CHURCH UNION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 338, 27 October 1908, Page 9

CHURCH UNION.

ANGLICANS AN3 .PRESBYTERIANS. VIEWS or BISHOP NEVILL. . Id* teleuiiahi—pukss ass.icia no.O | Dunedln, October' 26. In his address to the Anglican Synod to* night .tho Primate (Bishop Ncvill) made a strong appeal for tiio co-operate reunion of tho Anglican and Presbyterian Churches. The Uishop stated that there was a move. meat very observable to-day which was intimately connected with t):o very lifo ol Christian society, one- which had been urgently, mysteriously, yet powerfully and universally at work for some time within the Church herself, a movement toward tho union of Christendom. The movement was bursting forth simultaneously in far distant ■quarters, and no better proof of this, was Heeded than the recent Lamboth Conference, which attested that "the Divine purpose of visible - unity among Christians was a fact, of revelation." When Divine Providence opened- out for us at some particular time tiio opportunity of doing that which was manifestly-right, .our -duty was to do that right, .if possible, and leave to.God the ul-__ ' tim'ate issues. Tho Bishop referred at:'" length to the position of the Russian and Dutch Churches, and went on. to say thai the-great value of certain negotiations which ■had recently been carried on in the neighbouring colony of Victoria between representatives of the two communions (Presbyterian and Anglican) was that tlicy ha*' pretty clearly shown that reunion was feas» ible. All diificulties had not bqen removed, but the admirable spirit which had been hitherto displayed augured well for a successful issue. The manner in ■ which tho' resolutions of this conference and the scheme prepared for solemn, formal, and public consummation'of the proposed union had been received ,by the leading clcrgv and laity in Presbyterian Dunedin, had filled him with hope. Tho subjects upon whic|i agreement • had already been arrived at between . tli«' representatives of the churches were the • foundations of the faith, the sacraments of salvation, and the authority and grace of ' tho Christian ministry. His own feeling in reference to the movement, so widespread and so little looked for, was that it was tho work of God, and, if so, it followed that we must bo very careful lest by any mere prejudice-or preconceptions we placed a hindrance orstumbling-block in the-way of the accomplishment of the Divine purpose. After reviewing tho difficulty presented -by the fact that the Anglicans would probably object to having the Holy Eucharist pro sent-ed to them by clergymen only presby. terially ordained,' and his belief 'that sue' ( might be overcome by a clearer conception of tho Word of God, his Lordship said 1m / believed that were John Knox hero to-day he would say, "Sirs, yo are brethren, why do yo wrong one to another, weaker the Christian cause, and paralyso even tht power of love by remaining apart when united yo might evangelise the world." —