the united methodist.- thursday, march 17, 1927. the death …

THE UNITED METHODIST.- THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1927.

THE DEATH OF MR. E. -WOOLLEY, J.P. (24). NEW TESTAMENT COMMUNISM" (Page 127).

NITED ET THE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

With which is incorporated the "Free Methodist." founded 1886.

No. 1007 NEW SERIES. Eoillo's2ZEJ THURSDAY, MARCH 17; 1927. [Registered at the General TWELVE PAGES Post Office as a Newspaper.] TWOPENCE.

. FOUR

1

JUBILEES The years 1925-28 will have seen

the fiftieth anniversaries of four great Christian enterprises which sprang from the explorations of Livingstone and Stanley.

The Presbyterian Missions of Livingstonia and Blantyre, in Nyasa-land, date from 1875 and 1876 ; the Anglican Mission in Uganda from 1877, and the Baptist Mission in Congoland from 1878.

These Missions, which to-day number their adherents by the ten thousand, have playel a great part in the modern history of Africa.

The Bible Society has actively co-operated with them in bringing the Gospel to African tribes.

For Nyasaland it has (in conjunc- . tion with the N.B.S.S.), published the whole Bible in Nyanja.

For Uganda it has published some part of the Scriptures in twelve languages.. 4

For the Baptist Mission it has published the Bible in Kongo and the New Testament in Kele..

It has provided many • thousands of . copies on such terms that no portion of the cost has fallen upon the Mission Exchequers.

These Missions, and others, are demanding fresh supplies. Will you help to furnish them ?

Gifts will be gratefully received by the Secretaries,

BRITISH & FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, 146 Queen Victoria Street,

London, E.C.4.

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" IT may indeed be phantasy when. I Essay to draw from all created things Deep, heartfelt, inward joy that closely clings'; And trace in leaves and flowers that round me live Lessons of love and earnest piety. So be it ; and if the wide world rings In mock of - this belief, to me it brings Not fear; nor grief; nor vain perplexity.

So will build my altar in the fields, And the blue sky my. fretted dome shall be, And the sweet fragrance that the wild flower yields' Shall be the incense I will yield to Thee, Thee only God .and Thou wilt not despise Even me, thepriest of this poor sacrifice.

(S. T. COLERIDGE.)

"HUSH " says Nature as we enter her chamber of Birth. Through long nights and clays of fog and biting cold, the Mystic Mother of Mankind prepares her preachers of the resurrection.

Buds are appearing on coppice and hedgerow. Squirrel and hedgehog, dronefly and gnat, cautiously are venturing forth. Blue-tit, skylark, NI;•agtail, finch, each is singing his early wooing-song. Winter is vanquished, and Spring, vivacious, passionate,. comes robed - in enchantment.

In his recently published letters, John. Morley says : " A quarter of an hour on the heath puts the feverish battle of the day into the last century." The wind on the heath, brother, the music borne on invisible wings, shaded sanctuaries of contemplation, and—the man, account for these very suggestive words.

Nature's soothing solitudes afford relief from City days. The contrast is so imposing, that our response does not of necessity proclaim us Seers ; we may see nothing save what obtrudes within the range.of our physical senses.

Viewing: a landscape by Turner, a lady exclaimed, " I never saw anything like that in Nature." The artist, overhearing, replied, "No, madam, but don't you wish you could? "

When a celebrated rationalist. says, "With our microscope and telescope we have searched, and have failed to find God," discerning people are not perturbed ; they fully understand, and are grateful for his confession. -

Not to the casual caller, nor to him who "examines " her, but only unto him who "woos " her, can Nature disclose herself. A microscope is a very fascinating instrument. It reveals the majesty of things plucked from. crannied walls, but only to those who see. The microscope has its limitations. Helen Keller speaks of people being "sight-blinded." Vision is born of sympathy. Love sees, demands, is most exacting, and alone is admitted. Yes, Nature can be

"A passive mistress, cold and passionless— Bestowing not, yet having power to bless, Until, in holy love, we kiss her feet."

The lover stays, after all visitors have gone, on into the rapturous, silence of the eloquent night, whose "hush " brings not loneliness, but joyous elevation. Star beams are transmuted into ladders, down whose silvery path come certitudes of blessed-ness. Even the lightning's flash and the reverbera-ting roar—the elements beating in wild unrest, serve but to intensify the "hush " within, deep answering li

unto deep, as the lover reposes. on the tremulous bosom, conscious of the Everlasting Arms. At length the paling stars look down upon a waking world, pervaded by the "hush ". of high expectancy. Shan Bullock calls this, "The Master's Chosen Hour "—Dawn. In simpler days His children came to give Him greeting ; now, only birds, and beasts, and flowers, and fading stars. Night dies as day is born, and 'midst the mystic shadows, the lover

kimws that Nature, giving instincts, cannot fail to give the ends they point to.

With the day comes "a tinge of tumult from the smoke afar." There lies the city, our world—so much. with us, and the feverish battle of the day. " We. scarcely know to which we most belong- , These • simple fields, or that unsimple throng."

To quote again from Mr. Morley's letters, he exclaims, " How I envy the decorators ; a clever joiner is the greatest work of God." The distill-. ;.x uished statesman, pre-eminently a doer, went to the heath, not to bury his tasks, but to understand them. From this vantage ground he saw truly both them and himself ; the heath, to him, meant self-adjustment.

The path of the dove is not the way of peace to .men. Silence is not golden always ; there is silence among the tombs. Mysticism must be expressed in living issues, or it degenerates into morbid intro-spection. The present age we must serve, would we fulfil our calling. Our Lord's commission domi-• nates all voices. So, while we build our altar in the fields; and oaks and elms become oracular, we know that yonder, " 'midst that unsimple throng," is where we must glorify our Lord.

But what a world is ours Specialists are pro- testing against the B.B.C. invasion of our homes. Educationists are denouncing Hollywood and its twenty millions of patrons. The Rationalist press is poking fun at the fiasco of recent questionnaires. Godly people are yearning over sons and daughters who appear to have given their heafts away, a sordid boon. It is suggested that this jazzing world, so much with us, is the worst world ever.

But Wesley's world was not exactly a paradise of piety. Vanity Fair suggests the kind of world that was with John Bunyan. The world of apos-tolic days had its amphitheatres and pagan sports. .Compared, ours is the best world. ever. The .Holy Spirit is the sublime adventurer, whose Kingdom and our world are commensurate, and He is march-ing on. His is the prevailing Sense of Right ; never was Justice so tempered with Mercy. Through Science, He has undermined the, citadel of material-ism ; large possessions, soon, will be cause for apology. Community Singing. is more than a mere resurgence of the herd instinct. The latest Myth-theory of Jesus is 'received with a silence most eloquent. Dr. Morrison asks us to observe signs of Revival ; we do, and that is why we rejoice, with humble gratitude, in this, our world. The fault,. my. masters, is not in our world, but in ourselves, that we fail through lack of power.

The late A. C. BenSon, in his diary, says, "The only fine things come out of the lonely part of us to be real, we must be empty,with the emptiness of the Void."

Jesus emptied Himself, and all that would weaken went with the emptying. His was the emptiness of the Void, whence issued the mandate and the power for His task among men. He yearned and wept for the city, and shrank from the issues of His mission ; but He was impelled and sustained by the Purpose that cannot be thwarted.

For us, too, this is the path to power, our heart no more as a thoroughfare where idle thoughts perambulate, nor as a wayside pool befouled of cattle, till of the Void above, it has no image, but as a fenced garden and a fountain sealed.

In the " Hush " of Spring, the' Void becomes articulate ; in Jesus, Life's Way is manifest so gloriously that wayfaring men may not err. Jesus is the completion of 'every landscape, the interpre-tation of every human probleni. Through Jesus, consciously we grow to understand and share the Sublime Adventure, the One Increasing Purpose.

FRED WIMBUSH.

"Hush, the Void ! "

Ourselves and Others. •■••••■■•••■•••••■•

Of recent years an increasing amount of ihoukht and attention has been devoted to rho beautification and more tasteful furnish-

ing of our hur, hes. and rightly so; as everything should be in keeping with the dignity of the Building.

Readers of the UNITED 'METHODIST are invited to write for the following Booklets trated in colour), which Messrs. Maile have recently published,

and will send Post Free on request: - (n) "Church Furniture." (13) " The Glory of Stained

Glass." (c) "memorial Tablet s

and Brasses,"

AILE &SON Lw Church Art Craftsmen.. _

357, Euston Road.,,Lottdouj(W.I.

A LIST OF OUR CHURCHES Classified in Alphabetical Order

in Circuits and Districts. PRICE ONE SHILLING NET.

(Postage ld. extra.)

HENRY HOOKS, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, B.C.4.

LONDON CHURCH EXTENSION AND MISSION COMMITTEE

GREAT DEBT EXTINCTION SCHEME

supo IN FOUR YEARS WAS A TREMENDOUS TASK TO HAVE TAKEN ! 4i months more and the allotted time is up: June 30th, 1927 !

The whole country, both industrial cities and rural districts, owe much to London. Money is sadly needed in some of our churches—one has over £3,000 and another over £600 still to raise.

IF ANY OF OUR LORD'S STEWARDS ARE MOVED TO HELP THIS CAUSE, PLEASE SEND CHEQUES TO: Mr.WM. MALLINSON,J.P.,

The Limes, Walthamstow,

London, E.17.

or Rev. C. H. POPPLETON, 25 Graham Road,

Purley,

Surrey.

122

THE UNITED METHODIST. March 17, 1927

Bristol, Eastville Park, New Extension School.

A FINE new enterprise is nearing completion at our Eastville Park Church, Bristol, under the energetic leadership of its minister, Rev. C. E. Penrose. For some years there has been a need for larger ,and more modern accommodation for the Sunday School and work among young people. With practically a full Church and overcrowded school premises, the accommodation is totally inadequate to carry on efficiently the Sunday School work and the various week-evening organizations. The church does not lack workers, but space. The trustees, with the hearty co-operation of the church, school and other organizations, are erecting additional buildings, at a cost of approximately £7,000. The suite of premises will amply provide for fully graded Sunday School work, and every convenience is made for week-evening activi-ties.„ The new building will adjoin the present school-room, being approached by two entrances leading to a suite of rooms on the ground floor, and by means of two staircases, to a large hall on the first floor. The old and new buildings will be connected by two doorways. The site for the extension buildings cost £700. This amount was raised a few years ago, Towards the cost of erection the friends have raised over £1,800 during the past eighteen months. This amount -includes gifts received from friends at the stone-laying ceremonies, and reflects real sacrificial giving by the people. A large number, including scholars, and the members of the Men's Bright Hour, are contributing weekly. It is in-tended to raise the entire cost within six years. The immediate aim,is to reach the sum of £2,500, when a gift of ,;500 will be received from Connexional funds. A further sum of £500 is promised from the same funds as the debt is liquidated. There are also two loans— one '300 free loan, one ,L500 at 2 per cent interest, and a promised free loan from the National S.S. Union of £500. These loans have to be repaid at regular periods. The opening ceremonies will take place on Wednesday, March 30th, and following days, particulars of which will he announced. It is a great effort and worthy of support.

Central Chapel, Cleckheaton. THE annual church meeting was preceded by a tea.

Rev. J. E. Langley occupied the chair and an interest-ing and encouraging report was presented by Mr. Her- bert Stillingfleet (secretary). The report stated that there had been a great deal of self-sacrifice during the year. There had been admitted during the past year 29 new members, making a total membership of 343, which was an increase of 21. Many Sunday School teachers and scholars had joined the church. A warm tribute was paid to Rev. J. E. Langley, and the hope expressed that he and Mrs. Langley might have health and strength to continue their good work for some time to come. In 1929 the jubilee of the church would be celebrated ; the trustees were already considering ways and means whereby the premises could be painted and decorated, and the young men had started a scheme with the object of raising a certain sum of money before that time. Mr. Stillingfleet appealed for ,continued unity. The statement of accounts showed that the total income for the church was £1,123, with a balance in hand of over

Rev. J. E. Langley, in commenting on the report, spoke words of 'commendation. He said there had been a gratifying increase of £45 in the weekly offerings, and one could say that the envelope system had had a great deal to do with that result. On the year there had been a notable increase in the income of £105, and he com-plimented the members on their loyalty. • During the past four years over £2,000 had been spent on repairs to the property. The members had recently asked him to continue his ministry until 1930, and the invitation was of such a kind that he had decided to remain until that time. There was no reason why the work at Cen-tral should not grow and the church become a powerful one. He thanked them for their loyalty to him and the church.

Stirring addresses were given by Rev. T. W. Coleman (Pudsey), Rev. J. T. Shaw (Leeds). Songs were con-tributed during the evening by Mrs. Baron, Miss B. Kemp and Mr. W. H. Bramley, the accompanist being Mr. L. Wood.

Students' Missionary Effort, 1927. WE beg to acknowledge the following subscriptions :

B.H.B., 10s. ; Mr. F. S. Bennett, Bristol, 5s. • Mr. R. Smith, Rochdale, 2s. 6d.. Mr. and Mrs. .S!tansfield, Horsforth, 10s. ; Mr. A. W. Palethorpe, Leicester, 2s. 6d. ; Mr. J. H. Jackson, London, ; Rev. J. T. Brewis, B.A., B.D., ; Mr .W. E. Horrocks, Moston, 5s. ; Rev. J. E. Mackintosh, Prestatyn, 10s. 6d. ; Rev. A. L. Humphries, M.A., 10s. •, Rev. A. E. J. Cosson, 10s. 6d. ; Rev. B. H. Reed, Huddersfield, 5s. 6d. ; Mr. and. Mrs. T. Blackford, Leeds, 5s. ; Students' Third Sub- scription, 10s. Total up to date, £28 18s. 6d.

On behalf of the students, Yours sincerely,

H. TOMLINSON, Sec. G BASSETT, Treas.

Zion Church, East Leeds Circuit. Our readers will notice an advertisement in this issue

of a Bazaar Effort in aid of the funds for this struggling church, to be held March 23rd, 24th and 26th. There is a capital debt of nearly two thousand pounds, and an overdraft.on the bank, and it is urgent seven hundred pounds should be raised now, and besides, the church and classrooms are in need of repair. The friends are deserving of help, and we trust-the need will make its own appeal to some, at least, of our readers, either in the way of subscriptions or kind. The pastor: A. L. Morris, will be pleased to receive any gifts in this way.

HONOUR TO A LOCAL PREACHER. County Councillor Wm. Golightly, of Seghill, who is

a very acceptable local lireacher on the Blyth circuit plan, has been elected by a majority of 611 to the Presidency of the Northumberland Miners' Association, in succession to the late Alderman' W. Weir. Mr. Golightly served with the R.A.M. Corps in Mesopotamia during the war, is a member of the U.D.C. and is held in high esteem amongst his•comrades and Crethren. We congratulate our brother on the honour which has come to him, and rejoice that so important and responsible an office ihas been conferred, upon a United Methodist local preacher and worker, whose character and abilities so fit him for the post.

*' *

BROADCAST ADDRESS BY A U.M. LAYMAN. Sunday next (March 20th) is National Brotherhood

Sunday. At the eight p.m., Broadcast from Savoy Hill to all Stations, Mr. A. G. Barker, the father of Rev. A. G. Barker, is giving the address. Mr. Barker is National President of the Brotherhood Move-ment. The Lord Mayor of London (Sir Rowland Blades) will be the announcer. Mr. Sidney Walton; C.B.E., reads the Scripture. Others taking part will be Rev. J.. W. Tuffley (National Secretary of the B.M.) and Madame Gwladys Barker, who is also a United Metho-dist. She will be the soloist. Mr. Barker is a local preacher, member of our Bristol (Bishopston) Church, and secretary of the Western Temperance League.

* *

REV. JAMES ROBERTS. The following cable has been received by Dr. Sykes

from the Rev. James Roberts. He sailed for Jamaica on February 15th, in the ss. " Camite " :—" Arrived Tuesday. Splendid voyage. Progressing steadily." After the delay caused by his illness in London, many friends will be glad to hear that he has reached his beloved Jamaica. His address : c.o. Mrs. Sharp, Trout Hall, Crooked River, Jamaica.

* * * * * MR. JAMES MACLAURIN.

Our good friend, Mr. Maclaurin, Treasurer of the Young People's Department, is still unwell and con-fined to his bed. We are glad to know, however, that he is progressing favourably.

* _* * MRS. E. COOK, OF ELLAND (HANOVER

CIRCU IT). Rev. D. B. Proudlove writes : " Many friends through-

out our Denomination will learn with much sorrow of the passing of Mrs. Cook, the wife of my friend and colleague, the Rev. E. Cook. A service was held at our Elland (Bethesda) Church, on Tuesday afternoon, prior to the interment at Elland Cemetery. Much sym-pathy is felt with my colleague and his two daughters in their great loss. May I say that in the short space of a week, Mr. Cook has lost his mother, his wife, and another dear relative?

* * * * * ILLNESS OF MRS. FALKNER.

We are sorry to learn that the wife of our minister at Grantham, Rev. Walter Falkner, has had to go in hospital for. an operation. The latest report to hand is

that Mrs. Falkner is going on as well as can be ex-pected. Many friends will lift up hands of prayer that she may be restored in God's good time, and that His grace may prove sufficient for her dear ones and herself in their time of trial.

