METHODISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 42, 20 February 1933, Page 8

METHODISM.

"NO WRITTEN CREEDS."

NEW PRESIDENT'S SERMON. SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. At Pitt Street Church yesterday the president, the Rev. A. J. Seamer, assisted by the secretary, the Eev. J. Haslam, conducted the main conference service. There were present to do honour to the president, who is the head of Maori Mission work, Mr. Tapito, a chief from Taranaki, Mr. Kawiti, chief of North Auckland, the girln from the Kurahuna Methodist Maori girls' school at Onehunga, and also the Rev. Mr. Pihana, a Waikato chief. The Maori girls chanted the Doth Psalm in Maori and also a hymn in the "native language. Mr. Seamer took as hie text, "Take heed to thy ministry, that thou fulfil it." He said the Methodist Church was formed by the union of a'number of societies, "both in the British Isles and overseas. Their text-book was the Bible and they pledged th.mselves to test in their own lives the theories they found therein. Wesley wae not only a great scholar and a fervent evangelist, but a great organiser, and to-day we were seeing the wisdom of liifi acts. It had ever been the glory of Methodism that it counts its successes not by wealth or membership, but by spiritual accomplishment. In conclusion Mr. Seamer said, "Our pioneer missionaries came to these islands over a hundred years ago with no doubt in their minds as to the need for and power of their message, and we have no doubt regarding ours to-day." Tlie Methodist Church was. in bondage to no written creeds. It highly valued the great historic creeds, but was not fettered by them. It refused to be dragged at the heels of cither traditionalism or modernism. Yet its theology was not vague, but definite, positive and distinctice, as might be expected from its origin and method. Every true Methodist pulpit taught the Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man, while the Saviourhood of Jesus Christ was a central point. The Methodist Church recognised and taught, as stated by the Ecumenical Conference, the absolute scverelgnity of God.