RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1984, 14 February 1914, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CARDINAL RAMPOLLA. THE POPE AND FRANCE. ' It may have been iiotsxi that in their notices of the carter of the iato (.'ordinal: .Hampfdk.Komo of the papers spolto of his life of retirement alter his replacement in the Pontilici.il Secretariate of State by Cardinal Merrv del Val (says tho London "Tablet"). There scorned to bo an implication thai ho was sulking in his tent, and it was certainly stated that liis policy in dealing with" France and other countries w'liero ' difficulties had arisen between their rcspi?otiv<i Gov-' eruments and tlm Holy See woti'vi have been very different from that pursued by Popo Pius X and tlio present Cardinal Secretary of State. But tho mere list of the Sacred Coiigresatioils upon which Cardinal Ranipolla. held a pfp.oo and in the- work of which ho took an active* part should have been sufficient to ltare disposed of such insinuations. There 1 is-, however, a further fact'.which 1 sliould .bo borne in mind, tho bearing of vrhieh in this connection lids been pertinently put by the "Croix," Cardinal Rampolla was a member of tlio Cpngsg.. gation of Extraordinary Bedesiastieljl Affairs, which lias to consider matters affecting tho. administration of' tlio C'lrurch and social problems in various countries. It is thus a sort- «f pohricfil .to tho Secretary of State. Of tins' congrci>atioa .Cardinal. Rampolla continued to -'bc, itt his "retirement," as it is called, an active member. Indeed,, dui'ing the last ten years he was absent from no more than three or four sittings, and he belonged'to every on© -of tlio com•uiittees into which it is divided for deal* iiig with different countries. An interview* which. Mgr, Touelifit, Bishop • of •Orleans, who has recently returned from Rome, lias granted to a representative of.the "Gaulois". will,' in this connection, be read with interest.. Asked :whether tho Popo had said anything about France, Mgr. Touehet said .thatHis Holiness had told him th>}t though Franco was at present estranged 1 from the Holy See, she would return to it. •Furthermore, the Bishop repeated tho following statement made to hi.ru by tho Cardinal. Secretary of Stato :-~'"Wo ask for. nothing for o,urselveS, but what a •curious -position FVance occupies in this Eastern crisis, for- example, where so much is in tho 'making and in whidli w&, the Roman Curia, lmve so much to pay. Wo hear tho voices.of Austria of Hungary, of Germany, and of Italy' raised upon points iix which wo are concerned.- | But wo hear nothing from Franco., and | this under tho pretest that France has 110 official knowledge of this Pone, who, 6o far as she is 'concerned, does not exist. Tho religious influenco -of France, upon which so much els® depends, is. left to perish." ANGLICAN BISHOP OF AUCKLAND. DR, AVERILL ENTHRONED. Tlie.ro fras a'largo congregation at St. Mary's Cathedral, Auckland, on Tuesday evening, when Dr. A. W, Aveiill was. enthroned as Anglican Bishop of AucldandV The ceremony wad" performed. by tho commissary,! Arehdcacon. \Y» Caldetf. Standing without the choir steps, with' his officers, the bishop, formally claimed his episcopal seat in the cathedral. Tlio next road tlio sentence of consecration, and .the bishop then read and' signed the declaration of al-. legjaiico to the constitution • of the Church of the Province of Now Zealand. Archdeacon Colder afterwards led'the bishop to his seat, and enthroned him as Bishop of Auckland. Members of the ; Standing Committee, on behalf of. tho synod, took the oath of allegiance, Archdeacon Calder on behalf , "I tlm I clergy, and-' Mr, U. J. 'ISinks/'ofV'-bifaiflt of the laity.

