CHURCH UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 292, 7 December 1920, Page 4

CHURCH UNION.

There is an old saying ascribed to a French cynic that the English havo forty religions but only one eaucc. Tbe jibe has lost none of its effect since it was coined. The multiplicity of religious faiths —or, to be more correct, various expressions of the same faith —is extremely confusing to anyone studying our religious systems from an outside or detached point of view. Churchmen of all shades of opinion recognise this. They are also fully conscious of the lose incurred by their unhappy divisions, a loss not only from a financial aspect, but in the power which could be exercised by a united Church in uplifting humanity. No wonder, then, that plana for unity arc being discussed, and in come instances brought to fruition. In this Dominion the various Methodist sects arc now united in one Church, •while the union of Presbyterian ism with Congregationalism is believed to be imminent. Then, again, a proposal is being discussed for the joining of forces between Methodism and Presbyterianism. But far transcending all these projects in importance is the proposal of the Lambeth Conference for unity amongst all branches of the Christian faith, about which Bishop Averill brings back an encouraging report. The one great obstacle to the consummation of this desirable project, so far as the Protestant Churches are concerned, is said to lie " tne historic episcopacy" to which the Anglican Church holds as a basic principle, while what arc known as the "Free Churches" are unwilling to accept it, involving as it does re-ordina-tion of all who have not been episcopally ordained. But since the Lambeth

Conference proposes to go some way to meet the Free Churches, all difficulty on this ecorp may vanish. Certainly the material advantages to be derived from such a union appear to far outweigh any objection that may exist to particular methods of ordination. All Churches are deploring the difficulty of obtaining sufficient men to carry on their work—Bishop Averill brings fresh testimony on this point — and there is also the difficulty of paying an adequate stipend to those already engaged; while the means employed by come Churches to raise necessary funds are not euch as commend themselves to the general public. Church union would go a long way towards solving the financial problem now confronting the Churches. The need for union being co generally admitted, it remains for the Lambeth proposals to be considered by the other side.