CHURCH UNITY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16208, 10 May 1918, Page 6

CHURCH UNITY.

WEDNESDAY'S INTERCESSION

SERVICE

ENTHUSIASTIC COM MEMS

Tile great intercession service held in tho Anglican Cathedral on edncsj day by tlio Protestant Churches of Christchurch, was the subject oi considerable favourable comment in the citv yesterday, and the opinion was expressed by many that in it comd be seen one of the foundation stones of Church unity. From a number of representative clergymen a "Press reporter yesterday secured expressions oi opinion iu reioreiu'o to tho sen ice. AN ANGLICAN OPINION. The Rev. F. N. Taylor said that, the continuous servico oi intercession was lor tno Jiiupire in time ot war. It was a ctuy Oil which till the i-ilixcns were asKeU to join as citizens, not, as liad been. iie tnougnt, unuuiy stressed, as meuibeis ot aiiK-reiit denominations. Tne luea ot Church unity was not, the ce.ural force of tne day, although all hoped tliht it would help in tliat direction. A PRESBYTERIAN VIEW. The Rev. A. T. Thompson (Presbyterian Church) who is chairman of the Christcimrcii Ministers' Association, expressed himself as follows: —"As I said to ono man at the close of the day, 1 regarded it as one of the greatest days in my life. Tho spirit of unity which prevailed was a magnificent testimony to those things which wo hold in common, which, in a time of crisis, we find nre the things which matter most. I think personally that it will help to tho rallying at tho spiritual forces in the life of the; community, and I ant hopeful that it will pare tlio way for that united front which the Church should present in view of the difficulties and problems that face us now individually. It must have a valuable • result in its effect generally upon the community as individual testimony has borne out. Mv own opinion about it is that our divisions have usually taken place in a state of whito heat, when it was felt that certain vital principles were at sake, and my only hope of Church union is that a welding will take placo in the same condition of White heat when Christian people of all denominations will together recognise that some principle vital to common Christianity is being challenged. Personally, I foel that unioH. of the Churches dictated merely fiom Considerations of utility, ocolioriiy, or' efficiency, is neither worthy of the Church itself, nor likely to help jt morii effectively to grapple with the problems that ' aro ever before it. However, I feol that meeting together aB we did yesterday, and praying together, -frill help to obliterate harriers, and make us conscious of those great things that wo want in common, and that a time of crisis brings so impressively or convincingly to tho surface. I would like to know that the effort of yestorday is only the beginning of yet further manifestations of Church unity in tho life of the community. We must bo nil at ono in acknowledging the very hoatty and gracious welcome we have received tit the hnnds of Bishop-Juliuß and his clergy in tho use of their Cathedral for a united service."

CONGREGATIONAL STANDPOINT.

