CHURCH UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1904, Page 4

CHURCH UNION.

l, (By Eelegraph.—Press Association.) > WELLINGTON, Saturday. | i At the annual meeting of the covaoi of the Congregational Union of New n Zealand, the committee's annual report j said the most important question to 1* . considered was whether it was desirable to maintain a separate existence <* merge into the proposed union with i*» other Free Churches. The broad ana L catholic spirit displayed by the depot** , tion from the Presbyterian Assembly ft* : the last council meeting had made t I great impression. Whether the ewa sought were to be brought about Dj federation or by an organised unity the council's; committee was not preparea to say. The union discussed the 9 ue^J tion of union with the Presbyterian and Methodist denominations. A report w*s ' presented from tha committee appoi&t----t ed last year to deal with the matter ot , union. The report pointed out that the negotiations that commenced during last year had been broken off owing to a difference of opinion <> what should constitute the a*** as laid down in the a l *"*" submitted by the Presbyterians. A"» whole aspect of the proposal had W*» changed when it was discovered tw£ those responsible for the creed were too previous. The General AssemW did not seem to regard it -with F*** favour. If at next Assembly the[ n l "^ were favourably received, further rancement may be looked for. Asi»» as the difficulty of creed is concern^ th« position to-day is "as y ou ,"*rL, before negotiations were entered i The Rev. Mr Saunders, <* eiM " l ™«si committee, said the Congregationalism were not now likely to make any » vance towards Presbyterians f/ bo; tf t latter made an approach the ly tionalists would meet them as as before. The Rev. Mr G osson s^ the Presbyterians knew well u» gregationalists would not tolerate & !cri>tion to a creed that stood for «J trammelled gospel. The matter w«^ to the Reference Committee to dr»n • resorotion. p—