RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1563, 5 October 1912, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA. STRIKING: DEVELOPMENTS. The following is part of an interesting article which appeared in the "Catholic times (London) nf August St:— Since the dreadful scenes of loot and incendiarism at ihe beginning of the vein- mailers are very slowly trving to follow a normal ccui-m'. Whilst political parties arc wrangling as to who shall obtain ". post in the new Cabinet, the Catholic, Church is quietly pursuing her way and utilising the present favourable conditions for her spiritual work. Mr. Lu Tseng Tsinng. the present Premier the lias since been suveceded by Chao I'iiig-Cliun), began his olficial career as interpreter at the Chinese Legation in Russia. Gradually passing -through, the different grades of attache and secretary, he was named special envoy to the Dutch Court in IBiili. Whilst there he was married to a Belgian lady and undertook to .study the Catholic faith. Appointed to St. Petersburg, he was baptised in the Russian capital, after seeking fresh help during a short stay in Peking. In tho South there has been a rumour, not authenticated, that the famous Sun-Yat-Sen meant to join the Catholic Church. Tho only tiling certain is that the Bishop of Canton received the first President of the Chinese Republic in great state during his late visit tu Canton. The Bishop, vested in mitre and cope, received Sun-Yat-Sen at I lie doors of the cathedral, conducted him tc a throne prepared for him in the sanctuary, and sang the "To Deuui." After the service in the church, which was crowded to the doors, a-great banquet was given by the Christians in the episcopal residence; toasts were drunk in honour of the Great Sun; a fan'of beautiful Cantonese work, upon which a native priest had written 'a piece of poetry, was ■presented to- the daughter of the former president. The latter, in a most happy speech, promised that the newera would be one of broad toleration for everyone. The whole ceremony reflected the advanced ideas of the Christian population of the South. I am afraid that we in- the North arc a littlo backward in 'comparison. The story goes that the political microbe has taken such a hold upon the boys and girls of the Soutli that they are making special general Communions amongst themselves to obtain God's blessing upon their new republic. Evidently those people have got the Faith. In the North the peoplo are more matter-of-fact, and less "einballe," as a Frenchman would say v They want to be left alone to follow their business. Thanks to this disposition, the priests are simply scooping in the converts. The Vicariate of Peking lias been forced to subdivide itself twice within tho last two years, and before long may have to establish yet a third offshoot. The latest daughter to which this ancient capital, has given birth, is the vicariate of Tientsin, the Chicago of North China. From the number of its inhabitants, close upon a million, the wealth of its trade, and tho relations which it niaiiilains with the whole of tho country by its waterways and numerous railways, it is of far greater business importance than Peking itself. This new vicariate, over which Mousignor Duniond presides, though the smallest of the forty-five Chinese vicariates as far as territory goes, still comes eleventh on tho list when wo consider the number of Christians, who number 31,50(1; tho majority made since tho Boxer troubles. Tu attend to their spiritual needs there are only eight European and eleven Chinese priests. They reside in eleven residences, but there are besides ■123 stations where the priest comes round periodically for missions. In addition there are G.'i boys' schools, with 13!i0 pupils, and 25 girls' schools, uith over -405 pupils. The calechunients are instructed in 112 different places, and there 3000 odd men and 800 women during their period of instruction must be kept by the priest, since they are mostly poor. In Tientsin itself, distributed in different parts.of the city, there are six lecture halls holding from sixty to a hundred men. Hero every evening Catholic Evidence lectures are, given by catechists, a real laymen's npostolate. ")■"

OBITUARY.

A DISTINGUISHED METHODIST MINISTER The death look place at Harrogate en August 11 ol' tho Kcv. Thomas Al.'.n, an ex-president of tho Wcsleyan Met'iulist Conference. He was 75 years of u^e. Mr. Allen played a promiii'M't .past in his church almost to tho end. From 1892 to 1595 he served as superintendent minister in tho Clieetluun Hill Circuit, Manchester, and alter he had retired from tho active ministry, in 1905, ho frequently went to Manchester from Harrogate to preside at the monthly meetings of the Conncxioiuil Chapel Committee, which aro held at the Central Hall, Oldham Street. Ho retained for long his place on ninny Connexioiml committees, and added weight and wisdom to their deliberations.

