NEW CHRISTIAN COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 17706, 6 July 1921, Page 3

NEW CHRISTIAN COUNCIL

BISHOP JULIUS PRESIDENT. THE FIRST MEETING.. The Council of Christian Congregations, the successor of the Council of Churches, hold its .first meeting at Christchurch in the Concert Hall of the L.M.C.A. His Lordship Bishop Julius presided. A GREAT AND HEAVY WORK. The Chairman said that he could not have taken the place he occupied, still 1 ]ess cnukl he have ventured to le-ad their devotions, if he had not been graciously and kindly asked to do so by the Council 'of Christian Congregations. _ He appreciated very highly that action, and also the action of his own clergy and the action of all m gathering to combine for common service. His Lordship referred to the excellent work done by the Council of Churches, and jo the action of the council in dissolving itself to allow of all to be gathered in. Continuing, he said that if they put away all bitterness and strife and contention and self-will and tried to, serve together all would go well. They had undertaken a great task and a very heavy ono. Of course there would be differences between them—sonic ! of them non-essential (and those were 1 the things they ofum made most fuss , about)—others were essential, and therefore no compromise was possible, i hey had been working apart for long, long years, and had got into their own ways, and had gained ’a heritage of their own traditions; they had formed their own wavs of thongh't and speech, so that the words they used did not always mean the same thing to all of them._ There was_an enormous diversity of opinion on social, moral, political, and economic questions—and, probably, the less they knew about thorn the more positive they were—and for lack of good argument they might have .to turn to their force of speech. Now, what was good enough for a City Council was good enough for them. (Laughter.) One of the rules of a band of earnest workers he had been connected with in the Old Land—“ Friends in Council”—was that the moment they began to be hot in debate the chairman put a stop to the- discussion, and all fell on their knees and prayed. He commended the principle underlying this rule to the council. He ventured to say that it was a wise step to break up the old Council of Churches to make room for a. wider federation. (Applause.) A certain section of the community—what lie might call “men of the. world ’’—which would more or less violently resent the movement, and would tell them to mind their own business and look after the people’s souls and lot their bodies alone. He did not forget that over a newspaper office in Queensland was inscribed: “ Dogs and gods not admitted.” Business men would tel! them that they knew nothing of business, and should not dabble in things they did not understand. Some difficulty had' been experienced in finding a name for the council; he was pretty sure the world would soon find a name for them—(laughter)—but whether it would fit he did not know. The laws by which men were governed must be judged by the higher law of God, and they were sticking to their business when they tested social, 'political, and other matters by the law of God, the God of righteousness and truth. The prophets of Israel never confined themselves to questions of another world. Did not Isaiah deal with politics? Did not he. touch _ the drink question and the land question? Didn’t Micah (ouch the land question.' Amos and Hnhakkuk, didn t they deal with the drink? Amos was considered strong on bribery am! corruption. It was not because the prophets know more than their brothers of politics and economics, but because they knew and feared the- law of God. It was because that law was more, or less in danger of being ignored and forgotten, and because politics and economics were not always brought under the law of revealed truth'that they had to do what they were called upon to do now. It was a very great work to bring the law of God as revealed in Christ to bear on The questions affecting the kingdoms of this world, and it was because they believed that God had a. kingdom hero that they took up this work. He was an old mail, and he would not see much of this work, but it did him good to see the. start of it, and to pray God to bless it. (Applause.) EX-PRESIDENT’S REM ARKS. The Rev. W. J. Williams, ex-president of the Council of Churches, said that ho took pleasure in attending, because of his whole-hearted interest in promoting social righteousness in Christchurch. He took it that the meeting marked the highest land-mark in social, moral.'and spiritual affairs ever reached in that city. It was a step towards the ultimate, goal of church union. He referred to the, conferences of ministers called by Canon Wilford, as soon as the report of tho Lambeth Conference reached Christchurch, and to the good understanding that had resulted. He had thought that the greatest advances had been made in this matter until the news came from little Nelson of the interchange of pulpits there on a recent Sunday. There was a Ministers’ Association in Christchurch, representing the non-Anglican churches, and he ventured to say that if Bishop Julius made a suggestion for a similar “ general post,” it would receive very careful and sympathetic consideration. (Hear, hear.) On behalf of the non-Anglicans, he expressed their appreciation of the spirit shown by the Anglican Church in respect of tha present meeting : the approach had been altogether from tho Anglican Church —they did not need to go and ask them to join; they had come and asked if it was not possible to find some way of uniting in carrying out the work of tho Council of Churches. Concluding, ho said that the ono need of Christchurch was a moral cleaning up—(Hear, hear) — and they wanted to bring to that task the best wisdom they could secure. CONSTITUTION AND OFFICERS.

On the motion of the Ven. Archdeacon Haggitb a constitution was adopted, as a creed upon by a committee consisting of seven representing the Council of Churches and seven the Church of England, i’ho full name of the body is " The Representative Council of Christian Congregations for Social Service”; the short title, "The Council of Christian Congregations.” The objects of the council wore defined to be : " To promote the physical, social, and moral welfare of the people, and the extension of the rule of Christ among all nations and over every region of human life.”

The following standing order was agreed to:—“That all business to be 1 submitted to the council shall first bo submitted to the committee for its approval.” The following officers were appointed: President, Bishop Julius; vice-presidents —Archdeacon Haggitt, the Rev. J. Paterson, the Rev. T. A. Joughin; general secretary, the Rev. J. J. North; corresponding secretary, the Rev. J. R. Young; treasurer, Mr J. C. Prudhoe; committee —the Rev, J. R. Howland (Anglican), the Rev. W. Tanner (Presbyterian), the Rev. S. Lowry (Methodist), Mr A. R. Jordan (Baptist)', Air A. W. Beaven (Congregational), Pastor Woolnongh (Church of Christ), and Mr Alfred Wilkinson (Salvation Array).