RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 11

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

SCIENCE AND RELICION, PHYSICAL FACTS AND SPIRITUAL SYMBOLS. Through the death of his brfhor, Rot. E. R. Barrett, Sir W. F. .Barrett, Professor of Experimental Physics in tho Royal' CoUego of Science for Irelaud (1673-1910) could not fulfil his engagement to read a paper on "The Spiritual Significance of Nature" at a Bection meeting in connection with the Congregational Union of England and Wales. Hβ sent his paper, however, and it was read by Rev. R. J. Wells. In the paper Sir \V. F. Barrett said i their greatest philosophers had alwaye been religious mon. A , great change had taken place in the scientific attitude towards: religion. The crude agnosticism prevalent fifty years a#o had almost disappeared. Nor had the change of-view in theologians been less marked. -The spirit of-science, in its search for truth, had invaded theology. iMJiigioii had ■-nothing , "to fear .wiien. truth, was pursued hi a scientific spirit and with an open mind. An infinite mind existed and could communicate with our finite minds. The open-mind-ed evolutionary philosopher found in the processes, of nature intelligence,. will, and purpose. There must, therefore, be beyond nature a.conbroliug mind. The foundations on which tlie materialistic school of .thought rested its negative agnosticism had been rudely shaken, ir not.'overthrown, by recent discoveries. of physical science. That school founded itself on the, molecular hypothesis of,-matter. The atomic theory had been shattered. An atom of matter, though of inconceivable- minuteness—at least 100 millions being found in the smallest poinu WMule unuur microscopic power—was found to be a "solar system' in- miniature, and it was a solar system in process of eruption. The atoms were, neither solid, iior simple, nor immutable, nor immortal. Nor could they suppose that electrons, of which the atoms were compounded, wero the limit of divisibility. 'The electrons also might, be.' complex systems with internal motion of their, own. Tlie physical universe had been reduced' to rapid motion of infinitely minute points. There, was laughter when he stated that the average rotation of an' electron might be : computed 600 millions of millions of ; times a second. They were in' a universe' between the infinitely' minute and the infinitely-vast. • Science taught them that the physical universe must have had a beginning and must have an end, but .that'did not mean that .the physical universe was created out of notning, and.must return.to.nothingness. Tile universe did not comprehend the whole' work of God.. .It was only a transitory aspect' of the activity of the Creator. The , things.that were seen were temporal, the things unseen wore'.eternal.. The order, and .intelligibility, of the;natural world we're dueto.the fact that,it-was the symbol ot a. spiritual world; both were the outcome of'the:same,inscrutable mind. 'He instanced the central gravity, light and heat of- the.sun,-and the equilibrium of in -.the" universe, as symbols of spiritual,realities.'; , ; /. . Ho attached.great importance to telepathy. By. telepathy the jnfinite mind could reveal, itself in all ages to the responsive human mind./ ' Inspired prophets had had special illumination, but to the humblest, devout soul there came the quickening of the spirit by contact and communication with the supreme Spirit. Every spiritual fact, he believed, had , its homolcgue in nature. Every physical truth was a window through which they could better see the things -/that. wore, spiritual. .... - Principal■'GriffitH-Jones','* recalling the scientific scepticism '■ prevalent in his student days, said that-.modern science, with its more devout and open mind, was-exorcising the demon of .doubt.. But, -'after'all, it'was not science-that as qualified to,give the spiritual interpretation of nature. For that the 'spir-'-itual man, with his spiritual diecernment, vwas needed. ' • SCOTTISH CHURCH UNION. DEBATES IN THE GENERAL "■•■■ ■ ASSEMBLIES. The annual debates on Church union took place on May 26/ in the General Assembly of the United Free Church (says the London "Times"). The public interest was not less keen than last year. Both Assemblies were crowded with. members long before .the debates began,, and the .space available for the' public proved whollv;.inadequate.. In , Both Houses determined' .minorities revealed themselves, but in both, after animated discussions, the official leaders' :were supported in their policy of j conciliation and rapprochement by overwhelming majorities. In the Church of Scotland Assembly the Union Committee's report was