The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3724, 22 June 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1883.

In a sermon recently preached in St. John's Church by the Rev. De Berdt Hovoll 00----cured these words, "Thank God, tho Church does not keep pace with the times !" The exclamation had reference to a paragraph that had appeared in a newspaper, and in Avhich tho Church was Avarned that if it did not keep abreast with modern thought, the time would come whon, in tho estimation of tho people, its existence woidd no longer be valued. We arc quoting from memory, and aro consequently subject to correction, but we believe it Avas some such observation that led to tho reverend gentleman's remark. The death of Bishop Colenso reminds us, however, of tho wonderful progress in the pathways of liberalism that has been made by the Church during the last twenty years. Tho Church, though not quite keeping pace with the times, has been wisely enough governed to prevent it from altogether dropping out of ear-shot of those who have been teaching the world the truths of science. Timo was, and not so distant cither, when preachers, innocent of tho writings of men that had revolutionised the intellectual Avorld, would sneoringly refer to science as the study of the enemies of religion. "Science, falsely so called, Avas a favorite pulpit expression, and Avhilo it revealed the disapprobation by the Church of tho investigations thatwere being carried on by thoughtful and learned men, it shoAved a dread lest other teachers than itself should arise and free tho civilised world from CA'ery traco of superstition. "Prove all things" was exactly Avhat the Church Avould advise no one to do, but amongst the scholars of the day Bishop Colenso was foremost in carrying out that Scriptural injunction. His investigations into the historical accuracy and Mosaic authorship of the ' Pentateuch wero at the time regarded' in strictly orthodox circles as nothing less than .heretical, and both House's of Convocation of the provinces of Canterbury condemned his most valuable work, and its author Avas declared to be deposed from the See of Natal by tho Metropolitan Bishop of Capo Town. Tho deposition was declared null and void in law, and an appeal to tho Court of Chancery secured to him the payment of his

income out of the Colonial Bishoprics' Fund. The Master of the Rolls, in delivering his judgment, declared that, if the Bishop's accusers refused to day him his income on the ground of heretical teaching, he should havo felt it his duty to try that issue—an offer they declined to accept. Tho Right Reverened Doctor Colenso remained Bishop of Natal to the hour of liis death, beloved and respected in the colony, and carrying with him to the grave the heartfelt sympathies of thousands of Englishmen and women who have recognised the valueof, and derived immense adA'antages from his researches. When it is considered that out of tho numbers who have entered the serA'ice of the Church since the persecution of Bishop Colenso—a period of nineteen years —all of ■whom probably are well acquainted with his works and insensibly influenced by their teachings, it is idle to say that tho Church does not move with the times. Dr. Temple was accused of heresy, but it needed no recantation of his written opinions to raise him to the Bishopric of Exeter. The celebrated "Essaysand Reviews," if.published to-day, would scarcely attract attention, still less would it have been thought by tho most liberal reviewers that it would have been better had they been published in Latin. We must seek for tho breadth of the English Church in the published views of its chief dignitaries rather than in the pulpit utterances of its more humble servants. For instance, in Canon Farrar's work, "The Early Days of Christianity," wo find this remarkable passage :—" When it is to alter the perspective of a doctrine and death to leave tho cart-rut of a system—when they avlio question tho misinterpretations of Scripture which have i been pressed into the service of popular errors must face the anger of startled ignorance—when there is no life left, save tho spark Avhich glows in tho ashes of th« Martyr or tho lamp Avhich flickers in the Reformer's cell—then the caste which has seized the keys of the kingdom of Heaven may boast even of unity ; but it is tho unity produced by selfishness in the few and serfdom in the many. The unity so secured is but the stagnancy of the unrippled water, the monotony of the barren sands. It is the unity of the dead plain, ' where every molehill is a mountain and every thistle a forest tree.' " And again in his remarks on the truth outsid* Christianity, whence we take the folloAving: —"A Socrates, a Plato, a Sakya Mouni— these, too, had reared their altars to ' tho unknown God;' these, too, were enabled to shed some light on the darkness of sin and sorrow, because they had kindled their torches at tho Sun of Righteousness, and drawn some sparks of light from the unemptiablo fountain of Divine wisdom. If it be fatal error to cut ourselves adrift from any ago in the past history of Christianity —if we shall ono day suffer for having disowned our brotherhood with tho church of tho middle ages, or the ohurch of the Reformers —so it is also an error to dissever ourselves from any in the redeemed brotherhood of man avlio have taught truth, even if it has been mingled with error, or who have served God, even if it has not been with the service of the Banotuary." Canon Farrar published his "Early Days of Christianity " last year, but had its publication been contemporaneous with Bishop Colenso's "Pentateuch" it would not have escaped the severest censure. It is erroneous, therefore,, to assert that tho Church stands still while the world moves on. As long as the Church draws its ministers from the colleges and public schools of England we may rest assured that it will bo so ordered and governed that it will nevir forfeit the position it holds in tho minds of all right thinking people.

