CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21209, 15 June 1932, Page 11

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

COMMUNION SERVICE.

FOUR CHURCHES COMBINE. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S MESSAGE. A service unique in New Zealand religious annals was held in the Town Hall last evening, when fully 2000 adherents of the various non-episcopal churches received Communion upon an equal footing.

The purpose of the service was to promote the cause of Christian unity by showing the agreement in all essentials existing among members of the evangelical free Churches, and in particular the principle of intercommunion. Four city churches co-operated in organising the service—the Pitt Street Methodist, St. James' Presbyterian, Beresford Street Congregational, and the Baptist Tabernacle. Cards of admission were obtainable by all who attended their churches last Sunday, without distinction of creed.

The collection, amounting to £59, after defraying necessary expenses, was devoted to the Mayor's Unemployment Fund. In recognition of this, the use of the Town Hall was granted rent free by the City Council. Lord Bledisloe's Good Wishes.

The following communication from the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, was read in the course of the service:—

"I feel impelled to send you a message of congratulation and encouragement in connection with the combined service which 1 see from the press is to take place at the Town Hall this evening, with a collection for the Mayor's Unemployment Fund.

Thi;-, country is just now faced with big problems which merit the active and earnest consideration of all patriotic citizens, and especially of all good Christians, arid the friendly co-operation of the latter is to my inind likely to prove the most potent factor in their satisfactory solution. Another public engagement prevents our being with you, but you have our heartfelt sympathy and pood wishes in this timely effort of 'Christian union of all who love, in the service of all who suffer.' " It was intimated that a suitable acknowledgment would be sent to His Excellency on behalf of all present.

"This service will be an historic event in the religious life of this city, and, I believe, of this Dominion," said the Rev. W. Walker, of -the Pitt .Street Methodist Church, who presided. The four churches concerned, he continued, had joined in a service last Christmas Day and another on Good Friday morning, at which 600 people received Communion. Spiritual and Material Things,

The inspiring effect of these services had encouraged a continuance of the effort. The present gathering served not only to bring Christians together, but to call the city back to central things in an age which was a challenge to the Christian community. It was a summons to witness to the highest things of the Gospel and to show that this land depended not on material, but on spiritual things. If the people made spiritual things right, all else would be added unto them.

Mr. Walker urged bis hearers to go back to their churches resolved to work for a mighty revival of pure religion in the city and throughout the land.

Great reverence marked the service throughout. By excellent organisation the difficult task of distributing the consecrated elements among the large congregation—certainly the largest ever assembled in New Zealand for such a purpose—was accomplished without the least commotion. Indeed, there were periods of silence in which the assemblage was enveloped in an atmosphere not unworthy to be compared with that of a Quaker meeting.

Brief devotional addresses were given bv the Rev. J. W. Kemp, of the Baptist Tabernacle, and the Rev. E. R. Harries, of St. James' Presbyterian Church. Prayers were offered by the Rev. A. V. Whiting, of the Beresford Street Congregational Church, the Rev. Dr. J. J. North, principal of the Baptist Theological College, and the Rev. Dr. C. H. Laws, ex-principal of Trinity Methodist College. Need For Simplicity. A combined choir of 150 voices led the singing, and the organist was Mr. A. E. Wilson, of the Tabernacle.

Speaking of the practical implications of the service, Mr. Harries enunciated three principles. In the first place, he said, if true unity were to be attained, Christian simplicity must be maintained. The earliest Christians had neither dogma, ritual nor sacraments in a theological sense, yet their communities radiated an influence that was still felt to-day. Secondly, Christians should practice loyalty and loving deeds within the fellowship of the Church, not only giving their sympathy to those in want or distress, but by practical aid, and that more liberally than in the past. Thirdly, they should combine more in bearing witness before the world. To this end he would commend to all the campaign of Christian witness that it was planned to hold in Auckland at the end of August.