CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 114, 6 February 1908, Page 9

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE. ANNUAL REPORT, CHAIRMAN'S Tji'i 'ADDRESS < r , The Cbuiieil of tho'NeW Zealand C'ftngro • f^j?»or day moqiinifi; V\ J.'." ; , , 'i / ThS .Oomriiitteolof; tbev&uucii/itt^ibot•vlC conducted Rov> \V* ( iJay 1 ' "\•oCOuViOILjBUSINESS, j ; • tho' Rov. Dand Hird,_M.A v Chairman of tho Conforenco, in ; si. fewrbrjefjroraprks; formally opened •£, jviV *V z/y\ Tho" Secrofcafy, J *'Jlr' J. v P. (Auck>«s•, 3ss!/• •¥& 7 ' : ( ■'■=:' V:-",' <'■'■>' On/tho iriotion .-or J. 'lictpd Gla.saoii, Smitfi ■ (Gblytan),'. werercocived a?, personal ; ®opbbwppid' MiptStriithf'fpolytoit), iMossrsS; ,T, ■'lle<fman r ,(M3sterton)> ' , 'and Hcpplo (Ali6etotrn). aa asaocinto mcmbors. '■ ; . . j>.ffi<;ers /..wero ; ejected ..ns, fplloV :— Minutfl: Rev. • Heighway,Dunedm J. H r M KftniiOj Maungaturoto,-'Auckland.' ■ Correspondent? to ,!tho":'.' Outlook "—llov 4 A j£ir HimtfTimaru . Reporter to--Bnglish r .nnd,C3oloniali.P.ipor3—'• .• ~■ Rov,' Wj Day, "Auckland. •i. ::: . .. EcffcroncoiCftmmltfce&rrßovsi'-.J.- Rced Glasson, W. A. Evaiis, Ar E. Hunt, and 1 S Griffiths •■ Fiiai\cc outgoing cora- .. ' inifctee, 'with* addition of/the.lion. . . :-.GiCFowlds, .Messrs.vA; Lindsay,: A. M. ■ ~ :■ LowiS) \V/1\ Eggers;-. S. W.*,Thornton,, and Leijohn 1 r

Vme'annual report. -• Tho,twenty-fifth annual roport-of. tho. Com>jmttefl <of--.tha; Congregational Union of. Nowr Zealand was read by the Secretary. Pastoral Changes. * ' I Pastornl'chnnges. 'tho report states, hava been ..um/sually, litimerofis and important. Tho.,Rov. J l ,Trank Niehol, ,of - Ravensboum6/ resigned 'his pastorato ih Juno "last, after' three and a fialf years l, service, -m order tor settle .in Victoria. - Tho vacanov - caused by tho removaLof. RovirT, A.-Wilhams from (Iks' ,Epsom JJnptist Church was , filled-by.,.tho jippQintmc/nt of the :Rev. J. W.,Hiiit{m-..:Ali,oil<!r. J. M, Stoops; iI.A., ' terminated .hisv.three -years' engagement at Onehunga.,',Church-; in .-September; and was I ,noyr. in Australia. .. The,Rev.John Wilkins has .intimated Ms intention, of' resigning tho panjorato of Beresford Street Church; ■. v' • ! " >f-.0;i'.~, tho, completion of ' his seventh • Jtear •. ofvßornce; -• in t order 'to " tako -up work m .tho •Home,(ministry-.-a .-Tho Rev. S. J.: Baker;; of tPalmerstohj-Nortli',- who >-acceptpd tho pastorato.-of iGhnst-Church, Launccston, ■ <■ Tasmania; left:mi,Januaryi last;.-.; : Against'ithesodossfas to tho Cougrogalional Union -ministry;-.tho,Committee: reported that the Rev-itsWioA: iKcayformerly; of-/Adolaido, ontcrra i the-Union .as..Congregational minister at Ahcctown,-Lower Jlutt ■ '. ! -v'.v- '>■ - Mew Ghurchcs. , r >

' 'at Ahcetowri;' l '- EoWepHiltt : /' :; .catedjVJttnd'sometimo'aftorwarda-tho-.hancl-scme church .edifico.' crected; for thfl congre- ■ gationi.df ;th6 piloted .*■.yliC, September, .last; thq JMoijiitrilcSkil] ■ ehurch : vhm.ldihEi'>.rt;AM;' l asf: a branch of irk ia;'tfß#V;chnrch ,i; •paStbraio' of ..which;: . dfiaif l^ 'Sf MtgV :■ Mitchfell on October, 27.'" w On"l)ecember 8, a church preaching Btation.in.^pr^J.TS,-^lack9iizi6's-pastorate, tantidoyolppiiiohta lii eoninectioh with tho^w* tcn6i6n , of:Church;Work.iri;this-_d(strict'wero' . • ■'■■ The 'Council of,;. 1006 "States" thor report j id' , «6]ved;: that' "miriimii'm ,sti of .country a manse ;d? ; 'h*6nße;'All;6Wance;f!