SUNDAY READING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2676, 4 December 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

SUNDAY READING.

“Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong, Or others—that we are not always strong, That we are ever overborne with care, That we should ever weak or heartless be, Anxious or troubled, when with us in prayer, And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?”

CHILDREN’S ADDRESS

(By Silvester Horne.)

Even boys and girls have their troubles, big or little; and there comes a time when you wonder what use the troubles are, and you wonder very, much that anyone should say that he was glad, not for his own trouble, but for yours. I am going to tell you a very simple story this, morning, which may help • you to understand why he said this. There was once a boy who was like so many of you —very reserved, and silent, and self-contained. If he felt any ’ affection for these at home, he never showed that lie did. They lavished, on him their love and care, hut he seemed to take it all for granted, in a matter-of-fact way, and make no return. But one day he was at school, and another boy began to repeat some foolish go-ssip against his father. This was too much for the hoy I am speaking of. He flashed out in anger, and then ran sobbing home to his mother to tell • her everything. And she was grieved because lie had been pained so sharply, and yet she smiled through her tears; and she s'aid, “So you have found out, now, that you love your father!” The lad sobbed out. “Yes,” and she added. “It was worth while that you should have been troubled in. this way, for you have made a grand discovery. Now that you know' how much you love your father, you might show him your love.” You see. boys and girls, what I mean. We meet in this world many who speak lightly and foolishly against God and against Christ. It is a sharp •grief to us; but if it teaches us how greatly we love them, it may be worth while. To discover so great a love is something for which we may glory in our tribulation.

At the twenty-fourth International Christian Endeavor Convention recently held at St' Paul, Minnesota, it was reported that since the last biennial convention there was an increase of 2355 societies with 94,200 members, making a total of 71,492 societies- and 3,551,100 members. In the world’s statistics the Presbyterian Societies lead. Among nations America ranks first, Great Britain being second and Australia third.

The journals of all the Evangelical Churches in Australia published welcoming notices to the new Archbishop of Sydney. The “Methodist” referred to him as “a broad-minded evangelical. tolerant of other men’s opinions, and sympathetic with the aspirations of modern life " for enlightenment, freedom and progress.” The “Presbyterian Messenger” said: “Dr Wright comes to us with a reputation for strength of personality and of evangelical conviction, for breadth of mind, for matured wisdom, for earnest loyalty to the cause of social reform.”

The Rev. Dr David Smith, of Scotland. who has just been appointed to the Chair of Theology in Magee College, Londonderry, deals in the “Bri-., tish* Weekly” with the question of individual communion cups and fermented wine. He says that the Passover wine was both fermented and intoxicating; but the use of unfermented win© is legitimate, and in the circumstances of modern life it is expedient. If drunkenness had been a Jewish vice, the Talmudic restrictions would have been more rigid. The individual cup approaches more nearly to the primitive usage than the practice which is wrongly designated as “Catholic Custom.” “It is only long familiarity,” adds Dr Smith, “that prevents recognition of tho odiousness of the common cup. I am sure there is no medical man who would not condemn it, and there can he few worshippers whom it fails to nauseate. So long as phthisis and other diseases aro rife, it. must be a serious danger. Even if it were sanctioned by ‘Catholic custom,’ it should be abolished ion the apostolic principle—‘Let all things be done decently . ’ ”

The vital significance of the new journal of John Wesley, the first volume of which will appear shortly, lies in the question, “Will it involve rewriting Wesley’s life?” To this question, which a London reporter put to the 'llev. Nehemiah Curnock. the editor, lie answered unhesitatingly “Yes. It will not, of course,” he said, “modify the story of the childhood, or his boyhood at Charterhouse.. But fresh light and much new information are thrown on the whole Oxford career, and especially on the history of the Holy Club. Even more vital is the whole flood'of new matter dealing with the voyago to America and the life in Georgia. In . fact, as regards Georgia, on the most sober estimate, the new matter gives us a new and absolutely authentic view, not simply of John Wesley himself, but of Oglethorpe, the founder of the colony itself.” “Don’t you feel,” Mr Curnock was asked, ‘“that this new matter 'gives a more human Wesley and less of ‘the tireless rider?’” “tin, very much more human,” he replied, “and, at the same time, more remarkable. The story of the love affair gives us an intimate view of lus emotional nature, and the new matter in relation to Oxford shows the extraordinary charm and winsomeness of his character,” .•. . .