THE VICTORIA DIOCESAN, CONFERENCE.
BISHOPS ANALYSIS OF CHURCH'S PROBLEMS OF HONG KONG.
A SOLDIER, A SPORTSMAN AND A SOCIALIST ON CHRIST AND THE MODERN WORLD.
Opening the Victorian Diocesan Conference, at the St. John's Cathedral Hall, yesterday, the Bishop of Victoria (the Rt. Rev. C. R. Duppuy, D.D.), emphasised thres important functions of a Colonial Church, namely, vital touch with the Mother Church, ad- justment to local circumstances and living creatively.".
The Bishop spoke of the need for studying both the history and modern position of the Church, making reference to the issues which will be raised at the July Lambeth Conference, and then analysed the position in Hong Kong, Finance, was touched upon and also the necessity of getting in touch with the new-comers and keeping touch with them.
Following the Bishop's address a most interesting discussion took place on Christianity and the average man of to-day. One of the best speeches was that by Mr. Harry Owen Hughes, the Interport cricketer, who explained with a most engaging clearness, and frankness why the young men 'of to-day'did not go to Church or take much interest in religion.
Colonel Wyatt uttered a warning against allowing doctrine to. crystallise, and urged a thorough overhaul of doctrines inherited from the past. Doctrine should be kept up-to-date-like · army manuals, or they would be of little practical advantage.
Mr. R. Ashton Hill, also gave än interesting and outspoken address on the tendency of the Church to become the presence of the wealthy classes. He also uttered an uncompromising attack
"modernism."-
on
The principal speeches are summarised below,
CHRISTIANITY AND THE MAN OF
TO-DAY.
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1930.
There is a sense in which life in Hong Kong is both larger and smaller than life in England. A life lived narrowly in Hong Kong would become a very small_one. indeed; but living in Hong Kong offers the opportunity of living a very full life. The general fatel- lectual level, is, I think, almost certainly higher than that in most places of the same size in England. What gives Hong Kong its great interest is that it is a little world in itself, and that near by us are representatives not only of the great country of China but of other lands also:-of Portugal, as seen in Macao; of France, as seen in Tonkin; of America, as seen in the Philippines; of Japan sa scen in Formos. And in itself Hong Kong is a little world full of such varied interests. Wo have our sailors and soldiers and airmen our law-courts: our Civil Service in all its ramifications; our University with its varied in- terests: our commercial concerns; our Merchant shipping; the re- presentatives of various Christian Churches and of other religions Also. Surely, there is much to learn from one another, and per- haps also something to give to one another. A place like this repre- sents many unsolved problems in the world's life which challenge both thought and courage.
THE BISHOP'S ADDRESS. The action of the Anglican Com- not only following them up but
FUNCTIONS OF A COLONIAL
CHURCH.
Д
The Bishop of Victoria said: I want to address you to-day on the subject of "Function of Colonial Church." There are three such functions which I wish to aug gest for your consideration:-
(1) The duty of maintaining rital touch with the Mother Church (2) The duty of Colonial Church to itself to the setting in which its life is cast
a
(3) The duty of living creative: ly.
Touch With the Mother Church.
First we must maintain vital touch with our Mother Church, and this will mean that (1) we must learn from her past history; (2) we must profit by her wide purienée; (3) we must keep abreast of current movements in her life and thought.
ex-
make
We should all be better Church- men if we knew more about the pri mitive Church, about the begin nings of Christanity in our land. And here I would like to these practical suggestions:-(a) I would like to see a library of care. fully selected books housed in this Cathedral Hall, and really loved and used, and I believe that, if we had the means to get the right
union in the matter of the re- union of Christendom.
The relation of Church and State in England.
The restoration of discipline within the English Church.
The legitimacy and extent of such a revision of social morality the professed interest of individu- ne is now urgently demanded in al liberty and social well-being.
When the Bishops meet at Lam- beth. The following six subjects are to receive special considera. tion:-
1. The Christian Doctrine of
God.
2 The life and witness of the Christian Community with special reference to: Mar riage. Sex. Race, Education and Governments, Peace and War.
