UNITY OF CHURCHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18079, 2 May 1922, Page 8

UNITY OF CHURCHES.

THE LAMBETH APPEAL.

APPROVAL OF SYNOD.

CO-OPERATION INVITED.

The adjourned debato on Bishop Sedgwick's motion "that the synod expresses its thankfulness to Almighty God for tho great movement made toward unity by tho Lambeth Conference of 1920, and associates itself with tho resolutions passed by that conference on this great question," was concluded in the Anglican General Synod yesterday afternoon.

An amendment by way of addition was placed before synod by Bishop Averill, who moved that copies of tho Lambeth appeal and resolutions on reunion bo sent to tho leaders of the Christian churches in New Zealand, and that the churches t>e invited to co-operato with tho Anglican Church in prayers, study and conference, in view of the ultimate realisation of tho Lambeth vision..

Another amendment was moved by Canon J. R. Wilford, of Christthurch, substituting for th© second half of the motion a clause virgin* the clergy and laity of tho province to us© every opportunity to get the resolutions passed at that conference and this great question studied and discussed with members of other Christian bodies.

This amendment was seconded by Archdeacon F. N. Taylor, who urged caution in associating themselves with resolutions which might chain them to uneeri tain commitments. He particularly warned tho synod against any action which would pledge them to a promiscuous interchange of preachers. Mr. C. J. 'funks denied that there was anything in tho Lambeth resolutions which implied a promiscuous interchange of pulpits. At a later stage, at Canon Wilford's request, his amendment was withdrawn on the ground that it was tho subject of misunderstanding. Bishop Richards, of Dunedin, who supported the motion, said that 99 per cent, of tho poople did not grasp the fact that the differences between th© churches wore fundamental. The mere grasping of hands and the holding of services together was not real unity. The desire that was being expressed on all sides, however, for 1 a oloser association, should be acceded to. They did not want to combine all churches into one nil AngMcan Church, but wished that the conception of one Catholic Church should be understood. It was the great vision of the one church that inspired the bishops at Lambeth, and he pleaded that the vision be followed in order that the great work of God might be carried forward.

Professor T. H. Easterfield. of Nelson. said that the fundamental point wns love cf Jesus Christ. They could not expect people who had any intellectuality at all to regard one thing from exactly the same point of view. Bishop Sedgwick, of Waiapu, said ho believed that the great obstacle to unity was the failure to grasp what was meant by the Church of Christ, which was the ono visible Church of God. They were aslrini? the peonlo of other denominations to he'p in healing the greatest sore, >n Christendom, and take a fuller share in l this wider mission.

After further debate tho motion, toeether with the addition laid down in the amendment, was carried unanimously.