REUNION OF CHURCHES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17321, 6 December 1921, Page 11

REUNION OF CHURCHES.

ADDRESS BT MB C. E. BEVAN--BR(rfVN. An address on the subject, "The Reunion of the Churches,"' was delivered by Mr C. E. Bevan-Brown to the St. Saviour's Church branch of the C.E.M.S. last evening. . Mr Bevan-Brown emphasised the importance of the appeal issued by the Lambeth Conference in July, 1920. A movement was on foot for a world conference of Christians in Geneva next year. There were terrible obstacles in the movement to unity. The opposite of unity was selfishness, and selfishness, however much it might bo disguised, was the real obstacle to unity. At the Lambeth Conference there were 252 bishons assembled from all over the world". Previous conferences had passed resolutions about the need for unity, but these were mainly in the nature of pious aspirations. The last conference seemed to be moved by a power greater than itself—by something which drew it towards unity. The conference lasted five weeks. The conclusions arrived at by the committee on reunion, were adopted almost completely hy the conference. The grand truth*must be proclaimed, "Ail Christian people are one Church, and will remain so whether this fact is acknowledged or not." "We must aim," he said, ''at an outward and visible union which will confirm and strengthen the visible union which exists. Every branch of the Church must make its contribution to the great movement. Some people would say that the various churches aro best left as they are. They point to the analogy • of the British Empire, and suggest that more centralised government would be likely to lead to destruction rather than to progress. But the analogy is a wrong one. In the Empire there is intercommunion, but in the churches not only is this absent, but the various bodies compete against each other. There is no suggestion of an invitation to tho various churches to join the Church of England. The aim is a universal Church. A common ministry and inter-communion are essential. The acceptance of the Holy Scriptures, the Nicene creed, the sacraments of baptism and of the Lord's Supper, and a common ministry are the chief propositions laid down by the conference. On the question of the Episcopacy, great difficulties arise. A general scheme of interchange of pulpits is not approver!. but in certain cases, this may be allowed. There must be a commonly accepted form of authorisation for the ministers of the Church. Indications of a general desire for unity are many. In Christchureh itself there were signs of nrogress." The lecturer concluded by expressing a hope "that the blessing of God would rest on the movement. An interesting discussion followed the address, and a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Bevan-Brown,