* * * * * OUR PEMBURY GROVE CHURCH.

The monthly magazine of this thriving church is full of interesting items on Systematic Giving, Giving God the Residue, and a very pleasing story for the children, supplied by Aunt Marjorie (Mrs. Burningham), who con-tributes a monthly letter of this kind.

PERSONAL. The Bradford Corporation Gas Committee recommend

the appointment of Mr. Ernest J. Sutcliffe, as City Gas Engineer. He has been with_ the department for thirty-six years, having been deputy engineer since 1908. He was formerly a member of our Brunswick Church, Burnley, and for the last twenty-six years has been a valued member of our Laisterdyke Church.

*, NOTTINGHAM MINISTERS' FRATERNAL.

'The Rev. J. Spivey gave an informing synopsis of Prof. Scott's book, " The Holy Spirit in the New Testa-ment," at the last meeting of the Fraternal, and was cordially thanked by 'the brethren.

* * * * * A UNIQUE DISTINCTION.

Our Westmorland Road Church, Newcastle Central Circuit, possesses the unique distinction of supplying the North Eastern Federation of the Christian Endeav-our Union with most of its chief executive officers. The society steward of this progressive church, Mr. W. R. Cosser, has been elevated from the Newcastle and Gates-head Union chairmanship to the Federation presidency. Mrs. Heslop has been appointed treasurer of the Junior Federation, and Mr. Chalder, jun., was appointed gen-eral secretary of the Senior Federation. This must surely be unique in the annals of Christian Endeavour, that the three principal officers should all come from the same church.

* * * * *

FAIRBAIRN MEMORIAL PRIZE. Mr. Alfred Lidster, B.A., of Sheffield, South Street

Circuit, one of our students who is taking a special course of study at Mansfield College, Oxford, has been awarded the Fairbairn Memorial Essay Prize. This competition is open to all resident members of Mans-field College to compete, and the subject set for this year was, " Recent Developments in the Relations Be-tween Science and Theology." Mr. Lidster completes his college training this year, and is hoping to be ap-pointed to a circuit by the forthcoming Conference.

* * * . * CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR CONVENTION.

Nottingham is to be the centre for the National Christian Endeavour Convention at Whitsuntide. The Rev. Alex. Dimond, who is president of the Notting-hamshire and Derbyshire Federation, is chairman of the Reception Committee for the Convention, and is to give the address at the Inaugurating Devotional Gathering on the Friday.

* * * * * BEOUESTS.

Under the will of the late Mrs. Philip Henry Grandin, of Jersey, legacies have recently been paid of 4'500 to our missionary society for mission work in China, and of £100 to the Benevolent Society of the Great Union Road Church. Substantial gifts were also willed to three other charitable institutions in the town of St. Heliers.

• * *

•

4 " A CORRECTION.

Rev. R. H. Goldsworthy is returning to this country on furlough, and is due to arrive in London on April 7th, and not the 17th as previously stated.

PUBLISHING HOUSE AND MAGNET PRESS FINANCIAL YEAR.

May we remind ministers and all others who have accounts with us that our Financial Year definitely closes mid-day, Thursday, March 31st: All remittances for these two accounts—to be credited in this year—must he to hand not later THAN THE MORNING POST OF THE DATE STATED. Remittances received after mid-day of the 31st will not be credited in this year's accounts.

* .*

ANNOUNCEMENT. All communications should be addressed to the Editor, " United Methodist,"

12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E .C.4.' Advertisements should reach the Publishing Office not later than first post on

Tuesday morning.

" The United • Methodist " will be forwarded, post free, for one year to any address in the United • Kingdom, the Colonies, or Foreign Countries, for 1 1 s. per annum, payable in advance.

The Editor is always glad to consider manuscripts. If stamps are enclosed, every effort will be made to ensure the return of MSS. not used.

PRINCIPAL CONTENTS.

March 17, 1V27

THE UNITED METHODIST. 123-

"Hush—the Void ! " By Fred Wimbush Ourselves and Others Noted and Comments. By R. P. A. C. Benson : A Study in Contrasts.

By r. B. Davenport ... 124 Unvdiling of Memorial Tablet to

Rev. W. Vivian 124 Death of Mr. E. Woolley. LP., Accrington ... 124 National Free Church Council Assembly

at Birmingham 125 Women's Missionary Auxiliary 125 The Beethoven Centenary. By T.E.C. ... 126 Notes from the West... ... ;.. 126

• PA ■21 Deaconess Institute ... ... 126 New Testament Communism. By G. Edmund

Welc n 127 In the Temple. By W. A. Cooper . .. 127 Letters to the Editor... Sunday School Conference at Port Isaac The late Rev. T. M. Gauge' An Interesting Church Magazine.

. By W. H. Bourne 128 The King Recognized (C.E. Topic).

By Cuthbert Ellison ... 129 Young People's Topic. By G. W. Stacey ... Stories of Famous Men (O.T.).

By W. P. Rhodes 129 News of Our' Churches ...

the Cabinet on the League of Nations and war generally. All that was done in the end, says the "Times," was to express " a pious aspiration that things will .turn out all right in the end." Per-haps little more could be done. We are all shy of military intervention : and yet, if we are to renounce all help offered by our army and navy, it should be done deliberately and with the knowledge of all. But it seems rather unjust to begin an idealistic programme of this kind, by leaving men, women and children of our own kith and kin• defenceless in Shang-hai. The resolution which was rejected was certainly no masterpiece of drafts-manship ; and the amendment that super-seded it was by ne means free from obscurity. The latter expresses the hope " that justice may be done." But what if justice required the support of the military forces? Then, we suppose, justice must take care of itself: It is not so simple. "Tanks and armed forces and poison gas," how the very words shock us 1 But the only' alternative is to ,cle-velop the power and dominion of the League of Nations. Meanwhile if, as it happens in China, some thousands of our own people, as free from fault as we are, are placed in peril of their lives, and the League cannot function because its sanc-tions do not apply, there can be no doubt that an overwhelming majority, who have not renounced the Sermon on the MoUnt, would say, these people must be sheltered by our own forces, and saved from barbaric cruelty in the name of righteousness and love.

Spiritualism. It is with peculiar pleasure we commend

a little book recently published by the Epworth Press (2s. net), and written by

Rev. A. J. Bateman, entitled " Christian-ity and Spiritualism." The subject is one which interests an increasing number of people every year. Since we are what we are, and live in such a world as this, who of us can be indifferent to what lies on the other side of death? The interest shown in "Spiritualism " may not be an evidence of a kindling interest in religion ; it may, indeed, be proof to the contrary. If we were deeply religious, and trusted the power and love of God as simply and utterly as we might, there would be no need to resort to the crude devices and dubious methods of many persons who profess to traffic with the Beyond. But Mr. Bateman's book has four merits, which may be named. First of all it is brief. That is certainly all to the good. Only the expert would wish to read the voluminous works that Spiritualists have placed upon the book market. Many of these are verbose to a degree ; and just as many of them are innocent of all true discrimination and scientific method. Here is a book which begins with the funda-mentals; and in a few succinct chapters covers the field with masterly brevity. It is also a very fair book. Not even Butler could be more patient and open to every aspect of truth. The author never stoops to a gibe, and spurns all mere retort. He takes all into account ; and if a fact weighs against him, he gives it full value. Again, it is an informed book. The wri-tings of the wisest men are familiar to Mr. Bateman ; he knows the philosophical bearings of his subject. He is not likely to be caught napping. Behind these quiet pages lies a wealth of information. And yet another quality is the courage of the writer. He is not afraid. He has the re-straint of a disciplined mind ; but he has also the fearlessness of one who confronts the most formidable opponent with abso-lute confidence. This indeed is the kind of writing for which there will always be room and need; and the publishers are to be commended in placing the book within reach of book buyers with a limited purse.

Religious Teaching. There is no inclination, generally speak-

ing, on the part of public authorities, to exclude religious teaching from our schools. But the difficulty • is, how and what to teach. If religion is to be taught, it must be taught seriously, and it must be taught competently. We have clam-oured with perhaps too much of the parrot cry for Bible reading in the schools. But the methods of a, generation ago are abso-lutely dead now. We know that, simply to set a child to read the Bible, may be disastrous to that child's religion. Many of us have suffered misery of mind and heart, because we were told that it was our duty to begin at the beginning, and read straight on from Genesis to Revela-tion. We never succeeded ; and each failure was accepted as evidence of our depravity. Besides, let a child read the Old Testament, without .discrimination, and without knowledge, and a conception of God may be formed which lasts for life.

God has been made unlovely to many chil-dren because they have accepted as a true representation of their Maker, what they read in the Books of Judges and Samuel. The idea of a progressive revelation was unknown to them, and to their teachers. This perhaps is a condition of things that only exists now in the holes and corners of the land: But increase of knowledge does not mean an easier task. To teach religion is to teach Christ ; to show His life, to present the simplicity, cogency and beauty of His teaching ; to make clear His: divine pity and death for sinners, and to unfold the marvel of Pentecost and the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. Is-it to be wondered at that many good teachers in our day schools asked to be released from so responsible a task? In. America the " project " system is rapidly . spreading. The idea is to teach by doing ; to look out for situations in life—an acci-dent, a hospital collection, a by-election ; or anything indeed that is taking place, and to show how religion impinges upon these subjects. They ask what a Chris-tian can and should do? and then try to do it. The Bible is used to illustrate the subject, and such teaching is claimed to be both effective and attractive.

R. P.

Mr. W. T. Janance, Beswick, Manchester.

THERE has passed from us a devoted and truly Christian man in the person of brother Janance. Happily, he had reached his eightieth year. I, or many years he and his good wife, who still survives, were associated with our church at Beswick, where they had a grocery business. Brother Janance had to be late at his business, particularly on a Saturday, until a few years ago ; but, being secretary steward of his church,. he could always be relied upon to be at the sanctuary ten minutes prior to service time. He was ever earnest, loyal, efficient and generous to the point of self-sacrifice. During the last three years age and infirmity com-pelled him to live in quiet retirement, but he never lost interest in his old church and Connexion, and after a brief illness passed away in hope of a glorious resurrection. " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow them."

Local Preachers' United Meeting.

THE seventh annual meeting of the Salisbury Methodist Local Preachers' As-sociation was held in the United Metho, dist Schoolroom on March 11th, when Mr. H. J. Annetts (Wesleyan) presided at the beginning, and welcomed his succes-sor to the presidential chair, Mr. H. H. Bates (United Methodist), and the new vice-president, Mr. G. W. Garrett (Primi-tive Methodist). The secretaries, Messrs. H. E. Randall and W. C. Sheppard, re-ported a successful year, and said they were glad to know that Methodist Union had advanced a further stage. They felt, however,that it had already come, so far as Methodist local preachers in the Salisbury district were concerned, through the fel-lowship promoted , by that association. Owing to pressure of other duties, Mr. Randall retired from the secretaryship in which he has done good work from the formation of the association, and Mr. Sheppard was elected in his place, Mr.. Randall accepting the post of treasurer. In his presidential address, Mr. Bates made a strong plea for holding fast to the essentials of the Christian faith, which are the basis of our religion. Mrs. Norman Dawkins sang two songs, and Mr. and

rs. Annetts provided refreshments.

Toc H., Harold Wood.

ON Sunday evening, March 6th, a Toc H. service was held at our Harold Wood Church, which was attended by the members of the local branch, and by the women members, who form the League of Women Help-ers of Toc H. The padre of the branch, one of our local preachers, Bro-ther 'I'. J. Leaford, conducted the open-ing Toc H. ceremony of prayer, and light-ing the Lamp of Remembrance, and, during the service, read the lesson. Rev. E. Cato was the preacher ,and emphasized the three great ideals Of the Toc Fl. Move-

, tnent—Remembrance; Personal and Col.- lective Service, and the Spirit and Deeds of Sacrifice.

PAGE

121 122 123

Housing. As far as may be judged from the

reports in _the newspapers, the Free Church Council Assembly at Birmingham last week was very practical, and kept in close touch with the great questions that have to be faced and answered in our day. Apparently there was very little of the rhetoric which excites, and sometimes amuses. A generation of Free Church ministers, perhaps a younger generation, is evidently determined that the Church shall come into close grips with such un-pleasant problems as the housing of the people. On this topic we were all glad to read of the impression made by one of our ministers, the Rev. E. C. Urwin. ",,The Times "—a paper which seldom errs in generosity when dealing with such gatherings—spoke of Mr. Urwin's plea as

• "a very beautiful setting forth of the Christian ideal for the home as a school for personality, a cradle for purity, and a nurturing ground for religion and ser-vice." It does not surprise us to read of the impression made by Mr. Urwin. It •is not alone his gifts of mind and heart, that lay behind his effectiveness, but he

. has, a record of practical service. which gives point and actuality to all he says on such a theme. He sojourns until his heart is sore in the shadows of the slum. He knows that men, women and children have no chance in such an environment. He knows, too, that with all;the plans on foot for new houses, the State will stop short unless it is goaded into adequate activity. We have only begun to deal with this problem. A walk through one of the more squalid parts which abound in every town and city, suffices to con-vince us of that. But when once we get inside some of these "homes of the people" we frequently are appalled. In quite a respectable street of a great and proud city, a man of 35 died last week of consumption. He, his wife and five children had one room. It is simple mockery to talk to such a man of pity and purity and love. We shall all support men like Mr. Urwin in a campaign that makes the heaviest drain upon nervous energy and vitality of soul. It is pleasant to think of a United Methodist minister presiding with grace and effi-ciency over such an assembly ; another of Our own brethren guiding • its affairs as only a competent and alert secretary can do ; and then a third, faring forth from his. circuit, to plead with passion and eloquence in such a way as profoundly to move the whole assembly.

The Free Church Assembly and China.

The Birmingham Assembly seems to have had an uncomfortable half-hour last Thursday in discussing affairs. in China. Perhaps the most obvious lesson to be learnt, from what appears to have been something of a wrangle, is that a large gathering of this kind is not to be ex-pected to deal with questions so delicate and difficult as the precise relationships of a Government•to another nation where so much is in dispute and so much is in- definite. To give approval of what the Government has.- done, or is doing, is somewhat perilous, for we only know a part. There must, too, be in the minds of many, some utterances by members of

128 128 128

130

Notes and Comments.

If you want MONEY to help you to

BUY YOUR OWN HOUSE GET IT FROM THE

SHERN HALL (METHODIST)

BUILDING SOCIETY If you have money to invest

put it in the

Shorn liallimethodisoBuilding Society Investment Shares pay .5 per cent Interest.

- Money wanted at short notice — DEPOSIT and get 4 per cent Interest.

Interest on both are paid, Free • of INCOME TAX.

Apply to Mr. F. Martin, Shern Hall, Walthamstow, London, E.17

W.

121 THE UNITED METHODIST. March 17, 1927

A. C. Benson. A Study in Contrasts.

BY REV. T. B. DAVENPORT.

(Continued from last issue). THERE are two other matters of minor inteerst in Mr.

Benson's life worth referring to—his relation to women and to religion. Of all the great host of people who read his books, a large proportion were women and girls. He knew this because so many of them wrote to him letters of ,admiration and thanks and self-revelation. Fot some of them he must have been a sort of father con-fessor. One American lady was so impressed by him that she made over to him a large fortune to use for whatever purpose he thought fit. He was quite aware of what this feminine interest in his writings might be said to imply. And if he had not been, his friends and the critics would not have left him in ignorance. Now the interesting thing is that -he should have been so suc-cessful with women as the wielder of a pen, and such a failure with them as a man. He was never married, nor did he ever put his foot on the first rung of the marriage ladder. Such women as he knew other than by his books, he fell out with soon or late. Small wonder. He thought that all women were afflicted with the desire to improve every man with whom they became in any degree intimate. And as he had no in-tention of being forcibly improved by anybody, it was inevitable that friction should arise. Moreover, he did not really like women. He thought there was some-thing very horrid about them—so self-conscious and in-consequent. Here is one of . those seeming paradoxes which life presents so numerously for our unravelling. Many of them, as in this case, are not real paradoxes, they are easily explained. Men produce all sorts of effects impersonally, effects which they neither expect not desire. And it falls to the lot of most people to present to onlookers something of a contradiction betweer one part of themselves and another—I mean a contra-diction which is legitimate.and unavoidable. Luckily, Mr. Benson had a gift which at least saved his women readers and correspondents from suspecting the other side of the truth. An inexorable courtesy made him shoulder the burden he had unwittingly brought upon himself. His feminine correspondents received replies to as many letters as they felt moved to write him.

Mr. Benson's religion is interesting as a contrast to that of his father—an . Archbishop of Canterbury, ano great lover of religious ceremonial. Mr. Lubbock says that he had an ecclesiastical tone of mind. And he himself pleads guilty to feeling quite at home in an ecclesiastical atmosphere. But it would be a mistake to imagine that this implies any love for church ser-vices and the organized. side of religion. Both' the diary and the books are explicit on this. Neither ceremonial nor dogma made any appeal to him. He thought they might be likened to tobacco chewed by hungry men to stay a famished stomach. When the head master of Eton suggested to him that he should prepare to step into his place, and should take "orders " by way of preliminary, he writes in his diary that to do so would afflict him with pet manent mural asthma. A cathedral service made him .feel that the clergy had no business to be sitting there dressed up, engaged in sleepy morn-ing orisons ; if they felt that things should be other than they were they should have been trying to mend the world. Corporate worship was for him only ceremo-nial ; and he could not understand men combining to gether for such a purpose, except on the inferior ground that they liked it. Religion should not be organized. Religion was a spirit, a sentiment, an activity, which should run through all life: It is easy to see that he was a pure subjectionist in his apprehension of the meaning and place of religion in human life. There was a good deal more of his mother in him than his father.