The Napier Football Club will play a practice match to-morroAv at the recreation ground, between sides chosen by the capta'n and deputy-captain. Play will start at 2.30. We learn on the host authority that Mr Travers has been retained on the munificei-t fee of 200 guineas to conduct the def encein the case of Irvine and another versus Robjohns, appointed to be tried on Tuesday next. How comes it that our local practitioners have lot this small fortune slip ? The secretary of tho Gisborne Football Club has communicated Avith the Napier Club to ascertain when it is probable that our footballers Avill make their annual trip to Gisborne. We learn that arrangements Avill probably be made to play tho match ixt Gisborno in the latter part of July. Amongst other tokens of esteem presented to Sister Mary Joseph on the evo of her departure from tins district is a handsome solid silver cup, bearing the following inscription, Avhich speaks for itsolf.—"To Sister Mary Joseph from Airini Donnelly, in remembrance of many kindnesses to her and her people. Napier, June 21, 1883." On tho other side of the cup a similar inscription appears in Maori. In tho Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before Edward Lyndon, Esq., J.P., James White was fined os and costs for drunkenness.—A charge of vagrancy preferred against Patrick Lynch was withdrawn by the police, Dr. Spencer certifying that the proper place for the acoused was the hospital. An ordor was issued accordingly for his admittance to that institution. There Avas no other business. A fire broke out at about 2 o'clock last afternoon in the jockoy room adjoining the grand stand paddock on the Hastings race course. Constable Lawless and a number of civilians were quickly on the spot, and succeeded in extinguishing tho flames, but not before the roof of the building, together with a portion of the cricket dub plant that was stored in the room, was destroyed. As usual thejo, is no clue to the origin of the fire. .... A singular occurrence took placo at Messrs Hoadloy and Lyon's cattle sale at Taradalo yesterday. A resident of Napior named Coupland was standing amongst the buyers, when an infuriated ' Cow suddenly charged him and severely wounded tho man on the breast vrith her horns beforo the Spectators could release Him. Coupland was immediately afterwards brought into town in a trap, and had his injuries attended to at the hospital. The Government parade of the loca volunteer corps took place last night. There was a good muster of the Rifles, but tho Artillery did not number sufficient men to qualify them for parade. Lieutenant King acted as Adjutant. The Rifles undor Captain Bly the, and headed by tho Garrison Band, marched to the Spit, and Avere put through battalion drill en route. An hour was spent by tAvo detachments of the Artillery company, under Captain Garner and Inspector Nelson, iv field gun drill opposite tho Athonjeum. s>4: A successful and well attended entertainment Avas held 'in tljo churoh schoolroom, Taradale, last evening, for the bonpfit of Mr S. F. Howard, of that place. Songs Avero given by Mrs Anderson, and Mossrs Gilpin, Baldwin, Monteith, Simmonday Robinson, Watkins, and Simpson. The performance concluded with a farce, tho characters in Avhich were well sustained by Messrs Hodgson, Bear, Collins, Gilpin and Monteith. Mr George Garry contributed the accompaniments and overtures in his usual good style. A serious accident occurred to a child, aged 17 months, at Makaretu on Wednesday, the son of Mr Charles Person. It appears that a brother of tho injur .d child, aged threo years, was chopping on a log ■with a billhook, when the younger ohild crawled up behind him, and unknoAvn to the boy uoing the billhook placed his hand on the log, when the "chopper " descended,, cut off two fingers, aud almost severed a third of the young boy's left hand. Tho injured hand was shortly afterwards attended to by Dr. Mirbach, who has hopes of saving the finger which was almost cut off. Last evening the Napier Young Men's Mutual ImproA'ement Association held their usual weekly meeting, thero being a good attendance of members, and also a _ few visitors present. The programme consisted of an essay on Sir Walter Scott's poetical Avorks, contributed by one of the members. Tiie paper Avas well written, and proved both interesting and instructive. At its conclusion several selections from the author's wovks ivcre rendered by other members in a very creditable manner. Tho programme for the next meeting was announced to be the reading of the Association's Monthly Magazine, which is UOAV in preparation, Mrßuchan Hepburn, advance agent for Messrs Stanfleld and Dark's "Merry Thoughts and Happy Moments Company," arrived here por Southern Cross from Auckland to-day. Mr Hepburn will be romembered as agent for Miss Leo's ("Jo ") company, which afforded Napier playgoers so many pleasurable evenings a short timo since. The company he at present represents consists of Mr Fred Dark, late of tho