METHODIST DOCTRINES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1913, Page 5

METHODIST DOCTRINES.

THE NEED FOR FREEDOM.

A SYDNEY CONTROVERSY.

:\ . (Received 11.15 a.m.) r ''

f ; "• ' SYDNEY, this day. In his retiring address, the Rev. Mr Week, ex-president of the Methodist Conference, dealt with the question of fixed- creeds and freedom of thoiught, and urged the necessity for tolerance in the matter of theological thinking, and of ieephig abreast with the best intellectual, pie and knowledge of the age. He .declared that could Wesley reappear today, one of the first things he would tike in. hand would be the complete adjustment of Methodism in the light of present conditions and knowledge.

Mr:~Meek's utterances led to much heartburnings and Press correspondence. Hie' conference last night discussed the matter in a lengthy, earnest, and, at times,-warm debate. While agreeing ■with Mr Meek in the necessity for freedom to think, the need for progreps, and expressing the soundness of Mr Meek's ' fundamental faith and doctrines, some of the speakers were of opinion that his pronouncement, being of an official character, might make in the direction of shaking the faith and loyalty of the - Christian community.

Eventually a resolution was carried drawing- attention to the fact that Mr Meek had intimated that the views he expressed voiced his own opinion, no,t those of the Church, that the Methodist Conference' was profoundly convinced that l<i doctrinal standards of the Church ,rere in harmony with the revealed word of God, and that they were ■ad that could be desired consistent with the.definite holding and preaching of the doctrinal truth on which the church U; built.

_'.?™rto carrying the resolution, Mr ■Meek declared that it- was his message to;the Church, and he was going to He was astonished that so intelligent men should misrepreZL !? a :?, had misrepresented him awing the debate. ner^T ri ; Siaent atssured ilr M eek of his SS; Md that ° f Conference