of a Crimean veteran who is a .Salvationist and wore his uniform at the parade at Portsmouth. Recognising the uniform the King stopped and a-ked him how long ho had been a Salvationist. "Twenty-nine years," replio tithe veteran, and the King expressed his approval before passing on. Colonel Thomas Holland, of the_ Salvation Army, lias died at Denver; U.S.A. He had served in the Army for 211 years, both in England and America, and was at one lime chief secretary in Canada. He was in the railway accident in which. Consul Booth-Tucker was killed, and lie never entirely recovered from his own injuries and shock.