METHODIST UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19419, 30 August 1926, Page 12

METHODIST UNION.

CONFERENCE IN ENGLAND. SIR -HENRY: LUP'S VIEWS. LESSONS . FROM DOMINIONS. [FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT. ] LONDON. July 15. By 265 votes to 14 the United-Metho-dist Conference at Nottingham approved the'6cheme for union with the "Wesleyan Methodist and Primitive Methodist Churches. Strenuous opposition, was raised, but the voting on each of the clauses showed that this was confined to a few delegates. The subject was introduced in the shape of a revised report •from the united committee of the three Methodist Churches concerned in the movement. It included a model deed, the amended form of. the Enabling Bill, and the amended form of the doctrinal and sacramental clauses.'

Sir Henry Lunn, who is just back from his journey round the world, contributes to the Times a very long • letter on the subject of union. He naturally refers to the position of the Methodist Churches in Australia' and New Zealand. "Concessions have been made," he says, "by Sir Robert Perks and by those who support the proposed scheme of union during recent months which will enable me to vote for a scheme which I still regard as ill-considered and .imperfect, reserving to myself , the right to vote for any amendment. These concessions aro that no Parliamentary action to promote the necessary legislation for reunion shall be begun until 75 per cent, of each of the Conferences of each of the uniting Churches have voted in favour of the proposal and certain modifications in the doctrinal clause and in the clause which concerns the administration of the Holy Communion, which bring the proposed constitution more nearly into harmony with the standards and practices of the historic churches.

- "The,, danger. of forcing a legislative measure for union upon a minority is •unhappily demonstrated .in the division of the Canadian Presbyterian Church info a majority who have joined the United Church of Canada, and a minority'who remain in existence as what are called 'Continuing Presbyterians.' - Methodist Union was carrjed out some years since in Australia, and I attended this year the triennial General Australasian Conference. • The greatest surprise was expressed by Australian and Canadian Methodists that in the proposed scheme, the administration of the Sacrament by laymen will be. continued for an indefinite period. Nothing of the kind exists in the Australian,, . New Zealand or Canadian Churches." ' -"

"One .incident that has happened recently in the conference of the New Zealand Methodist Churcli comes as. a grave warning to many who regret ih.e adoption in-the scheme of union of the office of a lay vice-president. The New Zealand' Conference has the same office in its constitution, and has recently decided by formal vote of the conference recorded in its last minutes that henceforth a lay vice-president shall take part in the ordination of ministers/ This js : a gratuitous departure from the -practice : of . the historic churches which must be deplored by all who care -for the larger unity.'" Sir Heury Lunn suggests tfta-t •tha'tfrree conferences in this country jijigljt by .resolution form a Unity'.'' conference "of 200 members.; Snch 'a body-'could give "the time-.for T w{)rk'ing out the amalgamation of; the. missionary enterprises at hbtne and' abroad of the three conWiinious, and could agree upon .-a common-hymn-: book and a common service book. ' He says "It coiild agree upon common teaching, in joint theological colleges, and in other, ways could bring the Churches nearer to one another in actual work before organic union was attempted. If Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalisms have succeeded in common theological' training in Canada, there ought.to be no difficulty in carrying out measures of this kind in Great Britain, and such measures would, not require Parliamentary sanction and would not involve the bitterness and strife which a compulsory- measure of union attempted against a minority of approximately 30 per cert, will inevitably cause."