CHURCH UNITY

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 13

CHURCH UNITY

FAITH ADD ORDER CONFERENCE AUSTRALIA'S PRIMATE INTERVIEWED An idea <of the lino work accomplished by the recent Faith aucl Order Conference at Lausanne was given by Dr J. 0. Wright, Anglican Primate of Australia, to a ‘Dominion’ reporter. “ The spirit of lutrmony that prevailed throughout the conference was very remarkable,” said Dr Wright. Dr Wright stated that the .genesis of the conference of the Christian churches—really unique in the history of the world—was the conference of Christian missionary societies held in England away bade in 1910, the exceptions to the subjects then discussed being contained in a provision that the subjects of faith and order were not to be entrenched upon, faith being what the various churches believed in and order being the discipline and government of the churches. FAITH AND ORDER. Among those who attended that conference was Bishop Brent, of Western New York, who expressed himself as an objector to such permanent and vital things as faith and order being omitted from the deliberations of that conference; and when ho formally stated that objection before a conference of the Episcopal Church of America his view was supported by Bishop Manning, of Now York, and stops were there and then initiated to bring about a larger conference to consider such matters, tire late Mr Pierpout Morgan very generously offering to finance it. With that assistance steps were taken to approach the various Christian bodies the world over, with the request that they should discuss the local bearing of the various subjects included in the larger ones mentioned merely as preliminary action intended to discover whether there was a basis or common ground for a big conference or whether such a proposal was futile.

Smaller and larger church committees and conventions throughout the world had given attention to these matters of recent years, with the result that there Was, generally speaking, a manifest interest in and desire for the conference. So in due course a date w;is decided upon, delegates were appointed, and these converged on Lausanne this year, probably the most remarkable gathering in the history of Christianity. THIRTY NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED.

Some 70 separate Christian bodies, representing over 00 races, attended, the only absentees being the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, Representatives of some of the American churches made a point of calling upon the Pope at Rome requesting a delegation. Dr Wright stated that the delegation was civilly received, but the final answer to America’s plea was “No.” Delegates were present from the Anglican Churches of England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, Australia, India, West Indies, and New Zealand; from the Protestant Episcopal Church of America, tho'Presbyterian Churches (Established and Free), the Congregational Church, tho Episcopal Methodist Church (also its African branch), from China, Japan, the Lutheran Ciiurches of Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, and America, the Reformed Churches of France and Switzerland, the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Church, and those of Bulgaria, Rumania, Egypt, Serbia, and Hungary. So one could see that the conference was very representative, including as it did archbishops, and eminent men of all countries, including tho Bishops of Gloucester and Manchester, Bishop Gore (formerly of Oxford), and tho Primate of Ireland.

Bishop, Brent, .of Western Now York, was elected president of the conference, and-Dr Ganvin (an eminent Congrogationalist and a very remarkable man) was selected as vice-president. OBJECTS OF THE CONFERENCE. Many people were under a misapprehension as to the object of the conference, running away with the Idea that it was convened to bring about tho United Christian Church. As a matter of fact nothing of tho kind was intended or attempted. There was not even an attempt to bold a united communion service. Tlio real object of tho conference was a preliminary consideration of certain matters more or less vitally governing every Christian church, and an attempt to bring about a ground of common understanding, which, when fully discussed and appreciated, might pave the way to church unity. “The spirit of harmony that prevailed throughout the_ conference was very remarkable,” said Dr Wright, “ and it was reassuring and encouraging to discover that there were more agreements in fundamentals than some of us had imagined.” UNITY OF THE-CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.

“I don’t think,” said the Primate, “ that anyone could join in the conference, ■ with all its diverse elements, without in some way. or another being impressed with tho conviction that unity of tho Christian churches may take place in tho future; when, it is much too early to prophesy.” There were no formal resolutions pledging the delegates to this or that view. Truths were discussed rather than agreements, and if a symbol were required of that one need only mention tho opening gathering in the Lausanne Cathedral (Lutheran), when the whole of tho congregation recited the Creed and tho Lord’s Prayer, each delegate in his own language, whilst tho three hymns sung were printed in English, French, German, and Latin, so that all could sing them in the language he felt host expressed the reverence felt. Dr Wright himself said he would rather sing a hymn-in French than in a poor translation in English. THE SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. All had been carefully arranged prior to the conference. The agenda paper contained several great subjects—viz.; The nature of the church. The sacraments of tho church. The message of the church. The ministry of the church, and The future organisation of the united church. These subjects were delegated' to three great commissions, which in turn were divided into sub-committees ,to report on from 25 to 30 contributory subjects. These sub-committcos- duly reported to tho commission, and they, after being submitted to a special drafting committee, in turn to the conference as a whole. This meant a great deal of bard work, extending from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. over a period of throe weeks or more. The reports are now to he printed in America and circulated among all the Christian churches concerned the wide world over. Everyone hoped that as tho result of this .free interchange of ideas in faith and only that ultimately a fuller understanding would result to the greater glory of Gad and His church op earth.