“CONGREGATIONALISM”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 151, 23 March 1925, Page 10

“CONGREGATIONALISM”

SERMON BY REV. E. R. WEEKS.

The Rev. Ernest R. Weeks, preaching at The 'Terrace Congregational Churclvj-esterday morning on the subject “Congregationalism and the New Opportunity” said, taking for his text the opening words of the 60th chapter of Isaiah, “Arise, shine, for thy light is come”: “My experience of Congregational Union assemblies has been -wide and varied, but I am prepared to say that never was I more thrilled with indications of the spirit of adventure, with the forward look and holy joy of anticipated achievement than I have been at the meetings of the Congregational Union just concluded at Tiniaru. You ask me what was done—we have legislated for the formation of a college; arranged for a denominational organ with Gardiner Miller, of Napier, as editor, ‘that we may strengthen the. ties which bind us together.’ We are to hold a half-yearly ministers’ conference, when all our ministers will gather for a refresher school. We are reorganising our -young people’s deI partment that we might link in per--1 serial membership all young people | over 16 years of age into a fellowship 1 that shall deepen religion o conscious-

ness and develop unswerving loyalty 'to Jesus Christ and His kingdom i ideal. We are reaching out to occupy new territory to consolidate and strengthen existing churches. Five new ministers have been added to our ' ranks this year. Six next year is the aim which is indicative of the spirit, which characterised the meetings from the beginning to the end. This is but, an outline of some of the achievements to which these historic days have committed us. “No, this is no narrow denomina-

tionalism. This is the reawakening of the regimental consciousness. Brethren, has not too much been said decrvincr denom’n.ntionalism as if it indicated a divided Church? What would you think of an army that so . looked upon its regiments? Shall we not be nearer, far nearer, the real I oneness of the Church when we are - prepared to glory in one another’s achievements, when we salute one another's flag as soldiers do the regimental colours? When we are pre-

pared to glory in another’s achievements, accepting the inspiration which these achievements bring? When we recognise the oneness of the army; when we think of one another as comrades in arms under one Lord, the King of Kings? Let us cease these mistaken renorts which lower the tone and the strength of the army and recognise that we are different regiments in the one great army of the Living God trained and eouipped to move with steady and irresistible force against the strongholds of sin. "What do 1 mean by the new opportunitv? This: I refer to the times in which we live. One of the stirring experiences of our meetings at Timarti was when, on Monday evening last, we gathered in the beautiful Trinity Presbyterian Church, where Lionel” B. Fletcher thrilled that great audience with the story of his experience in revival and his conviction that a new day was breaking for the

religious life of this fair Dominion. ■ “How is this to be done and how may we be ready for the advance? We shall be summoning . you all to a month of consecration in May and this will be followed by a month of evangelism in June. We shall be calling you all to devote one evening everv week to the study of the Bible. Brethren, the fight is on as never before. We, as a church and as Congregationalists in one group of churches, must respond to the call, ‘Arise, shine,'for thv light is come and the glorv of the Lord is risen upon thee’ and the joy of victory shall be ours as we lay our trophies at His feet. Brethren, our Salvation is present and full: let us arise and shine!—(Published by arrangement.)