>Thb' Committee/ now , '®ided; : 'tb , 'givii r . effect! toWai'reeohitibh duringX^ho'current'Jest,*!! It^isf'hopod'-that' the generosity of the churches in trio Union wijl bo extqndcidt towards.''tho ? furtherance of i^iß^ ' TJriionoi-mw- Zoalandj'. ! authorised the' Committee ;to): give . 'effect rtb: jtSi<decisibn'as tJi6;salary': r ofl.i2oojfo"r! three 1 years h'ad'feeeh \guariatSid.r;ilt. sulisCqueiit|y>traus-: piredywheiiftho :matt6r tN.CiiSm-, mitteo.'-'that.thero ,-frhs?&! differenc6;of opinion ijuMtion. unti it'i-vv'ns' finally decided, that tho matter bo referred to the: Council Tima™ ; pastoratoV: : i V' ; 1 ' i: : : Timaru. ■ .Tho. Baptisbsectioh'- of,■ tho., munity.'.is iimAl].inVnMb9rjs l ;i'&n3 , 'in •' placo '/of its'-'oTftt •iia'd approafchoT'jj jfeW^Cqnij^^Ubniluits^Tnjli& proposal-. for a Ag a 'result of a; /o n fcfcnoe' h'old at Aifckla'nd between it?. presfintativOs.i'ofA.tliO ChurchcaV-tho ;Jtey:v'JiV:G.'' 'MartinY<Baptist) and. -tho, llgv. D.; v Hird : . ! (Confjrogationalist) wero appointed, to .confer ;V,'itiy- rpprnsGlltfitives' ofbothi-dflnomiiiatidus; at Timaru,' With a viow.to formulating :a:.basis of bo. SWWiteWPJfru: Church and to tho CoTtiihitt&o'br ; the whole' Uriibn,"' Tho Tiriia'ru Xinion Chnroh, which started on 'iti ; iihw oarobr onyinUary l last.Ms tho rosulfc of.tW: negotiatiohs';bbttfeon'ttho. two Churches; i Vii '-i'j.'t. I';.. International Counoll, " '.."thii/.'year Coiinm], W|]]'(ntVit;scdsi(Jn:from >luno.3o.'.until' Jhty- 0. '-Fitfepclelej&teiwill by tnoi.Council 1 to ''represent'- tho'-, Now' ; ;2ealan'd' Cobgregational Uhidttist-tHe-X'onferonco. ' Chair of the Union,.' :-y, - ' rowing to ? tbo YV, Saunders .had stated ;his ' inability, on 'tbo, scorer.' of.; ill-Healthy to'; accept -tho;'duties*: of, chairman';'.of V>the.?.t7riioni during 'V1908.V-the • committee-.decided to appoint, the Rov.-David. Hird , 'M.Acy ,of -Trinity Chriiitchiirch, to' tho 'r : ~'.r i, ■ W Tho Council -adjourned;at>l' p.m.,- and will ■ resumeV'at\ 10,30 a.m.'i'on Friday,-whori consideration will be feiven to- tho 'annual report. Tho Finance Committee met at 3.30 p.m. THE EVENINC SITTING. The 'cVening- sitting opened -at ■ half-past sevonXwith'-'ashort, musical .service, ' Tho llovi. R;; Mitchell (Te J Kiiiti)-:presided - during." tho first-' portioh; of-'.the"'.vevcning; - 1 ' -Woodward's ant-hom,.v;!:.The: Radiant' I was - .excellently- rendered by the combined choirs of the c.:y .Congregational; Churches. Miss Lilian Head-save,an-,artistic rendnring of the sacred son-.:;. "Noarer, My (iod, -to Tlieo." She was fM;?omp.inicd by Afr.'H'orii6o Hunt,Mus.l).ich ', presided at the organ .during the service THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. otlßbn VV rmiEDOM AND DENOMINATION' VL LOIALTY Jliu Chaninan of tho linion (tho Rov Dai id Hird, ALA.) thou gavo his nnnual rid-dn-sb, of which tho subject. was " Christian ' 11 vlww. a.ul .OunumiliaLiuiial Loyalty." ,Ho Btat<y ;.that,ijtho ..question.'of K denoiriination'al loyalty -i)Wjs. piie,'itj,ia(i: / p.ybry; denomjnaticm felt nowadaya'iin..:a groateiiiorflessenrdogreo;n.liut hij r : wastdrspo'sod-<r<to' that' iit. pressed with''• .peculiar;,' 'weightv upoi) : Gongrejgationalists, who had liever been muoh in the way of 1 deuoinination-ilists, their Christian liberalism