3. The Unity of the Church
ita Ideal and Future; its Cr. ganisation and Authority.
The Ministry of Friendliness., Then, the place is changing all the time, and China is changing too. Many changes have taken place in China since first I came here ten years ago, and many changes have taken place in Hong. Kong. It is hard, I expect, to re- cognise Hong Kong for the same place that Mr. Pattenden (whose imminent departure from the Colony we much deplore,) found here more than 30 years ago. Life is changing here all the time, and people are changing too. If our Church is to fulfill ite function as a Colonial Church it must keep pace with the changes that are tak ing place with the shifting of population and the various develop ments that are constantly occuring, even anticipating them. And, in particular. I think we must be cry alert to keep pace with the changes in personnel in this place. I have a shrewd idea that not a few people are lost to the Church here-and often permanently lost- because we are too slow. We are not in touch with them in the first lose touch with them very fortnight after their arrival, or we
afterwards. There in & great ministry of friendliness to be dis- charged in this place, a ministry of pure human kindness, and I believe it can be discharged-is be- ing discharged-by laymen and lay women equally with the clergy. "I believe too that through our Church Councils and through the Victoria Diocesso and Missionary AA- sociation
8000
WO must more and more make our
Living Creatively.
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have a real message and by prayer and study to lay the foundations for a new life.
la connection with this pastoral sories of syllabuses' have been drawn up giving a scheme for study for the clergy in the first instance. The title of the whole series in The Way of Renewal," and the papers deal with such subjects as "Belief in God" ("God in Croa- tion; in Revelation in Christ;) "The Atonement," The Holy Spirit," "The Sacraments,” and "Prayer.”
If there is to be renewal I ara sure that study and prayer must begin among us clergy, The Dean is try ing a scheme at the Cathedral this Lent whereby, after the conclusion of Evensong, which will be without a sermon, such as care to do so will be asked to remain for an after- service when an address on some vital subject will be given, and afterwards to adjourn to the Cathedral Hall for discussion. I believe an experiment such as this is well worth making, and I hope it will be well supported.
should like
There is one simple suggestion I make in this respect
The 'Church's. “* Mediaval God."
Thought on these lines produced a state of rebellion against the official presentation of Christianity on the Prayer Book, which exhibit- ed many signa of an ancient line of thought. Modern man felt that the in a mediaval way. Original sin, Church worships a medieval God wrathfal indignation, eternal punish- ment propitiation for sin were relics of an ara when fear and super- stition
the predominating factors in men's lives. The army manuals were kept up-to-date the. only unchangeable thing being the absolute foundations. All attempts to alter this state of things in the Church were resisted pn the plea that "what was good enough for father is good enough for me"-but few people would apply that to their material welfare.
were
CHRIST AND MODERN THOUGHT.
A WARNING ABOUT MODERN -
THOUGHT.
Mr. R. Ashton Hill, Mac., A.I.C., cillors, those on the Electoral Roll, be as I close. It is that Church Conn said that while church-people should. Confirmation
sympathetic with modern candidates, and thought there was danger of over- consider becoming members of the Church Members generally should valueing it. He doubted if there was much serious thinking To-day. Bible Reading Fellowship as ILY! People who wrote books and attend- aid to their devotional life. The ed conferences were too busy to do aim of the Fellowship, which was much hard thinking, and a lot of started in England a few years ago what they said and wrote was by one of my Commissaries (the re-hash of old prejudices.. The task Rev. L. G. Mannoring) and now of the church was still, what it has a Membership of more than had always been, to bring the in- 20,000. is to help people to know dividual soul to understand Christ. and understand their Bibles. The But there was no reason why the scheme follows as closely as possible Church, under the guidance of the the Church's, lessons, and a small Holy Spirit should not add to her. booklet is issued to members faith. month by month. The subscription is a dollar a year. Names of those desiring to join abould be given to those in charge of the various Churches.
ཁྐྲ། མ
I am as keen as anyone on the subject of reunion, but, as someone has recently said in a review of hook "Doubts and Difficulties" by Dr. Alington, the head master of Eten, "The future depends not so much on union in South India but ag to whether people believe in God and in His righteousness and His love."