But what Mr. Benson would have reckoned the chief contrast in his life was that between the man he was and the man he would be. Writing was not, with him, so much an ambition, or a painfully acquired art, as a natural impulse which perfected itself in practice. Artis-tic sensibility was inborn. - Words were his slaves—when they were not his masters. To sit down for an hour before dinner add - write " sixteen hundred extem-pore words " was also the chief imperative of his life. At the end of his first year at Cambridge, as Fellow of Magdalen, he drew up a list of his writings for the twelve months. In addition to his work on Queen Vic-toria's letters, and one or two odd volumes, he had written books, lectures and articles to the extent of half, a million words. And one of the results of this was that he had become a popular author. But this was not at all what he expected or desired. To achieve a literary fame was the nearest approach in him to an ambition. But to write books that men of taste did not care. to read was something of an anti-climax, which set him to self-examination. His wish was to write at least one great book. Why could he do nothing but talk to a feminine tea-party sort of audience? His friends told him that he pursued too exclusively the sweetness of beauty, and so missed something of the rougher, harder, more noble side of it. And lie told himself that his life was too much a floating in comforts and prosperities,. wanting in vital contact with others ; he had an inkling rather than an experience of love, religion, art, ambi-tion. He kept everybody and everything at arm's length. He even stepped off a crowded pavement from a horror of twice-breathed air. He met his closest friends on the doorstep of his mind, and never permitted intrusion beyond. The vulgarity and the sorrow of life were equally repellent. Even two long periods of neurasthenia darkened by the fear of insanity, left him unchanged. The plough went over the ground, not through ; the soil was unturned. Something of the Peter Pan quality seemed innate with him—though perhaps that is not the right way to put it. He did not grow up, not because he was the eternal child, but because he shrank from

taking the needitil steps into life's crowded arena. Someone once said that at Oxford they -practised fas-tidiousness and called it religion. Mr. Benson did not call it religion, but he practised fastidiousness. He walked through life as a cat picks its way in the wet. AU of which he knew quite well—none better. The question is, Could he have done differently? He thought he could not. Timid and chatty articles for maiden aunts were not what he would have chosen to produce. But who would show him how to write what he would have preferred? If it was true that he had always really been pre-occupied with himself, how was he to get out of himself? " If anyone," said he, " will tell the human race that, he shall be made a saint." Mr. Lubbock steps in here and informs us that there was nothing more characteristic of Arthur Benson than to describe as "'wisely withheld " things that he actively and resolutely kept at a distance. Did Mr. Benson then deceive him-self in accepting as inevitable what only wanted some thrust of manly resolution to utterly transform? That I confess 'is •too difficult a question for me to answer. There is a saying of Jesus that all seekers shall lind. It might be held that that is the answer. On the other hand, it may he held that it does not apply. Are we sure that what Mr. Benson was seeking was what every-one may have by paying the price? May it not be that part of the schooling which some must accept in this life is to view a promised land which they are not allowed to enter? Perhaps a man must bear the blame as well as the pain for failing to grasp the skirts of happy chance. But who has ever broken his birth's invidious bar? And, if that is impossible, who can be sure whether he is held captive by the decree of fate, or was intended to bludgeon his way into a larger life? Doubtless the number of those who have sat at ease in Zion is far greater than the number of those who have fought their way through into their proper kingdom. But we have not been kept so well posted concerning those who have accepted the .invincible limitations of their \earthly natures, yht have pressed themselves igainst the bars in testimony of their faith in the in-finitude of the spirit's life. Those who have any cause for gratitude to Arthur Benson may prefer to think that though it was not given him to range through space and bring its thunders and lightnings about their heads, he yet played a not ignoble part in life, and at least kept his eyes on those stars to which he was unable to hitch his chariot.

Unveiling of Memorial Tablet to Rev. W. Vivian.

AN impressive ceremony took place at our Sandylands ChUrch, Morecambe, on March 4th, when the Rev. T. J. Cox unveiled a bronze tablet, mounted on fumed oak, in memory of the ministry of the late Rev. William Vivian. Mr. Cox had previously conducted a service in the church, and preached a powerful sermon on "The Good Man," as portrayed by the writer of the first Psalm. There was a large congregation, a number of whom

• were visitors from neighbouring churches. At the close of the sermon the Rev. John Martin, superintendent of the circuit, asked Mr. Cox to perform the duty of un-veiling. Having done so, Mr. Cosi delivered an incisive and illuminating address on the character and work of his life-long friend, which it is impossible for the present writer to report. He referred to the poetic and prophetic gifts of Mr. Vivian, and of his personal knowledge of the great devotion and splendid service of him who had passed from our sight. With Mrs. Vivian arid Miss Vivian present, the congregation listened with reverence and awe to the moving tribute paid by the • speaker. The Rev. J. Smallwood accepted the tablet in the name of the church. In the evening Mr. Cox delivered a lec-ture entitled " The Art of Keeping Things Green." Again our reporting capabilities are hopelessly deficient ; we can only say that everybody present seemed to enjoy to the full a deliverance lasting seventy-five minutes. His-tory, biography, philosophy, criticism, wit, pathos were all brought in as tools or material in the orderly ccn-struction of a fine performance. Mr. Cox was at his best ; it was a day to be cherished in the memory..

J. S.

Great Yarmouth (Gorleston).—At a recent covenant service -Rev. G. T. Checklin had the pleasure of extend-ing the right hand of fellowship to fourteen new mem-bers. This proof of the continued spiritual virility of this little church will be pleasing to former members and ministers.

Zion United Methodist Church, CLARK LANE, EAST LEEDS, YORKSHIRE

Minister

Rev. A. L. MORRIS.

THE

nnual Bazaar WILL BE HELD ON

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, MARCH 23rd, 24th & 26th, 1927.

Debt £2,000. We require urgently the sum of £700 to clear current account and to clear Overdraft at the Bank.

"The Lord loveth a cheerful giver."

GIFTS (large or small), money or goods, will be gratefully received byt

Rev, A. L. MORRIS (Minister and Chairman of Bazaar Committee), 11 Garton Terrace, East End Park, Leeds.

Mrs. Moore (Treasurer : Women's Own). 2. Clark Avenue. East Leeds. Mr. Thompson (Trust Secretary). " Clark House," Clark Lane, East Leeds. Mr. H. Hemingway (Secretary : Bazaar Committee), 250 York Road, Leeds. Mr. G. Kilburn (Bazaar Treasurer) 24 Ashbourne Street, Hunslet. Leeds.

Death of Mr. E. Woolley, J.P., Accrington.

UNITED Methodism in Lancashire has suffered a severe loss through the death of Mr. E. Woolley, J.P., of Accrington. In his 81st year, and with health gradually declining, life was necessarily more or less uncertain, but right unto the end he was able to attend to his public duties. On Monday, March 7th., his health was much as usual when he retired for the night. Soon after he was taken ill and a doctor was summoned. He speedily recovered and the doctor remained chatting with his patient until midnight, leaving him quite normal. Five minutes after the doctor had left he passed away. The funeral took place on Friday at the Accrington Cemetery. It was preceded by a service in our Avenue Parade Church. The flags of the Town Hall and most of the- other public buildings were at half-mast, and there were other silent but impressive tributes to his memory. The cortege was headed by a detachment of the County Constabulary. Members, of the Borough Police officiated as bearers. On arriving at the Town Hall,- county and borough magistrates, members of the Town Council, the Haslingden Board of Guardians, and representatives of other public bodies jonied the procession. There were also present Rev. W. E. Stock-ley (Bacup), Revs. S. J. Adie,- J. Burton and Mrs. Lord and Mrs. Hartley (Great .Harwood). Nearly all the local ministers and clergy were present.. The service was conducted by Rev. J. Mitchell, who gave an address.

RPv. J. Mitchell's Address. The Rev. J. Mitchell in his address said The majority

of us who are present at this service to pay our last tribute of respect to Edward Woolley, are either repre-sentatives of the Christian church or of the civic life of our town. There is something not merely appropriate in that fact, but also'inevitable, for the church and the civic life occupied all his spare time and energy. On Sunday evening, at our Foxhill Bank church, where he rendered a lifetime of service, I hope to speak specifi-cally about his religious experience and service, but this afternoon we think about the influence he has exerted on the wider life of the community. But even in that case we cannot separate his religious faith from his social service, because what he did for the town was the direct outcome of his Christian ideals.

It is a great thing when a youth goes out into the wider world with a lofty conception of Christian disciple-ship, but it is a greater thing to tread the upward path for a lifetime without ever faltering in his pilgrimage, and as the journey lengthens to add new graces to his character and new spheres to his enterprise. Religi8n did not occupy a secondary place in his outlook, it was the one thing needful that gave to his character unity and reality. Religion was not .something that he ac. cepted because it was popular and fashionable. It was as natural to him as breathing ; as necessary to his soul as food to his body ; as refreshing to his spirit as genial sunshine. The tender fibre of his-nature responded to spiritual realities as an organ answers the delicate touch of the musician. His faith. was as firm as a rock and it was strengthened by a rich and varied experience: Whatever there was admirable in his life and work it had its source and origin in his religious faith.

Religion when it is real has the inevitable result of quickening and enriching the personality. It comes as a challenge to st more abundant life. In Edward Woolley it expressed itself as a passion to serve the community. It furnished him with lofty ideals of temperance, educa-tion and social righteousness. He gave himself to the service of this town with unstinted generosity, and he brought to that service a keen intellect and a rare degree of commonsense and culture. There are few men who could express their thoughts in such graceful and ap-propriate forms. He was an expert in his use of lan-guage. There was a dignity about his manner that added charm to his service. The proudest moment of his life was when he was made Mayor of this town. He valued that office because, it represented the apprecia-tion and the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, but also because it was the crown and completion of his public work. Whether we shall produce the same type of man in the future remains to be seen, but we are proud to have his memory for the genuine qualities of character he revealed, the efficiency he brought to his service, and for the splendid example of social uprightness he pre-served throughout his long career.

Mr. Woolley was a man of most exceptional gifts. He has rendered valuable service to our churches for over 60 years, as local preacher, treasurer, superintend-ent, class leader, circuit steward and day school manager. The services he gave to the public life of the town were equal to his church activities. Accrington has lost one of its most distinguished citizens and United Methodism one of its most loyal supporters. A largely-. attended memorial service was held on Sunday even-ing, at our Foxhill Bank Church, which was conducted by Rev. J. Mitchell.

Our Missionaries in China. THEY left this land at Thy dear call, They left their homes, their friends, their all, Oh, then, dear Saviour, guard them all, And hear them when to Thee they call. In China 'mid the noise and strife, Where heathen people cry for "life " Thy servants dwell, oh, be Thou near To drive away all care and fear. Our friends to Thee, 0 Lord, we give, We know that then they'll work and live, And prove to China that above- There is a God, whose name is Love.

BESSIE, LINGARD.

Maclaurin and. Mrs. Truscott Wood. Their coming has been a joy to us all, and has brought us into closer touch with the work of our mission stations. The President, whose gracious personality is a benediction, told us many interesting details, showing on the one side the nobility of some of the Chinese Christians, and on the other the bitter need of the native African, living in con-stant dread of evil spirits and terrorised by the witch doctors. The Council Secretary, in a most able speech, traced the development of missionary work, showing how the problems of to-day di ffer from those of yester-day : touched on the state of affairs in China, pointing out that the. feeling causing unrest was political rather than anti-Christian. The decision arrived at between ary boards and Gov the missionary concerning the teaching of religious subjects in schools is that it shall be optional, as in England. The far-reaching effects of the little the individual memberg can do was beauti-fully set forth. Four meetings had been arranged, but one had to be cancelled because of influenza. The first was held at Truro,, and was attended by a contingent from St. Aus-tell. Members of the Redruth branch joined in the second meeting, held at Camborne. A drawing room meeting was held at Penzance at the home of the Dis-trict President.

Penzance.—It was unfortunate that the visit of the Council President should fall during the week of our r, annual bazaar, always a strenuous effort. Not wishing, however, to forgo the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Maclaurin, we arranged an afternoon -drawing-room meeting at Alma Terrace, Mrs. Balkwill and Miss Culyer being the hostesses. There was a good gathering of in-terested friends. Mrs. J. Thomas, Branch President, presided, and in a few felicitous words introduced Mrs. Maclaurin, who charmed us all with her heart-to-heart talk about our Foreign Missions, and how in many ways we, as W.M.A. members, can help. We were made to feel in a very real way that at home and abroad we are workers together in the great cause. Over a cup of tea there was still more intimate talk, and at the close it was agreed that our venture had been most success-ful and helpful. East Cornwall (Launceston).—The W.M.A. President, Mrs. Maclaurin, visited the ancient. capital of Cornwall on Tuesday, March 1st. A public tea had been organized by the two town Auxiliaries, and one of the -country branches, North Petherwin, was also represented. The Mayoress of Launctston, Mrs. Horace Kittow, presided over the public meeting, and expressed her sympathy with W.M.A. work. Mrs. Maclaurin gave a very in-teresting• address, which was followed with the closest attention. There was special singing by a united choir. The attendance, though good, was adversely affected by an epidemic of 'flu. The total proceeds amounted to 4.4 3s., which was divided between the two branches responsible for the meeting. Tresparret (Week St. Mary Circuit).—In spite of

rough, stormy weather and an epidemic of influenza, a considerable congregation met in Tresparret United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 2nd, to see and hear Mrs. Maclaurin, the W.M.A. President. Mrs. de jersey Lark took the chair, in place. of Miss Burnard, the District Secretary, who was prevented from attend-ing at the last .moment. It was an advantage to have part of the choir present. Mrs. Maclaurin gave an ex-cellent address, which delighted her audience. Mrs. Truscott Wood also addressed the meeting. MI=OPIEMINNIMMII■IMIN■

7o-ScwetS The widespread industrial unrest throughout the country has produced many problems

f_ of poverty. These have added to the responsibilities of the CHILDREN'S HOME,

= and at the same time have made it difficult -5.

for many to send their customary gifts.

WE HAVE MORE TO DO AND LESS WITH WHICH TO DO. IT

E Compared with the same date last year the Voluntary Contributions received up to the time of going to press show a decrease of

£7795 : 10 : 2

3984 SPECIAL GIFTS WANTED

664 664 664 664 664 664 @ @ @ @ @ @ £5 £3 £2 £1 10/- 5/-

BY MARCH 31. WILL YOU SEND ONE ?

Please mark your communication TO SAVE THE SITUATION —=

and address to

NATIONAL CHILDREN'S HOME & ORPHANAGE (Founded by Dr. Stephenson)

Principal : Rev. W. HODSON SMITH 29 BRANCHES 4000 CHILDREN

General Sir CHARLES C. WAKErFIELD, Bart C.B E. Tyeasurers 1 Sir THOMAS BARLOW, Bart., M.D., F.R.S.

Chief Offices - 1-ILGHBURY PARK, LONDON, N.S ri —Remittances from U.M. Churches should be ddressed to.

it • w• HENRY HOOKS. Treasurer, U.M. Auxiliary a Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4. •

.-.

March 17, 1927

THE UNITED METHODISM

125

National Free Church Council. ASSEMBLY. AT BIRMINGHAM.