usualk saving them .from parochial partisa ship, /J hero had .boon-about Coiigrogatioiu ism a froedom .froro mere dcnoiuiilationalis m which th.>y might find-good reason to r •']olCo,,and tor .which they ought, to.', bo'than lul. .Tliore was.A denominational partners]) ami jealousy, and - rivalry that: .wero to I ; luoiUipiibd ..piily to bo condemned.< It wi .tin-Christian presumption . for any Chtircji .1 •Mjr:i^i.offTOt ! ;.:." \Vp:;aro,\tli6' people, and wi dora,shall/flio.-ivitlrus. 1 ' . .They could only d ploro,:.and do; thqiivbest to roiiiovoj. ,thoi difl'oronccs that, issued,.i - jSrtspipioifs and unworthy rivalries., They, d -plorod, tlio, wfsbo of. energy asl existei ■ and tho want of a' higher, and moro -spiritui .oliergy. that such rivalries 'impliwl. ~Somi ; this denominationalism of -the Christia ..Church had. Suggested what.would happen,i an array jWhost regiments should lie animate W/. " lu ! , ual jealoiisy. and not by the. health . emulation of a. common will; Very often,,• li teared, they mistook.their regimental cploiii for the Uag./They confused .tp-Uiurch and orbed with , loyalty to Chris -aiul. the Spirit, of . His .Cross.,, Tliq yery..wa -. in .which -they .congriitulated themselves .whe .i:?preseHtatives., of different denomination -fl'ot. Won.. 3o:no';cunimo)i. platform was >'adl .significant. Thpy-' indulged;. iii' '• language c •pffws'Ve,.congratulation' as though 'gomothin fi-pry wonderful ;and .specially creditable ha -happened;* instead of : counting it a rep'roac that that should iiot. bo the, normal attitud .and;! relation' of their' Christian service. Le that;the'. tinie might • speedil oorno of marvel|ing whep'the : ifpnnd; t.h'einselvesuniting upon a ' comnioi platform or for common service, they ffoul' marvbl thiit anything clso should ever hav. been possible. • ' : , Claims.-.' i l|u't ' while ■ doubtless there wero ' man; Jhihgs ii.t- tho division of Christendom wiiici -thoy • ought" to dnploro' aml do their, best" ti ,reinovo, wore. thcro not : other things in thoi: denominational .differences ,for . wnich tbej .might surely find valid'reasons in tho ovqlu -.tiouary. process; through which the Church a. i'?, n Wßariiscd society, must ', necessarily' pas's i ,*rom;th*poittt of of tho wider, interest: :9f;.the Kingdom of Christ' it. was altbgethei ;? gain that denominationalis'm was steadilj ■ .'fore®, and- favour.. They no 'longer be- ' lijiv'od' in' any. doctrine- of tho divirio Tight-"ol ® n £- particular . Church, or in any Church'! .claim to a monopoly in Christian 'grace and truth..*; ; Hb' took it to he"indicative of a healthier/condition that., they - wero Jess'and .Indisposed to' find the reason 'and ,basis or tnoir; denominational existence simply and .solely lir New Testament polity and precept, 'nu n "?ht bo quito possible for l the different ~1/hurches to find a ' justification- for their 'polity ..in Apostolic /pr'actico, although it might well' strike'them as' curious th nt the samo New, Testamen- teaching should b'o tho ■ authority.{forr'Sd iWdely divergent politics as thosb'..of;., Anglican -and ! Congregationalism I.resbyteriart and Methodist, Roman Cathblic find; Plymouth Brothron.: .The teaching and that. were the, basis and' justification -of, shell, variations.Mst'be'very clastic and adaptable.