"It was the greatest thing in Christchurcli, the best that has ever happened," remarked tho Kev. G. E. Moore, of Trinity Congregational Church- "It has enforced upon tho conscienco of the community that in this crisis a greater Power than man must take a part. To me, if tho services of yesterday mean anything at all, they mean that the conscience of the ebiiimunity will btt awakened to a nobler kind of living. Tho service seemed to iiio to folldw alotlg tho lino of ChurcJi union, the essential point made by the Lord Bishop of Christchurch, apart from questions bf Utility or aiiytning else." METHODIST ENTHUSIASM. The next representative clergyman interviewed by the pressman was the. Rev. A. C. Lawuy, chaiiinah of tho North Canterbury district of the Methodist Church. 1, 1 think it was a day of days," he said, "one that frill live in ono's memory for ever. I was particularly struck with the bumber of people at every service, the variety in the congregations, so many sections of the community being represented. There were somb poor people, some apparently prosperous, but the great mass appeared to be of the working and middleclass. I was struck with the reverence of the people, particularly at the times of silent prayer, and at the hearty responses wJierevfer they were suitable. Wo appreciate very Highly, of course, tho cordiality of tho Bishop and his gracious hospitality in throwing tho Cathedral open to us who took part. Those of his clergy who wero able to be thete showed thti utmost brotherliness and cordiality. For one hundred years my forebears and I have been m the Methodist ministry, and throughout all that timo we have had happy relations with clergymen belonging to the evangelical and broad sections of the Church of Englaudj from tho Rev. Samuel Marsden down to Bishop Harper, Bishop Cowie, Bishop Stuart, and Bishop Williams. Although I liaVO taken part elsewhere in public fuiictidns with Anglicali bishops atid clergy, I have never known su«?h a day as this, or such a glorious exhibition of Christian unitv and intimate fellowship in public Worship. I think we have clearly demon's t rated how many thdro are of the greut truths regarding wliidh ivo are agreed) as compared it-ith the polbtfi tipon which we differ. I thitik yesterday's setvico demonstrated that sot fcad • forms of prayers nan be Used without fo nihility aiid with great iinpteKslvencss, While oft tli<j other hand, cxtdlnpore priivor rail be marked by aCcUtaty ant) eonipreliehsiveness, acctMipanied with irni'ftith and effectiveness. The whole service of twelve hours' duration Went Without a bitch: there was not a jarring iiote ill tho Whole ceiobratioii. 1 was struck with the smoothness with which the a(*raiigeineftts Worked ; nil through the '°h2, happy hdtirs. The gnlddH suhsliine arid the perfect weather ponied an outwitrd symbol of tin? joy JiHd M'Hipathy that ooivaded those grihit gatherings. The BishtJjj's address f<r-!?lirrl all our I was a beautiful tliiiig io fob him I ike a kindly father pouring out his i heart as to n large arid affectionate family gathering. He gave to all present at this celebration a hint of what was m the heart of the psitliuist when he Wrote: 'Behold how ;jnod and how p.easant it is for bi-cthieh to dwell together 111 unity.' I was greatly impressed .by the r.xcellont service rendered by the organists, nnd (he heartiness or the sngmg when the <:rc:it congregations joinnd in the hymns." In conclusion. Mr Lawiy spok* in appreciative terms of (he assistance rendered bv tho attitude matto! '< ;imJ iis -'.vinpaihetb BAPTIST TESTIMONY. 1 he Hev. J. J. North, of the Oxford terrace Baptist Chiil-eh. said: "Yesterdays service at the Cathedral >va 3 in my poor .judgment, f .f fir?t-c!;i<=,s 'siKHincance. It redeemed tho iiainfu! situation whioii has been created by thr< i j r€P years of silence. A\"e have reached such an acute crisis that all hesitations causod by ecclesiastical Theories Wern sweot awav. Bishop Juuus was veri ;y the Bishop of Christchurch on that good Wednesday. We can hopo that in tho great moments of tbo near future tho civic authorities will bo ablo to cull with confidence oil the religious leaders of tho city for fittmg solemaitiM. The utidcr!ying unitids « Christian men wore emphasised on the largest scale. It is notorious that Cliristendom has separated over Questions of the primary or secondary character of sacraments, but behind that

point of divergence thorn is common * ground of faitli mid adoration. "Whotheh ChHst is perceived through sacramentsor tlirotlgh the spirit. He ig Lords mterday's services said this with such emphasis that the whole Dominion heard it. identity ot eredal expression mar be far m front. A better thine, nndannonester thing, has come: identity of spirit. For this wo ennnot. bo suffi. cientlv thankful."

SALVATION ARMY ATTI'TUDE. ' Major K. G. Newl.y, of the Salvation Artiiv, expressed himself as follows.-— "A he glory and beauty of this unioua opportunity was the spirit of fellowship, so wonderfully manifestedi and a most gratifying outward sign was tho recognition by the public of tho oxtretno vnjuo ot this extraordinary opportunity evidenced l.v the splendid attendances and torvencv ol prayers throughout the whole dav."