submitted and the deliverance moved by Lord s ßalfour of.Burleigh in a speech of 50 minutes' duration. The report mainly consisted of ; the draft constitution for fch'a reunited Church. Lord Balfour claimed for it that it not only upheld the tradition and. testimony of the Church- of Scotland, but that it succeeded to giving even fuller expression to the ideal? of national religion of spiritual independence, • and of religious equality cherished by the United Free Church than that Church had itself attained. Hβ proposed that the draft constitution be sent down to the presbyteries for critioism and suggestion, and consented that the minority report should go down along with it, and further that tbe draft constitution be communicated to the United Free Church, "not as a final document submitted for their approval, but as a basis.for further ' Hβ also proposedthat the committee be 'authorised to continue its ■''conferences with the United Free Church Committee with a view to giving and renewing mutual explanations, and suggestions. . Lord Balfour's'speech'concluded amid prolonged applause. He was seconded by one of the most .popular of Scottish laymen, Mr. John Macleod, son of the famous Dr. Norman Macleod, and supported by the Procurator, Dr. Wallace Williamson, and the Rev. John White, the' last of whom, though a young man, confirmed his position as one or 'the most influential and sagacious leaders of the Church. ' Critioism'took the form of an attempt to multiply the "doctrinal affirmations in the constitution'.' and to introduce a new article of a specifically Establishmentarian character, but when the vote was taken only about half a dozen ■members opposed the deliverance. In the 'UMted"i!'ree Church, the deliverance on Union was moved by the Rev, Dr. Young, au ex-Moderator. It authorised tho Assembly's Committee on Union to ' continue their . conferences with tho Church of Scotland and to re-, ceivo and consider any further communication from that quarter. The bedrock, he said, on which they rested was tho spiritual nature: and constitution 'of the Church of Christ, and what the Churches were united in seeking was a position of absolute spiritual independence in Scotland. Union had- always arid only been reached along the, pathway of- freedom. ■ ■ : . ■ "' Dr.. Whitelaw, an ex-Moderator of the old "voluntary" sehopl,,moved an amendment which was understood to mean that Disestablishment must bo , postulated as the necessary antecedent of Union. His 'Speech and argument met with scant sympathy, i'roiu tho crowdpd assembly and strong pressure was .brought to.boar upon him to withdraw his amendment. This, however, ho refused' to do, and Ke secured a. following of about 50 or GO in a house of nearly 1000 members. Tho most striking speech of the day vug that of Professor Denney, who is always beard with attention and ro-

spect. He spoke contemptuously of the '"barren logomachy" indulged in by thoso who imagined that by "manipulating abstract nouns < like "Establish-' ment and Disestablishment" thoy were really solving great historical questions. If they of the United Eree Church were offering a modified Disestablishment to their ! Church of, Scotland ".friends, it was in the' sense-of; so modtfyih'g; their theory of Disestablishment to meet the convictions of -their. Christian brethren. The general impression is.that both Assemblies have-successfully weathered a somewhat threatening and'dangerous crisis, arid >tl]at the atmosphere is .'The 1 ..numerical weakness and ineffectiveness in debate' of the; minorities has -beeii' satisfactorily revealed, but also-their, sincerity, and they have proved less, bitter' and intransigent than was expected. The proceedings. are regarded as relieving, many anxieties and making the prospects of reunion appreciably mom bright-''. '" :; :>. CARDINAL GASQUET. .-,: In an in. y'Everyman" on Cardinal Gasquety Dr.; William Batry states that Cardinal Gasquet is, by choice and training, an 'ecclesiastical historian, whose iame was won at the British Museum and in the Itecord Office. "He represents, on his own terms and with conspicuous ability, the progress of .historical studies, within the Roman Church. . . -. JSot.tuen as rivalling the (lame-pictures of Oarlyle, the loud vaunting, yet impressive , paragraphs of Macaulay; or the-.witehery' ci i'roude, will this new Cardinal of St. -George-'bei famous as an historian. Tho school to which he belongs is hot dramatic, disfavours emotion, and will not, if it can. be helped, give 'an inch to ; prejudice. Its first notable name in English history was John.Lingard, still.unmoved among the crash of worlds. V . . But Cardinal GasqUet and'the late Dr. James' Gairdner, working side by side in the British Museum, illustrate, by tho results to which they , have come independently, using the evidence before them, -that,after all, : truth is not 'That each man trowetli,' but is something real and attainable, if the; right means are taken.