OF the Assembly itself, its souls forgathered, we would are won in the sphere of the Spirit,- and that by multiply- first set something down. We despise not the day or ing good Christians, society will be Christianised, and place of small numbers, but when a thousand representa- in no other 7 vay." This quotation received loud approval tive men and women come together, surely, as with the from the Council, but Dr. Lidgett's answer that peace, two or three, there, He is in the midst of them. comity and good will would indefinitely improve the Look at their faces. There's light there. No two conditions and relations of humanity was equally ap- alike, but one light. For God, who commanded the light plauded ; As was his statement that human organization to shine out of darkness, hatTi shined in.their hearts, to would be greatly changed, and human productivity ..rive. the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the greatly increased by the growth of the spirit of justice, face of One, Whom they have experienced, and upon humanity and brotherliness. Whom they will not shut the door. They can sing. They From two of the many gifted speakers we received a can be 'qiuet., They can hear the Word in holiest and particillar impression. So great and urgent was the good hearts, and having heard, they will take that theme they brought that, though they spoke on different Word home, and share- -it with their churches. ! evenings, their faces bore the Moses touch. They How much has been packed into an afternoon, an I seemed to have come from a closeting with the presence evening, and three days ! Some think, too, much. But of Him for whose deeper realization they pleaded. we shall not all sort out, the same things. Therefore, Dr. 1■Ialtby (President of the Wesleyan Conference) God takes a text and preaches patience, on our judg- and Mr. Ballard (Arnold Thomas's successor), though merits. We honour the platform, remembering that our one preached on Tuesday, and the other spoke on Wed-leaders -stand not for dominance, but service. We have nesday, they had the same message. They would have put them there. They are the chosen of God and our- us recover the sense of God, and be brought face to face selves. His servants serve Him and us. with our lack of His power. Theirs was the old message with new fangs, biting into the hard crust of our The President's Address. inadequate substitutes, our weariness, and our disap- The Rev. Elvet Lewis, retiring president, welcomed pointments. Their quiet, glowing, burning utterances the Rev. W. Conrad Balmer as his successor, and found us, and in days to come we shall surely be aware claimed for -him the same support and devotion as he at once of our folly and our true resource. had experienced. Other speakers, from timely angles,- gave searching The new president's inaugural address was an inter-- messages on various aspects of the general subject : esting survey of the present outlook on our national and "Christianity and the World's- Life." religious life. Time was, he said, when our Churches It was given to our Rev. E. C. Urwin to guide reflec- dwelt apart and looked at one another from a distance tion on "Home Life—Its Positive Influence and Dis-a§ if, like rival tradesmen, they resented the fact of each integrating Forces." We have seldom heard our other's existence. Happily; that time has gone. The scholarly minister speak with such e ffectiveness, and such Free Church Council movement has been an instrument winsome power. These are not unusual characteristics for bringing the Churches together in sympathy and of our friend, but at this crowded morning session, his understanding and co-operation, so that not only our word was arresting and convincing. He has hands, but our hearts, touch, and we delight in in- taken to his heart the tragedies of broken creased fraternization and unity. Since the formation of homes and the causes that make ideal, or the National Free Church Council, three Methodist even decent homes impossible. Our attention waz-Churches have become one, and there is every possibility called to ways whereby we could alone build up the that ere long the present three Methodist Communities Christian home, as : (1) A school for personality ; (2) will be united into one great Methodist Church of Eng- cradle of purity ; (3) a nurturing ground for religion and land. There is a growing sense that the di fferences be- service. tween the Nonconformist Churches are not a su fficient The Rev. A. J. G. Seaton spoke on "The Church as ground of separation ; for we all acknowledge one Lord, Teacher of the Young." This Wesleyan Connexiona! one -faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Young People's Secretary has personal charm Other hearts were stirred by the notable appeal of He won his audience. We feel that he offer the Lambeth Conference ; we are glad to have the does this. But he has the facts, and he faces Bishops' declaration that our Free Church ministries them, on this side, and on that. He holds an are "true Ministries of Christ's word and Sacraments enthusiastic conviction of the Church's tremendous in the Universal Church." But we never had any doubt opportunity as a teacher of the young. He is deeply of it ourselves I convinced that if the Church will take time and trouble As a Free Church Federation, we are endeavouring to organize its Sunday School on the best known lines, to make possible the triumphant coming of the King- the school will prove to be the most-e ffective instrument dom of Heaven ; but it is not as politicians that we have the Church possesses. He gave an excellent illustration been drawn from all parts of the country. Our Council of this. In a London suburb, where the district su ffers is not a political organization. from all the disabilities of a London Sunday, during an The problems are great that await solution, the di ffi- interval at a parents' meeting, in connection with the culties to be overcome are many and serious ; but that Sunday School, one father addressed another father, is not a new experience. The times are always out of "This is a pretty good Sunday School." "Yes," said the joint. Religion has always seemed to be in a state of other, " too good." "I used to get the family away as decay to its contemporaries; but for 1,900 years there often as possible at week-ends, but the school is so has been a Church bearing Christ's name and seeking attractive that the family won't go." Mr. Seaton's con-to perpetuate His Spirit. It has called men together secrated ability will carry him through this pressing and taught them to pray to the All Father, it has in- problem, and will carry with him many workers and sisted that every man is of .infinite worth, and that parents. the love of- God is for all. It has testified against op- An integral part of the Free Church Council is the pression and pleaded for justice ; it has pointed to the National Free Church Women's Council, inaugurated fountain for sin and uncleanness ; it has comforted sad eighteen years ago. It has been sucessful in binding hearts and kept alive the lamp of hope ; it has inspired together for social service the women of the Free great movements and championed great causes. Churches. The Council has many devoted and capable

I do not believe for a moment that the Church has leaders. come to a standstill. It has not existed for nineteen A review of the work was presented by Mrs. George centuries to be defeated in the twentieth. When you are Morgan, who in a genuinely sympathetic speech voiced tempted to think of the decline in church membership, the sorrow of all present at the absence, through illness, the prevalence of materialsim in the church, the levity of the ex-President, Mrs. Thomas Butler. The speaker of the young and the rest of it, take your tonic, and re- bore tribute to the sacrificial manner in which Mrs. member that there is a multitude that no man can Butler had not spared herself on behalf of women and number which is loyal to its Lord and Saviour, and g-irls. Mrs. Morgan referred to two special phases of among that multitude are men and women who., if the the work of the Women's Council. The debt of ,:fi,500 need -arose, would gladly lay down their lives for Him in connection with the removal of the Retreat from who died for them. If the difficulties and problems of Mere to South Norwood had been cleared o ff. That was the Church are great, the greatest thing in the world largely due to the admirable work of Lady Beddoe Rees is still the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in that Gospel The speaker also referred to the work of the Mothers' the Church believes, and still- the love of Christ con- Guild. strains it. God is still on the throne. Jesus Christ A special article might be devoted to ' the Council's is the same yesterday, to-day and for ever, and the Holy visit to Bournville ; and the royal entertainment of the Spirit is still available in rich splendour. chairman and directors of Cadbury Bros. Here a use- You will agree with me that the increasing seculari- ful session was held, when Mr. E. D. Simon and Pro-ration of the Lord's Day is a matter of grave concern. fessor Lofthouse led a discussion on the subject of The day of rest has become for many a day of work, " Housing." It was a great programme the National and for many more a feverish, restless holiday. The Council had before them,' skilfully arranged by that Sabbath has been the bulwark of this country's religious versatile veteran, Dr. J. Scott Lidgett, and the vigilant faith and moral purity. and virile National Secretary, the Rev. Thomas N4.,fhtin- Eight years have passed since the last shot ended the gale, who has been described as "an eager heart." This ,-, , war. But the Church of the Prince of Peace must not be true captain of the Free Church ship can trust many apathetic: Out of that fierce and deadly struggle that steersmen at the wheel, but he is never far from the burst on the world in August, 1914, has come the Leagtie bridge. - of 'Nations, a fair bird out of a foul nest. Weary and The meetings on the whole stand not merely for sick, the world's heart longed to be delivered from a speech-making : nor is there any staleness of utterance. recurrence of the pains and miseries which had left A freshness and timeliness characterize the messages, and civilization bleeding on the ground, and so has set up delegates enjoy a brief time of happy fellowship and a the League of Nations. It provides machinery for avoid- hallowed season of high inspiration. ing and preventing W a r ; but it will not work of itself, for, as Viscount Cecil said, " While the action of Govern- ments can create a body the will and the nations must Women's Missionary Azzxiliarj give the living soul."

-Dr. Scott Lidgett for a large part devoted his address on "The Universe and Human Life," to a reply to Dr. Hensley Henson's statement that " Faith does not re-move mountains in the economic sphere. Its victories

PRAYER TOPIC for the week beginning March 20: Tong in 1926." Pages in Report 72-74. Rev. C. Other Addresses. "Chao Ton E. Hicks. 6Acts xvii. 22-31,

Our President in the Cornish Districts. West . Cornwarl.—The week to which we have so long

looked forward is past, the week of the visit of Mrs.

126


The Beethoven Centenary.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, 1770-1827 ON March 26th, 1827; in Vienna, during a great

storm, Ludwig van Beethoven died. A few days later there was a public funeral, and an old woman at a fruit-stall in the street, in response to an inquiry, said.: "They are burying the General of the Musicians." Yes, that was his place, that is his place.

He had been born in Bonn fifty-seven - years, before, and misery had wrapped his .childhood round. The tavern, poverty, the pawnshop ; two other brothers, a patient mother, the company of his father's tippling friends in the home---there the amazing genius of little Ludwig Beethoven budded. And, indeed, it was one of those tippling friends, Pfeiffer, the pianist, who took the first hand in develdping that genius. "A remarkable teacher," says Beethoven later, of this man, who, corn-ing home with his father in the small hours of the morn-ing, would fetch 'him, a child of five or six, from his bed to have his lesson and to delight the two cronies with his wonderful improvisations. His father saw money in the child, and at seven years old Ludwig made his first public appearance ,as Mozart had done at the same acie•a few years previously.

Then came the lessons on the organ and the connec-tion with the fine Bonn Orchestra, which from the age, of thirteen he occasionally conducted. He had been born into an age comparable, as regards music, with the Elizabethan age in literature, Bach had been dead

-twenty years, Handel eleven, Gluck, Haydn and Mozart were•livina in Vienna, the centre of European culture. In the "'Bonn orchestra Beethoven became acquainted with their works. It was a good school, and he worked without intermission.

So he passed into his youth—through the gate of sorrow. His 'mother died. "A gentle, loving mother she was to me," he said in . a heart-broken • letter. But he had rare good fortune in his friends at this time. He never ceased to be grateful to the cultured Breuning family, who gave him friendship which he sorely needed. "My other mother," he 'calls Madame Breuning. Here he became acquainted with the best in literature, and developed his love of learning. Beethoven was one of the intellectuals of his age, a far-seeing man, a lover of liberty and a hater of all tyrannies. His keen face and massive head offer some indication of his powers. "A Jove looks out of his eyes," said Schumann. Music was the medium through which he gave expression to a great mind. -

When he was twenty-two, and already well knoWn for his extraordinary powers of execution and improvisation at the piano, he settled in Vienna. He had written but little, and now commenced the piano sonatas.

The tragedy of his life occurred when, at twenty-six, he caught a severe cold which left him deaf. The deaf-. ness increased and became almost total in later life.

The period on which his fame most surely rests was from 1800 to 1823, during which the nine great orchestral symphonies were written. -Haydn - had well and truly laid the foundations of the orchestral symphony, Mozart had developed it. It a-emained for Beethoven to .perfect this form of music. The resources of the piano were too limited. He explored the field, he plumbed the depths of orchestral music. Little new in form or effect has been added since. The orchestra remains pretty much as he created and left it. There is peculiar historical interest attaching to the symphOny in E flat (the "Eroica "). It was dedicated to Napoleon, who was the same age. as Beethoven. The great musician had fol-lowed the career. of the soldier and statesman with admiration and hope, and had adopted Buonaparte's motto as his own—" Power is the moral code of men who distinguish themselves beyond others." He saw old tyrannies passing away. The title-page of the "Eroica " sympathy bore at the top the name "Buona-parte," and at the bottom "Luigi van Beethoven." Then

-came the change. Beethoven saw it coming, and when Napoleon became Emperor the liberty-loving composer tore the title-page in two, saying : " He will trample the liberties of people under foot, he will become the tyrant." When the " Eroica " was published it was with this on the title-page—"Composed to the memory of a great man " ; and when, sixteen, later, the news came of Napoleon's death on t. Helena, Beethoven re-

,marked : "I have already 'composed the music for that catastrophe."

And now, though Beethoven's powers were maturing, a great loneliness was settling upon him. His increas-ing deafness cut him off from men. Friends fell away (or he fell away from them). The conflict with life pressed upon him, and poverty again knocked at the door. ' His best work was unrecognized.' He wandered long in the woods and fields which he loved. People called him hard, reserved, unsociable, though he had welcomed the company of men. He was wounded, perhaps easily wounded. After his death there was found among his papers 'this (written. in '1802) . . . "0, you men who think or say that I am misanthropic, what an injustice you do me. From childhood I have been moved by feelings, of benevolence. But consider that for six years, yes, six whole years, I have lived in isolation from men. How humbled I have felt when one standing near me could hear a flute playing in the distance, and I could hear nothing. I came near to ending, my own life. Art alone held me back. It seemed im-possible that I should leave the world until I had accom- plished that for which I felt myself so fitted. . . . When vou read this let the unfortunate rejoice to find one of their number who in spite of .obstaCles put in his way by nature, did all that he could to be admitted . into the ranks of artists and -men."

The deafness increased, the loneliness deepened, but the music kept coming. That was his sanctuary. We see the great composer going on, stooping over the

piano in the endeavour to catch again, lest he should forget, the sounds which had thrilled him in his_ youth. We see him trying, until one tragic day he discovered how impossible it was for him to conduct orchestra any longer. The great symphonies were one by one given to the world.' We forget all else as we listen to them to-day. But few people ever hear what the deaf Beethoven heard as he sat late into the night composing‘ that mighty music—for you hear with the soul.

A measure of recognition came, though not always of the best that Beethoven had. done. At the Congress of Vienna, in 1814, the Duke of Wellington "and half of educated Europe " heard a performance of his works. We note gladly that the 'London Philharmonic Society (then recently formed) early saw the value of the master's finest work. The Ninth Symphony (the "Choral ") was written for them and given in London, with Sir- George Smart conducting. Beethoven never came to England himself, though more than once he pur-posed to come, but one of the sources of his joy was the way in which his music was received here.

The last of the great orchestral works was finished in 1823. During the last three years of his life Beethoven turned to the violin concertos and the string quartettes which are highly prized. These were quiet waters after a storm-tossed life.

Early in 1827 he caught cold and had to take to bed. A letter and a gift of money came from the Landon Philharmonic Society a few days before the end. Schindler, the ever-loyal friend and amanuensis by whom the great master was so greatly served for many years, replied to the letter. "He was greatly touched yester-day by your letter and gift . . . the end is near. He said last night, ' Clap your hands, friends, the play is over.' " The cost of great service is sweat of blood.

In his native town of Bonn, by the exertions of the great pianist Franz Liszt is a monument. On it, with the date of birth and death, the name " Beethoven." No eulogy—for none is needed ; no explanation—for the name is known wherever music is ,loved. There have been others, but Beethoven is our "representative man" —"The General of the Musicians."

T. E. C.

Notes from the West. Last week I paid a visit to a Mecca of Methodism in

the West, the Ringsash Circuit of the United Metho-dists, from which came the celebrated Way family, of whom the late Sir Samuel Way, Bart., for so many years Chief Justice of South Australia—was a brilliant member. I saw for the first time the fine block of church buildings built twenty years ago at Ashreigny, the head of the circuit, and visited the tiny cemetery at the foot of the hill where sleeps the dust of same of the old ministers and that of many another stalwart of the early days. •

The fine church on the hill, standing sentinel to the hallowed spot below, where for close on a hundred years the good work was carried on, fittingly marks the progress made in recent times ; Methodism may well be proud of its record in this quiet North Devon countryside. It was pathetic to revisit the ground after twenty-five years, and see on the white stones in the cemetery the names of one and another who had then so kindly entertained me ; and the constant music of the clear streamlet that sings' down past the resting place of the dead only seemed to emphasise our fleeting mortality. There I mused and felt a growing greatness of soul ; for surely, God was in that place.

' * * * * *

I also visited the ancient parish and village of Bur-rington, some three miles across the valley—an abode of men highly set on the Devonshire hills, and with a vast range of landscape held in view. Here I was entertained by a good Methodist J.P., who, I was delighted to learn, 'shad made an offer. of £500 to help build a new church in place of the present historic and out-of-date shrine which does duty for the local Metho-dists. The date on the gable told its own story of long and faithful endeavour, 1829, and the hope is cherished that 1929 will see the new temple rise in celebration of the centenary. Here a good missionary collector, a young woman, turned in a box containing the noble sum of £32 2s: 6d.—a record, I believe, for Devonshire. I could not help thinking of the slogging work, the tact, the patience and the persistency that had gone to the filling of that box.

* * * * Knowing that near by was the old farmhouse where

in 1833 the Fifteenth Conference of the old Bible Chris-tian Connexion was held, I trudged across the brown furrows and down a deep valley to the remote haunt where, 94 years before, eighteen " itinerant preachers " and some few lay representatives had gone into retreat for the business of the Conference, thankful to God for their. 6,958 members and their increase of 410 ; and on a missionary • income of £271 Os. 3d. had agreed "to send out another missionary. to Canada." The faith, the daring of it! Surely there were giants in those days.

I stood in the old low kitchen of Cursland Farm, where they had gathered, and sauntered around the old, ambling barn where the services were said to have been held—some of them—and tried to visualize those strong, calm faces that had set themselves so steadfastly toward the Great Light there at lonely Cursland in those dark days of Anno Domini 1833. For me, at any rate, they had left a radiance there, and I thought the angel wings were not so far above the roof trees of that old farm-stead and its cowpens. It was no small gratification to me to find -that the freehold of this historic spot is still in the hands of. a United Methodist minister.

Enough pro tern. of the men who made history, and a word of those Who are still making it. A few days since the Ven. Archdeacon of Exeter, Canon Surtees, paid a visit to the Free Church Ministers' Fraternal of

the city with a view to the resuscitation of the joint con-ference of clergy and ministers for whiCh the Bishop of the Diocese has done so much. The conversation was most cordial and uplifting, and all realized their oneness in Christ.

The'Methodist ministers of Exeter have been invited to take part in the opening ceremonial of a several days' bazaar in aid of building a new parish church in a grow-ing suburb of the City, and Rev. J. H. Cartwright of the Mint was entrusted with the vote of thanks to His Worship the Mayor for presiding on the second day ; while not far from where I write an avowed Churchman 'Squire sent, unsolicited, a cheque for £25 toward the building fund of a new Methodist Chapel. These may be exceptions, but they are surely as straws that show the trend of the current, and are) to the credit of both heart and intellect in these testing times.

WAYFARER.

[With acknowledgments to "The Methodis't Times."]

