UNION OF CHURCHES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12618, 23 March 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

UNION OF CHURCHES

DEPUTATION 7 TO THE METHODIST .CONEF/REJfjGli.

(Br Ova SrajiAi Bfjorthi.) " ' CHUI'S'rC.HtTKCII, Mjirbh 4. At 11 q'pfocic this morning'in the Durham Street Melluxlist' Church a"'deputation' 'from tiie Presbyterian Church of"Now'Zealand, consisting of the Hev.'J. Gibb (Uuricdiji) Kov] Di ,, Erwin "aiid the Rev. Mr Stnbbs waited on the MetHodist Conference to place h&ib're if views oil' cliurch union, the 'oecasion heihjr ' regarded , n's hijtbric.il. Titer* was' a "large gathering, amount them being t-K'e Senior member fdr Duricdin (Mr H. D. Bedford). All rose'to receive the deputation, tliq members of which took seats oil the dais. The"'President (the Rev. .1. A. Luxford) Eaiil the conference had beeii looking forward in anticipation 'to fliis visit. What was said that day would be seriously, solemnly, and prayerfully considered!" Whatever might be .life .outcome of 'this' first approach," the bonds between the churches could iiot but be strengthened by the meeting. \ The Rev. J. Gibb. of Dunedin, ex-Modera-tor, s.iid at the outset ho would explain that the deputation was a small one,' because the bulk of the committee lived in Duue.din. Had tliey lived in Chnstchurch tho deputation would'have been 50 strong. As thp chairman ..of tho conj'ef once'had paid, Hio preeent deputation from the great Presbyterian Church was unique. They were there to say that the Asscmhly was of opinion that'the t.ime had come to seriously consider whether the union of thOfe bll'nrolie's might not bo accomplished. j Mr Gibb then read the "resolution passed at the' Inst Assembly in Wellington, anil Went on to say (hat it nffifrfrid 'wiUi no' uncertain sou.in the desirability' of tinion, "a'lid they "held that it 'cftiiljl be accomplishes) w.ijlidut Ihe facrifke of principle, liiicj pyen" wont furtlior in the hope 'that union'y-oiild result. They did not' ' contemplate ' haste. Ho faid beforehand that it wijfh.t bb y'.ojBible to accomplish tlie union of the evangelical churches in from eight to ten vears. They knew the difficulties that were in the way. anil there might be many astumblTng blbclc'ljefore die'end was atiained, b'iit'ft ivn3 certain to be accom'plisli'ed.'— (Applaikcl Thi) y>parate''existence of the cUiirclies (lid a fjrral deal of hannt'o tlie'relijioh'df Christ, and the man in tjie strept was more iiitorctited in tlie noinis of 'agreement. Harm was abb "done by the ' miiltiplicatioii 'of officials. Willi a coinliiiied churcjr tliev would have a great iiicrense' of 'power. It would make the heart thrill lo belong to a great Church which' , could make ifs'eif Felt and let it be known that it could not be ignored and pooh-poolied, even in the political situation.' tmion would produce afiner type of Christian than wns now "produced by a divided Church. He was profoundly convinced that this union was in aocordano'e with the 'mind of the Master, and it mw (lie Spirit of God that was moving in the matter. Inward unity tjiey had olreotly, but it should JuitT oxprcsibn in qut\yawl piety. Tliero were, he was jtwarc, diffioiiltifs ii) the way of union, but he recognised that the good which would result from union would quite outweigh the peraonal losses which each Church might suffer through the sinking of its individuality. He had onco Ijeen taken to task for speaking of the bogies of Calvinism and Armini.aiKßm, but he knew that the practical workinsf creed of both the Presbyteria'u and Methodist Churches wa? the same, and that ihe.y smy'eye', to'eye.' ' There would "be difficulties to face on the grounds of policy— the chief difference being the itinerant ministry of the' Methodists and the fixed ministry of Presbyterians, according to the constitution of the churches. WheHiey they all b'ejifved i;i the constitution on this point in their hearts was another thing. The method? of ljjot.h churches might, 'he thought, be modified, mid there ought to bs no real (Ulncnlty'in s.ettling thjs question. The depu-' tation asked the odnfer.ence to give a fiCnerpus approval of the decision of the Assembly, and to say that it bilievpd that the timo has come to seriously consider the question and to set up a committee tp consider certain, great lines npori jfhieji negotiations for union may p.o'ssibly proceed. It might lio tHat only .from'the far watchto\y'ers in their itinerary that'they who were present that day wpald see thei'c do'sire accomplished. But it might coiine to them sooner, and it would come. He had'suggested that it might be called the National Church. The MetKodists might prefer the title Q.f the Evangelical Cliureh;' he was sure'there would be- n,p parrel' over that, His heart longed to see this great "united evangelical Church,' and who was. there among them who did not' long- for so' goodly a'thinjr? God'speed the'day 1f he Bev. Mr Gibb sat dowii amidst' prolonged applause, his fine speech haying'been to with the utmost at'teijtlon.' ' ' ' '" ' The Rev. Dr Enviii also sopke, expressing pleasure aftlie hearty 'manner in which the Rev.'Mr Gibb'f spoech" had b'een received. " ' ' *'"" " """ ' Tho Rev. G, H. Garland (Auckland), in replying on behalf of the oonferen.ee, said, that it was a. most'graceful "action'on the part of the senior and a larger church "to thus approach the sister Jiody. In the past some, had interested themselves in" tlie union of Methodism, because they felt tliat it'was a step towards such a iuliqri as was'now suggested. ' He believed' that the- Presbyterians and "Methodists could "effect Hie union which would in no way damage the onward march of truth, for which all longed. Of course,' there were difficulties in the matter of doctrine, but ho thought that a few prominent" funerals would clear these away. He was afraid ten' years was too short a time in which' to consummate such

