CHURCH UNION.
(To tho Editor (! N.Z. Times*”) Sir, —Permit me to offer one or two remarks on the article in your issue of to-day on the union of the evangelical churches. I am thankful that you consider the ideal a fine one, and thankful, too, that you do not think the promoters of tho movement need despair of an ultimate successful issue. But you gravely misinterpret the situation when you say “that possibly half the Presbyterians are ready to agree to union on equitable terms, and on lines that will not affect the material status of the church or deteriorate its Calyinistic doctrines.” At this moment six of tho Presbyteries of the church have voted in favour of continuing tho negotiations with the Methodists and Congregationalists, and six have voted against the proposal. But the number of charges in tho Presbyteries that favour tho movement is almost three times greater than the.number in tho opposing Presbyteries. . 01 course, the majority for union may not bo nearly as large as this would seem to indicate, for tho size of the minority in the case of assenting Presbyteries has to bo taken into account, and the minority has not in every case been anything like as small as in the Wellington Presbytery. I am, however in a nosition to state that the majority in favour of union is large.
You raise the question whether a weed can be framed upon which Presbyterians and Congregationalists can unite, and you ask if I “ would be prepaiod to abandon the Confession of Faith and other historic standards cl the Presbyterian Church.” This is passing strange, on tho assumption that you had read my remarks on this very point in tho clear condensation of ray speech ir the same issue of your paper. I contend that the real creed, the living weed, the fighting creed of the three churches is now practically one and tho same. Personally I am almost sure that a statement of doctrine and , polity can be framed that will meet tho requirements of Methodists and Presbyterians. AVhat the Congregationalists will agree to is another question. I do not mean that the truth that church teaches differs materially frorg the teaching of the Presbyterian Church, but it is by no means clear that they will accept any doctrinal statement, otherwise than as a mere declaration of the truth commonly received by their communion. If this should prove to be their position, I am afraid that negotiations between them and us will have to end. The Presbyterian Church may modify its creed, but abandon all creeds it certainly will not, and I should bo the last man in the church to advise such a course.
But here is the point of my argument at the Presbytery. No man on either side of,this controversy can dogmatically say, at this stage, whether or not a basis in creed and polity can be framed so as to secure an organic union of these churches. Tho General Assembly has. not asked the Presbyteries to express an [pinion on this question. The Assembly has. asked the Presbyteries only to say if they approve or disapprove of , continuing the negotiations with a view to the framing of a basis of union. Tho basis may be framed: again, it may bo found impossible to frame it. Suppose It framed, it may be accepted by tho church, or it may be refected. The future alone can answer these questions. May 1 thank you for giving adequate space in your columns for an account of an important' church meeting.—l am, etc., JAMES GIBB. St. John’s Manse, ' June 2nd. 1904.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5293, 3 June 1904, Page 5
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606CHURCH UNION. New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5293, 3 June 1904, Page 5
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