I'ho Bishop preached an interesting sermon, in tlio course of which ho ; referred to ihti work which ho bad left in the tlioeose. of Waiapu, iiii-d said ho had lfft behind a body of .devoted dei'gv and lay workers te. sustain .and jircss. forward tho claims of the. Kingdom of | God. His sympathy naturally went to I tho Auckland dioccse, which had had to faco iuii?spectc'd difficulties iii tlio breakdown of two bishops, with whom, he also sympathised. "I would suggest to this diocefie," continued tui> Bishop, •'not merely to ask tho question, 'Lord, and wliat shall this man dor" but to accept from the lips of the Master tho commaftd, 'Follow thou Me.'" A bishop was absolutely dependent 011 the loyal and faithful cooperation of his clergy and laity if 11.0 was to bo move than a figurehead. Ho hoped that the chain which bound him to the diocese would war contain -Untarnished the links of goodwill, love-, sympathy, forbearance, and trust. A man could hold strong opinions without being a bigot, and without" forfeiting his claim to be a, Christian Mid a gentleman. It was just because lie believed in the Holy Ghost that lie |«.alised . tho possibility of ilnity in diversity. Itwas party spirit which sprcadi.schism; party spirit was ti.lo offspring of narrow- ' mindedness and pride. He had every sympathy holiest! convictions, but jte could" only regard the .party-spirit as the work of the devil. "I .nave always felt," continued Bishop Averill 3 "thatif men are faithful to the teachings Of tho : prayer-book they may justly -Claim •.liberty si', the niiode' and expression of worship and details and ceremony so long as everything is done, decent 1} nud in order." He eame as r bishop with a right to sympathise with all who served Christ in sincerity aiid iii truth. . there was every probability of a : commission being formed in New Zr-nlaiul shortly to co-operate with the ■ Commission of Faith and Older, which was nVeeting in America, He pleaded for his hearers' Sympathies for this movement "cf l the unity in. the Christian Church.. They in New Zealand could best* help in the matter of striving after unity an.oi'rgst themselves, and by earnestly seeking to understand the positwn of ot'hors who did not seo eye to eye with them. "Speaking p'rovincially," -said the. Bishop in conclusion, "it has always seemed to me that our small eeclcsias-; tical province should present a; great object lesson in unity 111 tlio'principles of diocesan administration, ' and _ that every effort should be made to facilitate the removal of clergy from Vioceso to ditiooso if they 50 desire. A _ conibined pension scheme for tfc-province is of the/greatest i.ecd," Honmr attaelied to,tlw Auckland diocese for what it had done in that direction. A more uniform standard of requirements in candidates for tho ministry might be of equal importance, with a fuller recognition of the■'provincial character of St. Jolm'-e Cc'ltcge. WESLEY AM PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE, A YEAR, In -a vigorous add practical message to tho Methodist people, the president ol the English Conference (tho .Rev. S. P. Collier) recalls Henry Druminoud's saying, "The entrance feo .into tho kiasdom 'of (Sod is notlting,, but tiie subscription fee is all you've ROl," and lw suggests as a mornmg prayer . tho words, "0 God, g'iv-n me to ihect ! someone to-day to whom Thou wilt make me a blessing.'' Tlio message calls attention to tho need, of co'.isccratcd nicii and women who are not afraid of manifesting the separation from tho World, even when there is n glaring cdhtrast. ' Mr. Collier coiinscls Christian people to attempt earnestly and sympathetically to understand the causes of tho workers' complaint and tiro reasonableness <'iv tui reasonableness of' their demands. Ho points out that tho people aro not so much worse off, as that tlieir ideas of what life ought to be have risen and i tlio oxponlations accordingly enlarged. The social problems, lie says, "ate with ti.s simply because wo have not b&eh [ Christian enougli as a ift&ti'on. fiovenu'

Mont by the principles of tho teachings of Jesus Chnst would iiavo prevented their very flssistenco. That will .help to show us our duty and. point to tho remedy." .

Tho president utters a Wairnhig ■against public servieo and social activity absorbing all the' time and attention to tho neglect of tlio benefit and inspiration of fellowship in the Church. On tlio other hand, Christian people must not limit tho service of Christ to what is ordinarily called Church work. In tho geflcral outlook at the dawn, of tho New Year, Mr. ('oilier 'sees much, cause for hopefulness. Everywhere there is a. desiro for a revival of irua ■religion.. Representative men of all shades of .thought are agreed that an :.a.or<j of faith is dawning and that t'lieto will bs a great spiritual advanco in tlm near fiituio. In. tho Methodist Church there is quickened interest, -.tlio thrill of renewed hopefulness, a return" to Kvaiigelical essentials, and iii many ■places' well-organised preparations hor.a of expectancy of blessing. " OKINEMU7U MAORI CHURCH. LAYING THE CORNER STONE. ; 'I'bero was a 'notable and in.'tore'sting gathering of tw6 races at Ohinemtitu on Sunday atternoen (February 9), when the corner stone of tho new church beiiig erected, for the Anglican Maori Mission, was laid by Mr, \\ T . T.. Willsains, oi' To Auto, sou of-the lato Archdeacon Samuel Williams (who Was Iceenly in. ilio ini.ssitin: ■■ find its work), and graiKlsmi of the lat.ii Arehdeaeen Ilcnry Williams (one r»j tlio pioneers oi' Christianity in tho Rotonia district). Some 400 people, Maoris and Europeans, assembled ai tlio southern cud of the bass of tlm }i«w church, now rising several feet above -tho ground. . Shortly after 3 o l eiock Arclideaeoii Tisdall, the Roys. F. A. .Bolinett- aiixl R.. Wikiriwhi and Messrs. T. 'Wheora, Kiwi Te Ainohau. Pnramena, And Haii To Horn, lay readers., passed in procession from tlie- old church, to the, scon.o ■of tho ceromouy, wlioro a brief Serviia wns conducted.

