RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

* I .. THE RESURRECTION AND RECENT ; UHITICISM. ■ STATKMEXT BY PROFESSOR i SAXDAY. Tn connection with the cable \nessago , which appeared in Monday's issue rogards iiiff lh:> discussion at the Anglican Church Congress on the place of tho liesurroction of Christ in modern religions teaching, . the following statement made recently, by 1 Handily, Ihe Lady Margaret ; Professor of Divinity, at Oxford, will bo ! of interest:— There is practically 110 doubt that the . belief in the liosnrrection dates from tho f days and weeks immediately following ; tno Crucifixion. It was tho 0110 thing \ which held the infant Church together, J which inspired it with new hope and | toree, and' which ]auiichcil it upon us career of conquest'. Practically this is 1 agreed upon all hands—among those who [ call themselves Christians—by tho new > school whose. watchwonl is "the super- ■ natural without miraei'e" as well as by , otners. They, too, would emphasise botli ; tho strength and tho vast significance) of the belief no less than their fellows. The , difference is not. as lo tho fact of the living Christ', but only as lo the mode or nature of llis revival. There cannot bo any question that it was in Jewish circles that the belief in the Kcsurrectioii lirst sprang up. The Cientilo world had in t'lio first instancy nothing to do with it; lho Gentile converts simply look over tho belief from their Jewish teachers—and first and foremost among them lrom St. Paul. But among tho Jews the characteristic form of llio belief in a life alter dealli, . or (as they expressed it) "life from the dead," was tho Pharisaic doctrine of a bodily resurrection. This wiu> tho form of the belief which the first disciples had in their minds, and which naturally and, inevitably shaped and coloured all their experiences. This was. pre-eminently so with St. Paul, who before his conversion had been a zealous Pharisee. He is represented to u.s in the Acls as boldly avowing tho fact': "Brethren, 1 am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; touching tho hope and resurrection of the dead 1 am called in question" (Acls xxiii li). So it was in the last resort this Pharisaic doctrine that was taken over by tho Chrislinn Church, an.l that from tho first dictated tho form of the Christian conception. It could not be otherwise. It was the one alternative open to those who believed in life from Ihe dead at a 11. _ In that mould the belief of the first' disciples was cast, aiui it has remained' dominant in tin; Church down to our own time. •> Down to our own timo it may bo said broadly that no ono has tried, or thought of trying, to go behind (his form of t'he belief.. But 1 do not think that we can bo surprised if, moro especially in the younger generation, attempts oro being 'made to go behind it. . Anil I for. ono do not feel that 1 can condemn those attempts. I do not think that wo are callol upon to regard tho precise form of t'he Pharisaic doctrine as the. last word oil tho subject. It is not in itself a Divine revelation, but only the relative expression o- outward clothing of a Divine revelation. At the same lime it: is never an easy thing to distinguish between what is transitory and what is permanent in religion. And I would invite those who feel themselves moved to embark on these, experiments especially to givo full weight ti the fact that it was through the medium of minds possessed and dominated by these ideas, and, indeed, practically not conscious 1 of I'ho existence of any other, that tho first announcement that Christ was alive and not dead was given tj the world. The questions that agitato us did not trouble them.. We must beware of reading back.into their thoughts and their experiences ideas that were altogether alien to thorn. Least of all must we forgot this, when wc ask ourselves that Inst, and most' difficult of questions, what it was that actually happened, or, more strictly, how we at this nresent. day should describe what actually happened. I have said that' I wclcmicd, as wo must at! wclenme, the tirst half of the confession of faith of those of whom I am speaking, their frank recognition of the supernatural. We know what they mean by that iiinil we apnland tho. ce.nfesi'ionvof it. We liino tbht thov will lwld fast to it, and put .it in the forefront, of their torching, and not merely keep it in the background.

ARCHBISHOP CARR'S JUBILEE.

