CHURCH UNION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 273, 11 August 1908, Page 7

CHURCH UNION.

VIEWS OF THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE 1 METHODS OF ORDINATION. SUGGESTED LINES OF NEGOTIATION. (BY TELEGRAM—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT (Rec. Aiigust 10, 10.32 p.m.) j London, August 10. Tho Lambeth Conference suggested that ■in tho welcome event of any proioct of reunion between any Church of tho Anglican Communion/and any Presbyterian or other non-episcopal Church which, whilo preserving tho Faith ,in its integrity and purity, has also exhibited caro regarding the form and intention of ordination to the Ministry, reaching /tho stago of official negotiation, it might- 1 be possible to approach reunion on the basis of consecration to the episcopate on/'lines suggested.by such precedents as thosfi of 1610. Further, the Conference considered that it might be possible to authorise arrangements during a period of transition towards full union; on tho basis of episcopal ordination, which would respect the convictions of those who/had not received episcopal orders, without /involving any surrender on the part of the/Anglican Church of tho principles of Church order laid down in the preface to tho Ordinal attached to the Book of the Common Prayer. .

EPISCOPAL AND PRESBYTERIAN / ORDINATION. i ;The preface to the Anglican ordinal referred to in the above cablegram states:—"lt is evident unto all men diligently reading the Holy Scripture and ancient Authors, that from tho Apostles' time there havo been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church; Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Which Offices were evermore had in such reverond Estimation, that no man might presume to execute any of them, except he were first callcd, tried, examined, and known to have such qualities as aro requisite for the same; and also by publick l'rayer, with Imposition of Jlands, were approved _ and admitted thereunto by lawful Authority. And therefore, to tho intent that these Orders may be continued, and reverently used and esteemed, in the Church of England; no man shall he accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest, or Deacon in the Church of England, or suffered to execute any of tho said Functions, except ho be called, tried, examined, and admitted thereunto, according to the Form hereafter following, or hath had formerly Episcopal Consecration, or Ordination." Commenting on the above, Bishop Barry writes:—The clause, "or hath had. formerly Episcopal Ordination," was added in 1662. Before that time it appears certain that, whilo the rule of tho Church was clearly enunciated in the Prefaco and carried out in general practice, yet men having only Presbyterian Ordination wore in exceptional cases (especially of those ordained abroad) allowed to minister in tho Church, in consideration, no doubt, of the disturbed and disorganised condition of Christendom. In 16G2, however, tho conditions had changed. Presbyterian Ordination had heen asserted, not as an exception, but as the only rule, and the Presbyterian system, in general, had been raised on the ruins of the Episcopal. Tho old rulo was, therefore, re-enacted with greater strictness, and all exceptions to it for tho future disallowed.At the Conference between representatives of tho Anglican and Presbyterian Churches held at Melbourne recently, the following motions were agreed to:— (1) That the act of ordination, when regularly administered, involves prayer and imposition of hands. (2) With regard to ordination, this Conference aliirms tho following to be the essential conditions: (a) _ Full membership of the Church; (b) an inward and personal call of tho Holy Spirit; (c) a recognition by the Church of this call after duo inquiry into intellectual and spiritual fitness. (3) Tho laying-on of hands in ordination we understand to be the visible symbol of bestowal, in answor to the prayer of faith, of authority, and grace by tho Holy Spirit for the work of ministry. (4) Authority to perform the act' of ordination comes from God the Father, through Christ, the mediator, by the Holy Spirit as a living agent in the Church, audi is exercised by the appointed officers of tho .Church.