POWER OF THE CHURCH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8805, 6 May 1907, Page 4

POWER OF THE CHURCH.

Sir Oliver Lodge delivered a remarkable address on “ A lleformed Church as an Engine of Progress ” at the National Council of the Evangelical Free Churches at Leeds. “I am glad there is a more friendly feeling towards the Church of England than there used to be,” he said. “ The Church is a great institution with ancient history and traditions,” but I confess I would like to see the whole of the energy, enterprise, and enthusiasm which is now in some sense divorced from the national Church re-united witii it and making it a Church of England in a much wider souse. “I,would far rather see children taught Christianity with an Anglican tinge than no Christainity at all. “ When we look at eternity our little differences become very insignificant, and when we realise that there is the same Deity over a thousand million words in space, is ;it not likely that in those worlds there are innumerable modes of reuniverse and the Deity, all of which, in so far as they art genuine and wed to the elevation of life and love of humanity, are acceptable to the Father of all? “We must put far less trust in oaths, formularities, tests, and rubrics and more faith in living humanity. There must be less oi the cry ‘ Whomsoever will be saved, and more of the .cry, ‘ Whomsoevei can I save.’ “ The will of God should be done on earth, and wo should seek to fine our greatest happiness here. If nol here, where 1

“ Eternity extends into the future as well as the past, and to the living the present is eternity. I doubt whether in any state of existence we shall have any other conception of eternity than the present moment. “If the nation is to be regenerated it must bo through the agency of the Church. Deeds far more than creeds arc wanted, or, rather, creeds interpreted by deeds.” An unusual scene was witnessed after the Rev. R. J. Campbell, who also - addressed the meeting, sat down.

A blind delegate rose in the hall and expressed the hope that all who attended the conference would believe in the Divine Sonship of Christ. Some disorder followed, and the chairman was appealed to. He declared that the delegate was in order, and then the blind speaker urged the oonference'to sing the hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

At a later stage the chairman referred to the subject, and all the delegates rose and sang the hymn with considerable emotion.