CHURCH AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 16 July 1915, Page 8

CHURCH AND WAR

—< : —-♦ CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE.

The annual conference of the Congregational Church of the Wellington district was held at the Terrace Church on Wednesday, the Rev; A. E. Hunt presiding. The war naturally claimed a good deal of attention, papers being read 011 the subject by Mr. D. A. Ewen and Rev. A. Maedonald Aspland. In his paper, entitled "The Effect of the War Upon Theology," Mr. Ewen .pointed, out that the hand of Providence had been clearly seen in the conflict in remarkable ways. "There must be no compromise, or Europe would again be drenched with blood. If the British peoplo be true to themselves, they would be compelled to give back to tho peoplo conquered the lands that had been taken." Thero would, ho said, 'be a, new Europe, and the effects upon civilisation would certainly be good. : He believed that as a result of the war, creeds and dogmas would disappear, and a purer, simpler faith, jnore in keoping with the spirit of the Sermon on tho Mount, would remain. Tho paper was discussed at length. The Rev. A. M. Aspland firmly believed that national greatness was only to be' achieved' upon the basis of national righteousness. The Lutheran Church of Germany had, he said, become too materialistic. ' The war had emphasised plainly the disastrous division in the Church., He hoped that the terrible conHict would influence tho churohes to more energetically combat the evils of drunkenness and other vices. Both speakers were warmly thanked for their addresses.

A deputation from y the Society of Friends waited upon the meeting, and fraternal greetings were exchanged. Further papers pertaining to the war were read at the evening meeting by the Rev. H. Steele Craik and the Rev. Sarginson (Timaru). , The meeting was continued yesterday morning, when problems of Church membership were discussed. Papers wero read on the subject bv the Rev. A. Hodge, Napier, and Mr. T. G. B.utler, of Nelson. The conference was brought to a close last evening, the usual sermon being preached by the Rev. W. Saunders, of Dunedin, chairman of the Congregational Union. A communion service was subsequently conducted by the Rev. B. L. Thomas, of Ma-sterton, 1 thero being a attendance.