The New Religion.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 206, 4 March 1896, Page 2

The New Religion.

o c A lectnre by Sir Hartley Williams, Ballarat on "He prayeth best who liveth best," has caused quite a flutter in religious circles. Already a nvmber of local clergymen are " buckling on their armour " with tbe determination of replying to the remarks of his Honor. The lecture, for the most part, was a repetition of the address delivered in Melbourne. Referring to this address Sir Hartly Williams said its effects, notwithstanding the opinions of his adverse critics, were to lead men back to the very old religion — the religion preached by Jesus, and enunciated 500 years before His birth by Gautama Buddha. The real commotion, however amongst the religious opponents of his Honor appears to have been caused by bis reference to the ineflicacy of prayer. The lecturer is reported on this point to have spoken as follows : — " As an instance of the inefl&cacy of prayer for material benefits, he reminded his hearers of the fate of the Ku Cheng martyrs. These men and women -were j praying to tho Almighty for protection, and writing letters to bid their friends , have no fear, for they were safe iv the hands of God ; but before the ink was dry upon their pens they were foully massacred. When all England was praying for the safety of Gordon, Gordon was assassinated. When the glorious pink and white terraces of New Zealand were destroyed, the Christain Maoris trusted in God, but were nevertheless, boiled alive in lava with their I Bibles in their hands. When ships were I wrecked or trains met with disaster, did the prayers of the devout avert the catastrophe "? When, some years ago, a train in New South Wales, containing a great number of bookmakers, went over an embankment, many women and children lost their lives, but the bookmakers escaped without a scratch 1" The last citation caused considerable merriment among the audience. In concluding, Sir Hartley Williams said men were ever developing onwards and upwards, and the world now was vastly better than it was a year ago. They would go on improving till tbey had passed out of the vale of misery that was now on every side of them.