RELIGIONS- ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1710, 29 March 1913, Page 9

RELIGIONS- ACTIVITY.

DR. ADENEY'S TOUR. j BOUND THE WORLD IN TWO YEARS. Dr. W, E, Adeney, Principal of Lan- , cashire Independent College,' and chairman 1 of the Congregational Union, proposes to leave England for a somewhat lengthened journey. Dr. Hooke referred to the matter at til? February-Heard meeting of tho Colonial Jlissionury Society, over which Eortter presided. Dr. Adeney s plans were received with marked approval, it baing generally felt that'the best possible results would certainly accrue. On the motion of Principal' Garvie, seconded from the chair, it was unanimously agreed to place on record the n !'i satisfaction, and gratitude for ■Dr. Adency's expressed willingness to servo the churches and missions so far as his own arrangements may permit, tho Assembly of tho Now Zealand UnioiE netd in liniaru recently was informed, by cablegram, and tho Congregational unions lor t^sinula, the 'various' Australian States, and .South Africa, have also keen communicated with. Dr. Ecrdyce; ex-President of the Australasian Union, and Rev. Leslie C. Pcrkln, B.AV, of: Melbourne, Vic., spoke of the delight with which tlie Churches under the Southern Cross would hear of Dr. Adency's inlentions, and of tho Warm welcome which would be given to him and Mrs. Adeney. 1 hey propose lo leave England in June, ond in the first ca.se to visit Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific, making their way from British Columbia'to' Sail' Francisco, and thence to Sydney, visiting en route, iu the missionary, sliip John Williams, some of the South.. Sea Islands.. They hope to spend. Christinas, 1913, in Navr South Wales, proceeding' from Sydney to New -Zealand. and Tasmania, 'ihenee they return to Hie other Australian States. Tho homeward route will be /by way of tho Cape of Good Hope. Their visit to* South Africa will include tho Transvaal, which .they hope to' reach in September, 1914. It is hoped that a-series of representative conferences'.will be held, at which such topics may be considered as "The Mission of the'. Churches/ Today," "Tho Sunday School of -the Eitti;re," "The Bible and ■ Modern Problems," etc. Thero will also be', gatherings of a more public kind. Dr. Adency's visit to our overseas dominions creates a precedent (says the "Christian World") which may well be followed by' l'uturo chairmen of tho Congregational Union'. ' At the general committee meeting of l Lancashire College on February 10 a unanimous invitation was cabled to Dr. Douglas Mackenzie, of Hartford College,' to become Principal in succession to Dr. Adeney. Dr. Mo.cken7.ie, the son of'a well known missionary, l!ey. John Mackenzie, va.s born in 1559 in the Orange River Colony, and was educated at the University of Edinburgh, the Congregational Theological Hall, Edinburgh, and the University ofGottingeu. , The D.D. degree lias been, conferred on him by Beliot tho _Wesleynn.'... Uhiycrsity. . of Connecticut, Yale, and Edinburgh,, .and tho LL.D. by Prineoton!.Uiiivcrsity.''"-Or-dainttl to the Congregational..ministry in Scotland in 1882, lie was later appointed to the Professorship of Systematic Theology in Chicago Theological Seminary, and ultimately to tho presidency- of Hartford Seminary. ;. , , ,

THE AMERICAN VVAY. " FINANCES OF MISSION. WORK. '• The methods of tho -Protestant Episcopal Church in America in organising and administering tho finances bi the mission work seem v<o be remarkably successful, judging by las>t year's balance-sheet. Tho facts aro very, striking.'".' For', the first' lime more than one million dollars, tho actuil $um being 1,010,944 dollars','was received on tho Apportionment from 742 parishes and missions, as against 235,95J dolors eleven years ago .from: 2232 parishes missions. .. It. is also, a gain ior .the; year of 70,298 dollars, but a loss of 40 contributing congregations. ... Ten years ago (tho ond of vhe. first j-car of the Apportionment), IS dioceses and missionary districts completed their Apportionments, ivhiio 32 have done so this, year. And 2408 parishes and missions have thi& year completed.their individual Apportionments, as against 751 doing so ten years ago. A large number of parishes last year gave more than was asked of them. From tho Sunday Schools, toward the appropriations, 107,250 dollars has been received from 3815 out of tho total number of 4888. This is an increase for the year of 15,857 dollars,' and a decrease in the number of contributing Sunday Schools of 21, From the Women's Auxiliary 117,522 dollars has been.received toward tho appropriations froin 2119 branches, out of the total, number reported of 3-IGB. This is an increase, of 3288 dollars and a gain of 793 contributing branches. Besides this, there was withdrawn' from the United Offerings of! the Women's Auxiliary, 83,210 dollars, '. so . that tho Women's Auxiliary contributed in these two wajV together 201)039 dollars towards tho appropriations. Through tho.nbovo instrumentalities, 1,094,161 has been, received toward the appropriations of the board. This is a gain of 77,814 dollars. From interest there was received .83,G10 dollars, and from miscellaneous sources 4755' dollars—a loss in. the first caso of 2053 dollars, and a gain in tho second of 395 dollars, making a total from all these sources toward the appropriations of 1,182,558: a gain as compared with the year before of 74,580 dollars. In the 5742 parishes and missions contributing under the Apportionment Plan, there were about 890,000 communicants. In the 1210 that were not heard from by parish offerings thero were, 'according to the diocesan journals, about 42,000 com- . In 19Q2, the first year of the Apportionment, -8 diocescs ' and 10 missionary districts completed their Apportionments. Last year 12 dioceses and 20 missionary districts completed their Apportionments. The first year of the Apportionment Plan. 34 dioceses and districts mado Apportionments to •. their parishes and missions. For the year just closed practically all dioceses and districts made Apportionments, ,'fho Apportionment last year was 1,314,550 dollars. and the amount received, on it was 1,010,944 dollars.

A DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR. • . ' PERE VANDEN GHEYN, S.J. Tho Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford writes as follows in the "Tablet":— It would bo a pity if the death of so eminent a Catholic scholar and writer tis tho lato Father Joseph Vanden Ghoyn should bo allowed to pass by unnoticed in tho press. Tho deceased''priest' was ono of tho foremost of Belgium's savants, and ono to whom Cotholic learning must remain deeply indebted. It is therefore n privilege for an intimate friend ami quondam collaborator of; thirty years' standing to pen a few lines of tribute to his memory. For if lie. was. a great scholar, he was none tho less a most charming and sympathetic friend and companion.

Joseph Marie Martin Vanden Glieyn was a native of Ghent, born tliero May 2D, 185']. As a youth ho entered (lie Society of Jesus, went through the usual course of'training, and completed his studies in the Jesuit house of studios at Xouvain. It was here 1 learnt to know and esteem him in the early '80's.._ lk> hadia singularly brilliant theological career, and ended by making his public."act" with great distinction. Meanwhile lie had discovered and doveloped what was really his special literary vocation—philological", ahd especially Oriental,, science. After ti few: years of not very congenial work at a Jesuit bovs' school, where ho had to "get up" school plays ill addition to his scholastic and disciplinary work, ho. was for a time Professor of Sanskrit at the-Catholic University of Paris, with Loisy (not yet unorthodox as a colleague. Then ho was railed to the high distinction of forming one of tho select company lir.'thu Uullanilists, whose headquarters are in Brussels. This important work necessitated.a change of orientation in his studies, and he had to leave aside to a large'extent his favourite Indo-lCuropaan'researches to devote himself to Semitic languages and literature. He attained distinction in the now iield of labour; but shortly afterwards a yet further and wider change was made in his career: ho wasappointcd' by the Belgian Government Keeper of MSS. in the lioyal Library at. Brussels, a mo*t important and responsible post. Hero was the chief work of his life. His opus magnum was the now and complete Catalogue of tho MSS'. of that famous library, one of the most important in Europe. Eventually ho succeeded to tho much envied

position ■of Chief Librarian. Failing health forced him to resign this office but a few mouths ago; and death brought rolief to. his illness at tho College of St. Michel, in Brussels, oil January 29 of tlio present yoar.. Me, was, therefore still in the prime, ol ! life, not yet 53 years of uge. — • ..AlL.through .his busy literary and scientific carecr, Pere Vandcn Gheyn was first and foremost °a model priest and roligiou6. Even in the busiest epochi'of'his life, lie was .frequently engaged in giving retreats, hearing confessions (ho spoke English very well, and was useful in this matter), . prcucliing, and other spiritual work, such us falls to the share of tho ordinary rcfijjious. His spiritual children will mourn his loss, no less than his scientific friends and colleagues. ' /

N.S.VV. METHODIST CONFERENCE, the work op god.' s ' One'of tho most interesting sessions of the recent Methodist Conference in Sydney was that known .is "Tho Conversation on the Work of God." The secretary presented the statistics concerning membership, showing an increase in the Homo 'districts of 12;)9 members and SSfl junior members, ajid of CSS iu mission districts.

■. The president said he. hoped that these returns, together with the evidences of increased 'interest ami healthy movement in almost every branch of Church work* wouid strilie an optimistic nolo in tho discussion which was to follow. - ' Tliu-Knv. J. A. Waddeil spoke of the necessity of tho revival of interest in tin mid-week, prayer meeting, nm(' of th« problems brought about by the rush ol business life.

.The Rev. j. G. Middlcton ypolre of ons asking TcHn'ysoii what.was' l!is' chief'- desire,' and rect-iving the reply: "That I may. sec visions of God." There was 110 safety and thero was no satisfaction outside of communion with God.

