METHODIST UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 136, 9 June 1911, Page 6

METHODIST UNION.

A BASIS OF AGREEMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Representatives of the Primitive Methodist and Methodist Churches of New Zealand, who have been meeting in private in Wellington to consider the question of a union of the churches, have arrived at a basis of union with perfect unanimity. The conference sits to-morrow to consider a few details, and to prepare an official report for publication. THE QUESTION AT ISSUE. The Rev. A. C. Lawry, seen by a "Star" representative this morning, gave an interesting idea of the position in regard to the proposed union. Sixteen year 3 ago a union was brought about between the Wesleyan Methodists, tho Free Methodists, and the Bible Christians. These three churches were embodied in a corporate union, but the Primitive Methodists did not at the time se their way clear to join the union. The iine of cleavage was maintained until recently, when the Primitive Methodist leaders made overtures towards the Methodist Church with a view to bringing about a complete union. These overtures were received fay the larger body in a most friendly spirit, with the result that a conference of ministers and laymen, representing both churches, is now sitting in Wellington, discussing the details of the proposed union. Their decision will be submitted to the annual conferences of both churches next year, with a view to the basis of union being subsequently referred to the quarterly meetings" and synods. The question will be finally conj sidered by a conference in 1913. The ! Methodist Church, it is interesting to j note, has approximately SO.OOO adherents, and the Primitive Methodist Church 1 10,000 adherent*.