ONE FOUNDATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 59, 11 March 1926, Page 16

ONE FOUNDATION.

FOR ALL CHURCHES. PRIMATE'S SPIRITED MESSAGE. CONGREGATIONALISTS WELCOMED. "You are meeting at a very critical time, when the whole Christian Church must speak loudly and insistently her message to the world. And that message is Jesus Christ —the one foundation of which a better world can be built up." His Grace the Archbishop and Primate of New Zealand (Eight Rev. A. W. Averill, D.D.) made the assertion last evening at a dinner tendered by Congregationalists of the Auckland district in token of welcome to southern delegates and Australian visitors to the annual meetings of the Congregational Union of New Zealand, which opened here to-day. There was a large attendance, two leng tables being required to seat the assembly, over which Rev. Lionel Fletcher, chairman of the Auckland district, presided. Mr. Fletcher extended a warm welcome to the visitors, and trusted that they would erijcy the beauties of the city. Conscience of the World. It gave Ms Grace particular and peculiar pleasure to be present, in order to welcome the New Zealand delegates and those representatives from Australia —"that great suburb of New Zealand." Aucklanders knew that there "was no place in the world like their own town, and the visiting Australians must feel very happy to find themselves here. However, they came on a serious mission, the more serious because there never was a time when there was such a need for the voice of the Christian Church to be heard loudly and distinctly. The Lord Chancellor of England had said that he had no hope for England to-day, except through the Christian Church. "And I would go further than that. I would say that I had no hope for the world, except through the Christian Church!" declared Dr. Averill. (Applause.) . The Church must bear a great witness. In the past she had given messages to the world, but the world had not listened. As Mr. G. K. Chesterton had said —it •was not that Christianity had failed, but that Christianity had been found difficult and left untried. There could be no real peace except on a Christian basis. Only religion could make men of good will. His Grace was glad of i the Rotary movement, since it embodied j .a-very Christian spirit. He was glad, i too, to know that there was a greater degree of unity among the churches. Unity, not uniformity, was what all desired. (Hear, hear.) In a spirit of unity, the great Christian Church could go forth and speak to the world in a voice louder than ever before. The Church had to be the conscience of the world, and the voice of God. The one foundation upon which all stood was Our Lord Jesus Christ. (Applause.) Times Have Changed. "There was' a time when, archbishops went to see Congregationalists roasting, but to-night his Grace has come to make glad our hearts with his wit and- sympathy," said Rev. J. J. North, first principal of the new Baptist College, in voicing a welcome on behalf of his communion. Mr. North rejoiced in the spirit of "God. bless everybody" that was abroad, and wished the delegates well, j Rev. T. H. Roseveare, of Papatoetoe, voiced a welcome on behalf of the Presbyterian Church> the Moderator being unavoidably absent. Rev. Dr. Laws sent a warm letter of welcome, apologising for the absence of the chairman of the Auckland Methodist district. Australians Enjoying Visit. In a happy speech, rich in reference i;o the warmth of the weitme accorded the Australian delegates, and the overwhelming hospitality 'that had been offered, Rev. F. V. DowSJng thanked the speakers for the kindly sentiments expressed on behalf of the gathering. If it "were true, as his Grace had said, that Australia was a suburb of New Zealand, it should be remembered that a suburb was usually a place in -which people desired to live. (Laughter.) Though they had realised" that Congregationalists had sound leadership in New Zealand, the Australian representatives had been amazed at the way in which the job had been tackled. There was a great deal of Australian dash in it. Two ministers, Revs. J. Ernest James and T. Gordon Robertson, chairman of the Congregational Union of New South Wales, accompany Rev. Mr. Dowling who ls chairman of the Congregational Union of Australia and New Zealand. Three laymen and two ladies make up the Australian delegation. It was the first time for 33 years that Australia Jiad been officially represented at a New Zealand conference. Hopes of Union. It was a sign full of promise that the Churches should be drawing together said Rev. W. Saunders. chairman of the Congregational Union of New Zealand in returning thanks for the welcome on Aii f delegates from south of Auckland. He went on to refer to the growing spirit of interest in the question of union between the denominations and spoke feelingly of what was being done in Dunedin, where the bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Richards, presided at conferences of the clergy held every six weeks, .at which ministers of the various denominations discussed problems relating to union. Bishop Richards always eaid, 'Wβ seem to get so far, and no further," and then the representatives of the bodies outside the Church of England always felt like saying "That is because our friends will not give up their dream of reordination." There was a growing spirit towards love of beauty and ritual in the services, and everyone seemed to. be hoping for union. Two vocal solos by Mr. W. Gemmell were much appreciated.' The annual- Union sermon was preached in the Beresford Street Church by the Eev. E. K. Weeks, of the Terrace Church, Wellington, later in the evening, when there was a full congregation Mr. Weeks chose as his text St. Matthew acxviii, .19-20, "Go ye.therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and. of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, 10, I am with you alway even,unto the end of the world. Amen." A Communion service f ollowed> at "which 1 ■Hey. Lionel B. Fletcher officiated. Music was rendered by the Beresford Street choir. The collection was in aid of the pastors* provident fund