RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 16 March 1912, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

THE CHRISTIANITY OF CHARLES DICKENS. ADDRESS BY PRINCIPAL G. A. SMITH. This was the subject of a very interesting address delivered by Principal Georgo Adam Smith, in tho Glasgow Cathedral. "We admire in Dickens," ho said, "not merely the great artist, but in a very real sens:o tho hero—the hero in action as well as suffering—tho hero with tho hand of God upon him, and driven by that hand along the way of Christ. The unswerving faith in Christianity itself, apart from sects and schisms, which had never failed him at any period of his life, found expression at its doss in tho language of his will. 'I commit niv soul to the mercy of God, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and 1 exhort my dear children humbly to try to guide- themselves by tho teaching of tho New Testament in its broad spirit, and to put no faith in any man's narrow construction of its letter, here or there.' The cthio which ■these definite convictions supported was ioity mid disinterested. To his youngest .son he wrote (hat he was 'to do to ethers what ho would that they should do to him, without being discouraged if they d:d not do it.' To the Birmingham people he said that they were 'to attend to eelilinprovenient', not because it led to fortune, lut becuuso it was right,' and, again, 'All kind things must bo done on their own account, ami for their own sake, and without tho least, reference to «ratifime. 'Nothing of what is noblv done can ever be lost.' No writer of our timo lias done more—though some have done it with greater subtlety—to picturo 'tho inevitable and unfathomable consequences of sin. One sin, tho original sin of selnshnoss, no writer has tracked «rith so remorseless o pen. Again, (hero is tho

unfailing purity of his writings, so often tho subject of the praise of tho best of his countrymen, and a much-needed rebuke to many of the novelists of to-day. The works of Charles Dickens bring their renders into an atmosphere in which cant dies, and hypocrisy is exposed to itself, wickedness is always ugly, and goodness seems moro possible than it was before. His novels put n new conscience as well ns a new heart into British philanthropy."

IN MEMORY OF GENERAL GORDON.

KHARTUM CATHEDRAL CONSECRATED. On January 2G tho twenty-seventh anniversary of the death of General Gordon, tho Anglican Cathedral at Khartum was consecrated by the Bishop of London, with impressive ceremony, in the presence of a congregation of 000 persons, which included Lieut.-General Sir Reginald "Wingato and Lady Wingate, and. all the chief local officials. Tho consecration took place in the presence of a gathering remarkable not only for its cosmopolitan character, but also for tho. variety of faiths represented in tho congregation, which included not onlv high ecclesiastics of the Coptic and Greek Churches, but also some of tho leaders of th,3 local Moslems, including the Grand Cadi and tho Grand Mufti, who were given seats in the nave. At nino o'clock the Coptic Bishop of Khartum, the Coptic Bishop of Jerusalem, and tho four Bishops of Syria and Egypt arrived at the western door, where they were met by the churchwardens, and conducted to srats within the chancel. Some tiino before tho arrival of tho officiating clergy, tho cathedral was already filled to its utmost capacity,. the congregation of Komo COO peoplo representing' all classes and communities of the native population, many guests and visitors who had como specialty from England, somo 300 of tho British residents iu Khartum, and many members of the other European colonies. Punctually at half-past nino tho strains of the choir, chanting the 122 nd l'salm, "I was glad when they said unto me, we will go into tho House of the Lord," were heard from outside as the procession moved along tho north siilo towards the ■west end. The visiting clergy, in their robes, camo next iu twos and threes, and were followed by Canon M'lnncs, the Dean of Salisbury, the Bishop of Chichester, Bishop Gwynne, and finally the Bishop of London, preceded by three chaplains. As tho head of the procession arrived at tho west door tho nsalm ended, and during the "Gloria" the Bishop of London, leaving his place at the end of tho procession, advanced to the door, which was closed. When tho last notes had died away, his threefold knock was heard, tho doors were 6wung open, and the Bishop advanced up tho stairs in the west porch and through the Narthex, or Ante-chapol, to the beginning of the nave, tho choir and tho rest of tho procession following gradually and filling Hie porch nnd the Nnrthex. Standing still at the west end. the Bishop of London said, "Peace be to this House,' and then "Lift up your -heads, O ye pates." The choir responded with the chorus, "Who is the King of Glory:" As the sound of this response died away, tho Governor-General, representing the committee who havo been responsible for the building of the cathedral, advanced from Ilis sent in tho chnncol, and escorted by the churchwardens proceeded to the ivest end and presented tho petition for consecration to the Bishop. Tho latter having given his nssent, the choir again advanced, leading the procession up to the east end, singing Psalm xxiv— Tho earth is the Lord's," in which all joined. The usual form of servico for a consecration was followed. The Bishop of London then preached the sermon. He took for his text the words from St. John's Gospel, "Greater lovo hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life.for his friends." Quoting the inscription on tho memorial to General Gordon in St. Paul's Cathedral, the Bishop !-nid that all cueslions a< to tho causes which led to Gordon's denth were irrelevant. All that they looked at was tho gallant figmv, undismayed, niwiling death, a sacrifice for his friends. But the creature must never be held to surpa-s the Cronlor. There was a deep significance in (lie words in Browning's Pan!. "Would 1 suffer for him that T love? So woiilds-t thou, hiwilt thou." The lesson was one of sacrifice. Tho hymn uftor tho nermon wan "Now thaiik wo all our God," daring Tfhioh th« collection jraa