: PRESENTATION OF ADDRESSES. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the appointment, of Archbishop Can- to the. Roman Catholic archiiepiscopal seo of ■Melbourne was celebrated by special services at" St. Patrick's Cathedral on October 1. nigh .mass was celebrated in tho. moi-ning by the Bishop, of Ballarat. An augmented choir of 75 voices, with an orchestra of strings, harps, trumpets, herns, kettledrums and organ, gavo a beautiful rendering of Gounod's. Messo Solennelle. Every seat hi the cathedral was occupied. The demonstration in the evening was of a remarkable character. Tho huso building was everywhere packed to the doors. Xo more striking tribute to the pcirsonnl popularity of tho archbishop could have . been found than the long lines of eager listeners, whose enthusiasm diirini the presentation of addresses from the bishops, priests and Initv was frequently too great to bo suppressed by tiie sacred character of tho cathedral. There was much impressive music including the '0 Salutaris, a fifteenth century plain chant melody, in harmony, by a choir of W priests. . Tlie Bishop of handhnrst presented a address to th:o archbishop.' from "the l)ishops of the pro-, vine?. He remarked that the arrival of his Grace in Victoria a quarter of a century ago was the signal for renewed life aiid energy in the Catholic body. In defence of the rights and privileges of the Catholic Church he had always had consideration" for the feelings of those who differed from him, and henco could calculate to-day on the support not only of his own flock, but on the goad will and admiration of all his fellow citizens. An address from the clergy was read by Bean JTegartv. and a further ono frcm tho laity by Mr. J. G. Duffy. The Archbishop, in reply, said ho was greatly pleased to have, an opportunity of bearing testimony to tho . intimate friendship and perfect unanimity which had prevailed during the last twenty-five vears between himself and the bishops of this province. From all the bishops of Australasia he had received signal proofs of brotherly love . and affection. The Archbishop'of Sydney and tho Bishop of "Wileannia were present with him at that service. Addressing the rlergy of the archdiocese, his Grace said:—"l regard this as a family feast—a harvest home—held aficr the fruitful labours of the spring and summer, of which.wo aro all equally partakers. You have made my path as straight and smooth as. prompt obedience and zealous co-operation can make the path of any bishop." Turning to tho laity, the Archbishop said the ideal that he had ever tried to keep before his mind as a bishop was lh.it he should be a father to tho young, a. brother to the middle-aged, and both a son and a father to tho old." In the courKi of his reply Archbishop C'nrr slated that ho had applied (o the Italy Father for the help of a coadjutor to 'meet the ever incroasing duties of such, a large and expanding diocese. Tho appointment will in this ease be with right of succession to the archbishopric of Melbourne. According to canon law, the ordinary process is that when permission has been received from RoMo, the prints meet and select three names in order of preference as .digitus, djgnior and dignissiimis. Those having the right ( to vote arc tho priests of the archbishop's er-uneil. and also the irremovable parish priests. As in the case of the selection of a bishop, (lie bishops of tho province have the right to review and add to tho . names to lw forwarded to Home, and , when a coadjutor to an archbishop is to , be appointed, as in this instance," tho , archbishops of Australia have the same right, so I hat the selection may bo expected to lake some little time. KING GEORGE IN SCOTLAND. j "Jt'iTiis an ideal summer morning last " Sunday. Aug-iift £7." writes a correspondent oi the "Christian World," "when wo , iiKiunkd our bicvcles In ride from Cram- ', dale vir Advie i Sent land). The road is } a lovely one, winding by the sido of tho j Spoy, and a feast to the eye at every turn. The King had 'axrived at Tulchaji * Lodge Uio previous day, so wo know that i ko was sure to be at'the service at Advie