-'They'. we're/realising. the incongruity of, their denominational claims. They no /longer,' t felt ,bouHd :-to, believe" that'-tho polity- of. the Church in tho 'iiinotecnth or ■-.twentieth'century,was! a'tiling that was fixed for it by tho Churchj of;th« first.' /If Christ 'mmaoJr said .nothing :about any particular 'sdoioty/ who • t°il ' s , ay -'^at'- tfi.ey had;riot in this' moro •of; tho There was 110 valid..reason why /they; should tako it for granted; that. this. practice of l a - Church in Gdririth ill. tho/first' century should be of ;itse fan infallible' giiidc 'ftir : a'; CKiirch in. Now .Zealand in' the twentieth . It was a legiti'.J?lato .position ■ to tako,.'though "it'was. .perhaps, one. .that: was soiiicWhat Ila bio to inis.mturprotatioii,. to say that Apostolio -pro-■cKleiit-prpv'ed.-.hbthing sovo ■it'self,;ji'nd. i com-' :.m|ttedl ithem^tp'.ll6llllllß::,;.}Voukl.it' iiot'.be a thp -ppsir 'tioil, of.;.th'e ; Salvation ! Army, .an'd,!recogniso.,that, the Church's', polity was - to. bo de-' iermined. byHts^^viilue'for, the;Church's Jifo : tlie,.Gli'urch.s.;fu-st and, final purpose?, .■' Heilgioua>Evolutlon. ?' l . ' v; ' .wlncll ; ,thify,;rojoic(fd sought ■ to,»(pno-'- •: Ujb^l^ky;-4itFoi;ono6irv-in V p V or -3/ .'ftrticlftVof ' be-, IM; that .Slight fiiid expression .in',, breed: aiany articles Of t|io creeds >they might hold '?A; i'fnily, as. any anGmbers ; .of;.tho'.:Ohuroh'os tp which such creeds might seem specifically to belong. liut for thomselve's, they found a .sufficient creed" in'the'New Testament as it stood, and. believed that that literature wbs Illumined, aiid : interpreted for tho Christian Church by tho 6vorirordaling" , Spirit. . Tho ■ spiritual;- not-tho' ecclesiastical,' was " to, them' , My"*. '^4;'. regulativo,... Thoir"'' Christian ;,loyulty/lod -,them;.mto; a Certain ,®olity,' npt.j.the. nohty'/into tho 'iaitli.,'. 'And ! , tjiat ..tho essential spirit of Congregationalism jyp'uld/.bo , tho . spirit' of the 'Church - of. the futurp:, few, :;he,-imagined, .-would" vonturo'toaofty. In. tho..'..Church '-'that' : was ; > Purely•' coming l there' would, be tho spirit of freedom' ,from dogmav that • would Identify creed "with' faith 'and 1 lifeV • Thero * would'. bo the spirit;- Pf ■ v-mtolloctTial/; hospitality. - spirits that ' rc- ; ..cognised",.that -God.'liad: riot' ceased-'to speak, .or';to 1 work-in,.Uje' world, and'.tli'at His truth: 'was , ijot ; oxhaiisteil in ■ tho : .• formula) of : tho' 'past.^Neither,--ill.:.'i.t's';foruis--nftr in 'ita/lifo. Church; seek to niako itself an <jxcoption to that law" of progressive' development; that ran' all. througlv life.. Whether jfchoy ; called. this. I!.progress " or, ii. evolution,' 'or wh'htever/uaino thev-might give;it,-' and whether they /liked such;words dA hot,-, the. thing! itself - was hero—a trcracn•dous fact, to over-reckoned ■ witlj. Thero. ,oould be, ; np standing still in-tho, religious .and -,theological; world any 'more, than' in.'the. ; s.cientilio',ol;, political, ...iJlrsV Partington; with. lier mop would .bo. no unfitting, emblem of an.V : Churchj.that; would seek; witli -.-tho broom' o'f .'theological/'dogma i aud ceelbsiastibal' enact- ' 'niont, to : sweep back tlio advancing tido of Christian thought and life.s,lt was for' them to use their, freedom that- tho truth; of God il)o ;n6t bound.- Wh,other : thby -calli'd' themselves old thoologians or new .was not in itsiilf a very: important matter, but it was ,important, whether,: they 'wero ■ m real syni- . pat by; wi th; tli 0" sp i r it v o F p iogr es s-;ii} rpligloUs.thoughtv and life. ; . .-The-distinction'bbtweon •old: and:.new; theologieii was. .