Tlio s'toiic, which is placed' 0.1.1 til# south-western earner of the building, was vfilod with a handsome Nativi mat, afterwards presented,. .as -a liie* iwp.ntfl to Mr. Williams. Two littk Boy Scouts, a Maori and .a. .pake.ba, raised this mat, and Mr. Williams, with the "aid of Mr. Tnek, placed tlio corner stcrfto in position. Then lay- ' ilig his hands' upon the stone, ,h.o Raid: "In the fa till of' Jesus Christ, wo plan* tjris. stone iii tho name of Cffed the Father. God the Son, and God tho Holy Ghost, Amen. Hero let true faith, the fear of God, and. loto ever remain. Tin's plaeo is/eonsiv Crated to prayer and to the praise of the .most holy name, of the same, our Lore Josus Christ, who ever livctii with' the Father! and with the Holy Glios.t, one God, world without end, Amen.*' Mr. Bennett read a letter from' Gallon Sedgwick. Bishop-elect of Waiapu. He thaiilced God that Ho had called-hint to work as chief pastor in a diocese where Maoris formed a largo portion of his flock, He was sure they would soon know r.nd understand one another, and it would ho like okl times for him ta go riiico more Oii'a- missionary journey. His consecration would ■take place.'An Qu.inqtiagesiifiA Sunday. (February 22), and he would make a note of the date (April I' 6) of t;ho Maori Synod at Rotoraa,, and tlio opening of the church.

ill', Bennett referred to tiie visit of Arclidea.cbn Henry Williams in 1836, and said that, the Aich.dearoTi's jtvUr- . rials showed thai he had -been received by a chief named I'ango, who ted giton the laiid for the church. There I'md been two chiefs of that. name, one the grandfather of sTo.,-Wherp, who liar" ,taken part i'u the present ..prQri'oditAivs. ami the other the father of PcriHJcn Np;ahiiruhi.ini. who was buried near the church, Tt was not certain which these had received Arehdoiieo.il Williams, —"Rotonia Times." RELIGION IN CHINA. BACK TO CONTUCII'S. In view of. tiie recent Cab.leg.ra.tn regarding the. deereo of tlio Chinese Jr-e----sidoiit in reviving tlio worship of Heaveit aad tho otferingjof sacrifices to Confucius, the following statement .of recent ■developments in China, which appears in tlio January number of tlio "Internationai Review of • Missions" (published by the Oxford University; l'ress) Will bo of spccial interest:— _ "Tho Republic, which was inspires! large!}' fiv Western ideas., found itself in inevitable -collision with tlio traditioiial Confucian system, and it is not yet clear i'n What maimer the two forces will como to terms. Tho Imperial sacrifices liava ceased. Tlio grounds of tho Altar of Heaven ha™ hten appropriated to public use.; The official veneration of Confucius has been abolished and! tho elimination of the Confucian writings from tlio curriculum of lower and nriddlo schools lias introduced a fundamental and 'far-reaching 'Change. .Moro recently, however, there lias been 111 iliaiiy directions a reaction ill favour cv Coniuciaftism. a powerful liioyemonti _ •has been- 6et 011 foot to induce the....National Assembly to'insert a piousion: hi tho new Constitution, _ making Con- ~ Wianism ill&- Stato religion of :'(miukw Tiie movement seems to he inspired by, u sonso of the need cA the nation 101: fertiding . principles, and by a concern; lest tho weakening of traditional nutlio'rity should lead to a deterioration of • character and wOnil a.iiareliy. tlio C-llinese Cliristifttts m 1 ekuir, iormed »!i» organisation to 'resist the proposal. ;.>u. tho ftrmind that the ftsitfblfshiipitfff ] jt : State religion would be lix.oi.sistont «itli the I'r&sideiit's assurance that, all ligions will-be warded ps bwg oh tie some footing, and there, W,l J> crimination against any partitnilai one, and would introduce tt cause ot sfrrious division at a time when it is 0 supreum imixirtanco. that China- should bt. united. As a. result of this effort a cpi.mei petition was submitted to the National semblv by tho Churches <>' Sl ' v, '. nl, ;f! l orovinccS-. A disquieting elen.oiit, 1.11 thfl religious situation is UlO 1 ipid spu id of irreligious artd tomlen ties in: Repiiblicau and Rmnuuouavy circles, to whieh Dr. Wiliiolm called at-t-eirtion in the last number of Review Whilst these var'i.ouß currents-■ feet'at present only a con.iptti it'veh mall fraction 'of the pcpulatio-i!, ti?o . ideas of the raasses must in long . nil, V moulded, and their spiritual -ps-. .. sibiiities emulitieuod, by the conccitfwns ■ wiiieh bficonie dmniitaiit amoni; the educated Waders Gf th.o nation. The Review al>-: contains a. twmi.be.r • of interesting art'-ies dealing With liti?sion problems and Ui.c>'tes.t phases of , missionary work in various purl's, of the world. MR. ASQUITH READS THC LESSONS. , Mr, Gladstone, when l'rimo Minislor, ' always fuVfiltal the oliice of I.«r.tor wlioti i at iiiwardeiij biit' it may be a -Oi jirisc 'to som-o to liud tho present I'nme Mm- { j istcr servrag..in that, office, 0« tlio ■mornmg of Christmivs Day, Ah'. Asi quith, who spout his ( nristmns 1i01.i.-<1-A\S at Kits-ton Gwv flouse, M.u.mosbuVy, Wiltshive, tlio rcsidcitco of Mrs., (irahani SniitJi. Mrs-. Acquit It's sister, flttauded service at.the parish diurcli, - and road the ifessoiiS, The sernsoi! was preached by tho Rev. .1, J, Beresi'ord, tho blind rector, formerly of. Golden Orove, Carmarthenshire, who is_ an intimate friend of tlio Primo Minister.—. •The Guardian." 1