RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

GIPSY SMITH AT SEATTLE. Mr. .M. Player, religious editor of "The Seattle Pest," writes:— To (he City of Seattle has come nil evangelist. '.I here is no city iu the world where the conditions are similar, and it is necessary lo realise what Seattle is before any adequate idea can be obtained of what such an event means. Within a generation, on the shores of l.'uget Sound, on the western coast of the United States, has been built a metropolis of 300,000 souls. One-storj wooden bams stand side by side witti magnificent fourteen-story sky-scrapers. In ihe space of fifty years almost every kind of industry has'been commenced, and all manner" of men have poured in from (he Eastern States and from Hie Did Country ;ktoss the sea to partake of (he wealth and to help ill the building. The city stands at the gateway of thu north, and the treasures of Alaska must all pass through the clearing houses ot Seattle. Ju Seattle, therefore, is a sitting of all humanity. Business men, keen and busy, w ith the dollar dancing ever before lliem; tho miner from the north, who has Jiot seen civilisation for several years; (he logger, the fisherman, the outpourings of a multitude of nations; the Hunting citizens of Ihe world. It is a port oi' call for everyone. Civic conditions have been hard put to it to keep pace with the progress of the city. It has alt the sins of every other city of its kind, but is not so willingly sinful as unconsciously careless.

When Gipsy .Smith came to Seattle he brought a religious experience the city had never dreamed of. Tho pastors of tile city- had been earnest in their efforts pt preparation, and had succeeded wonderfully in creating an atmosphere among their own people which was ol 1 unmistakable benefit to the evangelists when he arrived.

The newspapers liatl accorded space for publicity as far ns was asked, and considerably more than tlmy frankly considered tile event was worth as news value, but Ltji li I lie press and public generally wero sceptical. Gipsy Smith's arrival in the city, however, was the signal for a burst of publicity which was as startling as it .was thorough, and by the time of the opening meeting tho evangelist .was the topic of conversation of street-car and in store—and occasionally in bars, too. The continence, was that at the opening meeting, crowds were turned away, .and in the evening the overllow was thousands strong; that they turned more away the next day, and the next day, and- every day after that, until people would be waiting for the opening of the rloors for two hours before tho meeting. The reyivil itself was successful beyond all expectation. Prmu the moment the evangelist spoke his first words to his vast audience he seemed to cast his spirit over the campaign, and every service i increased the religions devotion. Enthusiasm grew almost beyond control, for at least GSOO people could bo aceonimoodatcd twice a day at every meeting of the two weeks. Seattle, not always necessarily wicked, but thoughtless and careless in religious mailers, in. spite of over 200 religious bodies and many fine church buildings, began to see the light. Converts brought their friends, women brought their husbands, even children brought their parents. Large numbers of the people formerly lived in England, and one of the features of tho campaign, was the fervoui with which they took up the- old Gospel hymns, many declaring that tho hymns brought back memories of their childhood.

Tho visit or Gipsy Smith to Seattle has meant more to the city- than even appears from the meetings. Heyond tho importance of individual', soul-saving is the train of thought which lie has started in a great city, tho turning of tho general trend from tilings frivolous to things religious. Gipsy Smith came to a city prejudiced against liini, and has scored ill it a success which can surely never have been surpassed in all his many years of service.

CHRIST WITHOUT THE CROSS. MK. KEKNAHAN'S VISION, A figure like that of Christ, but with a crown of roses instead of thorns, adorns the cover of a powerful little book willed "The Man of No Sorrows," by Mr. Coulson Jvernahau. Mr. Kernahan imagines Ihe advent of a. new prophet who (believing injiis divine mission) preaches a religion of jay to supplant that worship of sorrow which Jesus Christ founded. The people listen eagerly, and the reign of joy begins; but tho writer, in his vision, soon sees that something is wrong: "Scon from the laces of the people something of inner grace and beauty had gone, for though, out of the clay of happiness, God, tho great sculptor, has fasnioncil many a beautiful face and form, yet it is with the sharp chisel of sorrow that tho loveliest lines are graven. And so it was that as the months wore on, it seemed to 1110 as if, .comely as were the countenances of the people, into that comeliness something of coarseness had already crept."

l'rom simple, delights the people pass rapidly downhill into uncontrolled sensual indulgence. Nothing' must stand in their way, and presently the sick and old, who remind them too sharply of death, are driven forth to die in desolate "colonies of the unfit." At last, in the madness of riot, a mob burns Jerusalem to the ground. Tho Man of No Sorrows cries out in an agony of remorse to the Man of Sorrows, who gently shows him tho true meaning of suffering: "The loving hand-touch of the Great Physician upon a wound that He must probo to heal, or upon some spiritual sickness, ailment, or soul-fester, of which, hanly, even the sufferer is unaware." Whether the words here put into tho mouth of Christ are thought conclusive or not, the little tract makes out a strong case against the fashionablo neopaganism which denies the necessity for sorrow and sacrifice.—"Christian World."