a union.—(■ No, no. ) Still, tho tendency of the world was to generalise its creeds, and the Conference and the Preslytoran Church were pne on the groat point that .Ipsiis Christ came into the world to save sinners. Ho hoped and believed that'union would coma. Mr ,T. T. Smith (Chrietahuroh), representing the laymen of the conference, said that lie could assure the deputation that he and his fellow-ministers appreciated deeply the service that had beeai rendered that mornin?. The' conference was in full" sympathy with the proposals made, nnd lyhatever difficulties were in Hie way could be overcome He felt sure that the- suggested union would be fully considered with a view of bringing about the splendid ideal of a- united evangelical plmrch! OHRISTCHURCH, March 5. At the Methodist Conference this morning the Rev. ,T, .7. Lewis moved tho motion, of which he had given , notice the previous day. with regard to the suggesod union between the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational Glmrcliee, as follows: — "That this conference has received with much satisfaction the resolution of the funeral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of "New Zealand on the great subjeof of the ijniou of the- EyangelicaJ cliurelira, am! !'(!!i also listened wip| pleaputo to the frajernaj sentiments expressed by the deputation which presented the resolution. The conference gladly recognises the fading of mere sectarian differ?ne.es and.tho growth of imter-dcnoitiiiiatjotial amenities arid cooperation. Relieving lha/t the movement along these lines will be accelerated year by yeai , , it a Central Committee in Christchurch, with corresponding committees'in other dialricte, to sit during the year onid consult with the epimnitteos of the ohe'r churches as tn the basis upon which a. comprehensive federation "may "bo carried out." ' Mr Lewis said" tlint the committee would meet the committeesi of the pthfir churches and report lo the qpnferen.ee. Ao could hardly, shave tho opinion expressed that the' General Conference would only have ia he affced mi order to pbtflin il(3 consent to a Now Zealand Union,/"because he remembered its unbending opposition to the former division. He* thought, however, us far as creed was concerned; thore was littlo difficulty. The great minds of thq. Church were already at cnie, aiid it was only the smaller dries that made trouble. If the Metho'dfct Church could coiriln'i'ie with the Presbyterians tjie Raiii would bo vast. The sentimental objection should be mpeeted, but it should not h» paraiiioiinl. The Methodist CHurpli" 'wodld iidi lose its great preachers arid workers" At present the great trouble of thp Metliodist ministry was insufficient stipend. Under these* conditions it was impossible to 'get the best out of a man. A minister shoiil.d he rolioved of .ill unnecessary anxiolies. Moreover, there was a great deal in the stimulus of numbers. Give a man a great" and powerful church, and if he lmd any prea'ching'powbr it" would come out. He looked upon tho • suggested* union as the deatliblovT'fq bigotry. Hi> heartily agreed with those' who eaid that they were uniting against"sacerdotalism. As a united church they could make' it impossible for any Government to'thrust on tho ueoplo am Education Bill like th.it of Great Britain. They needed the aid of the I Spirit's power, and thon they would realise '

that they were one in Christ's'loyo."They I wore asked to sacrifice no principle, and he hoped' that the*'conference would unamimoiiely carry (ho motion and so hasten on the consummation \yhich was so' devoutly to be desired. " •■•••■ ■ .- • • J- .

The Hoy. J. N. Buttlo seconded the njption, reserving his speerh. the Rev. H. Hull said tSafc wkm he had redd the resolution of tlib Presbyterian General Aseemjily P? yielded to no one in his love for Methodism, but he believed that the uiiiori would lib for the glory of God and tbo advancement- of Hie kingdom. A union was not only 'possible, hut' would prove of great advantage to trie Church in the' colony. •' There' were, 'of com'st; conadorable, diffioulties in ,tho way, but none over which the' Christian.' spirit would not ullinmte'ly'triuinlih -"He fe!t perfectly siire that tlioro need bo no alteration in polity or jlqcriinp which any sound Methodist could not readily accept.' Nβ iv Zealand liu'cl given many taobjecfleseori to the world, aftd'he believed that this union would be her crowning glory." . '■" ■■•■•'

THo Rev. P. W. Fairclongh said that he approved'of a icderationj' bul thought the p{. mprp to be simply Utopian. Methodist ' ildclriiiee *ero ombodded too deeply to be'riimovdd, anS'th'e two ■generous bodies which; wore approaching the Church would also (ipeire to keop to tlioir own parfiou'lar'beliefs: .'Thofo would have to bo toleration' an botli sides.' Ho 'hoped that nothing ho had. said would bo construed lliat" he-' opposeil .tlie proposal,' because lie believeO tfi'a't it would "be'oho' of the'greatest and ntost epoch-making events' of Cliurch history.' '■'.'.''"• ■Several other speakers took part in the discussion; all"approving! •■'* ' ' " Iu replying, the Ror. J, J. Lewis said that he 'would accept r a suggestion of the llcv. H. fiuli llial tlie word"" union" should bo snljetitulied for " federation" in the niotio.n.

" The motion was then carried unanimously by a ktaaitlirig vote. "' " ■

'j'be following CoStral Committee wae appqinietl: —TJic nrwidcut, tho Kev's. H. Bull, \Y7 Lee, W: ,T. Parsonson, W. Baumber, Bnd Mofsrs'W: Harris, (J. J. Smith, J. T. Smith, J, D. Prudhoo, pud E. C. Brown. TKe district committees will 'be appointed later.' "'' ' '." ' ' "'"