taken, tho proceeds of which amounted to J;2!ili, to which must bo added offerings amounting to Xlst sent from tho province of the Sudan by members of the. British community unable to attend the consecration. Theto wore now presented with the rest of tho collection on the altar. _ At six o'clock tho congregation again assembled for tho thanksgiving service, at which the preacher was the Dean of Salisbury, Dr. Page Roberts. VICTORIAN METHODIST CHURCH. CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. At the annual conference of the Methodist Church of Victoria and Tasmania on March 1, (ho Kev. llorton Williams introduced Iho proposals of tho special committee appointed by the last conference to organise a fitting celebration of the centenary of Methodism in Australia in l'.!lj by a comprehensive evangelistic movement, and the establishment of a centenary Ih.inksgiriug en,|j o f .£IOO,OOO. The committco had examined these proposals carefully and looked at them from every aspect, and was of opinion that the two .schemes should bo worked together. He reminded the conference of tho splendid work dono in the past by the Rev. John Wats-ford, who was a man of hopes, a man of visions, who saw what was possible and worked steadily, till he accomplished what ho had in view. Ho moved that (ho conference wt apart a minister in 1912 to inaugurate and organise the movement for establishing a centenary thanksgiving fund. Mr. E. C. de Garis seconded the motion. rho Rev. T. Adainson opposed the motion. Ho had nothing to eay against evangelistic missions, but he contended that the scheme as at present outlined was not workable, as they were asking ona man to do what was "beyond his power. He recognised the financial need of the movement, but the result would be an attenuated appeal that would not succeed in obtaining tho offering they sought from their people. He moved an amendment:—"That in x'Jiw of tho divided opinion •lluit exists as to tho necessity ot immediately setting npart a minister to organise tho centenary thanksgiving celebrations, together with the diliiculty at present experienced of finding; Ministers for many of the openings presenting thenieelves in our circuit work and mission fields, this conference resolves tho immediate appointment of a. minister to erganisc the centenary thanksgiving celebrations is not necessary." Tho Rev. K." Ditterich seconded the amendment. The qiiarturly meetings' ought to be consulted on a question like that before them. The Rev. W. Hunt urged the importance of the approaching centenary, which should be made tho occasion of a grand and effective celebration. Ho saw no reason for their staying their hand. Ho did not think that tho last conference had made a mistake in deciding to wnibine tho evangelistic wor!; with tho raising of a large sum of money to celebrate tho centenary. There was' no need for people to wait three years before they gavs in their donations. Let them give what they could afford at once. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. Dr. Morlev, in reply (o a ieminder from tho president that tho time was approaching tor the pastoral session, said that in view of the great interests involved, the debate should not be dosed. It v.us decided to put the question lo the vote. The amendment wns v carried. It was then put as a substantive motion and affirmed.

WOMAN'S MISSION.

