CHURCH UNION

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 47, 23 February 1917, Page 3

CHURCH UNION

WANTED BY METHODISTS

FEDERATION BEFORE AMALGA.

MATION.

Referring to the movement for a." complete union of the non-episcopal churches in New Zea.la.nd, the retiring President of the Methodist Conference (Rev. A. C. Lawry), .in his address last night, stated :—"lt can be said that the Methodists, and I believe the Congre-gationalist-s, have never gone back from the position they occupied in 1903, when they received with the utmost heartiness the overtures from the Presbyterian. Assembly. I firmly believe that our people would welcome the larger 'union that is so desirable in the interests of social reform, and for the extension of the. Kingdom of Righteousness. It is not for us as the smaller church to make overtures on this matter to a larger one. It may be that other churches feel that they do not need us; and we are certainly not afraid to stand alone. But how very much better for everybody concerned if there was a federation.now, and amalgamation later. The needl of this is apparent in. view of Romish aggression. Tile arrogance of clericalism, the insolent strength of the liqnor ring, the menace of an anti-Christian socialism, and especially the need of the winsome and compelling witness of an undivided evangelical church in the sight of a. doubting and perplexed generation. I venture to say that any suggestion of union from the Presbyterian or o&er churches will be received by us with the heartiest good-will and carefully considered in the friendliest spirit. Indeed, I personally feel that in the meanwhile we should communicate with the Congregational Union, from which has already come suggestions of federation. All of us, I think, are hoping that one effect of this terrible war will be to bring the Christian churches nearer together. The sooner we take steps towards this desirable goal the better."