Deaconess Institute. ANNIVERSARY.—It is a pleasure to announce that Mr.

V: Z. Cope, who is -a Harley Street consulting surgeon, has promised to preside at the evening meeting of the Deaconess Anniversary, to be held on Monday, May 9th. Mr. Cope is doing this in honour of his sainted father who founded the Sisterhood in our Denomination.

A WONDERFUL MISSION.—Sister Hilda's mission at Monk Bretton, in the Barnsley, Blucher Street. Circuit, proved a wonderful time. The congregations grew each night, and on some evenings the place was absolutely packed. The steward reports a wonderful atmosphere and that 44 conversions took place, most of whom were adults, only four being under the age of fourteen years. Among the cases was a husband and wife and grown-. up son. General rejoicing prevailed and the mission more than justified the hopes of the people. Sister Hilda's preaching was with great power, and the manner in which she conducted all the services proved how essen-tially fit she is for evangelistic work.

AN EXCEPTIONAL CASE.—Owing to the illness of Sister Alice, she was unable to take the mission booked for her at Faversham, in Kent. The officers of Sherri-hall Street Church, Walthamstow, generously set Sister Ruth free, who stepped into the breach and a very fine mission was held. Rev. F. M. Cooper, describing one outstanding case, declares that the transformation wit-nessed in the life of that particular man was well worth holding the mission for. He adds; however, "that the whole church has received a blessing : many non-church-goers were got into the services, and the messages given by Sister Ruth were thoughtful and essentially sane." The mission has brought great encouragement to the people.

CLAY HILL, KINGSWOOD.—Here Sister Eva conducted a mission, where there were good congregations and 12 conversions registered. The report speaks of a good tone in the services and that the mission had been a help to all.

When churches are considering the questions of mis-sions for next winter we shall be glad if they will bear in mind this Connexional agency which we have in fully qualified and trained women evangelists.

WOMEN'S MEETINGS—It is a sign of growing interest that the women's meetings in our churches are respond- ing to. the appeal of this Department for support. We feel the case for home work when it is understood in all its bearings, will not lack the help of our women who have done so nobly for work abroad through the W.M.A. All communications to be 'addressed to the Warden. Rev. R. W. Gair, 25 Bolingbroke Grove, London, S.W.11.

Births, Marriages, Deaths. REPORTS of Marriages, etc., intended for' insertion

in the Editorial Columns MUST be accompanied by a pre¢aid advertisement.

NOTICES of Births, Marriages, Deaths, etc., are inserted at the uniform price of 2s., unless they exceed 30 words, in which case ed.

extra ,unless every eight words or

under is' charged. Notices, together with Remittances, should reach the office of the UNITED METHODIST, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4., not later than Tuesday 9 a.m.

DEATHS.

COOK.—March 11th, 1927, Alice McLaren, dearly-beloved wife of Rev. Ernest Cook, Bethesda Church,

Elland. Interred at Elland Cemetery, Tuesday, March 15.

MITCHELL.—On March 13th, 1927, in her 80th year, Mary, beloved wife of George Mitchell, 16 Clarence

Street, Islington, London, N.1. Service at Packington Street Church (where she worshipped for over 50 years), at 10.15 a.m., Saturday, March 19th, prior to interment at Fincbley Cemetery, at 11.30 a.m.

SIMMONDS.—On March 12th, 1927, at Colsterworth, Sarah Love, widow of the' late William Simmonds, • in

her 80th year. •

IN MEMORIAM.

BARTLETT.—In loving memory of Beatrice Vera Constance (Vera), the only child of the Rev. E. C. and

Mrs. Bartlett who joined the Angelic Choir March 21st, 1920, aged 22 summers.

" Still living, still beautiful, still ours!"

MATTHEWS.—In ever-loving memory of Father—Emanuel Matthews, of Kimberley, Nottingham, who

passed to his rest March 16th, 1924. " For ever with the Lord." -

March 17, 1927

THE UNITED METHODIST. 127

A FAVOURITE Scripture quotation of the advocates of Communism is, "They had all things common." By disregarding its contextual association, and robbing it of its natural implications, they make it appear as a religious buttress for a purely political conception, which, stripped of its religious necessities, would operate dis. astrously upon the life of the community.

He would be a bold man who would defend, without qualification the many inequalities of modern life—why some should have more than they can use, even waste-fully, and others not enough to keep body and soul to-gether. One cannot believe this to be according to the Will of God. But the other extreme -which hasty, ill-concelored and 'ill-advised social revolutions would make a reality, would be as immediately disastrous, and per-manently fatal, that the last state would be worse than the first—a Russian experience which no thoughtful person could desire. To 'lift a passage out of its con-nection is to produce a string of useless and often mean-ingless words, which, by no stretch of the imagination, can be construed into a principle. Such is the Commu-nist's use of this passage. The beginning and growth of this communal idea can be traced to the fact that the earliest Christians believed in the expectation of the immediate return of Christ. An expectation that brought with it a paralysis of business life and activity. At Thes-salonica, Paul had to deal with it. The people put an interpretation upon his words concerning Christ's second coming he had not intended, they gave up work and labour under the pretext of preparing for His coming. This false conclusion put upon his words was shattered with the declaration of the law, " If any man will not work, neither shall he eat." A system built upon a false promise can make no helpful contribution to human need. Moreover, there is no suggestion that anyone bankrupted-himself to make another rich. But for the relief of human need people disposed of possessions and placed the proceeds to the common stock as required. Thus, they regarded themselves as stewards of God, believing that what they possessed, was not theirs ex-clusively, but to be administered to meet the common need of the common life.

The outstanding feature is that it was voluntary. No. man was asked, no man was compelled by any penal law to pool his goods, each man did it out of the goodness of his own heart, in his desire to fulfil the law of Christ.

Too many begin to read this Scripture at the point above quoted. So the stunt orator • for modern Com-munism says the fortune of a man made by hard and sustained industry should be equally at the disposal of the lazy, thriftless, pot-house man as of the man who earned it.

That stupid claim has no sanctions in Scripture, nor root in decency. To understand that passage they must begin to read further back, e.g., " And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul." Ideal conditions are not the outgrowth of theories, but of right individual relationships to the Highest. " They Were filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness." Modern Communism has no such distinguishing characteristics ; they are more filled with envy than the Holy Ghost, their boldness in speaking the Word of God is more often in blasphemy than with reverence. They offer more excuse for the lazy than reasons for the poor. They seek equality by demolition, while New Testament Communism seeks it through study, integrity of character, governed by the laws and spirit of Jesus Christ.

The result of this New Testament Communism was that the immediate need of the deserving poor was met, but the requirements of the future were still unprovided for. Not only so, but indiscriminate charity was seen to have a demoralizing effect upon the people who re-ceived it.

Out of this Communism there grew an organized system charged with the administration of charity. And " Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," with six others, was appointed to the administra-tion of relief. That was rendered necessary by the mur-muring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, be-cause, they alleged, their widows were being neglected. The new heaven and the new earth cannot be organized, you cannot manipulate it by machinery ; it is born out of character, not out of systems—out of the selflessness which only Jesus can inspire in human life. The most perfect communistic -machine will always have to deal with the jealousies, rivalries and dissatisfaction that now afflict mankind.

This forces upon the mind the question of the duty of the Christian Church : is it to be individualistic or So-cialist? Obviously it has to stand midway between the two extremes, impartially emphasizing the virtues, and fearlessly exposing the errors of both, and cease-lessly interpreting the mind of Christ. Among other things it has to urge, so it appears to me. . (1) The necessity for thrift.—Charity that causes the loss of self-respecting independence, and destroys the spirit of industry is degrading, and to be avoided at all costs. God has laid down the law of individual effort and individual responsibility, and while we should strive against the abuses of that law, we should guard with equal care against the opposite abuses. Political Social-ism always forgets one fixed quantity—human nature. Without Christ it is corrupt, and must remain corrupt, and 'Socialism fails, because it changes not.

The Church, therefore, has to aim not at direct alms-giving, but the development of the spirit of self-help, to encourage men to use their own resources to compel success. I know of no Christian teaching which says that an industrious man, or an industrious community, is to carry the lazy, thriftless man and his responsibilities. The man who earns per week—or less—and spends it all in betting and drinking has no claim to share in the little accumulation of the man with a far

less—or even larger— income, who, by carefulness, is preparing for a day of possible need. Let the lazy man feel the pain of hunger in his stomach, and the bite of cold in his body until he is roused to honest toil, and then to wise carefulness. " If any man will not work, neither shall he eat." The thriftless man forfeits all claim upon the compassionate sensibilities of his fellow members of the community.

Communism as advocated to-clay is an inducement to thriftlessness. The Church at Jerusalem reaped. the natural results of such a false step. They adopted the principles of Communism, and lost hold of that princi-ple of individual life and exertion which lies at the root of all civilization, and all advancement, and they fell as a natural result into poverty. Every man is a distinct personality, upon the development of which depends both his own and the community's welfare. Enterprising, Christ-like individualism is the watchword of success, and the guarantee of social order.

(2) The evil of pauperism.—Pauperism is neither good for the recipient, nor for the individual or State that maintains it. To remove the keen edge of self-respect, which pauperism always does, is to sadly impair individual efficiency, and to remove the incentive to in-dustry. What a man earns by the sweat of his brow is of far greater value than what he receives in doles. Self-reliant, enterprising manhood is prodiced by honest work. Employment is vastly superior to relief. Relief neither develops brain nor muscle. These arc the ac-cepted theories even among Socialists, and yet by Com-munism pauperism would be extended upon a colossal —almost universal—scale. The children would be pau-perized from birth, parental responsibility is to be transferred to the State. In a word the State is to do what God has decreed to be the work of the parent. This would be to curse society and civilization. Loafers have ever been a drag upon the wheel of progress, and under such a system they would increase a thousandfold.

It is easy to say, "All things are yours," but they must be used for the development of true manhood, and not for one section to gain at the expense of another's forethought and enterprise. Then this quotation is in-complete, the passage goes on to say : " And ye are Christ's " : therefore human life has to be distinguished by the characteristics of His life. Everywhere He en-couraged self-dependence, and stressed the glory of in-dustry, the power of man to bring the best out of life, by the glorious dignity of labour. Men may be justly proud of honest labour.

"Toil is polished man's vocation; Praises are the meed of skill ;

Kings may vaunt their crown and station ; We will vaunt our labour still."

" What matter if we have laborious breath, And crack our hearts and sinews, groan and

weep? The pain of life but sweetens death ;

The hardest labour brings the soundest sleep."

(3) The great necessity--a Christian conscience.—Until this is secured, the clash of interests and the blindness of passions will continue. Employers must have a more sympathetic understanding with the workers, and strive to secure for them the best results. Workers must exercise a like forbearance towards the difficulties of the employers. Employers must rule with a clear recognition of human relationships, and the employees must work with the aim of getting the utmost out of the industry, and not according to the irritating, restrictive, and hence, dishonest trade union regulation. That is to say, the well-being of the com-munity—not of the masters only nor .the workers only, but of both—makes unity of aim, endeavour and sym-pathetic interest a vital necessity.

If Christian employers would have the courage to apply Christian standards to their business, and Chris-tian workmen apply Christian standards to their work, a revolution of the utmost value would be immediate in industry. A conscience enlightened and made sensi-tive by Christian grace would result in a re-adjustment of the conditions of labour, and equally a thorough re-vision of trade union rules. Industry would proceed on happier lines, class distinctions would he less evident, progress would he less often impeded, and community of interest would be secured, in a universal desire to secure the highest good for all 'mankind. This makes necessary the universal recognition that " we are Christ's," and that Christ must be crowned King of industry. In that way alone shall we solve our pro-blem. A word from G. Bernard Shaw commends itself : "Why not give Christianity a trial ? I am no more Christian than Pilate was, and yet I am ready to admit that, after contemplating the world and human nature for nearly sixty years, I see no way out of the world's misery but the way which would have been found by Christ's will if He had undertaken the work of a practical statesman."

The community must find its centre in Jesus, and live in obedience to His laws to promote the highest communal interests.

" Great Thoughts " for March. THE old town of King's Lynn, about which there has

been such a pother lately, finds an enthusiastic. admirer in Mr. George Wade, who describes some of the interest-ing features of the home of Eugene Aram.. How Epsom Salts looks under the microscope is described and illus-trated by James Scott. Poets, essayists and novelists are the subjects of informative articles, so that to read " Great Thoughts" is a liberal education. A glance through the index which is in this number gives a vivid idea of the wide range of subjects in its pages.

In the Temple. By REV. W. A. COOPER.

HYMN : " He liveth long who liveth well." 'PRAYER : We come to Thee, our Lord, remembering

that " we are not our own. We are bought with a price." How shall we show our gratitude, our love, our sense of infinite obligation? Forgive us that we have lived for self. Help us henceforth to yield every moment, and all our strength and powers to Thy holy service. For Thy name's sake. Amen.

ACTS xiii. 6 : "David served his own generation accord-ing to the will of God."

One of the truest and most beautiful ideas of . modern society is, that the greatness of man is to be measured by the greatness of the service he renders. This standard of life's values is an inheritance from the past. Virgil, the great Roman poet, declared that "the noblest motive is the public good." The Greeks described a man who refused to serve the community as an "idiotes," a private souled individual. Our word "idiot " has been derived from it, which now indicates a mentally deficient person. The Greeks believed that public life was essential for the development of the in-tellect. Most of all we have learned the glory of service in Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many."

How do we regard life? Is it for us a grab-bag into which we all put our hands to get life's prizes—honours and wealth and sounding title ; or is it a great con-federacy in which every man does something for his fellow-man, and in which wife and mother do most? Of the greatest of Hebrew kings it is said " He served his generation according to the will of God." That is ever the badge of kingship and the sign of greatness.

The first law of all healthy social life is the service, of the people. Abraham Lincoln's definition of democracy uttered on the blood-stained field of Gettysburg, may be made with a slight alteration, to describe the social duty of man—Service of the people, by the people, for the people. It is only by such service that we can carry forward the social gains of other generations. All the decencies and dignities of public life ; all the priceless treasures of liberty and education, have come by the self-restraint and self-sacrifice of men who have forgotten self in the service of their fellows. The wealth of the home, the integrity of the family, even our daily food, are ours because of the unfailing labour of other days. We are heirs of all the ages. +Men and women have turned aside from engrossing pleasures and sinful ease and selfish apathy, and with the offering of their lives have created a noble commonwealth. What man is there with soul so dead that can be content to receive all and give nothing? "Freely ye have received, freely give." The torch that has come to us must with a brighter glow, be passed on to succeeding generations. The glory of life is found not in possession, but in transmission. Our Master said to His Father, "The glory Thou hast given Me, I have given them." The life that does not transmit the good is a failure ; it is poor, insignificant, and utterly base. The life that hands on the benefits received, enhanced by its devo-tion and consecration, is marked as a noble calling, a great dignity, an unfailing glory and honour. It is ser-vice, unselfish, self-forgetting, which is the life-blood of the community. Sympathy, service and sacrifice are the solvents of all the problems created by social injustice. By these, embodied in human life, our beloved land shall be made fit for heroes and the children of God.

We may further observe that the standard and impulse of all true service are ;found in God's will. Every high-souled effort to serve mankind owes its existence to the upsurging of the Divine in the spirit of man. It may not be recognized ; God Himself may be denied by those who have seen religion only in corrupted forms ; but whether unknown or acknowledged, it is the inspiration of God which moves us to the plane of sacrificial effort. Ultimately, however, ideals of service will be perceived with clearness and maintained with enthusiasm, only as we dedicate ourselves to the will of God. When the fire of devotion burns low the will to serve slackens and fails. Men who set out to serve their fellows and to guide the people, without the light of God to lead them, have often ended by making wars, oppressing the masses and causing revolutions. Personal devotion and public worship are abiding necessities for the well-being of the community and the maintenance of its best life.

How may we discover the will of God? Like David we must take the path of earnest prayer and consecrated devotion, if we would read the mind of the Lord. Com-munion with our Father and loyalty to all we know will blaze the way to greater light. God has not withdrawn Himself from men. Whilst we learn a little by speech, we learn most by the incarnation of thought into life. This incarnation of the mind and will of God has taken place in Jesus Christ. It is much to urge a boy to be pure and brave, it is a great deal more to manifest to him a father's courage and the beauty of a mother's life. The " Word" must become flesh. And so the heart of God has been revealed in Jesus of Nazareth and Calvary. In Him are the highest revelation of life and the most magnanimous exhibition of the glory of humble service. "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands . . . took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples' feet " May the riches of your fellowship in God through Christ lead you to serve without weariness and to endure to the end.-

Kingswood (FIanham).—The choir of 60 voices, under the able leadership of Mr. H. Hales, gave a very fine rendering of the " Messiah " on March 7th. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity. Mr. C. Lines, who presided, congratulated the church in possessing so capable a choir and so able and interested a choirmaster. Few churches, he said, were so fortunate. The organist also came in for commendation.

New Testament Communism.

G. EDMUND WELCH..

128

Letters to the Editor. . [The Editorial Board does not hold itself responsible

for expressions of opinion by Correspondents. All con-tributions to these columns must be brief.]

North China. To the Editor of THE UNITED METHODIST.

DEAR SIR,-4 hope-to be allowed to remove into Tong-shan after our District Meeting, and shall be glad if you will notify your readers of my change of address : Mission •House, Tongshan, North China.