ARCHBISHOP OF YORK IN SCOTLAND. A visit that created great interest in Glasgow 011 Sunday, November 1!), was that of tho Archbishop of York, who came north to preach for the students of his old university 011 the day known as the Students' ltepresentativo" Council Sunday. The service was held'in the Bute llall in the afternoon, and so widespread was (lie desire to hear the Archbishop that hundreds .were unaitle. to obtain admission, and the doors were closed a quarter of an hour before tho time of meeting. The Archbishop appealed to (he universities and the students on behalf ot' the democracy, which, ho declared, ivns-confronted with two great problems: Empire and the distribution of wealth. As regards (he inequalities of wealth, he drew upon his personal experiences in (he West End and in East Loudon, which lie knows so well. None had a right to stand outsido their life and advise the people; they must share tho life of the poor. The deepest wish and praver which on that, day of return be would offer for his first Alma. Slater was that she should be increasingly a. fruitful mother of children devoted to tho active service of God in Church and State. Tlio Archbishop also preached a powerful sermon at St. Mary's Cathedral in the morning from tho text: "Bo still and know that I am God."

TWO PARADOXES. Mli. M'C'LELL.AXI) AT THE CITY TEMPLE. Tiie London City Temple congregation had a pleasurable day un Sunday, .November Hi, when the preneher was the lid. ir. K. M'Clelland, U.A., U.U., of East Finchlcy. ' Jn inanner Mr. M'Clelland at times distinctly recalled the absent pastor (the liev. 'K. J. Campbell). There was, Utv instance, (lie same pau-.o and searching look into the faces- of tho congregation when lie had said anything audacious, and the same evident sharing of the enjoyment when a little humour had lieen indulged in. Mr. M'Clelland is young; he only left Mew College for his first pastorate at East Kiuchley in lillO. tor the subjects of his .sermons he took two paradoxes; in thy morning that of the puzzling fact that one man may keep the law from his youth up and have no con.-ciousiiess of tlie presence of (led. while n returning prodigal may be tilled willi it. In the evening another paradox was found in (lie contrast, so clearly seen at (he present, day, between the decreasing sense of sin and the inorcasinp publio conscience. Mr. It'ClolUnd. idnuttiag that tis lfsaeaed xnsz of

bin was not universal; he had heard a m.vi jay that lie was born in sin,- and rejoiced" in tins fact—people, 31r. il'Clellaud interjected,' find, their joy in jsuch illicer sources nowadays. But there was no doubt that sorrow for sin, in the old sense, was passing away. On the other hand, there was a far doepcr faith In religion, but it was passing into new channels. One effect of this was an enormously increased desire to see th... every indfvidual had a chaneo of living (ho .best life of which he was capable. In passing, Mr. M'C'lelland remarked that nowadays a preacher had little (rouble in selecting a subject for a sermon. ]lis real difficulty was to find hymns suitable for singing. Once the hymns for tho next Sunday were found, the rest of the week's work was easy. In the light of this remark, it was.interesting to note ,that the hymns, sung at this service, presumably the preacher's own choice, were seleclc-d from Oliver Wendell Holmes; Whittier, and Georgo llawson.

NEW YEAR GREETING. MESSAGE TO OOXGREGATIOKAIr ISTS; The E-cv. Dr. I'ordyce, formsrly of Sydney, and now chairman of the Beard of Directors of the Colonial Missionary Society, London, has issued a New I'car greeting to tho pastors and members of the Congregational churches throughout the British Empire. He says:— "We should tike you to know and to realise that our hearts beat with yours in truest sympathy, that our prayers are constantly offered for you and your work, ami that it is often a real sorrow to our hearts that we are not able to give you greater assistance iu your noble efforts to extend the kingdom of our common Lord and Saviour. But your own experience has long ago made, you awaro that many things which seem easy enough wiion we plan them and work them out oil- paper, are not possible .to us when we seek to translate them into deeds. The homo claims upon tho churches are many, and as yet only the few have been able to rise to tho greatness of the wider demands. _ Not a few still think of Greater Britain, or 1 of many portions of it, as lauds where gold is abundant, where each citizen enjoys not only political freedom, but also most of tho bounties of nature. It is hard to bring home to their imagination what life is on the prairio and ,in the busii, where families are so scattered, and where the. nearest neighbours may lie 10, 20, HO, 5(1, and even 100 miles or more apart. Wo all know that a banker's clerk is not rich, although he happens to live, move, and have his being where t-ilver and gold are so abundant; but we do not all realise how hard it limy be .for mally good and true' men in connec-' tion witii the great gold, and silver, and olhci' mines of Australia and South Africa, to provide church services for their fellows who need them much, but in whose hearts cravings for lliem have not yet been awakened. But you may rest assured (hat whatever lh« society can do to awaken deeper interest in our sons and daughters in . Great Britain, it is doing, "and will continue to do, il'-pos-sible, with greater earnestness. Our spirits are, indeed, willing; and if our purse is often empty, this is our sorrow and not exactly our fault. Some of us know from experience what work in the New AVorld means, as well as what splendid openings there are lor moro consecrated toil.

