Memoranda.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 116, 7 April 1887, Page 2

Memoranda.

i A notice of importance to burgesses appears in another column. ! A new advertisement appears to-day from Mr Taylor, blacksmith and farrier. The railway timetable and fares for the holidays appears on our third page. ', A new advertisement appears to-day from Mr Gr. P. Church, of Kiwitea. , The catalogue of stock to be offered by Messrs Freeman E. Jackson and Co. at Feilding, on Thursday the 14th instant, ( appears elsewhere. The only safe and sure cure for Gravel or Urinary troubles, is American Co 's Hop Bitters, Prove it. Rend— Advt. Take Hop Bitters three times a day, and you will have no doctor's bills to nay. That is, if made by American Co. See — Advt. •• Rounii on Piles." Why suffer Piles ? ; Immediate relief and complete cure •!unr-inteed. Ask for " Rough on Piles.'" ' Sure oure for itching, protruding, bleeding. or any form of Piles.— Advt. " Rough on Cornß." Ask for Wells' "Rou«hon Cornc." Quick relief.com- ' pli'ie. permanent pure. CiM'ns. wtirts, Imnions. At chemists and druggists. — Ait i.

Didache: or 5 "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles" .

The above formed the subject of an able, instructive, and entertaining lecture at the Presbyterian Church, on Tuesday evening last, by the Rev. J> Treadwell, of Wanganui. The audi- . ence was not so large as the lecture deserved, still those who were present had an intellectual treat provided them. The church choir, under the leadership of Mr Dowling, rendered i at intervals selections from " Church I Praise" in capital style. It is hardly necessary to say the subject was ably treated by the rev. lecturer, and its interest well sustained throughout. We have not space for a full report of the lecture, but the following is a resume of its sajient features :— . The lecturer first referred to the discovery ©f the manuscript of the : " Didache" in a library at Constantinople, in the quarter known as the "Jerusalem Monastery of the Holy Sepulchre." After noting the value and importance to the religious world of the discovery by Dr Bryennius, a priest of the Eastern Church, the lecturer read Dr Schaff's description of the book — " It is a collection of M.S. S. in one volume, covered with black leather, carefully written on parchment by the same hand, in neat distinct letters, and numbering 120 leaves." When Dr Bryennius discovered the treasure he published it to the world. Learned men in Europe and America devoured the work with avidity. The publication of the work, and the treasures it contained, caused a profound sensation amongst all Christian churches and scholars. On the last page of the book is the following — i% Finished in the mouth of June, of the year 6564, by the hand of Leon, notary and sinner." The words apply to all the manuscripts of the book, and the date at which he completed his labours of transcription. But there is no word in the volume to show where, when, or by whom its manuscripts were written. Tho learned agreed in alloting its composition to that period immediately subsequent to the time of the Apostles. They say it cannot have been written at a time later than the middle of the 2nd century, or a.d. 150 — that it may have been written before the end of the Ist century, or as early as the year 90 a.d. Dr Schaff pronounced the "Didache" of the highest antiquity, and one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of the post-apwstolic writings." The antiquity of the book might well claim from us the highest reverence. The volume is briefly a small church manual, but is. very comprehensive, and covers " the whole field of church life" ; doctrine, worship, and discipline also have a place in it. The book also reflects the characteristics of the period in which it was written — it is this that enabled the learned so confidently to allot it to the dates already mentioned. From phrases aud quotations in the " Didache," the writer had evidently drawn on Holy Scripture. The lecturer here read a number of passages from the work, the whole of which were founded on Scriptural passages. The " Didache" was also a further witness to the immorality and corruption that existed at the time claimed for its composition. In that portion of the book devoted to doctrine, the writer says — " The way ' of life is this— first, thou shalt love U-od who made thee; secondly, thy , neighbor as thyself ; and in all thiugs whatsoever thou would'st not have done to thee, neither do thou to i another." " Christianity (says Dr Schaff) appears in the " Didache" as a pure and holy life, based upon the teaching and example of Christ ; and to this day a living Christian is the best apology of Christianity. Virtue and piety, more than doctrine, conquered the heathen world." Another feature of the " Didache" io the ur- \ gency wherewith certain customs are insisted on, and which are etill observed by Christian churches. The Lard's Day is mentioned by the book as one on which congregations are to assemble for the purpose of prayer and fasting. The use of the Lord's Prayer is also enjoined three times a day in private life. One of its rules relating to public worship reads — " Let no one, who has a dispute with his fellow, come together with you until they are reconciled, that your sacrifice be pot defiled." Well, would it be, said the lecturer, for congregations at the present day if this beautiful prescription of brotherly concord were acted on. Controversy there must always be between truth and error ; but the " Didache" is nonsectarian, coming as it did long before sects were established. It comes also as a sort of unexpected arbiter between the church and the rampant scepticism of the day. A certain infidel writer asserted there was no trace of the existence of the Gospels before the middle of the 2nd century, the year 150. What says the "Didache" to this ? It existed before that certainly — even at the end of the Ist century. There is a chorus of assent on this point from, different theological schools in Europe and America. Finally, the " Didache" is a bulwark thrown out to broak the force of the waves of scepticism as they seek to sweep the Gospels from sure historical ground. A cordial vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr J. H. Stevens, was accorded the Rev. Mr Treadwell for his interesting lecture. A substantial collection having been made in aid of the Manse Fund, the benediction was pronounced by the Eev. Mr Murray, and the proceedings closed.