Dr. Allen came of a good North Country yeoman stock, and entered the ministry early. His iirst success was not won in Councxional, but in circuit Methodism—in the ordinary pastorate. Kc became known in the "Wesleyan Church as an unusually efficient circuit minister, and soon was in great demand. His influence culminated in the city of Sheffield, and won for him Connexional fame. Tho Sheffield appointment came in ISSG, and lasted six years. It may he said safely that he took Sheffield by storm—not tho life of Methodism only, but that of tho whole city. He arrested its .attention, and won the city's heart. No AVesleyan minister since the days of Morley PunsUon had so impressed Sheffield.. His popularity and influence were unbounded, .and he became a great Christian force. The conference had begnil to notice Dr. Allen, and.in 18S7 ho was elected into the "Legal Hundred." He was appointed in due succession chairman of important districts like Sheffield and Birmingham and Shrewsbury. After "travelling" for three years each in the Cheetlmiii Hill and London (Higugate) circuits, ho was, in 1597, appointed to the Governorship of Handswoith College. Hirminghaiii. His personality soon.gave him great popularity and influence with the young men training there. Tin's post ho held for eight Vears, until his health failed. In IflOO, after serving his church in many ■ways, and representing it with dignity and effect in Canada and the United States, he was elected to the presidency of (ho conference. The Victoria Univer-. sity, Canada, during that year invested him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He served as president and ex-presi-dent with dignity and distinction. In 1905, after a strenuous ministry of fortyfour years, (hough still apparently in his prime, Dr. Allen's health suddenly failed, and necessitated his retirement.— "Manchester Guardian." THE KEY. ERNEST A. EDGHILL-. The Itev. Ernest Arthur Edghill, one of the most brilliant of (he younger clergy in the Chinch of England, died on August 2(1. The cause of his death seems to have been an accident which occurred at the Slimmer Camp, of the Hoys' Hostel at Sydenham (England). The' son of Dr. J. ('. Edghill, a woll-ronicinbercd Chap-lain-General, and since his retirement a Prebendary ef "Wells, the deeou'ed had such a brilliant career at Cambridge as falls (o the 10l of lew men. He was a Scholar of King's College, Cambridge, and took his degree in 11101, coining out in the first Class of the (la>-ii:il Tripes of that year. Later he took a Eir-i in the. Theoligical Tripos. He also Hon a number uf special prizes during his course at Cambridge. In 191)1! he took the D.D. of Loudon, being placed* in the Honour List, and the following year he became Lecturer in Church History at, King's College, London, and later in Xevr To.-lnment Exonesis, He was ordained in 11101 bv the Dishop <f London, with a title at St. Peter's, Horiisi-y, and in 1907 he was appointed by Hishop Talbot AVilberferce Missioner and Sub-Warden of the College of St. Saviour, Soutliwayk, a v»iti<m he held until quite recently. In 1010-11 ho was Hul-ean Lecturer at Cambridge.

The H'pv. .1. C. V. Durell. writ in;,' in tin- "Church Times," stales:—There arc other* who will tell the lile-story of Krn-e.-t Kdjjliill. 11 tna.v lie perniilted to one who knew him lo write something of tile Mian It was with a lerrible fcoliui: <>t idiock thai (here came to lis so suddenly the news of his dcalh. lie was in camp' willi hi- buys and cut hi* foot wifh an axe. 13l:-»il-)iniMiiiini sol in. and he away on Ausu>t in. So I hero wimil from 111110111 ns one of die most brilliant oi tho yoiuiaer clergy of the

diocese of Southwark, a man of extraordinary intellectual gift«. The buys with whom Ik> fume into contact will never forget him. To hear him giving n 'lesson to children in church was nn experience, indeed. When he was preaching; every word seemed to vibrato with that eager faith which was the mainspring of .ill that he did. His life showed the power that Christianity possesses, how wonderyields himself to its influence. This fully it works in the heart of ono who glorious enthusiasm, which drove him forward, carried him sometimes out of the commonplace path of routine and outside the conventions which we arc accustomed to lay down for tho easing of social 'elaticnships and for the duo conduct of businc.-s. Is (his to say that he was unpractical? Perhaps so. Hut, after all, have not the, great things in the woild's progress been done by men who rcfusV.l to count the cost,, wlio pressed forward in scorn of consequence, who saw their ideal Irefcic them and cast aside all else in tho consuming desiro to bring it to pass? Such a man was Ernest Edghill. Not a thought of personal ambition ever entered his mind. Everything was made subservient to the task to which inv believed God had given him a call.

THE CHRIST OF THE CHURCH.

Dr. Charles A. Briggs, tho American divine, whoso broad views led to a famous heresy hunt, has now come out with the frank statement that he is, theologically, about where ho started. In an article in "The American, Journal of Theology," Dr. Briggs says:—"l have ;made. Christology, more than even criticism, the study of my life, and have not shrunk from tho investigation of its most profound and difficult questions. In late years I have sought to find in the most recent results of- scientific and philosophical investigation something that would help in the study of the most difficult theojogicul questions, anything that would enable mc to test, verify, or correct the Christologioal opinions I had inherited from my teachers; and I venture to affirm that I have found very lilt-to help/ And I challenge any man to produco any valid results of modern philosophy or modern science. that will in the slightest degree impair the Christ of the Church as represented in her creeds and institutions." Dr. Briggs declares that modern objectors to the Christ of the Church revive ancient heresies, nothing more.

MEMORIAL TO DR. G. W..SPROTT.

