THE CHURCH YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 9

THE CHURCH YEAR.

UNION MOVEMENT.

A GROWING SENTIMENT.' EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS. Probably the most outstanding feature in the life of the Christian Churches during the past year has been the definite advance of the movement toward reurion. This has manifested itself in many ways, both in New Zealand and throughout the world. There lias come a strong demand from the mission fields for closer union, and among the churches working in South India there ha 1 ; been inaugurated a unique union scheme which is being watched with the greatest interest and from which much is hoped. The recent Lambeth Conference of the Church of Englai.d revealed that much progress had been mado toward Christian reunion during the past ten years, and the conference made the suggestion that autonomous churches such as the Anglican Church of the Province of New Zealand might proceed to federation or union with non-episcopal churches on the basis of the union in South India. During the year arrangements have been completed for the union of all sections of the Methodist Church in England, Scotland and Ireland; and the successful termination of years of negotiation toward that end is now assured. Union has been a live question in this country also, and the Auckland Ministers' Association has held a series of meetings exploring the possibilities of forming one united church for the Dominion. Tho matter has been taken up by the Presbyterian Church in various presbyteries, and it hqs already achieved a working agreement with sister denominations as to the course to be followed when churches are to be established in new districts. Conference of Churches.

The General Assembly, which will meet in Wellington next March, is being asked to invite the Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, and Congregational Churches to appoint representatives to a Dominion council to explore the possibilities of reunion. This spirit of comradeship has found expression in many practical ways. The celebrations in May and June of the 1900 th anniversary of the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost were characterised by widespread interchange of pulpits and cordial co-operation among the various churches. After" very long negotiation agreement was finally reached on the vexed question of Bible reading in State schools, and the Roman Catholics having withdrawn their opposition, the terms of. a religious exercises in schools bill were agreed upon by the churches. On another highly controversial question —that of Sunday observance—agreement was reached by the leaders in Auckland of the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Congregational Churches, and they issued a joint statement, calling attention to the true meaning of the day and the importance of jealously safeguarding it in the interests of the community. Sunday observance has been a very live question locally, and recent decisions of church courts and of the City Council have forbidden forms of entertainment that have proved popular on Sunday evenings for a considerable time past. The Lambeth Conference. For the Church of England the outstanding event of the year was the Lambeth Conference, which was attended by Archbishop Averill and the majority of the New Zealand bishops.. The conference was felt by those who took part in. it to have marked a new era in the progress and extension of the Church. Locally there have been several educational developments of considerable interest. The St. John's trustees assumed the financial responsibility for King's College at Otahuhu, taking over its assets and liabilities. St. Stephen's Maori School at Parnell, after a varied and useful career extending back to 1848, was closed at the end of the year, and is being moved to Bombay. In spite of sentimental objections it had lately come to be recognised that such a change was inevitable, and the new property is to be developed primarily as a*i agricultural college. The Dilworth trustees have acquired a fine site of 150 acres at Wil'i, on the Great South Road, and have accepted plans for a school to accommodate 180 boys, and costing not more than £BO,OOO. The plans are to make provision for further buildings capable of holding another 180 boys.

Bishop Cherrirgton, of the Waikato diocese, who was away most of the year, has recently returned, bringing with him about £2OOO, which he raised in England to meet the diocesan overdraft. Although Bishop Bennett, who was appointed specially to minister to his own people, the Maoris, has not been in good health, his appointment has proved :most> gratifying to the Maoris, and a great help to the work of his Church among them. Religious Education. Decisions made at tb°. last General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church show that the Church is attaching increasing importance to its educational work among the young. It will appoint as professor and director of religious education an expert in religious education, who shall be of sufficiently high academic standing to justify his being a member of the senates of the Theological Hall at Knox College. Dunedin. There is also to be appointed a Sunday School secretary and secretary of the Youth Committee. The Rev. John Collie, of Queenstown, was appointed to the chair of New Testament studies, and he is also moderator-desig-nate of the assembly. He was the first New Zealander to'hold a professorship in the Theological Hall. The Methodist Church has been giving increasing attention to work among the young, and in February conference approved of the establishment of a central youth office and that the 'Young People's Board be moved to Wellington. Under the auspices of tli£. New Zealand Methodist Local Preachers' Association four prominent Australian laymen toured the Dominion about Easier, conducting a series of inspirational meetings. At the end of next March Dr. C. n. Laws will retire from his position as principal of the Theological College, and the new principal will be Dr. H. Ranston. The Rev. W. T. Blight will become the resident tutor at the collage.