CHURCH UNION

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 41, 17 August 1916, Page 3

CHURCH UNION

CONGREGATIONALISTS CONFER

IMPORTANT MOTION CARRIED.

At yesterday's conference of the Wellington district of the Congregational Union of New Zealand an address was delivered by- the itev. J. Reed Glasson on the subject of Church union.

"The greatest-issue of our time," declared the speaker, "is the union of Christendom." Important as were the questions of international tariffs and the peacu of nations, the one concerning union was even more important. The war would try as by fire modern Christianity, and the question was, after the war would there be a new epoch of international Christianity. This was not only in his thoughts or the thoughts of the Congregational Church, but other religious communities had the question before them. He quoted recent utterances of Dean Hensley Hinson and Canon J. Wilson, of Worcester. "If the Churches cannot find a way of solving their difficulties and amalgamating they will fail in their duty in the world." People were beginning to see that dogmas and doctrines were but man's idea of expressing conceptions of the Divine. Underlying them was Christian experience, and wherever that was found itwas the same in essence, and so they were forced to realise the independence of Christ's Gospel. Christianity was not Roman, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, nor Congregational. In substance it was one with all, but essentially it. belonged to none. There was involved in that idea a great sacrifice of inbred prejudices. It was clear that one of the effects of the war would be that men coining in contact with all communions, and seeing that all had taken up the great work of freeing the world from despotism and wrong, would think the differences dividing the Christian Church were, trivial. That impression must enter into the minds of all' thoughtful men.

Mr. Glasson dealt extensively with various movements in Canada and Great Britain of recent times, which aimed at, and were proving more or less successful in obtaining, the amalgamation of certain different denominations. He also referred to the linking up of the two Methodist branches in Australasia, and to the effort made in Dunedin thirteen years ago- to bring Methodists, ■Presbyterians, and Congregationalists together He Imd always been strongly in, favour of such a movement, and he thought that his denomination should now prepare for such a change. The object of the conference was to discuss the question. Ho repeated his opening statement that the greatest issue of our time was the union of Christendom. (Loud applause.)

The Rev. A. E. Hunt followed. At the time of tlie Dunedin Convention he ha-d just come to New Zealand, and was a great believer in the union of churches. He regretted the matter had been allowed to drop. Now it was forced upon them again by the war The men had come in contact in the battlefield with the various chaplains and had learnt that a very thin partition separated the various denominations. They (the chaplains) all made equal sacrifices, and he felt sure that when the war ended those who returned would be more and more dissatisfied with the present condition of the Christian Church, and more and more anxious to see the sections drawn together in one union. He denied that his, or any other, Church had a monopoly of the Spirit of Christ. There had been a great breaking down of the differences which had separated the various bodies. All were being unconsciously drawn nearer together The great bulk of the people belonged to certain- denominations only because of being born into a particular sect, or for social reasons, or because they liked a certain minister—not from any conviction that one was more right than the other, lie felt sure the masses would welcome amalgamation.

Mr Hunt then moved as follows :— That, with a view to the elimination of the present wastage of men and means under, the present denominational system, and the economising and consolidating of the forces of the nonJipiscopal Churches of this Dominion this conference is of opinion that the time has arrived for a closer union of the Churches; and, in view of the lessons of the religious work in the present war and the movements in this direction or the Churches in Canada and Great Britain, we request the executive ol the Union to arrange for the consideration of this question at the forthcoming council meetings with a view to definite action." Mr. Lindsay seconded the motion, but took exception to one or two statements that had been made. He thought the principles of Congregationalism of fifty or sixty years ago should be more strictly adhered to. .

Mr. P Meadowcroft quoted a recent appeal by the Lord Mayor of London, who had invited representatives of all the Churches to meet in conference at the Mansion House. He (the Lord Mayor) in his invitation stated that the time for the unity of Christendom was now.' After so great an experience as the war, men would not return to the old ways of religion. Mr Meadowcroft said he had yet to learn the result of that invitation, but he feared the result jf the Churches had refused it.

The Rev. Alfred Hodge (Napier), though heartily in agreement, thought it would be best to proceed step by step. Let them help on the union of the Presbyterians with themselves as a first step, and then go forward. He thought it a mistake to attempt too . big a task to begin with, and he was afraid that it was in trying to do too much, that the Canadian movement would perhaps fail. They should strive for a spiritual as well as organic union. He was rather afraid of Mr. Hunt's wide motion. The Rev. A. M. Aspland supported the motion, and said they should try to obtain- the whole "loaf" even if they only succeeded in getting part of it. He deplored the amount of competition at present manifested among the Churches. With union . that would all be done away with He would be delighted if something practical were done as a result of the conference—if only the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists united. He f.elt" that ministers were at one on the question. The Rev B Thomas and Mr. Smith also supported the motion. The Rev A. Reader (Methodist) said his sympathy had always been with the idea of union. It was a scandal that there_ should be the present unhappy divisions. No Church had a monopoly of the truth, and he believed that every preacher of the Gospel had some contribution to make to the betterment of mankind. There was urgent need to conserve men and money, and it was time the Churches removed the scandal of one minister treading on another's heels. Great movement? had often begun from such gatherings as they were holding, and he trusted that the discussion would lead to the spreading of their desires (Loud applause.) The motion on being put by the chairman was carried unanimously.