RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

ANGLICAN CHURCH CONGRESS. iSTUMvINC; SKKIIOX 11V THE HISITOI , Of LONDON.

A reception was given on October 3 In I lie members cif die .Anglican Ciiiin-lt Congress In- Ihf. llii.vnr of Stoke iiml hy tlm Nmicwiliiriiiisl.i i>f I In; five federated boroughs iif Ihe "I'otlori"?.. The Town HiiU was crowded, ami before tin- platform Mils si resplendent Congress banner, tlm Kill: n f I In, dionese, rci>resi'nling Iho <ic lircraiir'c of SI. I'otrr from prison. Tin: Bishop of London in liis Congress senium (mil; for liis text "New T.inn into if bottles." Why, he ask-.1, hail the Church not. more influence upon tho rising liile of democracy? Strong, new nine was working iu Hie hearts and brains nl Oimisands. They wore ?et on hPijin;; (lie! bpxinning of a Kingdom ol lleawn on curlh; il was n mmlest cnoiiiih KiiiKdom of (iod which they exnccled; I hey did not rravn for Inrge mansions or ?>rim:<?l.v incotnes, but more (ime to think, and yrroliT leisure from toil, and a living wiiri' and ;i help lownrds being indejiendenl. in old urp instead of going lo the workhnusp. They wanted co-oporaliou lo lie tho ruling molivp of life and work, instead of cut-threat competition, and pi'/iie ammiif nations inslead of war. What Christian, asked his - Lordship, nnnld doul)t that such wine minht have been created ar Cann of Galilee, lln noliccil with thankfulness that in this country (!k> labour movement was avowedly and definitely relipous, as witness the addresses of Labour members and their aelivo participation in Clirisliau work. Why wcro they not looking more Hmu jlvy were (o (lie historic Church of Ell - land for sympathy, guidance, and ndvico? ile belipvwl Uic first reason was Hint, consciously or unconsciously, Churchmen were inllupuccd still by class prejudice; and, secondly, that this spoiled the rail sympathy which the Church wished lo give. The (oiling milliuus were not inleresled in their ecclesiastical controversies, or whether, for example, a stole was legal. There was nothing whatever wrong with the Church or its sacraments, its ministry, or iis ceremonial. What, was amiss was fatal class prejudice and caste feeling. These must be laid asido for ever; they must lay aside the parish manner and let their working-class friends know their real tastes, loves, and aspirations. They must cease to believe (hat anyone who did not. como regularly to church was therefore irreligious, and must frankly recognise that good in any form could only come from God. "jlay," said the Bishop in conclusion, "this congress help to turn the tide."

Rsvision of the Prayer Book, Tho Bishop of Lichficld presided at the Stoke Town Hall section at which the revision of the Prayer Book was considered, and the Archdeacon of Leicester (Dr. Stocks) opened tho discussion. Ho ' remarked that three subject- had become matters of almost general agreement. The Prayer Book was not enough for their needs, and it would bo woll to agree to well-considered additions instead of leaving them to he made by private judgment. It was also clear that thcro was a real approach to general acknowledgment that the revised Lectionary must itself be revised, especially in regard to tho lesson lor Sundays, and it would seem that most Churchmen would also welcome a loss mechanical arrangement as to tho u=e of the Psalter.

Canon A. J. Wortledge (Chancellor of Iruro Cathedra!) asked the congress to consider whether tho needs of the Church might not bo better met through a:i authorised supplement annexed to the Book of Common Prayer than through revision of tho Book itself.

The Archdeacon of Birmingham (the Yen. W. V. Burrows) remarked that the clergy could not .bo forced like children. What was wanted was a clear expression ot a wish by the Church, without coercion.

Dr. F. Jackson thought they ought to modernise the Prayer Book in'such a way as to make it a living book appealing to the needs of the times.