-he."'felt, surd',-' ofici;thiit' they. all. rogre'tteu,Tlio '.namp, .'but .little.; Neither, antiquity- jipr' •: novelty,. Was.'an' ahsolu'to ;, : criterion , 0f... :tho, 'truthi /.Thoy ; must insist' that their .should .always'Bo real; - that was far .moro' .vital than .tiiat it bo called; old or now. They . must; seek:.to imakb.it'real; in living- contaot' ..with the reality' of actual religious > cxpori- ' wioo. AndHhoy should not : be too ready to-„qtiarrol;:--with,' or to; repudiate , tlioso' wiioso' ~(juost ;was-for such reality, and'not,' as' gbnio' :Would 6uggest, ; for inoro:novelty.' J.:' i ;.;;

Ecclesiastical Juggling. -When a Church barl a; definite 'croud as a tandard of-its belief, it -was .'right that.it. hould. require 'of its', ministers loyalty .to it. There is a good deal' toomuch'.ecclesiasticaluggling,;' 'said ;tho.-.speaker. .-. ''It. is ,not a. pectaoloV calculated, to beget, faith in tho jhurch, or-evert: respect .for' .it;' to see - a to .balanco herself on any Todal : ticht-ropo, -tfith tho wand'of freedom u her hands. (Latightor.) Wo are not neaht : to practiso such gymnastics, but .to valk 'on tho solid grouiid of truth.'' Where jhoro was a croed- as .tho 'exposition'.of: tho jhurcb 3 ..bolief, prosocution for heresy, lip-. ;amo; a duty that tho Church owed to herself ind her own standing.. In the'case of-Congrcgatiorialists, perhaps 4io very 'exteiisivoneSs' nf their spiritual nterost had 'had something t.o do' with tlio, vant of a strong denominational "intensive* ioss." . The waters of their Christian liberalsin wore, sometimes;, sent; forth to- fprtiliso, ho (joldS; of. various Christian activities, but ivero not available for their .own denominational vineyard. v -Thero wero a good innnv :)enplo who ■ wcro iiitorested in a particular Congregational chiireh, but whoso interestiii Jbiigregationalism was of the slightest. Mr. Mild warned his hearers against, "a spcciotiß complacency that parados itself as broadmindedness, that .may be fatal to our: COll- - interests and ideals."- The people who said airily that, lliey boluiiged to all tho Churches wore never a source of strength to any. ''Tlicy arb' almost always .humbugs and religious tramps.' Liko tho more familiar fraternity of thal;iiamc, they seem to prefer the roving life, hi which they are always wondering ft'liat they can /pick up,- to tho settled life, .with its claims upon their, hard work , arid genordus scrvico." S9lfish Views of tl>3 Church. -Thero was perhaps a tendency with Congregationalists to be so idealistic as to fai)

I J° 0 'P tho natural and nbeessnrj i- lorins or.Christian organisation. Abo. itdii not requiro that they should Imvn any foolisl - estimate of the work- of Church polity, or o: sn .v polity in particular, in order, to bo thor P. oughly loyal to it. He condemned the w disposition to regard tho Church from ,i se.fish point of view. There wcro some wilt I - thought' ot it, not as Something throng! >- , ffluch; they could serve Christ, "but simph as an institution that may give an air o] |Q respectability, and be a help to.them gciicr ' .Blly in moro or less .creditable ways." He eides tnoso thorb were, ho imagined, iii al' j; thoir churches, too many whoao connectior >1 w»3 vory much a.matter of "enjoying" the - ■ -services;, Enjoyment of a sermon or a aervicc n ;»'as not ;the chief end of a Christian man »-■ -Thoy should realise. that the Church was " ; thoir grandest opportunity for giving, ant y not simply a means for soifish gotting. Yet 0 timid all the