A very fitting memorial has been erected in the Parish Church of North Berwick to the late Dr. George Washington Sprott, than whom no one was more interested in the history of the Church of Scotland or advocated more earnestly tho beautifying of the Church's worship-ser-vice. Both these aspects of his activity have, in a way, been recognised in tho form tho memorial has taken, namely, a fctaincd-glass window,' tlio subject of which is "0 worship tho Lord in the beauty of holiness," and a tablet bearing (he names of the ministers of the Church since the Reformation, numbering twenty in all. A largo gathering, including the Provost, magistrates, and Town Council of North Berwick, attended the unveiling ceremony, conducted by Dr. Wallace Williamson, of St. Giles's Cathedral, Edinburgh. Dr. Williamson said that much remained still to be done in the movement for improving their Church services and adding richness and spiritual fulness, but for what had already been done and for such progress as they had made, tho Church stands debtor to Dr. Sprott today. ■_

STRENGTH OF CONGREGATION•ALISM.

A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE. Tho "British Weekly" of August 22 slates:—AVe aro able this week to supply tho following tabulated analysis of the numerical strength of Congregationalism throughout the world. With the aid of tho American Year Book, which has just como to hand, Mr. Minshull, of the Congregational Union office, has completed his annual summary of tho statistics available, showing the numerical strength of the churches in Great Britain, tho United States, Australasia, and other lauds where Congregationalism is represented. It includes also the two great missionary societies associated with the Congregational denomination, tho-London Missionary Society and. tho American Board of Commissioners, for foreign Missions. The total shows 17.301 churches, chapels, mission and sub-stations, 1,470,809 church members, and 1,55)3,18!) Sunday School scholars. Comparing the figures with last year, it is interesting to note that an increase is recorded in tho churches and mission stations, and a very substantial increase in the return of church members and Sunday School scholars. No fewer than 12,010 church members and 28,825 Sunday School scholars have been added to the rolls since tho last figures were published. This is an ■ improvement on all previous returns, as last year,we reported an increase of 717S church members, but a decrease of no fewer than 14,194- Sunday School scholars. It is encouraging, therefore, to note that in the Sunday Schools Ihe serious decreasn of last year has not only been retrieved, but that a similar number has been added to the shrinkage reported twelve months ago. Comparing the returns, the following show an increase in church membership on last year:—Canada and Newfoundland, Australia and New Zealand, China, India, • Japan, and tho United Slates of America. Whilst there is .1 slight decrease in the British figures, the membership of the churches in the United States "shows nn increase of 3198. The figures of the London Missionary Society show an increase of no fewer than 5134 in the membership of its stations and out-stations, and in the American Society there is an addition of 53G members. These comuarisons will be of interest in showing that Congregationalism is not standing still, but that progress is bcine made in many parts of the world. Of (ho following totals it should bo pointed out that they do not include the returns of the Free Congregational Churches on the Continent of Europe, for which no statistics are available. Tor instance, it is known that in Sweden there are important Free. Congregational Churches in Stockholm, Gotcbcre, and other large (owns which are comprised in one Union. It is estimated that in these Swedish churches alone there are ckso upon. IOO.OCO members. The work or the M'All Mission in France, which is very largely Conweratiomil, is also not included, nor can the work of Ihe Evangelical Continental Society bo duly tabulated. Churches, Chapels, , Sundav. and Church school SlVns. M'mh'rs. Sch'lnvs. Great Britain 5,021. 1(12,913 61)5,834 London Missionarv Society ....! 2,889 89,319 81,109 Canada and Newfoundland 208 12,202 S.GO4 British Guiana and Jamaica 98 7,720 5,884 Australia and New Zealand 430 20,358 33,220 South Africa, Natal, and Sierra Leone 392 19,094 9,501 American Zulu Mission 23 2,400 2,225 China, India, Japan, and Syria 150 20,410 11,079 United Stales of America ..■. 0,018 738,701 00-1,029 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions 2,042 70,050 74,3.11 17,391 1,179,809 1,593,159

ENGLISH CHURCH UNION.

In connection villi the fifty-third anniversary of the English Church Union, held on June 18, the president and council of- the union have presented to the members arid associates the annual report lor the twelve mon'hs ending on Mav .'ll, during which period 31111 members and associates have joined the union, of whom IS4 are in Holy Orders, and 11130 lav communicants. They have the pleasure of recording the consecration to the Episropate of two members of the union: (1) The Hew Mark .Napier Trollope, vicar of SI. Albans. Birmingham, as Missionary Bishop of Korea; and (2) the Kev. ]),-. .(. Charles Uoper. Professor of Dogmatic Theology in the Genera! Theological Seminary, New York, as Bishon of 'Columbia. Another member of Hie union, Che Uigh'i Kev. "Wilfrid Gore Browne, has been elected Bishop of the new Diocese ef ICimberle.v and Kuruman. IJiirinw the past year 1(511 persons have Wn " v \,[„\ as enrolled associates, and Hi? tidal num. bcr of affiliated guilds is now 102»