METHODIST UNION CONSUMMATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11856, 7 January 1902, Page 6

METHODIST UNION CONSUMMATED.

i A UNITED AUSTRALASIAN CHURCH. THE LAST LINKS IN THE CHAIN. January 1 was a historic day for Methodists throughout Australasia. The day, signalised the definite and complete reunion, of all branches of the great Methodist , Church in this southern continent ■■•. into one ~, organic whole. Following the example set by CanaMethodists nearly : 20, years ago, Australasian Methodists have closed, up their ranks and said: good-bye to the divisions : and secessions which followed on the death of the Wesley s, J the founders of the Church. • This coming together again of the " people called Methodists" is - (says the Sydney , Daily Telegraph) a more complete act than any of the ecclesiastical' reunions which have preceded it in Australia. The Anglican and the Presbyterian Churches are both united communions under one ecclesiastical authority within the Commonwealth, .but - Methodist union covers the seven colonies of Australasia, and • with the exception of. the Primitive Methodists in, New Zealand, embraces the whole of " the Wesleyan Methodists, the Primitive Methodists, the United Free Methodists, and the Bible Christians, representing an army of considerably over half-a-million members and adherents. According to the figures last published by Mr. Coghlan, the united strength of the " Wesleyan , and other Methodists" in the different States was as follows: —Victoria, 154,730; New South Wales, 146,520; New Zealand, 77,920; South Australia, 70,430 ; Queensland, 41,490 ;1 Tasmania, 24,430; West Australia, 17.270. These figures, however, only apply to the end of 1899. . The New South Wales Wesleyan Conference was the last to accept the overtures for union, though both Victoria and New South Wales fixed upon January 1, 1902, as the date for the formal consummation of union in their : respective States. It was the consummation on January; 1, therefore, that forged the last links ill the Australasian chain, and gave | completion to the scheme. New Zealand Methodists (excepting the Primitives, , as before explained) led the way by agreeing to . unite in 1896. Queensland followed' in 1898, and South and West Australia in 1900. The bases of union, according to the Rev. W. F. ! James, of South Australia, were first agreed to by representative Methodist meetings in Victoria and New Zealand in 1833. They were considered .by the' Wesleyan j General Conference held in New Zealand towards the close of 1884, when union was favoured upon the general principles of the basis which had been accepted in Canada. The next step was to direct the annual colonial conferences; to open up communications with other branches of Methodism with a view to union, but the membership question and the Tonga mission trouble absorbed attention at the time, and no action was taken. A revival of interest came in 1891 which found expression in a long and able debate in the General Conference held in Adelaide three years later, at which the motions for union were carried by 101 votes to 14. From that date the movement "grew apace, and actual union became only a question of time. ; Stronger opposition to the proposals was experienced in this State and in Victoria than in any of the others, for the reason, admittedly, that there were greater difficulties in the way. -V . v Whilst- union took effect on January 1 in New South Wales it is stipulated in the plan of union for New South"Wales that for three years subsequent to the date of organic union the churches, circuits, and stations, of, the uniting churches shall be worked as at present, unless otherwise provided for, by mutually satisfactory arrangements. But where adjoining circuits or stations shall deem it advisable to unite in one, or to readjust their : respective; arrangements,y and shall agree upon the same at their respective quarterly meetings, the conference .shall have i power to give effect to the same, notwithstanding the general provision. During the three years named, the conference may originate proposals of amalgamations or readjustments for the consideration of the quarterly meetings and district synods respectively concerned. ' At the end of the three years the conference shall take such steps as ■it shall deem advisable or necessary to effeofc' amalgamations or readjustments where those have not been brought about under the foregoing provisions. It was further arranged that the names ■ and boundaries iof the districts in the. Wcsleyan Methodist Church , should be retained for the present in the United Church, and the Federal Council was authorised and cmpowered to continue negotiations for the amalgamation and readjustment of circuits and churches, so as to facilitate the making of such amalgamation and , readjustments through.. the . Church