AN ADDBESS Bl r THE TOPE. In an address which he delivered when he received in private audience the members of.the Union of the Catholic Ladies of Italy,: who'assembled, iu Rome for a conference 0:1 social subjects, the Holy rather made it clear that his ideal of woman's power of self-sacrifice is very high. "They call you the weak sex, , ' raid (ho Pontiff, "but you can give astonishing examples of fortitude—fortitude, of which those so-called strong men who do not understand the sublime virtue of selfsacrifice are incapable." After haviug paid woman this iino tribute, the Holy father defined her mission as threefold. It is a mission .for, the propagation of religion by the diffusion of religious knowledge:; a. mission for the promotion of charity by the succouring of the poor and the helping of those who are exposed (0 temptation; and a mission of sell-sacrifico on behalf of others in which the female sex had always distinguished itself. His Holiness is well awaro of the deep attachnwnt of the women of Italy to the Christian ruligion and of their effective opposition to movements for weakening its influence amongst the Italian. people as it .has been weakened in France. Assuredly in Italy and other lands woman's Stirling devotion to the Christian faith is one of its most powerful safeguards.— "Catholic Times."

WHITHFIELD'S TABERNACLE.

COLLEAGUE FOR THE REV. C. S. HORNE. Afier attempting' the work of two ordinary mon, it whs inevitable that the J'cy. C. Silvester Home, M.1 , ., should require further assistance at AYhitefield's Central Mission, London. His duties as member of Parliament for Ipswich havo naturally imposed heavy work upon him, both iu respect to attendance at tho Houso and the other engagements that devolve upon a member of Parliament. To many of Mr. Home's friends it is obvious h« has' for a long time been overtaxing his strength in his dual capacity, and he has reluctantly come to tlio conclusion that he cannot continue all tho work that devolves upon him in connexion with Whiteu'cld's, though he is quite averse to Mie resignation of this charge in Tottenham Court Road, where he has maintained his uuiqiio ministry with such marked success. To meet the situation the committee of tho Mission have invited the Rev. W. Charter Piggott to become joint superintendent with Mr. Homo. At present Mr. Piggott is minister of Biinyan Meeting, Bedford, one of the most historic NonconformFst churches in tho provinces, and directly associated with the life of-John Bmiyau. Mr. Piggott is an excellent speaker and preacher, nnil has previously had several invitations to leave Bedford for large spheres of work; but up to the present has deciined them all, preferring fio remain in Bedlord. It was understood that Carr's Lain. , , Birmingham,, desired him to succeed Dr. J. H. Jowctt, now in New York. Originally Mr. Piggott belonged to the Wesleyan ministry, but doctrinal differences caused him to sever his connexion, and previously to accepting the pastorato at Bedford in succession to Dr. John Brown, the well-known biographer of John Bunyan, he was minister at a small church at Grevillo Place, Kilburn, where his preaching and work were much appreciated. In reply to a representative of tho "Westminster Gazette," tho Rev. C. Silvoster Homo stated that the invitation to Mr. Piggott camo from the Council of the London Congregational Union, whose moinuers havo control of tho central missions attached to that body. Mr. Homo said emphatically that it 'is not his own intention to "retire from the Congregational ministry.

THE PEACE OF CONSTANTINE.

PROPOSED CELEBRATIONS. In a few months' time just sixteen centuries will have rolled by since tho publication of the Edict of Milan by which Constantino tho Great, after winning the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, outside the walls of Rome, recognised the liberty and independence, which belong to tho Church by Divine right. From 1912 back to 312 is a long cry, and tho Church which tho victorious Emperor led from the Roman Cntacombs, after she had suffered centuries of persecution, had since covered the face of the earth. , It is but meet that the century of her liberation should be duly celebrated in the centre of Christendom, where the conqueror of paganism lirst recognised the dignity of her mission. What form tho eelebratidne of tho centenary of the Peace of C'onstantine will take in Rome it is prematura as yet to say. But one item in (ho programme already suggested is tho erection of a clmrcli to Christ (lie Eternal Victor beside the Milvian Bridge, two miles from Flainininn Gate; for it was there Constantino vanquished the pagan army, and into the yellow wnlcrs of the Tiber below tho body of Maxentius, its leader, who fell on that memorable day, was thrown when the day closed on that scene of carnage. As the centenary of the Edict of Milan alfects the Church all over the world, it is expected that the coming celebration of its publication will be shared in by all nations.—"Catholic Timos.'t