SPIRITUAL HARMONY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1922, Page 10

SPIRITUAL HARMONY.

' IMONG THE CHURCHES. VOICED AT METHODIST CONFERENCE. UNION FAVOURED. A very harmonious note was struck and maintained at the .Methodist Centenary Conference yesterday afternoon, whendeputatione from the Anglican and i'resbvterian Churches were warmly wel-i-ointJ and greetings and opinions exchanged. The Anglican deputation consisted of Archdeacon MaeMurray and Canons and James. In extending a welcome to the deputation the President of the Conference, the Rev. C. H. Laws, eaid that any representatives of the Church of England were always welcome on the platform at a Methodist conference. (Applause.) "We have so much in common that we cannot regard you as strangers." They were particularly pleased to welcome the deputation because this was their Centenary conference, and they always remembered that in the early days of this j-oung country the Churches were so closely associated. The Methodist Church owed a deep debt of gratitude for the help given to its ministers in the early days by the Rev. Samuel Marsden and his" helpers. (Applause.) Archdeacon Mac-Murray, leader of the deputation, expressed pleasure at the warmth of their welcome, and apologised for the unavoidable absence of Bishop Averill, who sent his hearty good wishes. Referring to the present Centenary celebration the Archdeacon said that a hundred years of spiritual work could not fail to have a great beneficial effect not only on their Church community, but also on every other part of the community. The Church of England recognised that such work was a factor of importance even to them. He thought-there never was a time when it was so important that the whole force of Christendom should be brought to boar on the problems of the day—-(loud appla'ise)—and all Churches should work harmoniously together to this end. (Renewed applause.) Jt was not possible to bring about a unity of the Churches all at once, but the strengtiiening of the feeling of love between the Churches by a mutual desire to attack present-day problems would do much to hasten this desirable end. (Applause.)

Canon Haeelden, in also paying a tribute to the work of the Methodist Church, or "Wttsleyans"' as they used to be called, recalled the early mutual work of the Churches in New Zealand, when the Maoris used to try their nerves by playfully placing human heads on poles outside their residences, where they greeted the missionary when he pulled up his blind in the morning. The speaker appealed for the assistance of all to develop a -wider and deeper sympathy and spirit of charity between the Churches. (Applause.)

Canon James, in prophesying an early organic union of the Churches, humorously likened the delay to the usual preliminaries which precede a union in holy matrimony, and, he added, it was a "poor marriage that did not have a lengthy courtship. (Laughter and applause.)

An equally warm welcome was extended to the Presbyterian deputation which included the Rev. D. Dutton (Moderator of the Assembly), the Rev. J. Pattison and Mr. A. J. Entriean (representing the laymen).

The Rev. Dutton spoke of the splendid work among the Maoris achieved by the Methodist Church, and paid a high tribute to their work also in the campaign against the chief social evils of the day. He was pleased to say that the Presbyterian Church was following the lead thus given.' The Presbyterian and Methodist Churchee were very similar in all respeete, and he thought the time should not be distant when there would be a union of the Churches. Under the Presbyterian Church's present constitution it was not possible for a woman to sit in the Assembly, but it wae hoped | that this would be revised, and the speaker eaid he personally was in favour of women having the fullest franchise. (Applause.) ■ . . ; !

The, Rev. Pattison in an interesting address said that it was most desirable that a union of the Churches should be effected for one very etrong reason, that overlapping would thereby be obviated, lie suggested that in the meantime the committees of the Home Mission of the Churches should conf«, on the question of this overlapping. (Applause.)

'Mr. Entrican also expressed a hope that a union would eventually be affected, so that they might collectively work to overcome * the apathy that formed the present barrier against! spiritual progress.