Viscount Halifax could not imagine a greater delusion than to suppose that what was called "lawlessness in the Church' would be ended by the revision of the Book of Common Prayer. Tho great mass of Churchmen throughout the country wore opposed to revision. (Cries of "No, no," and cheers.) It had been said that if they did not revise it themselves Parliament would interfere, without their consent. "Let Parliament try it on," exclaimed his Lordship, "and wo will teach them a lesson."

The Bishop of Lincoln said they had outlived many tilings in tho Prayer Book, and they must bo brought up to date Mr. H. W. Hill < a layman) said rension_ was advocated as a, means of disciplining tho clergy',-and , they were going to .attempt the impossible, (Laughter.)

THE BAPTIST UNION. MEETINGS AT BRIGHTON. Some 1200 delegates were present at tho meetings of tho Baptist 'hiion held at Brighton early in October. A dark background was made bv Priu- ?, 1 J ,a \, l ,! :ihral ' (ls ("J' 3 the "Christian Horld ) on which to paint his ideal piclure of a "witnessing church," every member of which is an active partner in tho business of evangelisation and realisation of tho Kingdom of God. The present year had witnessed the outbreak of a spirit of hooliganism in high ploces as well as in iow. it only snoirod that our civilisation after nil was but a thin veneer covering a most dangerous condition of tilings, which might at any lime break out like a volcano and spread ruin around'it. Among other ominous signs was tho spirit of criticism, which in too many instances had laid ruthless hands on the most holy and sucrod things, approaching tho most solemn subjects with loud clatter of feet instead of with a reverent trer.d, endeavouring to lnirl what had ix-cn venerated throughout the ages to the rubbish-heap or the limbo of the worthless or tho non-essential. There was a fearful prevalence of indifference, both amongst the ninths and the classes, to the things of the soul and the claims of (he world to come. The churches had grown anxious, and were at times panic-stricken at tho advancing tide. They had been m ii, hurry to to!,-1> new measures whereby to carry on their work. "What unions, associations, federations, forward movement;, brotherhoods, guilds, . etc., had Le.-.-n formed. They had Veen holding conferences, conventions congresses, elaborating schemes ' for revival meeting!-., sotting apart missionaries, setting on (heir journeys Ouspcl caravans, and starling itK-titiiHniy.il churches. They thanked God for thc'e, und yet there hail been raised a bitter outcry outside tho churches, and many a f(iierulc;is complaint had bron raised inside the churches and it was that their ■■fl'orls to influence- >oe!Pty li:ul been a failure. [j<> recalled their attention to (he fact that the democracy of this eonntrv owed practically everything to the Christian people of the land, and especially to the Free Churches, who hud struck (hu letters from the feet of the democracy, and was the democracy now going to kick awar the ladder by mean:- of "which it hail climbed to the very drone nf power? It might be, however, flint the churches had been so busy holding conferences, appointing committee.-:, .'.md passing innumerable resolutions that it really had no time to do anything. Had not the time come to ask whether they had endeavoured to put into orevaiion fiod's only plan, _.-.ud to make, truly cfnVicnt God's only institution to bring their country and the world to Christ, vb., tho Church itself, or tho individual churches thai; were to be the centres of lisht and lending? I!e directed (heir attention to the \Vitno-siag Church, laying especial emphasis on the necessity of the ministrv of Ihi! entire Church. The YVilne:>sin); Church must hu a woi-hippiuj Church. But would it be too extravagant a statement" to mnke that, social prayer, so far as the bulk of their Church members were concerned, had almost ceased? There hail been ages in Christian history when the prayers drove out the sermon; "t jire.-ent there was n danger that the fcrnum might, drive out the prayers. They might lia strong in instruction,' but. if weal: in ilevolirm they hail fallen ,m evil day:;. The pcrcinpiur.v task was (lui calling out. of all the reserves, the mobilisatiiiu of (he Church's entire army, and equipping and inspiring all for service. Why. in the namr of common sense, not to speak of their holy religion, should thi! minister be e\peeled to conduct tho whole of each service on the Sunday and in the week, whilo the, muscles of the members of his church wero (laccid through complete want of spiritual exercisof