PLEA FOR UNITY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 246, 31 July 1935, Page 7

PLEA FOR UNITY

DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH.

BISHOP OF NELSON’S VIEWS.

(Per Press Association). NELSON, July 30.

In hi 3 presidential address to the synod, the Bishop of Nelson (the lit. llev. W. G. Hilliard) stressed the need of a complete reunion of the scattered and divided sections of the Christian Church.

“It has often been pointed out that the Christian Church is greatly hampered by her own unhappy divisions, in appealing to the nations and classes of the world to remember that they are essentially brothers,” said the Bishop. “We may say to a warring faction: ‘ Sir, ye are brethren, as loudly and. as earnestly as we like, but our appeal would carry more weight if we more obviously remembered that we and our brethren of the other ecclesiastical allegiances are also brethren in the Lord. While the realisation of a visible and complete reunion of the scattered and divided members of the body into one universal organisation may be as yet beyond our reach, there is nothing to prevent us from moving toward one another in brotherly interest and regard. “In developing an ever-deepening experience of Christian fellowship and in embracing every opportunity of cooperation in the common cause we must take pains to he friendly, even when our friendliness is not returned. We must be careful, while adheiing to our principles, and we must not allow our prejudices to blind us to the value of the work and witness of our Christian brethren who belong to some other communion than our own. “We are not called upon to sacrifice precious principles. Of course, that we dare not do, and the ultimate reunion, I believe, will not come so much by way of elimination of ail that is peculiar to each particular group, as by way of synthesis of ail that is good and yaluable in each. “We are not called upon to sacrifice a principle, but we are called upon to love persons and to beware of prejudices. "I think that we are happy in our official relations with members of other Churches in this city and throughout the diocese. Let us hold fast to this very happy state ot atfairs: let us take every opportunity that offers to deepen and enrich still further out friendly fellowship in Christ; let us pray also that throughout the world this spirit may prevail and increase. So shall nations an classes be helped to overcome tlieu differences and learn to live in ft tend ly harmony as brothers m the family of the Lord.”