We make these statements as to our intentions with very strong mental reservations in these days, but I-shall co into Tongshan if things are at all quiet. We are thankful to say that N. China is not disturbed up to the present, but we wait from day to day. We are very grateful for your prayers at home.

Kindest regards, Yours sincerely,

North China, ERNEST RICHARDS. February 24th, 1927.

An Appeal from West Africa. To the Editor of THE UNITED METHODIST.

THE time has come when, without guessing, I can give the good folks at home a little useful guidance regarding mission parcels. I have already received many,. and have _written letters of thanks to those who have sent thein. I have also received letters of inquiry containing kind offers of help, if I would write• and say exactly what was 'needed. I am now answering all these inquiries, and giving a hint to those who haven't inquired. We have opened new compounds in Mendi-land, and the old ones are still flourishing. Fully 97 per cent of the scholars are boys, and boys like a game. • '['hey love a football, and it does_ them good to play. Therefore, Will all kind friends please put down in their note-books : Footballs for West Africa ; and when that is neatly written, put underneath : Cricket tarkle (second hand). The footballs will not be sent blown up, of course, but possibly someone might think to send inflators, lacing needles, laces and repair outfits.

Another great need here is books. In Mendiland we have agents and teachers, who would read and study far more than they do if they had .the books. The first need is a supply of school books—text-books such as are issued by the Press, Oxford Press, Cam- bridge Press, and similar publishers. Many of our min-isters have books of thiS kind long ago discarded ; they Will be very welcome here. I Breve a list before me now, comprising Latin and Greek Classics, N.T. Greek (Cam-bridge) and books in the Cambridge Bible and Century Bible series. 'Dictionaries (not ancients issued over twenty years ago) are badly wanted, also simple arith-metic, algebra and grammar books. In addition, pocket editions of English classics will be very useful, such books as will help the students to perfect their English. Now a word about the Ctistoms' bogy. Books are free—all except picture-books. I had to pay duty on a scrap-book sent by some primary children at Louth. Most other articles are dutiable ; therefore, it is very important that the nominal value (as low as a high conscience can drop) should be clearly stated on the special label sup-plied. If this is not done, the value has to be fixed here, and it is fixed too, on the very top nail fastened by the master of assemblies. In closing, let me say that the parcels sent by primary children and others are very welcome. It is good for the little ones to be taught thus to think of others far away ; and when -they re-ceive letters of thanks, as they do from the little ones here, there is surely an amplification of joy. With thanks to all helpers.

E. COCKER.

Sunday School Conference at Port Isaac.

THE annual Sunday School Conference of the Camel-ford and Wadebridge circuit was held at Port Isaac on March 9th. Mr. Frank Elford ably presided over a large and representative gathering, and in his presi-dential address appealed to the young people to make the best use. of their responsibilities and opportunities,' and to be true to themselves, their God and their neighbour, and to Sunday School teachers he appealed for a high estimation of their great calling.

The secretary, Mr. J. J. Rush, reported 32 schools in the circuit, .324 teachers and officers, 269 teacher-members, and 1,204 scholars.- iMr. Z. Spare reported a financial credit balance of 17s. 0,1d. . The visitor's reports were inspiring and encouraging generally, and showed that faithful and efficient service is rendered from week to week by the superintendents, teachers and staff of the schools in the circuit. There were 58 entries for the Connexional Young People's Examination, 43 sat, 9 obtained honours, lg first class certificates and 15 second class, none failed. Crovden Biddick won second place in the District in the Senior - Lover Division. Lydia 'Roberts, William Lea-

' Worthy and Lonsdale Nicholls obtained Connexional special certificates for five years' passes. The prizes and certificates were presented by Mr. P. B. Palmer, of Tintagel. Mr. Irving Keat, of .Delabole, was elected president for the ensuing year. Mr. Z. Spare and Mr. J. J. Rush were reappointed. treasurer and secretary respectively, and Mr. S. A. Rush as assistant secretary. An invitation to. hold the Conference at Boscastle next year was accepted.

The Rev. S. E. Harper, of Bucle, gave an excellent and much appreciated address on "The Teacher and the Child," in which he dealt masterly with "the child we teach," "what we teach and "What we are:" 'Mr,- Harper pungently stated that the probleni of the Sunday

THE UNITED METHODIST. Schools was the prOblem of the teacher ; not so much of methods and equipment as of the teacher. Equally timely was his appeal for the excellent SumMer Schools of our Denomination. In what we teach, Mr. Harper reminded us, it is of supreme importance that we teach not only a Book, but reveal 'a personality, in-Jesus Christ. But of greater importance than what we teach is what we are. It is character that tells. - Emerson once cryptically said, " How can I remember what ..you say, when what you are is thundering in my ears?

A large gathering sat to tea, and in the evening Mr. Oswald Martyn, of Delabole, presided over a massed gathering of friends from. every part of this far-flung circuit. A most inspiring meeting was held. The sing-ing was enthusiastic, musical, soul-stirring, and the.Port Isaac choir enriched the service by a good rendering of the anthem, 'Blessed be the name of the Lord." The Rev. S. E. Harper addressed the meeting on the subject of "Our Lost Legions," a challenging statement of the leakage of young life between the Sunday School and the church, the most vital problem to-day, and an en-couraging suggestion of its solution. In facing the problem there are some things against us : there is the fact that we have these young people in Sunday School for so small a part of the week, there is the indifference of many in the church to the work of the Sunday School, and there is the fact that this is. an age of excitement, in some respects a vulgar age, an age of jazz, and many young people regard the church as deadly dull. But we can meet this problem, in some measure at least, by taking an • interest in all the life of young people, by keeping dullness out of our services, and above all, by making the utmost use of the crucial age (between 10 and 16) in the life of young people, when decision for Jesus Christ is most likely, and bringing young people in their wonderful teens face to face with the Lord Jesus. G. B.

Departed Friend. Mrs. Searby, Binbrook.

OUR deepest sympathy is extended to -Coun. C.. S. Searby in - the great loss he has suffered in the death of his wife, Mrs. Fanny Anne Searby. The deceased, who had just entered her 66th year, was born at Minting, but in early girlhood became a resident of Binbrook, in the Market Rasen Circuit, and lived there the remainder of her days. She endeared herself to the people among whom she lived, and many of the poor and suffering of Binbrook know that her death has robbed them of their best friend. United Methodism, at Binbrook, has lost in Mrs. Searby one of its finest saints and workers. The deceased, although of a retiring, and unassuming. disposition, was an ardent Sunday School teacher, one of our best missionary supporters and collectors, a regular attender at the house of God, a zealous worker on behalf of the League of Nations and other kindred movements, and she was always a

' willing and charming hostess, as all our local preachers can testify. Mrs. Searby had not enjoyed very good 'health for some time prior to death, but the end was very unexpected when, on the morning of March .3rd, she passed away in perfect peace and con-fidence. Her death was a glorious end to a .well-lived life. The interment took place on the :following Monday, our church at Binbrook, being full of people of all denominations. Rev. W. P. Porter con-ducted the service, and was assisted by the local rector (Rev. E. L. Grierson). Mrs. E. Briggs played suitable music, and. the hymns sUng. were " Jesus, Lover of my soul," and "For ever with the 'Lord."

Neneastle-mi-Tyne (Sandyford).—A grand concert was held at the St. George's Terrace Church on March 7th inst., which proved a great success in every respect. Councillor W. A. Allan presided and the various vocal and instrumental items were rendered by Madame Humble, Miss Phyllis Rickard, .Miss Elsie Pringle, A.R.C.M., Miss Patience Batey, A.L.C.M., Miss Gladys Edmundson, L.R.A.NI., and Messrs. Jas. Southern and Leslie P. Milburn. Mr. Stanley Ions Walker conducted ,community singing.

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METHODIST BROTHERHOOD OVERSEAS BUREAU.

Methodists who intend to emigrate are requested to send information as to their proposed departure to one of their Circuit Ministers, Society Stewards or Class Leaders, in order that they may be furnished with letters of introduction to the Methodist Church at destination; . Nominations are available for Australia for families for farm work, lads 15-17 years of age, who will be placed with 'Methodist farmers, Domestic Helps and Teachers..

Nominations are also available for Canada.

METHODIST BROTHERHOOD, Central Buildings, Westminster,

March 17, 1927

The Late Rev. T. M. Gauge. REV. JOHN MARTIN writes :

Failing other words concerning- Tom Gauge, may I add these few? I have not known another man quite of Tom's "pitch " in some things. To know him was to love him and—very often to feel small. I had only seen him twice since college days ; but evidences were then plain of the man that was being fashioned. More than once, through a ,seeming antagonism to some as-pects of his humanistic ideals, have I brought his glori-ous yet withering wrath upon my head.' But it was worth it. We loved to see the man unfold himself in the breadth of his sympathies and •the depth of his feeling. We loved more the expression of those ringing affirmations of his soul. A hundred things were a chal-lenge to him. So was he to them and a rebuke. his attitudes . were never "adopted." They were something he found himself in—native to a Galilee-saturated soul. His protests were as a flame from a burning heart—that sometimes bled.

He seemed, at times, to have the very burden of the world's ill upon him. • But in a large-minded way he had found the Light of the World too. And in the working out of the impact of these two, by a peculiarly intense spirit, was found Tom's thought, life and -ser-vice. His level of appreciation of the Gospel was high. The Gospel led his mind and harnessed his energies. It was a great thing for Gauge that it did. But it was a greater thing for us. His sense of " the Servant was luminous and compelling. If ever the zeal of the Master's Kingdom has consumed anybody, it was. Tom Gauge, John Drinkwater, in speaking. of Morris's narrative poetry, uses these words : " In a strange and impalpable way it seems as though he had withheld some last heart-beat from its creation." That is just what you do not feel about Tom Gauge's service. • He kept back no heart-beat from the translation of the urge of his soul.

So Tom Gauge remains to some of us. Kindly of nature, compact of heart and mind, a valiant venturer in the Faith, we are richer for having known him. United Methodism is richer for having received of his service. May the heart of the same United Methodism keep warm toward the one 'who has shared in his afflic-tion and suffered the greater loss—and, those two boys.

An Interesting Church Magazine.

I WAS recently given a copy of the "Salem News,",a pen-printed cyclostyled paper published many years ago by the Newcastle Salem Methodist. New :Connexion Church. My copy is "Vol. 1, No-1," and is done in excellent style, dated " November, 1885." It is sub-titled "The Organ of the Salem Mutual Improvement Society." It contains a very fine pen-drawing of Dr. Townsend, who was the minister of Salem at that time, together with a character sketch that is worthy of A wider circulation, although " ordination " is substituted by "ordainment" in reference to the Doctor's attain-ment to full Connexion status. The concluding para-graph of this sketch bears testimony to his influence.at Salem, "During his short stay at Salem, all have come

- to love and revere him, and his winning words and cheery smile have brought many to follow the Chris-tian's life." 'Evidently an "Anti-smoking League " exercised a

sway over, the young people of the time, for a goodly part of the little magazine is taken up with its activi-ties. One of the letters to the Editor has a smack of quiet cynicism about it : "Mentor would like to know why so many young ladies and gentlemen stand in the Salem Church porch on Sunday evenings after service; and is it true that it is used as a trysting-place? " Another would "like to know " if it is true that a cer-tain Salem young lady has been known to express her opinion that none of the young men of the church are worth looking at, and what does she take as her model of beauty?" Rather hard on that generation of Salemites. One wonders if this lady is still a member-of Salem, and who she was. A choice excerpt is this : " Is it true that sewing meetings are established as much for general gossip as for sewing or work?" Echo asks " Is it? "

The Editorial Notes include the following : "We have got the name of being one of the most energetic and enterprising churches in town, so do let us try and keep it so." The Editor of this little periodical had • dis-covered a profound truth, and he expressed it in his column, "That mysterious individual " (the Editor) "is one of the most useful, but also one of the most abused, of mankind." His experience was gained rather quickly, it seems.

_

There is a particularly good article on "A Word to Speakers," which although unsigned, was probably contributed by Dr. Townsend. Other articles include " General Literature," "Poetry," "Self-Help," and the "Monthly Announcements."

Altogether, this home-made magazine is extremely in-teresting and informative, and to the reader of forty-two years later, it throws a light upon the thought and doings of the day.

W. H. BOURNE.

Plymouth (Embankment Road).—The annual refurns for the year now closing show that £150 has been paid off the Trust debt. After paying all accounts the stewards have a good balance in hand. More encouraging still is the fact that 38 new members have been received during the year. There has been a number of removals, leaving a net gain of 17 and a total of 257. The young people's guild has been a special feature of the work of the past year, where there is an enrolment of 84 and an average attendance of 57,

Yours sincerely,

Young People's Topic. "Scenes from the Life of St. Paul."

BY REV. G. W. STACEY.

(3) "How Paul became a Missionary. ff SCRIPTURE ,READING : Acts xi. 19-30.

(For week beginning March 20th, 1927.) Zr Paul had been asked the question, "How did got

become a missionary? " he would, doubtless, have answered, "It was God's will even in my birth." That is the emphatic word of Gal. i. 15. Reviewing the facts known concerning his personality and the circumstances of his birth, home-life, and education, it is plain to see that he was being prepared for the cosmopolitan experi-ences and problems of the missionary from his earliest moments onward. He had no doubt as to "the Provi-dence that shapes our ends " when he looked back at any time after the withdrawal into Arabia. There the mean-ing and purpose of his life become for ever clear.. iHe had what may be called "the missionary genius," and in

• the school of life that genius had been stimulated and . gradually concentrated on the specific purpose of world-evangelism in the name and power of the Lord Jesus.

March 17, 1927

THE UNITED METHODIST. 129

The King Recognized. BY REV. CUTHBERT ELLISON.

MATT. XXI. 1-17.

(C.E. Topic for March 27th). IN one of our topics recently we considered " Christ

as King." We were able in

to trace the signs of His Kingship as revealed in the New Testament. We were able to do,so because we have the materials before us. In this we are in a position very different from that of. those who lived with Jesus. They saw .Him, it is true, and heard His words; but it was not possible for them - to see. His life in- its completeness, and as a unity, as we can. It was with Jesus as it is with other men. 'The people of His own day saw Him but by glimpses ; He was here to-day, and elsewhere to-morrow; it was but little of His conversation that any one of them heard. Apart from actual contact with Jesus-there were rumours, and varying accounts of His doings and say-. ings. The impressions of Him that people gained would be casual and fragmentary: We are in a much happier position. For not only have we the New Testa-ment record, we have also the history of nineteen-hun-dred years. of. his influence and power.

To His own day Jesus was a problem. People were often in perplexity about Him. 'They were looking for the coming of the Messiah King; but their expectations were based upon a false conception of the mission of that Coming One. So the nation failed to recognize-in Jesus the King for whose appearing they so eagerly waited. Now and again they saw in Him some trait that fitted their conception. Then they 'would, in their zeal, have forced Him to assume a kingly state accord-ant with their desires. And this only increased the mis-understanding. For it compelled Him to disclaim such a Kingship, and this led to disappointment and bewilder-ment on the part of the people.

Yet Jesus was the Messiah King. It is all so tragic- ally sad. The whole course of the nation's history had been a preparation for His advent, and they failed to recognize Him ; they kneW not the day of their visita-tion. And the false conception of the purpose of the Messiah's coming compromised Jesus with the authori-ties, and gave a ground for His condemnation by die .Roman power. Whosoever maketh himself a king opposeth Caesar." There was a hopeless confusion of ideas. "Art Thou a King? " asked Pilate. And Jesus answered : "Thou hast said it. I am a• King. My Kingdom is not of this world. It is a Kingdom of the truth. To this end I was horn and came into the world."

Turn to the topic passage. Here is the definite as- sumption by Jesus of Kingly. state, the acknowledgment of Messiahship. He had offered Himself to the nation, and it had rejected Hin-r. Looking for a king who would deliver them from the Roman yoke, restore the glories for former days, and lead .them to victory over all their enemies, they had been blind to the true marks of the Messiah. For. some time Jesus had not dared to show Himself openly in Jerusalem for fear of preci-pitating a crisis. But He knew now that the end could not long be delayed. 'His time was short. He must offer Himself in His own city as the nation's promised King. The entry into Jerusalem was a definite claim to be the fulfiller of Zechariah's. prophecy "Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, • thy King cometh unto thee, 'meek, and riding upon an ass." It was as though Jesus said, as He had done on another occasion : This day is this Scripture fulfilled. It was not until later that the disciples understood the full significance of the act. But Jesus Himself knew. •

The pilgrims who were up at the Holy City for the feast entered with the utmost enthusiasm into the affair. It was indeed a triumphal progress that Jesus made along. the leaf-st-fewn ways attended by' the sing-

. ing multitudes. The procession swept on into the city. The rulers were in dismay, fearing the worst. They were blind to the -real import of the incident. They saw not that here was the Anointed One. The last appeal had been made in vain by their King. Messiah was disowned.

The singing of the children in the temple was clear to the heart of the King. Twenty years before, as a boy, He had entered the sacred place—His Father's house. He remembered that boyish experience, and- would not have the children silenced.

The fig tree showing leaves should have had fruit. -Jesus made it an acted parable. Those fair professors of religion, who brought forth no wholesome life-giving fruits, were abandoned to their fate.