The world is hungry for a real message. The essential message of Christianity is that Jesus Christ is for all ages the Key which ua locks the mystery of Life; that in Him is life and the life is the light of men and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness masters it not.
ORDINARY MAN'S VIEW OF CHRIST.
COLONEL WYATT GIVES A
SOLDIER'S VIEW.
Colonel Wyatt said he felt con- siderable trepidation in nccepting Churches, in the invitation to introduce the the deepest sense, homes for our
subject of Christ and Modern people and homes for many peo-Thought." He was neither a scien 4. The Anglican Communion-ple who otherwise have no homes.
tist nor a thinker, but merely ETH of average, intelligence. The Rub- ject might be approached from deal with one, the ordinary man's many angles. He would attempt to conception of Christ, and how the Church presentation of Christ strikes him. There was a great differencs between the official pre- sentation of Christ and that of in- dividual parsORE.
3. The Ministry-the supply of men for Holy orders; the training of men before and after Ordination.
6. Youth and its Vocation, We Must Keep Abreast of Current
Movements.
A third main function of a Colonial Church in a "place like this is the duty of living creatively
1. A Spiritual Workshop: Not only ought the Church" in Hong Kong to be a centre of friend liness, a spiritual home for the people, but it ought also to be a sort of spiritual workshop where
Looks there are many people in in. the midst of mighty currents structive religious thought. In of the Church was contained in the
It is astonishing how quickly the though, life and language of the world changes. We live our lives
Hong Kong and the Diocese generalf the time. All have bad their which are sweeping over the world ally, who would come to appreciate influence on the Church; and we such a library. (b) I believe that an occasional lecture on some phase come among us and give us their nged men like. Canon Streeter to
best thought on our religion in ita.
of Church history would meet
++
interest. I can remember no such
be
15.
average
All organisations tended to cry- many an experiment is made, stallise and a vast organisation like the application of many a truth the Church of England was hamper- is tested out a workshop for con-
ed by mass inertia. The doctrine
two points. It is the function of could not be amended except by net particular, I want to emphasize Praver Book, and this doctrine the Colonial Church here.
of Parliament representing people (1) to lay strong foundations;
more than half of whom never (2) to have a real message.
entered a church. As a soldier he nced and could be made full of relation to the changing processes
Laying Foundations. could not imagine Parliament inter- of the world. We are apt to fling
It is a duty of our Church to help fering with a text book of strategy.
The jecture during the ten years I have about far too widly at time words to lay strong foundations. Sir Cecíl
man possessed a been Bishop. (c) But listening is not enough. We must rend for like democracy, imperialism, in- Clementi in his noble farewell ad- smattering of science philosophy, selves. I know a parish in Bus-ternationalism, without any real dress to the Colony spoke of the paychology, etc., from what he rend in the Preas, and hia land the life of the place is gradu- which these words are the labels, in this diocese to-day must keep teaching were influenced there study of the things themselves for Hong Kong that may be, and we
thoughts of Christ And his ally being transformed, not BO
We live in no static world and we our eyes fixed not simply on the much by the Vicar's sermons as by ought to measure the force of, and Church-that-is, but on the Church tied the doctrine of love. Modern
by. Christ preached and prac his recommending books to his peo- Ele each month, and secing that perhaps help to direct, some of the that-is-to-be.
The Colonial Church is here not
man was not greatly moved by the currents which are playing about the books he recommends can
simply for its own sake: it is here miracles of healing or even by the easily procured. I would like to
to help as it can the sister Chinese Resurrection; neither appeared to suggest two books, both of
It may seem a jump to turn from Church that is growing up by its him so marvellous as they did cen- them published in 1929, "The Pri- movements of thought to admini- side.
