CHURCH UNION SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 12

CHURCH UNION SCHEME.

FIRST STEPS BY ASSEMBLY.

OPPOSITION DEFEATED. "AN APPLE OF DISCORD." The question whether tlie Presbyterian Church should initiate further negotiations toward union with the Methodist and Congregational Churches in New Zealand was raised in tlio Presbyterian Assembly yesterday by tho Rev. Dr. J. Gibb, of Wellington. His proposal gave rise to the most spirited encounter at tho assembly. Dr. Gibb moved that in view of tho piercing call to unity in tho moderatorial address and of the need for union among churches most nearly aliko tho assembly should set up a small committee to consider whether tho tiino had not arrived to resume union negotiations with tho Methodist and Congregational Churches, the committee to report to tho present assembly. lie was convinced that some day tho union would bo accomplished. They might set up a committee whose duty would bo to institute a series of inquiries as to tho state of feeling in tho churches concerned.

The'Rov. James Aitken, of Gisborne, seconded.

Tho Rev. J. M. Brodio, of Scacliff, moved as an amendment that tho assembly, in tho abscnco of any overture on Church union, should tako no action meanwhile. Ho thought they would all agree that Dr. Gibb had shown very doubtful tasto in using the moderator's address as a platform for throwing an applo of discord into an otherwise happy assembly. It was not tho first time lie had had to correct Dr. Gibb for inaccuracy. (Laughter.) He claimed that Church union in Canada had split tho Presbyterian Church there in twain. .Why had Dr. Gibb pushed aside tho assembly clerk and tho clerks of Presbyteries in this matter ?

"Please protect me, moderator," pleaded Dr. Gibb to tho Right Rev. Professor Hewitson, who presided, and Mr. Aitken rose to a point of order. "I think this is intolerable," broke in Dr. Gibb, as another reference was mado to him.

"If wo just listen, Mr. Brodio will get on tho road again," said tho moderator calmly, "and then tho clock will point to the end of his time." (Laughter.) The amendment was seconded by tho Rev. D. N. Mackenzie, of Wallacetown, who. said the proposal should liavo conic from tho lower courts in spontaneous fashion, and not in this brutal manner. Dr. Gibb, in replying, repudiated with scorn anything in the nature of "jockeying." Of course, the proposal would have to come from Church Courts, but tho work ought to bo begun. It was a lung process.

The amendment was lost by a largo majority and the motion was carried.

Mr. Brodio asked leavo to have his dissent recorded, but tho assembly refused to grant it.