CHRISTCHURCH CHURCH ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13231, 26 September 1908, Page 12

CHRISTCHURCH CHURCH ASSOCIATION.

THE QUESTION OF CREED RAISED.

At a meeting of the -hxistehurcli Church Association, hold on -tho loth met. in Sfc. Paul's schoolroom, Chnstchuroh, the president (Mr James Mitchell) stated, that Mr David Bates had given notice' that he intended to move a-motion, but, in view of. tho anoe of the subject and because of other important business that took preceidence, tho executive recommended that the motion should *c discussed at a special meeting caMl for the purpose. The motion was as follows:—"That the timo had arrived -when the Presbytenrian Church should require from its ministers and office-bearers assent to a simpler statement of doctrine than that oontai-ed in th© Confession of Faith. It -was O-jected by on© member that the Association had no power to deal with.such a motion. Tlio chairman ruled that to discuss snrfi a motion was quite within the scope of the functions of the -Association} and the meeting endorsed'his ruling. Mr Bates, then moved that a special meeting of tho Association be held on Tuesday evening, the 28th inst., at St. Paul's school,; Lichfield street, to discuss the motion. In speaking to this motion Mr Bates briefly outlined the method in which he intended to. deal ■with tho motion. He would refer to tho form of assent required by the ministers and ciders; he would then turn to-the Confession of Faith- He would. give ; the "historic setting"- of the Confession, and endeavour to give an idea of th© subjects of thought that were exercising the minds of men of those timer... He was filled with admiration at the achievement of th© body of divines y and others called together, in 1643 hy ParlianMHit, whicE, after nearly tha_© years of deliberation, had given us -the Confession of Faith in tspito of tho varied differences of opinion of its members. He would then deal with the evidence or 6igns of need for, a -dinrpler statement of faith. AmortgE* other, signs ho- referred to Act, 1901," the short statement of doctrine issued by. tho American Presbyterian Church, and the action of the Canadian Presbyterian Church towards adopting a short doctrinal statement as a basis of Union with other Churches, In conclusion, he stated he was actuated! by a desire for ©xpla-tation: and truth. He was sensiblo. of. the difficulty of his task, and he. approached the subject with a sense of .humility and reverence and in a spirit of prayerfulniess. . The motion was seconded by Mr Raven. (St: Peter's), and carried.