RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1764, 31 May 1913, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

ANGLICAN AND EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCHES. UNION MOVEMENT. The annual report of tho Anglican and Eastern-Orthodox Churches Union states that in numbers there has been a steady and satisfactory increase. In the district of the British Isles tho number of members sinco the last report has risen from 2113 to 032, a notable growth. In Russia tho Union had added twenty-four to its number, including two Bishops, and in the U.S.A. Branch more than 150 with four Bishops. In India tho secretary has been most active, and has moro than doubled the roll, so that the total membership of tho Union is now 1150, "an encouraging evidence of tho growing interest and recognition of tho importance of our cause. It is in Russia that the committee aro able to report the chief progress of the year. Of the foundation of the new Russian society, and of tho visit of tho Rev. Father Puller to give some lectures on the English Church iu St. Petersburg, and of other matters, a detailed account is found in the report. Tho interesting announcement is made that Archbishop Euiogie and a party of about " twenty Russian priests and laymen may, iu Accordance with an invitation delivered by the general secretary and provisionally accepted, pay a visit to England shortly, and mako themselves acquainted . with some leading Church people, and seo sonio of the churches and Church institutions. In Greece, Fr. Papaeonstaninos, lato of Melbourne, is continuing to manifest his sympathy with Anglicanism, and is doing good work by explaining to his countrymen the position of tho English Church.

In Japan tho district secretary, the Rev. C. F. Sweet, of tho American Mission, and professor in a Church college in Tokio, is continuing his valuable efforts in establishing closer relations with the splendid Mission of the Russian Church in the same city. A local "Society for Peaco and Reconciliation" for co-opera-tion with tho Union has been formed, and is being promoted by Russian and Anglican Bishops and clergy. Interesting details are given in the report of the efforts of Mr. Sweet and a Russian \theologian to arrive at an understanding of tho chief points nt issue between tho two Communions. Mr. Sweet- has written a pamphlet entitled "Eastern and Western Forms of the Catholic Religion: an Essay on Variations and Differences." It is prefaced by a short account of tho attempt made in Japan to reach unity between the two Communions. Mr. Sweet appends portion of a reply issued by the Eastern Church to that portion of his essay which deals with the Ministry. Ho regards it as noteworthy that the writer of this reply takes up one by one all the arguments offered in the essay for the objective validity on Catholic principles of the Ministry in the Anglican Church, and grants them all. Yet the definite recognition of the status of Anglican clergy as priests Foes not follow, the sole reason advanced being that the Anglican Church'does .not teach unqualifiedly that there are seven Sacraments. Til Ins essay, as finally revised, "NTr. Sweet inserts arguments to meet tliis objection. The Eastern reply admits the historical truth of the con'i:" ity of tho Anglican Ministry dn its three Orders: it grants that both the form and matter of ordination are valid: it receives as sufficient the belief of the Anglican Communion, and as satisfactory the intention of the Church in ordaining. The conclusion whicl> Mr. Sweet reaches, from studying this reply, with its granting of riTl the Anglican arguments, is that i f the Anglican Communion could say, simply and without qualification, "there are seven Gospel Sacraments and one of them is Ordination," then tho status of •Vnglican clergy would 1)0 acknowledged In- tho Eastern Churcli to be completely satisfactory, whereas at present it is Tiari.lv moro than probably so. He believes that a study of sacramental knowledge as illustrated 'in history will prove that tile Orthodox writer who composed the iw to luis essay lias made his requirements on on insufficient basis. "It is well," adds Professor Sweet, "to have so clear an issue."

CONGREGATIONAL CHAIRMAN. ELECTION OF ANOTHER COLLEGE PRINCIPAL. Principal Adeney is to be succeeded as chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales by the Rev. Dr. V>. li. Selbie, principal of Maiishehl College, Oxford, who' obtains the post without a contest, as tho only other candidate who v:as nominated has withdrawn from tho ballot. Dr. Selbio is not advanced _ in years, and, comparatively speaking, is a young man; but year by year his influence in tho denomination has grown. Some hesitation was at first apparent m appointing him as the succcssor of the late Dr. l r airbairn at Oxford, but subsequent events have amply justified tho choice both on the ground of scholarship and ripe appreciation of the conditions necessary to the Congregational ministry. Moreover ho is an Oxford man, who is acquainted with, tho Oxford spirit, and has already received many ovidences that ho is persona in tho university city. For several vears he conducted pastoral work at Iligligate at Cambridge, .having succeeded Dr. Forsyth at tho latter church on his appointment to tho principalsliip of Hacknev College. During, a portion of this period Dr. Selbio also undertook tho editorial control of tho "British CongVeRationalist," which obtained a strong postlion under Tiis editorship. In tho pulpit and on the platform the new chairman possesses a quiet, forceful style, by means of which he says the unexpected thing in a direct and convincing manner. Practical, Puritan in tone and temper, anil in deep sympathy with Nonconformist ideals lie has the courage to point out new paths of thought and energy to his co-reli"ionists.—"Westminster Gazette.