"It was (lie writer's privilege to labour for nineteen years under' the Southern Cross. and lie can novel' his dear friends and fellow-workers in that sunny land. _ His toil was under the kindlier conditions, but lie knows how many liavo to'labour year in and year out with but little of outward encouragement, and at the sanio time to feel the stress and strain of poverty, and to have as comrades brothers and sisters, the very excellent of the earth, who have little of this world's riches, if they possess much spiritual wealth.

"Much is said in these days about' the wed for a restatement of the great truths of Christ's Gospel that have dono so ninth for the world in past days. No really living preacher or teacher can avoid restatement! he must try, to think tilings'together, and •in an age like* ours there are so many things to bs united in our Christian thought. It is our privilege to speak in the accent of bur. own time, and to do our little, best to commend the Gospel to every -man's conscience in the sk'ht of God. If wo are to do this in ail parts of the Empire, and in all parts of the. world, 10-day,' there must be great freedom' of speech and much variety and much adaptation in the way'in which we declare the message." ' • DR. JAMES MOFFATT. The correspondent in .Scotland of the "Christian World" writes Much "unrest"- nnd excitement have been prevalent in Broughty l'erry and Dundee and U.F. centres generally since it became known that Dr. James Moifatt, of Hast Church, Hroughty Ferry, and of "Historical New Testament" and "Introduction" fame, had been invited to the Yates Chair of New Testament Greek at Mansfield College, Oxford. I have heon in touch with reliable authority during these days, and foresaw the likelihood of a favourable consideration on Dr. Moffatt's part. The now position has not only much attractiveness, but many distinct possibilities, and in return for the distinction which Dr. Mofl'alt will confer on Congregationalism, Congregationalism will offer him a freedom ho has not perhaps been vouchsafed in his own church. I believe Dr. MolYatt's greatest regret will be to give up a pastorate, but lie will have abundant opportunities at least for preaching in the south. Tlio Yates Professorship; it will bo remembered, was recently vacated by Dr. Souter, 1 ' now of Aberdeen University.

THE NEW ENGLISH MODERATOR. Tho Rev. William Watson, of Birkenhead, tho new -Moderator of the Presbyterian' Church of England, lias for tho last twenty years been minister of Trinity Church, Ckvughton, one of tlie_ largest Prcsbvtorian church.es in the North of Kngland. Two years ago it was feared that his health-had permanently broken, but a year ago, after a long rest, lie was happily able to resume tho heavy responsibilities of his pastorate, and now, it seems, feels strong enough to accept tho Moderators hip. Mr. Watson, who was 'often confused with life lato .Tolin Walson, is a graduate of Glasgow University. Ho was ordained thirty-one years ago at Dumbarton, and after ten years in Scotland took the "braid road" to Birlcenlioad, where 110 has remained over since, ministering to a church with over -GOO communicants, a Sunday school of over SOO, and two local missions. Jlr. Watson is a preacher of the thoughtful stamp. As a good Presbyterian should, lie eschews all meretricious oratory. His writings, especially his book ■ on Prayer, have made him many friends outside Presbvlcrianishi. .who will rejoice at the high honour conferred upon him.

IN BRIEF. Councillor V. J- Goddcn, " 10 Mayor-elect of Canterbury (England)' has long been recognised as one of tho leading laymen in the Baptist denomination. He is'a dcacon of tho Baptist Church in Canterbury, ami has served as Moderator of the Kent and Sussex Association. Mr. Godden is also well known as a local oreadier of great ability, and from the first he lias taken an active interest in the Uautist Local Trenchers' Federation, llis public services have been many and varied. For some years ho was a member 01 the old School Jioartl, and for (he last thirteen years he has served on tho Town Council and on some of its most important committees. Mr. J. JT. J)nvi« ( M.A., of Cwrt-inawr, whose nauio is first on the li«t of nominations for the otlWv of High Sheriff of Cardiganshire, is the Welsh Church Commissioner ami I'egistrar of Abervshvyth University College, llis sister, is the widow of tho late Mr. Tom ftllis, M. 1 \ Mr. Davies is a deacon of thy Welsh Calvinislic Methodist Chapel nt Llmigeitiio,' where his l'litlier was also a deacon.