UNION OF METHODISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14933, 5 March 1912, Page 5

UNION OF METHODISM.

JOINT COMMITTEE'S SCHEME. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. Tub desirability of Methodist union in New Zealand was once again affirmed by the Conference of the Methodist Church at its sitting yesterday. By the vote of 130 members, the Conference accepted the basis formulated by a joint committee for tho union of the Methodist and Primitive Methodist Churches' under tho name of " Tho Methodist Church of New Zealand." Proposals for the unification of tho work of tho two Methodist Churches have been discussed during the past thirty years, and the scheme was actually consummated by tho conferences of tho two Churches hist year. Motion for Union. The subject was introduced yesterday by the following motion by the Rev. S. , Lawry (Christchurch) ; —

li The Conference receives with pleasure the communication from the Conference of the Primitive Methodist Church, stating that it has adopted the basis lor union, as recommended by the joint committee, by a vote of 66 to 16. «. Tho Conference desires to reaffirm the conviction, which it has previously expressed on several occasions, " That the completion of Methodist union in New Zealand is strongly to be desired, and would promote the greater effectiveness of Methodism and the larger issues of Christian work throughout the Dominion." o. 'Iho Conference hereby adopts the report of the joint committee on Methodist union, agrees to accept the proposed basis as an equitable adjustment of tho differences in the constitutional laws and usages of tho two Churches, and resolves to take all necessary steps for tho consummation of union at the earliest date that may bo found practicable. 4. That all further matters relating to this _ question be referred to a committee, consisting of the president, ex-president, and secretary of Conference, Revs. J. J. Lewis, W. J. Williams, G. Bond, P. W. Fairclough, J. A. Luxford, T. G. Brooke, C. H. Garland. W. Ready, B. H. Ginger, J. Ws.rd, C. H. Laws, J. Wrigloy, Messrs. .T. E. Wheeler, J. Vealo, A. C. Caughey, K. Dixon, G. H. Bennett, G. Tiller, J. G. Harknesa. S. Gorman, J. A. Plesher. Hon, G. J. Smith, G. H. Blaokwell, C. K. Howard, E. Kosovear. and E. Aslin. (Rev. 0. H. Laws, convener.) Joint Committee's Report. A report was made on behalf of the joint committee representing the two Churches, which -was appointed to formulate a basis of union. It stated that the, committees met in Wellington in June, and during the whole of their proceedings harmony and brotherly love . prevailed. In every session the spirit of conciliation was manifest. At the same time the discussions were perfectly frank, and differences of opinion and practice were stated and considered without reserve. The working polity of tho two Churches was found to be on such similar lines that the committee believed no sacrifice of any important principle was involved on either side by the basis of union agreed upon, and now recommended by the unanimous agreement of the committee.

Work of the Joint Conference. Tho first and the second paragraphs of the motion were carried on the voices. In moving tho third paragraph, Mr. Lawry said that in 1883 a basis of union was drafted, and was accepted by the Conference of 1884. A largo portion of that, scheme was incorporated in the basis of union recommended by the joint committee, but in some respects there were important differences. There was no provision for any special pastoral session, but there was a reservation that examinations were to be conducted by ministers alone, and these committees would report directly to the fall Conference. Another departure from tho old basis, and also an innovation in the Methodist Church, was provision for the appointment of a vice-president. In the Methodist Church, any vice-presi-dential duties were performed by the retiring president, but the Primitive Methodist Church had been accustomed nince its foundation to have a vice-president. After a great deal of consideration, it was agreed that there should bo a lay vicepresident. It was proposed that there should be only one synod; the ministerial committee would perform any functions of the present annual synod with regard to pastoral .natters. Mr. Lawry said he hoped no .attempt 'would be made to amend any part of the proposed constitution. He did not suggest that it might not bo improved, but ib was good enough as a basis of union. (Hear, hear.) Any emendations that wero necessary would make themselves manifest, and could be made much more satisfactorily if the need of them was suggested by actual experience than if only by a doctrinaire examination. Mr. Lawry added that it had been found that in. actual working the two Churches were more nearly alike than were their respective constitutions, so that it was unlikely that there would be any serious difficulty in working upon tho proposed constitution. Basis Adopted Unanimously. The report of tho committee was accompanied by the basis of union, and the provisions of , this agreement were considered in detail by tho Conference. There was some discussion on a number of points, . but finally the Conference approved the basis of union without: amendment, subject to tho acceptance by the joint committee of proposals regarding the supernumerary fund. The resolution was carried unanimously, 130 votes being recorded. The result of the voting was received with applause, and the Conference sang the doxology. . On tho motion of Rev. H. Bull, a vote of thanks was accorded to the members of the committee, and to the secretary (Rev. S. Lawry), for their- services in connection with tho formulation of the basis of union.