courts, and, ' if - necessary, prepare a comprehensive scheme for that purpose, to be submitted to the united conference of 1902. . The consummation of union was signalised by a, united prayer, praise, and thanksgiving service in the Centenary Hall (Sydney), whon representatives of the three uniting Churches—the Wesleyan, Primitive, and United Free Methodists—took part. . As showing how far Methodists have travelled since the days of secession, it is interesting to recall a few facts as to the causes which r contributed to those secessions. The Primitive Methodist ■ section came into being through the expulsion of William Clowes and Hugh Bourno from the Methodist Society in 1811. These two men had, preached and conducted prayer meetings among the men engaged in the potteries in : Staffordshire. . Great numbers of people attended their meetings. In 1807 they introduced the American custom ; of holding camp meetings,' at which various speakers addressed the assembled congregations in the open air. These meetings were prolonged sometimes throughout the whole day. , The Methodist conference disapproving of this, expelled the promoters, Clowes and Bourne. In 1812 they took the . name of " Primitive Methodists," signifying, by this that they wished: to walk as closely as they could in the steps of John Wesley. They were named also " Ranters," from their custom of singing aloud in the: open streets. In theology they have never differed materially from the original Methodist Society, their prominent doctrine being. "full, free, and present salvation." '« " . _ The Bible Christian or Bryanite sent, arose in 1815, with the secession of William O'Bryan, a Methodist "local" (lay) preacher in Cornwall. • It succeeded well in Devonshire and Cornwall, but in 1829 O'Bryan left the sect. Their conference consists of equal lay and ministerial representation, ; and i women are allowed to act as itinerant preachers. The United , Free Methodists originally consisted of members expelled from . the Methodist Society, especially for agitating in favour of the. admission of the laity "to a voice in the management of their society. They wore amalgamated in 1857,' and differed only from the older society in giving increased power to the laity. .Tho Rev. W. F. James, of South Australia, writing on Methodist Union, says:"A child six years old was chosen to receive the germ ', of the Methodist Union movement which : has "spread throughout Australasia. After preaching in the Wesleyan Church,Wellington, New Zealand, one Sunday morning, about 55 years ago, the Rev. James Watkin, author of 'Pity Poor Fiji,' which led to the. establishment of one of the . most glorious missions in the world, and ulti- ' mately to the addition of a group of beautiful islands to tho British Empire, announced that the Rev. Robert Primitive Methodist minister, would preach there that evening. . In the minister's pew sat a little : boy ■ named i Edwin. ; After Mr. Ward's sermon. Edwin camo to his father, and said, ' I thought you told mo that the prayer meeting minister would preach to-night, but ho did not hold a prayer meeting after the service.' Mr. Watlcin told him that Mr. Ward was a Primitive Methodist minister. ' He also explained, in reply to the child's further inquiry, that the Primitive Methodists were another section of the Methodist people. At once the child dimly perceived the unwisdom of divisions in colonial Methodism. The child was father to tho man, the "Rev. E. I. Watkin, D.D., of : Melbourne, who laboured effectively for Methodist Union, and whoso speeches made a profound impression upon the recent British Wesleyan and Ecu- ( mcnical Conferences."

'A cloth-bound , cookery book, containing 180 original recipes for all kinds of savouries, invalid cookery and sweets, is sent free to all who post their Lcmco Extract jar wrapper to Liebig's Extract of Meat Com- i pany (Ltd.), 9, Fenchurch Avenue, London. Technical School students are notified by advertisement in tins issue that applications for tho forthcoming examinations in connection with tho South Kensington Science and Art Department and City and Guilds of London Institutes, to bo held in Auckland m May and July next respectively, are required to bo in the hands of the secretary of the school (Mr. J. H. Mackie, Mercantile Chambers) or. or before Wednesday, the 15th inst., from whom full particulars may be obtained. Tho supper-table was a pretty sight. They had those shimmering Sunshine things ther i, lovelv colours, and just like spoonfuls ; of rainbow. Tucker's Sunshine Jelly Crystals. The Devonport Steam Ferry Company announce a number of excursions this week. Steamers will leave for Lake Takapuno; today and Thursday, and to Rangitoto and St. Heliers Bay to-morrow and Saturday. , ' A special meeting of the Auckland Catholic Literary Society will be held on Saturday evening next.