It vas on .the Damascus Road, however, that this sub-conscious"urge " was both intensified and clarified. (See Acts xxvi. 16-18.) Later, in the Temple at Jerusalem, the call was endorsed (see Acts xxii. .17-21) and Paul withdrew to Caesarea and afterwards to Tai'sus. There he was to complete the long preparation for his life's work and await the ,moment when the task and the place -for beginning were made explicit. Ten to eleven years were-thus spent in his home city and the neighbouring towns and villages teaching and preaching Christ, keeping himself all the while by his • trade as a tent-maker. Some of the 'adventures to which he refers in 2' Cor. xi. 23-27 probably belong to this period, and the "fourteen - years ago " of 2 Cor. xii. 2 carries back to this time. It may be safely surmised that during this time at Tarsus, breathing the atmosphere of the cul-tured Greek world, discovering the contacts of the Gos-pel with universal human needs, Paul won his freedom from all Jewish legal and ceremonial fetters and fed the fires of missionary zeal so that nothing afterwards could quench the flame. It was the final stage in the life-lOng preparation of Christianity's pioneer missionary apostle.

Meantime the situation and moment approach for his campaign to begin. Years . before, all unconsciously, Paul had set in motion forces that created the situation and opportunity for his work now. His persecution had scattered the Jerusalem Church. (See Acts viii. 1-4.) The disciples had spread throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria. •Some had found a temporary hiding-place in Phoenicia and as far away as Cyprus, Damascus and Antioch. (See map:) Antioch was 300 miles from Jerusalem and was situated on the banks of the Orontes. It was the capital of the Roman province of Syria and was one of the three largest cities of the empire, and contained a vigorous mixed population. Antioch was "famous for its commerce, art and literature and in- famous for its vice and frivolity." Some of " the brethren." from Cyprus and Cyrene had found their-way to Antioch and had strengthened a vigorous cam-paign not only among the Greek-speaking Jews but among the Greeks themselves. Hitherto the dispersed believers had acknowledged the control and followed the policy of the Jerusalem-Church in confining attention to the Jews and proselytes of Judaism, the rite of circum-cision being required by all. Antioch strikes out an in-dependent line, circumcision is not .insisted on, and the success of their work causes the Jerusalem Church to send representatives to investigate and report. Fortu-nately for •Paul and for the world, it is his old friend Barnabas who is sent, Th man peculiarly qualified for the task tin that, not only is he himself a Cypriote, but he is "a good man, full of the Holy ,Spirit and of faith" (v. 24). He is just the sort of man to recognize the presence of the Lord in the Church's condition and to rejoice therein. It is noteworthy that he does not exhort them to be circumcised but "to cleave unto the Lord" (v. 23).

Evidently he saw something of the .signitiCance of what was- taking place, and, further, saw the need for the right man t:- take hold of the situation—a leader witt, enterprise as well as experience, with 'knowledge as well as zeal. It is not at all surprising that he should at once think of his. friend Paul and regard him as the very man for the moment and the work. Mr. H. W. Oldham says " Barnabas seems 'to have had an unusual power of doing the right thing at the -right time." (Cf. iv. 30, ix. 27). Of course, that is so, for he was one of those " whom God whispers in the ear." Such a whisper sent, him to Tarsus to "search up and down " for Paul and bring him to ,Antioch. Nothing lie ever did had more important issues. . For a year they worked together "with the- Church and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." It was the point of emergence for Paul from the obscurity of preparation into the full blaze of his great career as "the missionary to the Gentiles:"

Stories of Famous Men (0.T,).

(1) Samuel, the Prophet-Leader. BY REV. W. 'P. RHODES.

International and Junior Lesson for March 27th, 1927. SCRIPTURE : 1 Sam. vii. 1-17.

GOLDEN TEXT : " And Samuel grew and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground."-1 Sam. iii. 19 (R.V.).

In preparing the lesson teachers should read 1 Sam. iii. 19-21; iv. 1-18 ; vi. 1-21, in order to get background and setting.

The Aim of the lesson should be to show the power of a consecrated man in the service of God and our fellow-men. _ The Approaelt.—Since the Great War almost every town has erected a War Memorial. Most churches have a Roll of Honour. They contain the names of- those, who served their country. Their purpose is to help us to remember what other men did. Have you ever seen a Memorial Stone to God? Our lesson to-day tells of the erection of a Stone to remind men of what God did.

AVe do not like to think of God ever taking part in fighting. But God is always on the side of Right. And when it was threatened by Wrong, His power may be expected to be exercised. (Refer to Psalm xxxvii.) When the Spanish Armada came to conquer Britain and to force the people back to a religion they did not want, they were driven back by a great storm. Queen Eliza-beth went to St. Paul's Cathedral to thank God for the victory. And carved on the Drake Memorial on Ply- mouth Hoe are the words, "God blew with winds and they were scattered."

God and the Right.—Thus God does seem to inter-vene. If we did not believe this, how filled we, might be

with despair and dread. Teachers may enlarge on this, referring to human helplessness in human need, both individual and national, emphasizing the fact of God's interest, and His support of all those who fight and work for the triumph of good over evil.

The Stone and the Storm.—Read now 1 Sam. vii. 10-14. Explain to younger scholars that " Israel" were on the "Lord's side," and the P.hilistines• were opponents. Some may say that the storm " just. happened. ' But it did happen, and man could not have caused it. Cer-tainly it helped the Israelites to win, and they could not have won in their own strength. They so believed that "the Lord thundered" that „they erected the Stone and Called it "Ebenezer."

Folly and Failure. The Israelites had not always been successful. Fbr the simple reason that they had forgotten and fez saken .God. The Prodigal Son lost his

• father's help when he left him. If we want to be guided in the right way it' is necessary to follow the Guide. God's love never fails, but when we "fight against God it is foolish to think of God helping us to do that. The Israelites failed, not because God had forsaken them, but because they had committed the folly of forsaking I-Iim.

They had fallen into idolatry ; worshipping false gods. We pity the people who do this in ignorance. But the Israelites knew better. And, to make matters worse, their idolatry was not merely the worship .of idols, but was a wicked thing, including practices which they knew were opposed to God's will.. Thus they separated them-selves from God, who was their great strength and sup-port. Consequently they were defeated by their enemies. •The. only chance which Wrong has of winning is when the Right people fail.

Repentance and Restoration. During this time (twenty •years cf. Isa. iii. 22 and vii 1, 2) Samuel, who had answered the call of God when he was a child, had grown to be a man 19, 20). During those years he had kept a heart that moved at the breathing of God's will. In spite of all the evil around, he kept in touch with God. The time arrived when God .used him to show the people the error of their ways. (Read vii. 3.) When they realised this, they were sensible enough to put away their idols (verse 4). The test and proof of repentance is renunciation. "these things led, as they generally do, to restoration. (Read vii. 13-15).-

Samuel was the last of the " Judges " of ISrael. In-stead of judges they had kings. He began young, and steadily prepared himself for the time when God would use him.

There is still much evil in the world, and God needs such men as Samuel to tell out His will, and to lead the world through penitence to prosperity and. peace. Samuel's bi<c

' qualification to speak for God was that he

listened to God. Preserved spiritual contact. Had an ear -" alive and quick to hear each whisper of God's word." And through him, God saved the people.

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News of Our Churches. MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

Heslop, Fred, is leaving Manchester North-East in August, 1928.

Heard, S. C.,,has decided to leave the Poynton circuit in 1928, after four years' service.

Madgen, W.,, leaves the Liverpool, St. Domingo, circuit in 1929.

preachers were Revs. H. Tyler Lane, of the Wesleyan Central Mission, and Rev. G. W. Potter (pastor). The services were full of inspiration and help and the attend-ances were good.

Bazaars. Bradford (Laisterdyke).—The annual bazaar has been

a great success following closely upon a year which, in spite of trade depression, has been one of our very best financially. It took place on March 2nd, 3rd and 5th, the openers being Mrs. F. C. Collins, of Bingley, Mr. B. Galloway; of Harrogate, and the children of the school, represented by Miss Alice Wilson and Master Sidney Darnbrough. Proceeds £175.

Bury (Brunswick).—A springtime café- and sale of work was held on March 8th, 11th and 12th. The school was beautifully decorated, and various stalls pro-vided. An orchestra was in attendance, each day, and concerts were held at intervals. On Tuesday, Miss Ash-worth opened the sale, presided over by Miss Fletcher, which was well attended. On Friday Mr. Lemont re-opened ; chairman, Mr. W. Flitcroft ; and was well at-tended ; also on Saturday, opened by Councillor Scho-field ; chair taken by Councillor G. Eastham. The effort proved a great success, and great credit is due to the various sections of the church who worked heartily together. Proceeds for church funds, £398 4S. 10d.

Nelson (Stanley Street).—A most successful bazaar has been held. Opened on March 2nd by the Mayor of Nelson, Mr. J. H. S. Aitken, who gave a delightful address and a cheque for the fund. The chairman was Mr. Arthur Baron, J.P., of Burnley, son of a former circuit steward (late Ald. Baron). The bazaar was opened on March 5th by the Primary children very nicely trained by Miss Johnson. A good attendance on each day and a very fine display of goods. A grati-fying result-500.

Shrewsbury (Town Walls).--Ebenezer held her annual sale of work at the beginning of the month. The gath-ering was one of great help, apart from the financial reward. This came to nearly £50, including receipts before and after the day. Mrs. J. Betts opened the sale, Mrs. Eldred presiding. They were supported by Mr. Betts, the Rev. W. 0. Meir, the Rev. J. Rigby (the Primitive Methodist minister) and Mr. G. Poppleton, who is serving the circuit in the absence of the Rev. H. E. Young. Encouraging news has been received from Mr. Young that he is regaining his health.

Presentations. Burnley (Brunswick).—At a concert held on March

4th Mr. R. S. Preston, for 15 years the teacher of the young men's class,, was presented with a reading lamp and stand by the members of the class on his retire-ment from that position. Mr. F. McKay, who presided, refenred to Mr. Preston's willingness to work, and said that he was sure he was expressing the sentiment of all the young men when he said he was sorry that Mr. Pres-ton was severing his connection with the class. Mr. J. Atkin, in making the presentation, referred to Mr. Preston's length of service, and said that it went back much further than the 15 years he had spent as the teacher of the young men's class. It went back over a period of 35 years, when Mr. -Preston occupied a humble position in the church. Eventually he became the Sun-day School secretary, then a teacher, and finally a teacher - of the young men's class. He believed Bruns-wick's class was the best young men's class in Burnley. Last year they reached the highest point in their work for the Christmas tree and realised the magnificent sum of £200. In reply, Mr. Preston said that in his opinion self-sacrifice had been the keynote of Brunswick success. A man connected with a church or Sunday School obtained an all-round view of life. During the evening various members of the class contributed solos, and com-munity singing on a Small scale was indulged in by those present. , Prior to the interval, at which refresh-ments were served, Mr. T. Standing, the oldest member of the class and the opener of last year's Christmas tree, presented a photograph of the opening ceremony . at Christmas, portraying all the members of the class pre-sent at the ceremony, to Mr. V. Tattersall. Mr. Tatter-sall, in reply, said that the interest Mr. Standing dis-played in the class was the means of his retaining his youth despite his advancing years.

Leigh and Hindley Green (Wigan Road).—An inter-esting ceremony took place when Mr. W. H. Stafford was presented by the members of the circuit with an easy chair. Rev. W. Wilson Craig presided, and said that Mr. Stafford had resigned from his positions as

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local preachers' secretary, plan secretary and Young People's secretary, after over twenty-one years of faith-ful and untiring service. They were there to pay tribute to his services. Mr. J. Parr (Plank Lane), Mr. S: J. Miles (Wigan Road) and Mr.. J. Stevenson (Hindley Green) spoke on behalf of the churches. They heard with regret of the resignation of their friend. - He was held in • high esteem by all: Mr. S. Boydell (Hindley Green) made the presentation, and said that Mr. Stafford would receive it with the best wishes of the circuit. - Mr. W. H. Stafford thanked all present for their kindness, also saying that he was pleased to know that 'what he had done had been appreciated. It was a joy to him to serve the Master in any way. • Solos were sung by Mrs. W. Hayes, Miss E. Hilton and Mr. W. Disley. Mr. Darbyshire accompanied.

Evangelistic Services. _ - Camelford and Wadebridge (St. Mabyn).—Revival fire

is still burning in Cornwall. For the past fortnight Sister Betty, the Cornish evangelist; has conducted a very fine mission here amidst manifestations of great spiritual power. This is the first mission held in this church for twelve years. The services have been well

.. attended during the first week. The second week brought the crowds, the whole district beings moved, with 30 conversions. On the last day there wag a faith tea which was well attended, followed by a public meet-ing. Speakers, Rev. M. Daniel (Wesleyan), and Sister Betty, presided over .by Mr. Philp, of St. Tudy. After the meeting there was a faith supper, to which many remained, and gave an excellent finish to one, of the most successful missions held in the district.

Missionary Services. Manchester (Leicester Road).—On March 6th the Mis-

sionary anniversary was held. The deputation, at the morning service, was -Rev. G. M. Beard, of New Mills, and evening, Rev. H. Lee, of Stockport. The services were much appreciated. In the school in the afternoon the Young People's missionary meeting was held. Mr. Wood presided. The secretary's report, given by Mr. A. Robinson. Miss B. M. Handford, M.A., was pre-vented through illness from being present, and Mr. C. W. Hicks kindly stepped into breach and gave an interesting address. On the Monday evening a mission-ary " At Home " was held. Rev. W. 0. Smith pre-sided, and Rev. IL Lee was the speaker. Mrs, H. Hal- liwell gave a report of the year's Work. Songs were sung during the evening by Mrs. J. W. Procter and Mr. J. A. Rowbottom. A missionary sketch was also given. Proceeds, for the Home and Foreign Missions.

Whitehaven.—The missionary round began with a cir-cuit rally at Moor Row, addressed by Revs. A. E. Fletcher (deputation) and J. E. Williamson. Mr. Fletcher conducted missionary anniversary services at Egremont on the Sunday, and addressed missionary meetings at -St. Bees and Whitehaven on the Monday and Tuesday evenings, when his interesting and informing lectures on Yunnan and Meru were greatly appreciated by those pr esent.

Quarterly Meetings. Darwen.—Rev. G. W. Stacey presided. The annual

reports were of a very encouraging nature. Member-ship, 347, an increase of 19 ; Sunday School scholars, 769 ; increase, 5. Trust reports revealed that all three churches had prospered financially during the year. Rev. G. W. Stacey was unanimously invited to remain until 1930, but reserved his decision.

Darlington, Paradise.—Rev. E. H. Johnson presided over a good attendance. The financial return, although showing a slight adverse balance, was considered fairly satisfactory. The circuit officers were 're-elected as fol-lows : circuit steward, Mr. R. H. Belt ; circuit secretary, Mr. W. Coates,, and the following were appointed re-presentatives to the District Meeting, .Messrs.. R. H. Belt, R. Anderson, J.P., C. BOden. It was resolved to ask the Darlington Wesleyan and P.M. Circuits to send representatives to the next Quarterly Meeting. It was suggested that next quarter the two circuits, Para-dise and Victoria Road, should hold a joint meeting. The -circuit regret the passing of two stalwarts in Mr. James Belt, the oldest United Methodist in Darlington, and Mr. W. B. Winter, for thirty-five years local preacher, and resolutions of condolence were ordered to be sent to the relatives.

Heckmondwike.—Rev. W. Scott presided. The spiri-tual and numerical reports were accepted. One feature of the reports was that an increase in membership was recorded. During the quarter very successful mission services have been held at Littletown, conducted by Rev. J. L. Powell, of Leeds. It has been decided to hold a mission 'of the same character at Heckmondwike in the coming aututmn.

Anniversaries. Barnsley, Blucher Street (Mapplewell).—The anniver-

sary services of the Junior, Intermediate and Young, People's societies were held last week-end. The celebra-tions commneced with a social evening on the. Saturday, over which Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Barge, of Sheffield, should have presided, but owing to illness were unable to be present. Mr. and. Mrs. F. A. Nodder, of Sheffield, took their place. An excellent programme of music and recitals was given. Competitions and games were en-joyed, and retreshments were served by Bethel members. The services on the- Sunday were conducted by Mr. Nod-der, whilst.a young people's service in the afternoon was presided over by Mrs. F. A. Nodder and addressed by Miss Smith. Members of the Junior and Intermediate societies also took part. At all these services Miss Pen-nock was the soloist. On Monday, a great anniversary Meeting and Distrisct rally was held, presided over by Mr. H. Pye, of the Bethel society, and addressed by Rev. A. Vickers, of Sowerby Bridge, who also conducted the consecration service. Miss Sanderson was the soloist. The services were very successful throughout.

Bristol (Eastville Park).—Church anniversary services. were held March 5th, 6th and '7th, and these coincided with the 25th anniversary of the opening of the present church. On Saturday the annual banquet took place. It was a " ladies' night," and about 200 members and friends sat down at the tastefully decorated tables to partake of the good things provided by the ladies of the church. Following the repast a .musical programme was carried out, under the direction of Mrs. I. Taylor, and included community singing, solos, dialogues and Devonshire readings, and also selections by the ladies' jazz band. The Sunday services were attended by large congregations, and were conducted in the morning by the Rev. C. E. Penrose (pastor), and in the evening by the Rev. R. Pyke (President-Designate). At the evening service the choir, under the leadership of Mr. A. H. Walters, rendered an anthem ; soloists, Miss Isobel Watts and.Mr. Knight. The afternoon meeting of Bible Classes and Sunday School was presided over by Mr. S. Hawn., An address was given by Rev. J. Q. Christian (Congregational), and solos rendered by the Misses M. and D. Pitchfork. The chairman on the Monday even-ing was the church secretary (Mr. F. W. White). The Rev. R. Pyke lectured on "Our Friends Outside," deal-ing with the challenge of the Church to the "man in the street." The soloist was Miss E. Carter. The anni-versary was a time of much joy and blessing.

