RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

MR. BRYCE ON UNITY. THE GROWTH OF CO-OPERATION. The Clerical Union of New York gavo a farewell lunchoon to' Mr. .Tames Bryco on his retiring from his Ambassadorship. Every denomination of Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Jews united in the testimony of appreciation of the Ambassador's work for humanity and international brotherhood. Tho addresses wero given by a Methodist, a Unitarian, a Roman Catholic, a Presbyterian, and a Jew, while an Episcopalian presided. In his reply. Mr. Bryco said: "This luncheon takes 1110 back to thoso days which only very few of you remember—days when it would not have l>ee.n possible for tho clergy of so many religious bodies to meet together in brotherly kindness and mutual helpfulness to consider those things which aro for tho common good. Sixty-five years ago. when my recollection 'first began, no gathering like this could liavo been possible. It is one of the interests and consolations of advancing years to l>e able to carry one'? mind back and to note all the changes. Indeed, in tho religious sphere there aro two changes that I especially note—changes for flic better and processes of advancement that I think cannot be overlooked. One of them is the growing s£ cooperation and sympathy between the different religious bodies. "We are all happy to-day to lay more stress on the things we have in common than upon our differences. And, then. I is it not a great advantage for tho good of mankind that all the religious bodies should more and more come to think less of dogmatic and ecclesiastical differences and to think more of the expression of religious life in conduct—in individual conduct—and of the increasing of individual virtue and piety, and' of finding more pleasure in rendering service to oiy fellow-creatures? Surely it is a great advance we liavo made when wo come to foel more and more that a great part of the service to God is n service to man, and that all true service rendered to man is service also rendered to God. Surely when wo have done with that, we t iiave laid the foundation for co-operation which will be eternal among us, and which will enable us to accomplish far more good for one another ond for those among whom our lot is east than could have been dono in tho old days of theological attack."