CHURCH UNION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 203, 16 May 1918, Page 4

CHURCH UNION

DISCUSSED BY WELLINGTON BY-TERY.

At the meeting'of the Wellington Presbytery, held on Tuesday, Dr. Gibb moved the adoption of at overture to the General Assembly on Church union, ot which, he had given notice at the previous meeting and Which appeared in. our columns a few days ago. lno Eev. A B Todd (seconded the motion. The Eev. J. Paterson, sonior minister of St. John's Church, moved the following amendment: "Inasmuch as the subject of the proposed overture occupied the minds of assemblies, presbyteries, and sessions from 1902 till 1904, and a difference of opinion of so strong a character was disclosed, that the promoters of union asked the assembly to proceed' no further, and inasmuch as this subject was again raised in this Presbytery m> late as 1916 (when all other Presbyteries were sil6nt), and an overture which was sent to the Assembly ovoked bo strong opposition that after long discussion tho Assembly agreed to dismiss the subject by 'passing on to the next business, and inasmuch as we aro living in a time of war, when many of our ministers and people aro in the Army abroad, and all unnecessary controversy should be avoided, this Presbytery therefore declines to transmit the overture to the Assembly. At the same time, while doing so, the Presbytery rejoices in and is thankful for the harmony and fine brotherly spirit which exists in this church and toward the other evangelical churches, and in our hearty co-operation with one another in all pood work bearing on the wolfaro of tho ChuTch of Christ." After Teadins tho Rinondment, tho Ttcv. Mr. Paterson moved that us time did not suffice to finish tho discussion that day the consideration of the overture be postponed to next meeting of Presbytery. This was seconded by tho Eev. Mr. HutBon and carried.