turies ago. In less enlightened mitive Church by Canon Streeter strative reform within our Church, Now one of the things that badly days there was a tendency to invest (published by Macmillan), and
But we need to keep abreast of needs doing in this diocese is the God with marvellous attributes, a Six Great Anglicans" by the these also. A steady movement putting of our finance onto stable god with supernatural power and Archbishop of Melbourne (Dr. towards making the administration basis. Both the Cathedral and St. real omnipotence was a necessity, Head), published by the Student of our Church more constitutional Andrew's Kowloon owe much to the but now-a-days the educated man Christian Movement the sub-title has taken place during the past foresight and munificence of the would not believe anything which of this latter book, "A Study of hundred years. The movement has lato Sir Paul Chater, and the did not appear reasonable within the History of the Church of Eng- gradually gathered force till
man whose judgment he trusted. land in the 19th Century," deseri 1918 the Enabling Act was passed, Chinese Church is struggling to his own experience, or that of a and in 1990 the National Assembly Wards an Endowment Fund for its
cept as facts the many miracles of of the Church of England was duly clergy; but we have ecarcely began On the basis of reason he would ac- to make provision for diocesan constituted. It is hardly too much finance in any large way, with the science, spiritualism and psychology vouched for by trustworthy ovi- to say that the National Assembly result that when the Church Mis has done more for legislative re-
dence, but for the same reason he sionary Society has a lean year we form in the Church in the past ten And here I want to refer to the years than was accomplished in 100 have at once to transfer a clergy- viewed with suspicion those dogmas man to another dincem, which hap. of Christianity, which were common present rather than the past, and years of provious legislation.
pened in the case of the Rev, E: To older religious. He complained bespeak your interest in the Lam-
And now by the passing of the Loader last December. The timo that you could not see Christ for beth Conference, meeting next July, Church of England Trust ordin to start building up a Diocesan Christianity. when some 300 Bishops from all
Christ taught two fundamental | ance in January of the present Endowment Scheme may not be parts of the world will come toge-year we have tried to place Church now, but no roan with an eye to the truths; that God is love and that ther for the Conference of Bishops life in this Colony onto a more of the Anglican Communion, which democratic basis, and we hope for future dare lose sight of it, and I God is a spirit. Love is a definite hope in connection with the good- active quality und spirit is all per- has been held roughly every ten much as our new machinery is set will offering, scheme this need will vading life in fact the goal of years since 1887. And if you watch in motion, though we can never be borne in mind.
evolution. The logical sequence of. events closely it will amaze you to forget that it is the spiritual power
this conception was a personal God see how much movement takes place behind the machinery which alone
with the attributes of a Father. in the life and thought of the world can render it effective. even in ten years.
bes its scope.
If we are to keep in touch with our Mother Church we must learn from her past history; but also
1-
A Momentous London Conference.
. Dr. Henson, Bishop of Durham, said the other day that in the sphero of religion this year issues of the utmost magnitude had taken concrete form, and could no longer he ignored or neglected. And he instanced such matters as:
The place of religion in the pub- lic education of British people.
in
Hong Kong's Individuality. One of the things which our Lord held most sacred was individuality, And each place, as well as each person, has its own individuality and produces its own type. I know of no place on the face of this globe which within so small an area contains such a variety of interests,
Have a Real Message, And it is the duty of the Coloni- As man progressed his conception al Church in this place to set a of God was bound to change; high standard and have a real 'mes- Christ's many references to the function of the Holy Spirit were sage. If the Church of Christ re-
The teachings of plly is to influence this age it can proof of this. only be as its members keep before Christ were true for all time, but themselves the highest standards. He certainly adapted them to the contem- And, this, as it seems to me, is the understanding to His challenge of the archbishops' pas poraries. Christ was the protagonist toral issued a few months ago the of commonsense and sternly oppos- challenge to set high standards, toed to formalism.
She must, however, hold on to fundamentals; to the faith, sacraments and ethics committed to them by Christ. Much of modern thought was a challenge to the Church, and science tended to make God distant and helpless, tho author of a system of causation which He could not now control.
..
Social Anomalles.
Referring to social problems the speaker said that in the political and economic discontents of the day the Church was judged by Christ's standards and often found wanting. Conditions in nominally Christian countries were palpably wrong, but the Church had made little or no protest.
The clergy have been almost exclusively drawn from that class of the community which lives on the blood and sweat of the worker." Church services. (Continued on Page 12.)
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