ANGLICANS AND METHODISTS.S

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 3778, 2 May 1919, Page 4

ANGLICANS AND METHODISTS.S

BISHOP OF LONDON'S PLAN

FOR REUNION

The Bishop of London—introduced by tho Rev. J. E. Rattenbury as "the chief Christian pastor of the Metropolis"—spoke at Kingsway Hall, London, recently, on "The Necessity and Hope for Christian Union." Ho laid down live reasons for Christian union —(1) Because Christ willed it and wills it; (2) because of tho tremendous foes opposed to Christianity; (3) because of tho fearful waste entailed by tho present system; (4) because nowhere is our disunion more disgraceful and more harmful thaii in the mission field; (5) because one of the greatest obstacles to evangelisation at Home is tho disunion of Christians. "If we had tho order of Rome, tho peasant piety of the Russian Church, the restraint and order and enthusiasm of tho Church of England, the fiery -missionary zeal of the Wesloyans, tho intellectual strength of the Presbyterians, the devotion of Baptists, Congregationalists, and Quakers all poured into ono molten glory- called the Catholic Church, such a body would bo invincible—such a body could stop anything:—could do anything."

Turning to what he described as '< a much more difficult question, the hope of Church union, the Bishop said tho atmosphere was far more hopeful to-day than it bad ever been. They had learned more and more to cooperate with one. another. He had come back from Salonika with new hope of reunion—and he was talking of the reunion of tho whole of Christendom. Then there was the wonderfill brotherhood of tho chaplains at the front, who had shown a great desire to draw together. That, they might say, was a long way off reunion, and he agreed, but it was a preliminary, a prelude to it. "It is because I am going to bo satisfied with nothing but reunion that even at tbe risk of misunderstanding 1 havo deprecated indiscriminate exchange of pulpits, because I believe that these great schisms must be healed from inside and not plastered from outside."

The Bishop went on to expound a scheme by which the Church of England and the Wesleyan Methodist Church—closely akin in spirit, in doctrine, in ideas—might unite. They could not expect the Church of England to part with her belief in the historic orders or to water down her doctrine. But he suggested that after a specified dato all ordinations in both churches should be so carried out as to satisfy the principles of both churches. Six or more presidents or superintendents should bo ordained' bishops of the Connexional Society, for many Wesleyan Ministers would prefer to bo ordained by their Wesleyan Bishops rather than by Bishops of tho Church of England.

"Just look," said tho Bishop, "at the way wo should supplement each other. I should simply lovo to go round the Wesleyan Churches and preach the Gospel myself, and find a magnificent joy in putting myself sido by side with those whoso zeal and fervency I have admired for years." Tho Bishop admitted that tho question of confirmation was a more difficult one , v aonenod[preaho ,BTHES cult one, and one on which ho M'ished to reserve judgment.