Church, which, was held at noon. AVc were tile very hi=t to arrive, but Mien motors and bicycles brought quite a targe number of people from the surrounding couiir tryside. A worthy elder of the church managed the eager crowd with decision, if snine-vhiit brusquely, ami nil were seated in the little eiiurch awaiting his Majesty's arrival, lmt immediately rote when he appeared. The King wore Highlaud dress, with dark green coat, and looked.bronzed with' lieing on the moors. 3 and ven- well. Ho sat to the right of - the pulpit, near the memorial tablet to 1 the King, and the service was short, i simple, ami imnresiivo. Tho National Anthem was played as his Majesty walked ' out, and soon everyone dispersed. ■ . > A GREAT NONCONFORMIST. , THE LATE DR. GUINNESS KOGERS. I The liov. Dr. Guinness Rogers, the dis- | tinguished ■ Conjregationalust minister, , whose death was announced by eablo reI conl ly, was for many years a foremost ; ligure in the ranks of Nonconformity, i and his force of character, his unflagging i energy, his strength of conviction, and ■ bis general intellectual capacity gave him . a place for many years among tho leaders • of his own denomination, Tho son of a i poor Congregational minister at Pioseol, ■• tho boy at tho ago of nine went to the , Northern Congregatimwl School, Sikoats. \ By tho help of Mr. Arthur Guinness, the . head of th-,> great brewing firm, a kinsman , of his mother, from whom he derived the ! name by winch In was generally known, '. he kepi: bis terms and took his degrco J at Trinity College, Dublin, but not as a , resident student, eo that tho inlluences of ' t'li: College were only those of (ho cxam-in.itioii-reom. In 1815 he accepted a call to a church at Ncwcasflo-on-Tyne. Hero | be was c-oan talcing an active part in tho religious and political life of (ho totvn, to ' which his blunt and oven rough, but always straightforward bearing was by no ' means uncongenial. In ]851 he accepted an imitation to Albion Chapel, •Ashton-under-Lyuc. Hero he remainul for four- ;■ teen years, during which few men—-per-haps none of his standing—were better 1 known among the Nonconformist churches ' of Lancashire. His ministry hero-'covered ' the time of the great cotton famine, in spits cf which ho succeeded in building ■ tho well-known Albion Schools at a cost of ! over .£12,000. In 1805 ho was induced to , move to London to lake charge of the church at Grafbn Square, Clapham, where he remained as pastor for 35 years. ' Dr Kogers was a faithful and diligent ' pastor. Ho was raoit at homo and ..most, ■ effective in the sphere cf ecclesiastical politics, and it was characteristic that, he ■ cht-se as the subject of bis Congrogafion- ■ al Union lecture "Church Systems of Eng- ■ land in the Nineteenth Century." As'a conlroversiali-t Dr. liogevs was hard-hit-ting but eminently fair. of sympathy were received ■ from Lord Ro.vclury (who referred to Dr. Guinness IVurors's noble life) and Bishop Welhlou.— "Weekly Scotsman." DR. GORE FOR OXFORD. A NOTABLE APPOINTMENT. Tho Prime Minister's popularity in Birmingham will suffer through the translation of Dr. Gore from the Sec of Birmingham to the See of Oxford (says tho "Christian World"), but the bold appointment is generally regarded as a happy inspiration. Dr. Gore first came into public notice as author of tho most striking of the "Lux Mundi" essays. Though a High Churchman, he argued for the claims of the Higher Criticism in the understanding and interpretation of the Bible. As Canon of Westminster Dr. Goro*s preaching drew large congregations. He is no orator, anil has not much in the way of grace of delivery, but (hero was a directness, a force, an understanding of the needs of thc : incu of to-day which was very effective. Dr. Goro has'always held strong views with regard to the need of humanising ami Christianising modern industry and commerce, lie is a member of' the Christian Social Union, and in general: politics is regarded as ah independent Liberal. "Alien made Bishop of. Worcester Ihcro were fears that a. great personal force was to be wasted in the drudgery and dutaus of diocesan administration, but Dr. Gore would not allow, 'himself to bo wasted. ,-thiit Birmingham was tho'-'cout-ra-tif the diocese and needed the entire'attention of a bishon, be succeeded in getting it cut off and*establish cd as an independent diocese, to which hi himself was appointed as bishop. On the Disestablishment question.Dr. Goro differs froni most of his brother prelate's. He . believes so strongly in. tho snirituitl vitality of his Church that ho docs not fear, if lie docs not desire, Disestablishment, and he does not believe that Disestablishment could possibly injure the spiritual interests of the Church. Oxford will welcome hiin back, and his social reform enthusiasm, and his insistence on tho need of educating the social Conscience, should do much-good to-the Anglican studentspreparing for'future-'.-ministry, hi' the Church. The "Birmingham Daily Post" says:—"No other 'man,-we suppose, could have advanced the position of Anglicanism in the city and its environs as Dr. Goro has succeeded in doing; neither could any other in so short a time .have strengthened and improved the machinery of tho Church as a working organisation to: an equal extent. It is doubtful whether tho diocese of •• Birmingham could have been carved out of the over-grown and iwwcildy diocese of Worcester without his gifts in money and bis unflagging perianal endeavour. . . . The Anglican Church in the city and its environs has been filled with new life and new energy during recent years. - "But great as is tho loss to Birmingham, it is probable that tho wholo Church will gain proportionately much more (says the "Church Times"). It has been widely felt that Bishop Gore's great scholastic gifts were being held in check by tho heavy administrative demands of a diocese like Birmingham; and tho Church has too few men of his calibre to bo able to allow them to remain for ever immersed in the duties of such posts."

THE FERNLEY LECTURER.

2?ext year's Fornley lecturer is to be tho Rev. George Jackson, 8.A., of Victoria University, Toronto. Tho fact that Mr. Jackson has been chosen by the Fornley Trustees for tliis important task shows conclusively that tho criticism to which, he. has been subjected in Canada owing to his alleged unorthodox}- finds no support in British Methodism. Appropriately, the lecturer for 1913, ,tho year of tho Missionary Society's Centenary, will ho the Key. W. H. Findlay, M.A.-"Chris-tiau \\ orld." ■

WORLD-WIDE METHODISM.

Tho latest officiaL statistics of worldwide Methodism show that the total number of ministers is 52,517, lay 'preachers 103,254, churches '100,281, church members and probationers 8,979,707, Sunday schools 80,597, scholars 7,748,596, and officers and teachers 851,274. Nearly all these totals show largo incrcasos, Sunday scholars being over 300,000 more. There is, however, a shrinkage.of 1700-ministers and nearly 3000 local preachers, duo probably to the revision of statistics in somo of the American Methodist Churches, notably- in the negro and coloured communions. The present seating accommodation of tho Wcslevan churches in Great Britain is said to be 2,323,195. In Japan last year there were 4291 church members, with 73 ministers, 28 churches, and 11,136 Sunday school children. This year's figures are 13,290 members, 155 ministers, ■ 100- churches, and 22,95-i Sunday scholars.

A GENEROUS GIFT.

Tho Church of Scotland has received further cause to rejoico at tho.gcuorqs.ity of I/ord Mount Stephen, who recently mado an offer 0f.£10,000 to the proposed new i»nsion fund for the ministers of that Church,' on condition that nino others did the same, or that a "sum of JIIOIH' was otherwise completed. Ho has now withdrawn the condition, and intimated bis intention of on immediato contribution of tho .£IO,OOO.