MONDAY,AUGUST 16, 1920. CHRISTIAN REUNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 195, 16 August 1920, Page 4

MONDAY,AUGUST 16, 1920. CHRISTIAN REUNION.

Many people will experience a feeling of disappointment at the vague natniro of the decisions reached by the l_imbct,h Con fen-nee, the only delinite derision lioin <__; that which allinns that an opportunity should be given to qualified women to speak in consecrated -buildings. Hut it should be remembered t,hat the Conference is a conrcicncc of Ujshops only, that it has no legislative powers, and that it seeks to direct thought into certain channels rather than to give authoritative decisions on points which Would require legislation to carry them into effect. On the sut.jivt of Church Reunion (he ('(inference (has not peine beyond what it had previously affirmed, and it is almost impossible to say what is meant by "an Episcopate without preln.ti.nl elements." The whole problem of reunion turns on the question of episcopacy and the validity of orders in non-episcopal ultuTCjlics. If by "without 'prolatical elements'' is meant that the bishop is simply, as the .vord . itself implies, an overseer, tin ti. the bishops are the same as moderators or presidents of conferences, nnd there is no reason wjhy they should not lie elected

for a year or more, just as are the overSeers of other bodies. The bishop in that case would bear the same relation to his clergy as a mayor bears to the

councillors, primus inter pares. If this is t|hc meaning of the Lambeth decision it marks a great step towards reunion, but the pbra.se is so vague and is .-apable of so many diverse interpretations that we cannot but feel the vagueness is intentional, and if so the cause of

reunion remains very much where it was as far as the Conference is concerned.

A far more hopeful pronouncement, because more definite, was given by the recent Conference of Churi.huten and Nonconformists at Mansfield. The mem-

hers unanimously agreed that all the denominations were within the one Church, and that the efficacy of their ministrations was verified in the history of the Church. They agreed that under due authority there should lie interchange of pulpits, mutual admission to the Lord's Table, nnd the acceptance by ministers serving in any. one denomina-

tion, who may desire it. of su.-h. authorisation ns shall enable them to minister fully and freely in the c,lnirclies of other denominations, such authorisation not to be taken as implying reortlination or repudiation of previous status. Here, at an}- rate, is something definite and concrete, and if the Lambeth Conference jhad given a decision on each of these three points it would have done more to promote something practical than can possibly be done by merely nebulous resolutions aflinning ilic

desirability of reunion, hut leaving the main questions untouched. In regard to Spiritualism, the Conference left unanswered the all-important question as to whether it considered the belief in the possibility of communication with the spirit world was or was not in opposition to Christian teaching. Tt recorded a protest against colour prejudice, but here again it failed to define the phrase. Orientals mostly exploit countries already colonised. Is it to be stigmatised as colour prejudice if a country differentiates between, say, Danes and Scandinavians, who make excellent colonists, and Orientals, who. -merely cheapen labour?

The Conference expresses some admirable generalities about world affairs. It rightly stresses the need for fellowship. "Fellowship," said William Morris, "is life, and lack of fellowship is death.'' But before the Christian Church can preach fellowship effectively, it must set an example; it must get rid of the jealousies, bickerings and stressing of non-essentials that disfigure relations between denominations. Hence the importance of Christian reunion. It is difficult to judge, the value of the decisions reached from a cabled summary,: but as far as that summary goes it seems that although the Conference has moved j forward it has not given quite the definite lead that many hoped for. and to some minds-it will recall the story of the bishop who, when he was consulted by a vestry on a particularly knotty point, j replied: "Well, gentlemen, I quite appro-[ e'nte your difficulty, and I hope you Willi try and meet it in a Christian spirit." i