, London, Brixton (Paradise Road).—The 67th chapel anniversary was in every way a decided success. Con-gregations were large, financial results good, and, above all, there was a fine spiritual atmosphere. On the Saturday afternoon the Rev. James Cregan preached, a most helpful sermon. At the tea-tables words of greet-ing were spoken by the Revs. A. 'E. J. Casson and H. J. Ivens (Wesleyan). The evening meeting was addressed by the Revs. F. Barrett and C. J. Christian. Mr. W. H. Stoneman, of Liphook was in the chair. The services on the Sunday were conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. C. George, while on the Monday night a largely attended reception was given by Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Ayles. Music during the anniversary was rendered by the church choir, the Stockwell orchestra, and a number of artistes. The financial result of over £70 was a record.

Newcastle-on-Tyne (Sandyford).—The Trust anniver-sary services were conducted with much acceptance on March 6th by Rev. Alfred Bromley, of Whitley Bay. Mr. Bromley also lectured on the Monday night on " Macbeth." The universal testimony was that the preacher had lost none of his wonted power in the pulpit, and his lecture drew forth the confession from one lady that " he is certainly a wonderful old man." The chair-man at the lecture was the Under Sheriff for the city, Councillor Harry Benson, J.P.

Redruth (Stithians).—The Fellowship' ; anniversary Commenced on Saturday afternoon with a conference. Chairman, Rev. A. R. Martin. Discussion opened by Rev. C. Wacey, of St. Day, on "The Challenge of the Church to Modern Youth." Evening Fellowship meet-ing addressed by Rev. C. Wacey (St. Day) . and Rev. W. H. Dunn (Mullion). Chairman, Rev. A. R. Martin. On Sunday the preacher was Rev. J. Highley Coles (Helston). Afternoon Fellowship hour, address by Rev. J. Highley Coles. Chairman, Mr. Sydney Bowden.

Sheffield, Scotland Street (Ecclesfield).—We are pleased to report substantial progress at the new church at Ecclesfield, opened last October with a membership of 4, which is now 33 strong. On February 26th and 27th, the Women's Own Bright Hour held their first anniversary, which proved a great success both spiri-tually and financially. On Saturdaya successful tea and concert was held. the concert being presided over by Mrs. R. Lee. On Sunday, Sister Gladys, of Chester, previously deaconess of this church, and founder of the Women's Own, preached morning and evening, and in the afternoon addressed the Sunday School., A large congregation attended the evening service. Under the guidance of Sister Beatrice it is felt that the church has a great future and will be a great spiritual help to the new district in which it is situated.

Sheffield (South Street).—At the Choir Anniversary a chorus of more than 50 voices, with Miss Emmie Pen-nock and Miss W. Wagg (sopranos) and Mr. Joseph Green. (tenor), as soloists, sung Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise." Mr. W. S. Skelton, J.P. (choirmaster) con-ducted, and Mr. J. W. Clarke was the organist. The

Huddersfield, High Street.—The Rev. F. H. Cham-bers, chairman. Membership 954, with 67 on trial ; • 10 deaths having taken place dUring the quarter. The debit balance had been decreased by 12s. 6d. Mr. F. Cooper was heartily thanked for taking up the duties of mission secretary at very short notice (a post he has previously held with very great credit). Both home and foreign contributions were slightly down. Revs. F. Harper and B. H. Reed each received a "perfect" cer-tificate. Mr. H. L. Broadbent was passed on to his third quarter on trial after testimonies to his pulpit ser-vices. The District meeting delegates are Mrs. Brook, Mr. L. Crowther, Mr. Joshua Heeley, with Mr. F. Cooper, Alderman Lawton and Airs. Barrie as alterna-tives. Mr. L. Crowther was nominated as Conference representative. The trust schedule indicated a total in-crease of debit balances. The young people's schedule showed there were 1099 scholars, but a decrease. The circuit schedule stated that there had been four' evan-gelistic missions held, at which there had been over 100 decisions made for Christ; five young men had been put on the plan as local preachers, with two more on trial ; there had been a decline in Sunday School attendance; indifference, indolence, and the counteracting influence of

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Sunday kinemas and concerts had had their effect on the attendance at the Sunday services : still, there had been more activity at the week-day meetings, and there was in their ranks a nucleus of splendid workers, with great promise of success for future service. There was much reason for deep thankfulness to God.

Leigh and Hindley Green.—Rev. W. Wilson Craig presided. Financial statement and numerical returns passed. Report of delegate to District committee meet-ing accepted. Condolences were tendered to several of the brethren in recent bereavements. The question of minister to succeed Rev. W. W. Craig, in 1928, was discussed and a successor is to be invited. The follow-ing were appointed representatives to District meeting : Messrs. G. Speakman, W. H. Stafford and R. Gaskell. A social welfare committee was also appointed: Messrs. J. Stevenson (convener), J. Hilton, P. Newton, T. Bat-tersley, H. Smith and J. Gradwell.

Nantwieh.—Held at Nantwich. Rev. W. Cherry pre sided. The numerical returns showed an increase of 7. Steward's financial statement considered satisfactory. Mr. T. W. Hall presented the annual statements of trust; church and school accounts for the circuit, which were approved. Mr. T. L. Williamson was elected y.p. secretary and all other officers were re-elected. A committee was appointed to make preliminary arrange-ments for the annual summer gathering. Delegates to District, meeting : Rev. W. Cherry, Mr. J. Bowyer (steward), and Messrs. J. H. Bourne and T. W. Hall ; alternative, Mr. W. Bebbington.

Norwich.—Rev. A. Tattersall presided. An encoura-ging report was given by the preachers' secretary (Mr. George Lincoln) and the numerical returns showed a small increase on last quarter. A gratifying feature of the financial statement was the unusual experience of a balance in hand. The trust account also was of a satisfactory character, £273 having been paid in debt reduction during the year, and ten out of the fifteen -country churches being now entirely free of debt. Thank-fulness was expressed at the great blessing experienced from the missions in the country churches and at Cal-vert Street. Mr. C. E. Woodrow introduced an accept-able resolution, deprecating scientific warfare and arma-ments. - Delegates were agpointed for the District Meet-ings. The invitation by circuit committee to Rev. H. H. Wilson, M.A., to succeed Rev. R. Strong next year was approved. The chairman and the Rev. R. Strong paid feeling tribute to their, late colleague (Rev. T. M. Gauge) and the meeting adopted a sympathetic vote to the bereaved.

Redruth, Fore Street.—Rev. E. E. Bennett presided. The numerical report showed 326 full members, 51 on trial, 12 juniors, 4 deaths, and 1 removal. The plan steward reported a small credit balance. The financial report showed a debit balance of 426 11s. ld. It was -decided to invite the District Meeting to Redruth in 1928. Representatives for the District Meeting were Mr. G. A. Tonkin, Mrs. Clemens, Messrs. A. W. P. Smith and S. Bawden. Alternatives : Mr. J. H. Williams, Mrs. T. J. Dickinson, Messrs. Chit-tock and F. Hewcock. Spiritual reports were read from Redruth, Stithians, Four Lanes and Pool. Horse hire steward reported a credit balance of £4 8s.

Salford.—Rev. A. Rathmell presided. Rev. W. H. Wheeldon was absent through influenza: The numerical reports showed a slight decrease of 17 church members and 95 Sunday School scholars.. In spite of these de-creases, the spiritual reports from the churches and Sunday Schools showed, the work of the circuit to be in a healthy condition. Rev. Herbert Cook, who has been labouring in the Swinton end of the circuit, received a unanimous invitation to continue his labours for an-other year, 1927-1928, which he accepted. The demoli-tion of our church at Ellesmere Street, Pendlebury, was reported. This church was built in 1852, when the late Rev. William Ince was in the circuit. It was condemned as unsafe for public worship the end of 1926, has been pulled down, and is now being rebuilt at an estimated cost of £1,500 to £2,000. This has come as a great blow to the few miners and millworkers who form its constituency, but they are facing the matter heroically. The meeting passed applications for grant and loan from the Denomination, and also passed a resolution asking the churches in the circuit to assist the friends as much as possible.

Sheffield, Surrey Street.—Rev. IH. H. WilsOn, M.A., presided. Resolutions of sympathy were passed with Rev. H. Hinchcliffe and Mr. W. H. Burgin, absent through illness, and with Mr. Emmerson, recently bereaved. A first class pass was awarded to Mr. W. P. Beeson in the local preacher's examination. The

numerical returns showed membership 956, decrease 56, including 14 deaths on the year ; scholars 2,037, increase 27. The financial statement showed a deficit of £51, being the same as December quarter ; the trust debts have been reduced 4952 during the year. An invitation was given to the Rev. E. S. \Vinter, of Newcastle, to succeed the Rev. F. G. Stopard at Rotherham in August, 1928. Representatives to District meeting : Messrs. H. Y. Habbijam, H. Burgin, F. Emmerson, \V. Firth, FL Fox and. J. Sparrow ; nominee representative to annual Conference, Mr. H. Burgin. A ,unanimous reso-lution vas passed asking the licensing magistrates to refuse an application for the extension of the hours of public-houses from 10 to 10.30 p.m. Home and foreign missions income 4'219 16s.

WhitehaTen.—The District secretary, Rev. A. E. Fletcher, presided. Revs. J. E. Williamson and T. H. Johnston were awarded perfect certificates, and invited until 1928. Financial reports reflected the trying time through which the circuit has passed, but a more hopeful spirit was evident. Rev. J. E. Williamson acted as examiner of three local preachers, Misses J. Emerson and E. Thompson, and Mr. W. Bird, who were all Passed on to full plan. There was a record attendance. Thanks were accorded to the chairman and examiner for their services.

General. Birkenhead (Claughton Road).—An interesting cere-

mony took place on February 22nd, when the Christian Endeavour societies of this church presented the trustees with a fireproof safe. After a feW words by the vice-president of the society the keys of the safe were handed by Mr. Newbold to Pastor Lewis, who accepted them on behalf of the trustee's. Several trustees expressed their thanks and appreciation of the desire of the young people to assist the church. Refreshments were served and a happy meeting was held.

Castleford.—The annual circuit meeting was held at \Vhitwood Mere on March 5th, there being an excellent gathering of representatives. Rev. W. T. Barraclough presided, and there was a distinctly high spiritual tone throughout the meeting. Mr. T. Gill, J.P., presented the circuit accounts, showing a fairly substantial bal-ance in hand, due largely to the recent effort of the United Circuit Choir in giving "The Messiah," which realized over £20. Rev. Ernest Hardy, the conductor, thanked everybody for their help and co-operation in making the effort—the first of its kind—such a great-success. The circuit was anxious to pay its tribute to Mr. T. Gill, who has been circuit steward for twenty-nine years, and whose resignation took effect at that meeting. A resolution was carried unanimously, placing on record hearty and sincere thanks to Mr. Gill for his long, untiring devotion to the circuit, and appreciation of his high character and sterling worth. Mr. Gill was made a life member of the Quarterly Meeting, and it was decided to express our gratitude for his great work -in the circuit, in some permanent form. Only the re-moval of Mr. and Mrs. Gill to Leeds compels their re-signation from circuit office. Mr. W. Bottomley was elected senior circuit steward, and Mr. A. Cresswell as junior. Each of the churches presented a spiritual report, and it was very heartening to hear_ of the progress being made in the churches, for the reports were considered both satisfactory and encouraging, an increase in mem-bership being recorded. We also decided to join in Methodist fellowship with the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Circuits on suitable occasions, and to lend our support to united open-air effort.

Darlington (Paradise).—An enjoyable concert was held on March 10th, in aid of bazaar funds, when the entertainment was provided by the ladies from Rise Carr P.M. Church, Darlington. The chief item—" Ye Olde Village Wedding," was admirably produced. The wed-ding cake was taken round the audience and realized

15s. A well-filled hall thoroughly enjoyed the enter-tainment and the organizers are to be complimented. The total proceeds were about ,03.

lIeckmondwike.—On Sunday, March 6th, at a sacra-mental service conducted by Rev. Walter Scott, 16 new members were received into church fellowship, 9 of whom were young men.

Ilfracombe.-Re-opening services, after painting and renovating the interior of the premises, took place on March 3rd. Rev. J. Ford Reed (chairman of the Dis-trict), preached in the afternoon and lectured in the evening on "The French Revolution." Both services were well attended and Mr. 'Reed was at his best. His visit was greatly enjoyed. On Sunday, 6th, the re-

opening services were continued and Rev. J. F. Hughes preached in the morning and Rev. S. 'C. Challenger in the evening. At the morning service the members and officials of the Ilfracombe Urban District Council at-tended and Mr. Hughes' sermon is published in the local press. The church has been greatly improved in appearance and has been thoroughly cleaned.—(Woola-combe.) Seven new memorial windows have been placed in this church and a service of dedication was held . on Sunday afternoon, March 6th, when the circuit minister, Rev. J. F. Hughes, gave an appropriate address. Win-dows in memory of Thomas Beer, the builder and one of the founders of the church, men who fell in war, and others, are included. A new heating apparatus has recently been installed and further improvements are in hand which the friends hope will make the church an attractive and beautiful sanctuary in this popular holi-day resort.

Liverpool North (Stuart Road).—In view of the approach of Methodist Union an interesting exchange of pulpits was arranged between Rev. J. Sydney Jones (pastor) and Rev. J. A. Parkinson, County Road Wes-leyan. ChurCh, on Sunday evening, March 6th. After the evening service an impressive united communion ser-vice was held. at the County Road Church, in which both ministers took part. Rev. J. Sydney Jones gave the address, of an inspiring and helpful character, in which he referred' to the genuine spirit of "Union " manifest by the gathering. At the conclusion of the service the Rev. J. A. Parkinson asked Mr. Andrews to speak a few words on behalf of the County Road Church, and in a few well-chosen words the latter extended a very hearty welcome to the Stuart Road friends, to which Mr. J. Woolley suitably replied. The whole service, which was most impressive, will long be remembered by.the members of both churches and prove a source of inspiration. At a future date it is hoped to arrange a similar service to be held at the Stuart Road Church.

Long Eaton and Stapieford (Breaston).—The young people, trained by Mr. Reuben Gregory, presented the operetta "Cinderella and the Prince " on two evenings with great credit. The effort was very successful, and the new organ fund will benefit considerably as a result.

London (Higham's Park).—The church is happy in the possession of a first-class orchestra, and every item of

.the programme of the concert which they arranged for the debt extinction scheme was encored. Several of the Cockney dialect recitals given by Miss Skinner were written by her mother, a member of the church. Mr. Will NOrthey efficiently conducted. On Monday, Rev. NV. P. Rhodes presided at the annual meeting of the Band of Hope, when individual items were given by the children, followed by a service of song, "Bel, the Fire-man," the children having been trained by Mrs. Tracy. Mr. Smith, the superintendent, reported an average attendance of 70, and after meeting all expenses during the year, the Band of Hope contributed £8 to church funds. Mrs. Rhodes distributed the prizes,. and was the recipient of a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Manchester Second (Irlam).—Seven full members and one junior member were added to the roll recently, and on Sunday evening, March 6th, four of these friends were received into the fellowship of the church by the pastor (Mr. Leslie • W. Richards). The others were unable to attend because of sickness. At the sacramental service which followed Mr. C. W. Hicks (Oxford Road Church) presided.

Southport (Manchester Road).—The friends assembled in large numbers on Shrove Tuesday to celebrate the Annual Shrovetide Festival. The occasion was one of happy fellowship and delightful reunion of former and present members. An excellent tea, splendidly served by the ladies of the church, was partaken of, after which a high-class concert was given. The chairman, Mr. F. Clayton, of Morecambe, an old boy of the Sunday School, and a member of one of the most honoured families. of the church, and his address' reminiscent of past days was greatly enjoyed. The concert was of -a very high' order, songs being given by Miss Ethel Wright, Miss E Howard, Mr. W. Draper, of Manchester ; recitals by Mr. M. N. Leathwood; pianoforte solos by Miss Alberta. M. Yarwood, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M., who also accom-panied, and glees by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. F. Dean, accompanied by Mr. J. Jackson. The festival was the consummation of a series of efforts made during the winter months to provide funds for the work of church and Trust, and a sum of £203 10s. was raised, the minister's donation list yielding over 496 of this amount. The result is highly satisfactory, and all are greatly encouraged by the success which has attended the work, during the winter.

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66 BILLY BRAY." The Rev. MARX GUY PEARSE, in a recent Issue of the Methodist Recorder. on " Some Local Preachers Down West," refers to the Life of Billy Bray. by F. W. Bourne, and expresses the fear that this book is now out of print. It is still on sale. and its world-wide popularity is unprecedented. Bound In tooth, of all booksellers, for 1/6, or post free for 1(9.

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the united methodist.- thursday, march 17, 1927. the death …

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