The Rev. C. I. Preseott/ drew attention to ,the-fact that hymn-writers were still living, and that some of the hymns most frequently used anil powerfully effective had been composed in comparatively recent years. His, recent visit to England had convinced him that, though congregations were in many cases smaller, there was evidence of the guarding of the sacred lire.

Mi'., T. 11. England spoko of tho experience of the conference as a means of grace, and thought that few bodies of men Vith differing views could conduct their business with such courtesy, .'kindliness, and brotherly feeling. Mr. Joseph Victory spoke of the Cliurch's need of tho realisation-of-Die ■Holy Spirit us n.l'orson and not merely nil'- influence. Tho new" vision was a vision of the.: Spirit of. God in His personal presence and power. The Rev'. ••«'.. .Woolls H-utledge moved a Comprehensive motion . expressing gratitude to God- for- success- granted, and renewed consecration to loyal-hearted ser* yico, which tvav seconded by the Hot, B. J. M'eak,\ind carried on the voices. , ' outspoken new year letter. •The Rev. Jaines Smithv a Presbyterian .minister of' Aberdeen, lias 'addressednNew Year letter.to his congregation,, in the course of -which lie says:./"I appeal •to you at this season to put an end-to all apathy, about worship, this indifference to churchgoing, this- terriblo inability to go to church evc-n onqe a Sunday regularly, when you who are at work feo six days a week to earn your bread, because if you. don't you will starve. ;l's your soul'of less value to you than your body ? Is it right and fair to give nil! the go-by while yo are' young and strong and well, and all goes well \yitli you, and to expect me to be at your call and service when illiiess and trouble, and sorrow, and death come upon you. [ tell you frankly I cannot -longer be'the minister of any. of. you who continue lo -despise the Church and neglect my ministry. Our kirk-session most strongly support' ine inthis matter. You are nut going to make me a convenience for baptisms, marriages, sick-beds,-.and, l'umerals.". .

- UNITED FREE (IHURCH. The. United Free Church, lias surely Little reason to. complain: of tho dearth of theological students. Tho total number in' attendance at its 'three colleges in Edinburgh, Glasgow," ond Aberdeen, is 227. This number,' however, does not maintain, the distinct advance made in the year 1911, and* is only slightly above t'lio 'total ,for 1910. Then it should also 1m pointed out that of tile. 227 .in attendance, only 170' are regular students preparing for tho ministry of ' tho , home churches, vrhilo 57 aro noil-regular students, mostly Continental and colonial. Tho regular students are. distributed as follow: At Glasgow 81;'' at Edinburgh, 57 j and at Aberdeen, 32. There is hero certainly no ground for pessimism.— "Christian World.' 1 ' ,

ANGLICAN NOTES. Prebendary ( <folm Stora, vicar of fit'. Peter's, Eaton Square, since ,1883, liaa been appointed! Dean of Rochester, in <yiccession to tho late Dr. Lime. Prebendary Storrs is ait able preaclwr, and liis.skill as an orgjmiser has fen apparent from tho cfficiont maintenance) _of tiio / many branches of work in liis wide parish. He was made a prebendary of Slv' Paul's Cathedral in. 1900, and cook part in the' 'Mission of Help to South Africa; organised by Bishop Wilkinson in 3901. / Bishop Hamilton Bayn.cs, .vicar of St. Mary, Nottingham, and formerly Bishop of Natal, has been appointed to tho rectory of St. Philip, Biriuing'ham (the ProCathedral), in successior' to Oanon Carnegie, jiow of' Westminster. The .Bampton Lecturer, the Rev. 6. Edmundson, delivered tho first of his. course at Oxford on February 9. It was a very clear and interesting account of tho Church in Home in tho first cen|ury and of tho foundations upon which it was built. The lecturer dealt very fully with the New Testament cvidenco, ana naturally;gave .much space to the' Epistle to jjio Banians, ■ which ha held, in spits of some modern criticism, to l*s a ono and undivided whole. He accepts tho view' that St. Peter founded the Church at Home, and in his next lecture (next Sunday) ho proposes to givo tho, reasons for this belief.

The Community of tho Resurrection lias issued an appeal for .£10.090. An annual sum of .IMOOO is needed lor tho maintenance ,of between sixty.and seventy students, and ,£SOOO for new buildings is urgently required. It is proposed to build a new wing with accommodation for 30 guests, and to make certain changes in t'lio household which will enable the Community to receive much larger numbers nt much more frequent intervals. Weekend Retreats for laymen have proved a very important branch of Community work, and the demand for places at all these Retreats has for some-time past exceeded tho accommodation. "We receive laymen of all classes. 'Manufacturers ami artisans, clerks, and journalists coino to our Hons? from Saturday afternoon till Sunday night or Monday morning. The greater part of the'time is spent in strict silence, books arc read during meals, four or five addresses are given, followed by silent meditation." It is for this work that help is now asked.