FOR THE SABBATH.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 520, 23 November 1912, Page 6

FOR THE SABBATH.

PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION. (Rev. J. Maud). Lord Kelvin was called the "Napoleon of Science," and the "Prince of Scientists." To him, says Sir William Ramsay, "the world owes an eternal debt of gratitude, and he it was for whom no honour that men have it in their power to bestow could be too great." "I have your letter of the 16th, and think you are quite right in the views which you express, and in your opinion that true religion and true science harmonise perfectly." "I do not find that the lea ling men o-" science are 'irreligious,' although, certainly, many of them feel great difficulties. But I am afraid that some of the more thoughtless among the younger men engaged in scientific pursuits do not feel troubled with any difficulties, and might be not unjustly called 'irreligious.' " Lord Lister, 0.M., too, is an exPresident of the Royal Society. His great work, which "has made him famous, |is his "Discovery of the Antiseptic Treatment in Surgery," which in modern times has created "a revolution in the treatment of wounds," and which discovery, says Professor McKendrick, "he has earned the gratitude of humanity." Lord Lister possesses many honours, both British and foreign, and is justly called one of the greatest living men. His answer is direct. He writes:—"Your letter has been for-

warded to this place where I am spending a few days. In reply to your inquiry I have no hesitation in saying that in my opinion there 'is no antagonism between the religion of Jesus Christ and any fact scientifically established.' " &&*!

Lord Rayleigh, 0.M., also held the highest official position in the scientific world —the presidentship of the Royal Societv. He also was, from 1887 to 1896, secretary of the Royal Society, Chancellor of Cambridge University. With Sir William Ramsay he discovered the element known as argon. Lord Raleigh's reply, if brief, is to the point—"l am not able to write at length, but I may say that in my opinion true science and true religion neither are nor cuuld be opposed." A large number of 'leading scientists' are not irreligious or antiChristian. Witness—Faraday, Maxwell, Stokes, Kelvin, and a large number of others less distinguished. It may be true that a number of biologists in recent times have taken an anti-theological view. Evidence of Lord Raleigh's deeply religious nature is seen in the lines he has prefixed to his collected papers, i.e., "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." A very interesting question about conscience.— Conscience seems to call right whatever the possessor has been trained to do as being part of his or her religion. The Hindu woman would place her offspring on the banks of the Ganges and think that she was doing what was right." The answer is quite plain. Conscience must be educated. What I called attention to was the fact of its existence, that we know the difference netween right and wrong as we know the difference between black and white. But it is a very great truth that you have hit upon, my brother, and that is that conscience must be educated. Time after time people seem to imagine that they have only to say "My conscience tells me to do this or that." Yes, but ought it to do it? Ought not your conscience to tell you to do something else? That is a very important question. And therefore it is not enough to possess a conscience, we have to educate the conscience. The Old Testament is a history of the education of the conscience of the chosen people. You do not suppose it was right in reality for Jael to drive a nail through the head of a man who came in to shelter in her tent? You do not suppose it was right for Abraham to sacrifice his son? He was not allowed to do it. And what you find is this, that the Old Testament is the history of the education of conscience, and that God can only get out of each age the morality of which that age is capable. You read the Old Testament with tenfold interest if you realise how God is educating the conscience of thousands. He made Abraham sacrifice a ram instead of his son—another education in conscience. So with regard to the Hindu woman. She needß Christianity, and when she has believed Christianity she will never lay down her baby by the Ganges to die. And when people talk to you about wanting Christian missions and leaving people in their primitive innocence you remember that Hindu woman with her baby, or the Chinese who sometimes kill their female children even now. It is clear, then, that it is a primary duty for each to educate his or her conscience. A man or woman may be called to be a missionary, but they will never respond. Why? Because they have never educated their conscience, either by the Bible by Christ's command, or by the means of grace. I do hope that all of us, as a result of this mission, will educate our conscience by the standard of Jesus Christ. We shall be judged by the standard of "that Man Whom He hath ordained" according to the Bible, and therefore "What would Christ do in your place?" is a real standard of the Christian conscience.—Bishop of London. Remember what confirmation is: the uppermost thought must be that you are preparing to receive the Holy Ghost. For receiving this gift certain conditions are needed. From Acts 8, We learn that they had received the

able. "Thou haßt neither part nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not fight before God. Confirmation is—(l), a time to receive God's gift, there must be a desire for.the gift, it is expressed in prayer, pay great attention to prayer —St. Luke 11, 9-1. (2) A time to learn "all that a Christian ought to know to his soul's health; to make the best use of instruction. (3) A time to know self; self-examination is essential if we are to be convinced of our need of strength both to have victory and to triumph against the devil, the world,' and the flesh"; and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" that we may "live godly, righteously, soberly in this present world" our heart must be right before God. He is waiting for us to claim the best He has to give. It must be a time of real conversion.—Acts 26, 18.