CHURCH UNION.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20343, 16 September 1931, Page 10

CHURCH UNION.

METHODIST PRESIDENT'S SUPPORT. A CHUUCH FOR ALL. "J myself believe fully in the world's need for a united Church, and I wholeheartedly support the proposals for church union in New Zealand," said the president' of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. 33, D. Patchett, speaking at the reception given him in tho Durham Street Methodist Church last evening. "It has been my good fortune to take a special interest in this very controversial subject," said Mr Patchett, "and I have been groatly struok by the attitude of Archljishop Averill. His influence in his own Church is immense, and ho has used it all on the side of union. I believe he works always with this ideal in view. '"Thcro are forces about us which demand that the Churches shall come together, so that in union the Church may go forward to victory—that is my own vision. I believe it would ho possible to have a Church with a spirit of charity and love great enough for all, Where all might come to -worship God, and to this end I shall put out all my own strength and uso all my own influence. "The difficulties may seem great," Mr Patchett concluded, "but. we should remember that' the Church exists for tho purpose pf bringing in the Kingdom of God. We are thinking and talking too much to4ay e# sect&rianisni ?nd deRQmisatiosijJisHi, J believe our work would be quickly aud happily done jf men outside the Church eould say, 'Look how the followers of Christ arc united—look how they work, together and i'olh'w # sUijf'a tfU'dv,' "