FAITH & ORDER CONFERENCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 206, 15 August 1927, Page 5

FAITH & ORDER CONFERENCE

QUESTIONS OF SACRAMENTS (Received 15, 9.25 a.m.) Lausanne, Aug. 14. The Faith and Order Conference considered the question of the sacraments. Dr. Ashworth, Baptist, ol America, declared that blessing from the sacraments was derived rather from the faith in which they were received than from the official status of the administration. Dr. Maldwyn Hughes, Wesleyan, of England, pleaded that all churches should gather round one communion table to meet their Lord without asking how he comes and only know ing of his presence (A. and N.Z.) A DIFFICULT TASK. Lausanne, Aug. 13. The Faith and Order Conference has the most difficult task of considering the committees’ reports. The Bishop of Bombay (Dr. Palmer) said Calvin made a most amazing mistake in trying to reform the Church on the pattern of the apostolic age. Minus the apostlcsthe Church was not a democracy, but a monarchy of which Christ was King. Dr. Sehcrer t of the American Lutheran Church, declared that before the re-union of the Protestant and Catholic churches, a constitutional episopate might be possible through the growth of unity, independent of outward forms, but he feared the theory of apostolic succession would lead to the acknowledgement of the Pope's supremacy.

Critics anticipate that the delicate question of the number of Sacraments to be observed will prove a stumbling block to the desire for unity. One touching incident is recorded. A Norwegian delegate, the Rev. Hertzeberg, who was dying, realised that he could not live through the night and handed over an address to a friend, who read it after his death, all the members of the conference standing with bowed heads.—(A. and N.Z.)