ANGLICAN CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 227, 18 June 1908, Page 7

ANGLICAN CONGRESS.

« THE DISCUSSIONS. THE CHURCH AND HUMAN SOCIETY. WORK AMONG SETTLERS. CT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPTEIGOT (Rec. Juno 17, 9.30 p.m.) London, Juno 17. Many crowded meetings in concction with tlio Pan-Anglican Congrpss wore hold yesterday in the largo city halls. The Archbishop of Melbourne (Dr. Clarke) presided at tho Albert Hall, where a discussion on tho Question of u Marriago in Heathendom" took placo. Tho speakers included the Bishop of New Guinea. At a mass meeting in tho evening tho Archbishop of Canterbury presided. The quostion of "Tho Clwroh and Human Society"—tho facts of to-day and the possibilities of to-morrow—was dealt with. Various sections of the congress discussed tho questions of marriage and divorce, Socialism, and Anglicanism,' and its place in Christendom. The Archbishop of Brisbane (Dr. Donaldson) presided at the discussion upon work amqng tho settlers. The Bishops of Perth and Auckland were among tho speakors. A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS. The programme of tho Congress shows that seven subjects are to bo discussed for six days in the mornings and afternoons, and the seven centros have been modelled on tho sectional meetings of' the British Association. Tho sections are as follow :— Section A.—The Church and Human Society. —The sanctity of marriage; the basis of human sooioty in Christendom jaud in Heathendom; law and public opinion on marriage, in Christendom, in missionary • lands. Commercial morality: Sweating, trioks of trade, gambling methods. Capital: Companies' and conscience, justice and dividends, tho morality of control by legislative action. Monopolies and trusts: Is monopoly Christian? Ought communities alone to-have monopolies? Christianity and Socialism: What is Christian iu Socialism? What is practicable in such ideals? Section B—Church and Human Thought.— Christian revelation and the similar claims of other religions; the Faith and Pantheism (Hinduism and modern Western tendencies); tho Faith and Agnosticism; the Faith and non-theo-logical ethical systems (Buddhism, Confucianism, Secularism); tho Faith and legalistic systems (Islam, caste); tho Faith and science, literature, and tho Press; tho Bible, how it should be taught. • Scction C.—The Church's Ministry.—Holy orders; tho training and supply of candidates; the appointment, maintenance, and duties of clergy; tho functions, training, and organisation of tho laymen. i Section D. —Tho Church's Missions in nonChristian Lands.—Evangelistic, educational, medical, and industrial methods; tho relation of missions to Governments and Native customs. Section E.—The Church's missions in Christendom among white settlers, coloured races, and .lews. Section F.—Tho constitution and organisation of "the churches of the Anglican Communion at homo and in Japan, China, Africa, South Pacific, and India. Scction G.—Tho Church's duty to tho young. MARRIAGE IN HEATHENDOM. The question of "Marriage in Heathendom," referred to in tho cablegram, was discussed by the Lambeth Conference of 15SS in connection with tho baptism of converts living in polygamy. Thore was considerable conflict of opinion, and it is on rocord that the resolutions were far fronj unanimous. Bishop Lightfoot was the chairman of the committee on this subject, and it is known that the weight of his learning, combined with that of Bishop Stubbs and with tho vehement arguments of Bishop Temple, was thrown • into the scale against the laser-view, which had powerful advocates in Bishop Mageo and Bishop Bickersteth, of Exeter. The final verdict of tho conference was that polygamists could not lie admitted to baptism, but might be kept under instruction, and that the wives of polygainists might in some cases be admitted. The question was ono on which many missionary bishops' entertained strong views. SOCIAL QUESTIONS. No fewer than thirty-iiaven of .the preliminary papers in connection with the Congress deal with tho social aspects of Christianity.' Half tho- writers on Socialism 4 think it is thoroughly unchristian—tho other half think it is undiluted Sermon on tho Mount. Th?. views expressed, on the whole, incline to alliance with Socialism. This comps out also in tho special discussion of tho relations of capital and labour, and on the sphere of State interference. Some of tho "Socialist" writers aro "very much so." Marriage is discussed with remarkable common sense by several writers, and others deal in a broad and helpful way with various aspects of commercial and social morality. Altogether tlieso 'sections are specially fruitful. In close connection aro the papors on "Tho Church and Literature"— whore again tho liberal spirit predominates. ANGLICAN POLITY. Thirty-four papers deal specially with Anglican polity. Several deal with its development in America, in India, and in the colonies. "New countries-demand' new methods, and what is required in each case can only be learned by sharp experience." "Thore is no necessity that one particular form of service should be universal." "Ritual must vary according to the femporamont of the people." The Anglican Communion throughout the world includes fifteen provinces and 219 dioceses. Most of the extra-English provinces are completely, autonomous; the problem of co-ordinating the parts to the whole is therefore difficult. .COMMENTS BY "THE TIMES." Dealing with the papers to bo read, and the subjects to bo discussed, "The Times" says:--" Wo have before us somo 35 essays, which doal with the Anglican Communion "in itself, in relation to its parts, and in relation to other Christian bodies. "Here the most important problems aro tho rolations of Anglicanism to Anglo-Saxon Nonconformity, ' and the need of somo central authority for tho Anglican Communion, less cumbersome, more homogeneous, and more readily summoned than the Lambeth Conforonco of ' Bishops. Wo doubt if tho coming Congress can throw much light on the former problem, but it may well bring us nearer to a solution of tho latter.

"Nothing can be more futile than to tako up tho parablo of the Primato of' New Zealand, whose paper denies the neod of such central authority,' and adds some Cassandralike warnings about its inevitable tendency. Mr. Eugene Stock gives a far shrewder verdict. Tho central authority is needed, ho feels, on a representative and consultative basis, but its' authority can hardly amount to coercion, and there must bo freedom for local churches to accept or reject its decisions. Still, the universal acceptance of any ono deoision would immensely add to the motive power of tho whole Communion. Tho task for the appointed and carefully seleoted speakers will be 110 light ono, but, successfully accomplished, it ought to have tho effect of commending an historic, a still vigorous, a far-spreading Church to tho interest and to the admiration of tho pcoplo of this country."