PROTESTANT UNION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 197, 14 May 1908, Page 7

PROTESTANT UNION.

j SOME OBSTACLES., VIEWS OF A PRESBYTERIAN. "PRIESTLY POWERS." BY TELEGEAPH—PHESS ASSOCIATION—COPY2WHT. Melbourne, May : 13. . The Rev. Mr, Weir, the new Moderate! of tho Presbyterian Assembly, dealing with the question of clutrch union;. said one of tha principal hindrances to union, was the existence of two divergent types of Christian life —- the emotional and tho contemplative. Tbe'.emotional type' dominated the Methodists, and the contemplative the Presbyterians. ' They could only bo filscd under considerable pressure. . "As to tho Church' of England," added the speaker, "wo ; can'see no immediate prospect of union with that branch of the Church as a churclA We can scarcely expect ; that clorgy who' believe they have priestly power would join with those who put this. cherished tenet on a par with belief in'witchcraft or alchomy." Thi} Moderator believed ,that to obtain oven : partial union no sacrifice, except that of conscientious, principles, would be too great. ■' . - .' "-. , A MORE OPTIMISTIC VIEW. The Rev. Mr. Weir takes a more pessimistic new of the possibility of Church union than ;do<some leading Presbyterians. The results of the recent.' conferericb between representative*! of, the Anglicans and- Presbyterians, under tho -presidency-'-of the : Archbishop of Melbourne (Dr.-Clarke), wero generally regarded as hopeful.';.''-. The. conference 'revealed a very-large amount of agreement, though organic 'union between the Churches can hardly yet bo said to bo in'sight. Dr. Clarke will report the result: of tho conference to'the Lambeth- Conference of bishops representing the whole Anglican communion to be held in July, when the ' question of " Ecnnion - and Inter-Communion " will be'-' considered both as regards episcopal v (md non-episcopal churches. In ISSB the Lariibeth Conference discussed -the quostioii"6f the union' with ; other religions 'bodies, and resolved; that ■ the following articles: supply a basis for negotiation;— (1) The Holy Scriptures as tho ultimate standard of faith. 1 -' (2) The Apostles and Niceno_ Creeds is. tho sufficient statement of the-Christian faita. (3) The'sacraments of .Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. ' . (4), The historic Episcopate locally adapUd in the methods of administration to the varying needs of. the nations and peoples called of God into the unity of His Chunjh. ' At the Melbourne, conference referred to above thfero 5 'seemed to bo no great differeace of opinion on tho firefc three articles, bat' the question of the historic Episcopate was, a very difficult one to solve. Various suggestions were ! made and, debated, and tho New Zealand bishops -were kept" informed : as'to -the nature of the ' proposals brought forward:-' The iproblemis how to'arrive) at a decision whick.' will overcome the objections of the Presbyterians, arid, at the same timo bo acceptable to the various'.parties: iii the Anglican Church. Any serious modification of the generally accepted, doctrine of the'historic Episcopate would give' offence to many Anglicans, and might possibly result in. a schism. 1 ' ■"