increase of ,material wealth thai ?: rccont-years had. Sicily lie . would ho a bold y man who .should assort that, thero had been ft (proportionate increase in their financial giving. \ Within the Church, as well as withII out if,' tlioy needed a greater senso of obligatioii and. responsibility. Nor should their responsibility , towards Congregationalism end ' ffjth a particular Congregational church. It J. .was. a ;good; sign ■. that, in. .recent' years' Congregationalism in; England and clsowhoro had 1 boon, feeling. after,"something in.the way of ?• denominational, tffljty ; and bohesion, and was •I seeking/ to,,givb .expression, to; its. growing sense-of. ; social responsibility. v: j: Posslbla Modifications. In ■ Congregationalism. ( !He decried tho tendency of their Church to bo chary of any change, lest iit , should seem a departure from their principles. To raako a fetish of thoir polity was .as bad, if . indeed it woro not less excusable,'as to make ( a" fetish of a creeds Why should they so , cherish ;,tho idea of . the -divino right, of ,tho settled pastorate ?•Woro thoy. persuaded that ,; no hiodifieatioii'of. this was either possible.,or . dcsirablo, especially in view of,,tho condition , of lifo and work in their ./own/land, jto-day? • Thero-was an -unrest; in their pulpits and • pews! that' might ,w.ell! be regardedias;indiea- ; tivo' of a somewhat > grave , disorder somewhero. -There were often and churches who alike: recognised that, a changu - would be mutually ! beneficial,, Vilrid they seemed powerless to effect it. Perhaps they might have to acknowledge that they could not retain tho priceless privilege of • their free Congregational pulpitSj.and at ,tbesatno timo. on joy the. benefits or. a .more or. less connesional system, resting upon some eredal basis.: : i ß.nt,,it seemed to .him that .thorb was -a problem to which;- as a union of churches, they ought to address themselves. .; Plja ; for Foreign Missions.! The i-speaker urged loyalty, to tile great missionary, trust laid,upon them through the hoble Society—the London, Missionary, Socicty—which had hocomo :in a : peculiar manner; their own. Ho believed .that much ot .t-liq iinpotence' and many of ' the difficulties of the Christian Church to-day., were closely .cftnheotcd, with her comparative failure' to respond to her missionary obligation. The ' Christian Clnirch--haci na ronson for her existence if;it-wore not to do this Work. Thoy could not-but thank God for t-)io. awakened sense of tho Church, during tho , past hun- • -dred 1 years,- :to; her missionary dtitios. Ho pi-iiyed that they lhiglit air seek that for all .tjwr churches .this year ; pf 1008 , might be' a year of ;.increasbd missionary ; interest and : enthusiasm.' Let";the 6xfimple; of agreat sister Church • in; its zeal be ah inspiration 'to thenisolve's. He wits stiro 'that thoy would 'all roioico before God ■ that:'at its rccoilt Assembly in, this Verv -city the .honoured and ' boloved i fresbytoi iari' .Church had committed itself '.to 6o'Splendid a ;: missionary programme, and their prayer was that God's blessing. might crown l this con'Spcratiqii,' ahd-make ,it abundantly, fruitful/ ■ TO DAY'S PROCEEDINGS; r 10 a.m.—^Devotional.'-Mooting,' Rev: ;S. i-/-,.. Griffiths. : - ■ , ... ,10.30 a.m.—Conferonco on ' L;M.S., in ■ : ohargb of/Rev., A. E. Hunt: . <.'3O p.m.—Homq. Mission. Meeting—Rev. • i;' ■ '-O.' E.;.Davidson, Rov; H. Mit; ,; v, 1 .ii-vj,-. V' J- H-