ANGLICANS AND METHODISTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12604, 6 March 1903, Page 2

ANGLICANS AND METHODISTS.

A FRATERNAL GREETING. {Fiiom Our Otrx Correspo.vdent.) CHPJSTCHURCH, March 5. At noon to-day tho Methodist Conference was waited upon for tho first time in its history in New Zealand by the Very Rev. Dean Harper, Archdeacon Scott, and Canons Knowlos and Dunkley, renresenting the Anglican Church. The president welcomed tho deputation. The Very Rov. Dean Harper read the following address:— "Wo the undersigned clorgy of the Anglican Uiurcli in Una city, venture to approach your Annual Conference nnd to take tliig opportunity of expressing our pleasure at meeting so many distinguished members of tho Wesleyan Methodist Church in Chriutchurch to-day, and to offer,to you a cordial and fraternal greeting in the name of tho One Divine Lord and Master, praying that tho blessing o£ God may rest upon your deliberations. Notwithstanding certain differences between us in regard to clerical government and the interpretation of scmo of the facts of Scripture and of ecclesiastical history, yet we gladly entertain the conviction that those points upon which wo are agreed are more numerous tlmn those in respect of which wq differ. Wo recognise with gvatitudo to Almighty Gcd the abundant measure in which He has used, and is still using, tho Methodist organisation to promote Christian faith and devotion, and pure and righteous living. Greatly as we regret tho separation from tho Church of England of numbers of men and women, many of whom arc conspicuous for their earnestness and zeal, and the barriers which in the courso of years have been built lip between your communion and ours, wo yet rejoice to acknowledge tho operation of the Holy Spirit in the mission of John Wesley and in the subsequent work of Wesleyan Methodism. Especially do we thank God {or wbat it has dc-ne to revive the practical recognition of the responsibilities aaul powers of the laity in Christ's Household, and., as related to this, tho largo use it has made of gifted laymen in the preaching of the Gospel, This characteristic of your connexion has not been without its reflex influence upon other branchc3 of tho Christian Church, and we pray God that the bonds of Christian love and sympathy may bo drawn ever closer together, until a day shall come when our spiritual accord shall be manifested in an organic os well as a vital unify, and when our Lord's great prayer for His disciples, "That tlioy ma}' be one, even as v.'e are one," shall receive its complete earthly fulfilment. There ore not a. few signs in our day pointing onward to such a consummation. May God hasten it in His time.—(Signed) Walter Harper, Dean; Edwm" A. Scott, Archdeacon; Fras. Knowlcs, Hon. Canon; W. A. Pascoe, Canon; Walter Dunkley, Minor Canon; H. T. Purchas, and W. S. Bean. —(Prolonged applaueo.) Dean Harper said that their deputation had the full sanction of tho Bishop of -Christchurch, and the address would have tho full approval of quite the larger number of their derey. The Rev. ft. R. Dowsbury replied on behalf of tho Conference, expressing sincere appreciation of tho kindly and brotherly words of greeting conveyed by such distinguished representatives of their great historic Church. They were perhaps not wrong in interpreting this to he evidence of their truer Christian trust which cume of knowing each other better, and that they were all looking loss now at the points' of cleavage than at tho points of" contact. Their two churches were )>ouml to each other by many ties of sympathy, and during the last year they had been drawn together by a common sorrow. The one church had lost Hugh Prico Hughes and the other the sainted Archbishop of Canterbury, and they had mourned together. If the churches united they would arrive at a solution of many of the problems now troubling them. The' Rev. Can on Knowlcs thanked tho Conference for the gracious and generous reception accorded as fellow workers in God's trust. They looked forward to that great day when tho Church of Christ should offer an undivided front to its enemies. The deputation then withdrew.

— A society lias boon formed in Manchester the members of which eschew the morning meal. The non-breakfasters contend that breakfast- retards activity of both mind and body, and is a fertile cause of indigestion, dyspepsia, and like ailments. — Third-class railway fares in India are loss than a farthing a mile.