-. Macaulay-wrote for a party, Carlyle in a rage, Jfroude for literary effect'.- There are deep and high things/'doubtless,beyond the searcher into documents. But the critical method is "justified- of its adepts. -.'Aid in. loyalty to the cords, in. hard, continuous labouiyQnclearness and fairness of judgment, Cardinal Gasquet is equal, to any of them, while in genial and humane qualities he has -approved .himself the worthy son of his St. Benedict.':^l say then, 'Floreat,' with all my.heart." The Metropolitan"; Chapter of- Westminster unanimously resolved that the following telegram of. congratulation be' I sent to.Cardinal Gasquet :—"The Pro-; vostand Canons of Westminster to-day assembled in Chapter/, beg to tender to Your ; Eminence their cordial congratulations;'i and .to express their gratitude! to the.Holy Father for the high honour paid, and the universal-- .-satisfaction: •given; to the ,Catholic Church \-in:Eng--' land'; by ; yourrpVomotion." ■■•■—- ■?■ v,-*~ x i ■ <':■'*■■■) ' ~ . '■'- ; THE MISSIONARY CONSCIENCE^ WESLEYANS AND THE NEED OF ' WORLD EVANGELISATION.. At the' 101 st meeting, of the Wosleyan Methodist Missionary Society;- held j at the';;; Central Hall,' Westminster,'-: Mr. Joseph ..Bennett, whoTpresided, -i said wanted to take : wider viows, 1 of the-missionary question. ..'Now that : the ends of the world were brought so near toithem, it would not do for them to have regard only for their own vil-' lage, tflwiij or country. They had to look ti'tfbn missions from a world-wide point of view, and- termendous responsibilities rested upon the British race in this respect. The.ftev. S.-F..: Collier said .they had: to guard agairist»-treating foreign missions as a sort of extra —a hobby which •they could take up. or leave out of their reckoning as they'liked. -They had. to work for world evangelisation. When they had realised that, they wouldhave foreign mission sermons more than onco a year, and Bible Circle leaflets would not be left in the vestry undisturbed. ■• He said without hesitationthat what they wanted in their Church was that their ministers and officials should be so filled, with a passion' for humanity, that they' would '■■■■■ leave no stone unturned to bring about a mighty j tide of evangelisation. They wanted to create, a missionary conscience. -If they educated people in foreign, missions they_ would soon have an intelligent, eur thusiasm for mission?. Mr. Kenrieffi'Macleiuian said. that?inen;l were not: hdstilp : 't6' inissions,;' : ly indifferent.' Thq impression on many people's'minds 'Was that missionary"! work was very good for pious people, but hot .for cold-blooded business' men. They had to eradicate that idea. : ;"•: 1 "HAVE YE NEVER READ?" I , - .; . '. ,' ', -. '' "Have Yβ Never ReadP",is. the\title of. tho popular illustrated report ."of the British' and Foreign Bible Societyfor 1912-1913. It starts off: with/ an extremely, interesting account of "''the ongui and history of the alphabet. The. writer contends, that the-work: of the" primitive genius. who first selected certain signs ; and characters and, then gave them phonetic values was the su-' preme discovery of the human race. It is 'impossible to speak too highly -of the splendid work of. \ translation ■ which Christian missionaries have i done; The difficulties. hav« been, enormous. Take the case, of John Eliot, the. Apostle of the American Indians. Ho.mastered the speech of these people, and; translatedthe Scriptures into it, and. some lidea/ of the'-magnitude-of his task.'.may ; .'b'e' ; gained- from, tho following specimen word, y which .means ; ." Kummogokdonattoottamnioclit)oaonga-;' : nnuntionash.'.' > The book.is'fulli'ofuS.' teresting; facts.' and ■:wonderful Wβ ace,,told :that..since thei society : ;wa formed iii. r 1804' it has issued-liore-thanv 244444,000 copies of the Scripture. The society's:'? historical list now includes the complete Bib'e in 111 different languages,'the New Testament in : 108 more and at least one book of Scripture in 231 other languages. > No fewer than 100 new, versions, have been issued'- since the , present .ceritury.be-'' gari. The chapter dealing with "Travelling Biblemen" who are carrying the Bible into all corners of the .world,- is. full of.-romantic incidents,'and the' whole book is well worth reading. And yet .it is only, a short chapter in tho wonderful story, of-the greatest. Book in the >vorld. \