UNION DESIRABLE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 133, 3 December 1930, Page 9

UNION DESIRABLE

THE REFORMED CHURCHES

A PRESBYTERY'S DECISION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, 2nd December. The Dunedin Presbytery this afteis noon passed a resolution affirming that corporate church union was desirable, and approving of the statement, of tha General Assembly's committee on the subject. In a discussion which ensued the Eev. W. Trotter raised the question whether, they should approach only the Methodist and Congregational Churches on tho matter. In his own opinion, they should also approach the Anglican Church. The Bey. J. D. Smith said he thought an approach to the Anglican Church at the present time was a hopeless matter, not from their own point of view, but from the indications they had received from their contact here in NewZealand and also from the discussion* which had taken place at the recent Lambeth Conferfßee. There was no genial warmth in the attitude of the Lambeth Conference to the Free Churches. In his view the Anglican had closed the door until the next Lambeth. Conference. He thought it ■, was simply beating the air in approaching the Church of England at present. Mr. Smith moved that the Assembly; be requested to approach the Methodist and Congregational Churches with a. view to union. Dr. Merrington said he thought t ; hey should approach the churches that had the greatest affinity with the Presbyterian Church. If they could not succeed with them they could not succeed with the others. The Eev. D. Dutton said he was thoroughly in favour of union. Tho .matter was of such vital importance, however, that they must first understand the mind of their own people before they went in for any negotiations with the other churches. Some of them had spoken as though this was a new thing that had come before the Presbyterian Church in Now Zealand. That was not so; it was a very old question. They had been through it before, and their church had come to the last point time and again, and had then baulked. The other churches had been deeply; grieved at the action of their church,because they professedly were quito ready for union. Ho thought the first thing they should do was to ascertain, the mind of their own people. Mr. Trotter said he did not think the Lambeth Conference had shut the door on. the movement for union. He would move as an amendment that the nama of the Anglican Church be added to the motion. ■ , ■The Rev. G. Jupp seconded the motion. Mr. Trotter said that there were many people in the Presbyterian ChuTch. who would sooner link up with the Anglican Church than the Methodist Church. (Hear, hear.) As far as he was personally concerned, if he were not a Presbyterian minister he would like to be a minister of the Episcopal Church. It was decided to take Mr. Smith's motion first, and with' the addition of the Anglican Church es a separata motion next. The first motion was carried unanimously. • Mr. Trotter's motion (including the Anglican Church) was carried by 19, votes to 5.