UNION OF CHURCHES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

UNION OF CHURCHES

DEBATE IN PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY. ' WELLINGTON, November 11. Tho General Assembly resumed at 10 o]elock this morning, when devotional exercises were conducted by. the Moderator prior lo tho discussion on tho union n[ tho Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Church. The Dev. Dr Oibb presented tlic report of the committee, from which the following arc extracts;— The Assembly last year remitted to presbyteries and sessions the question whether they were in favour ot the continuance of negotiations with the Methodist and Congregational Churches with it view to union on a basis of doctrino and polity to be framed by the Assembly and in due course sent down to the subordinate courts of the Church. The following is an analysis of the returns to the remit sent in by presbyteries and sessions:— Presbyteries in favour of continuing negotiations for an incorporating uniop:— Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Christclmrcli, Oamaru, Dunedin, ifataura, Southland (eight). Presbyteries against negotiations for union, hut in favour of conference and co-operation for the prevention of overlapping and united aggressive action in the i cause of social righteousness:—Taranaki, Wanganui, Clutlia, Dunstan (four).

form:-Timaru, Nelson, Weatland. The details of the voting show that 123 Presbyteries against negotiations in any votes were given for continuance, 77 for conference and co-operation, and 11 for ending all negotiations. It appears that 32 sessions oppose the prosecution of negotiations in any form, C 7 favour the continuation of negotiations with a view to the formation of a basis in polity and doctrine, and 8 are in favour of continuing negotiations for some form of co-operation with a view to ultimate union. A large number of sessions have sent no return to the remit.

It is manifest from tho returns of both presbyteries and sessions that there is a very largo sentiment in favour of union in the Church, but it is not yet sufficiently developed to justify an attempt at decisive action. The . question of union differs from most ecclcsiaatical problems in that it cannot bo carried to ft successful issue unless all parlies concerned in tho movement uro practically unanimous. It is clear to demonstration that at present union could not be. carried into effect even if the Assembly and the presbyteries and sessions were to adopt a basis or doctrino and polity by as largo a majority as tliey have approved ot the proposal lo continue negotiations to that end. We have no means of knowing what the feeling is iu (ho lower courts of the Methodist and in the congregations ot tho Congregational Churches, for they have as yet taken no steps to ascertain this. Nothing, however, could be finer than the spirit displayed by the Methodist Conference at its last meeting. From the standpoint of the Assembly's resolution in 1902 tho finding of last Assembly was a distinct setback to Hie movement, but the Methodist Conference displayed no irritation, and, while resolving to defer nr. appeal to their subordinate judicatories till the Presbyterian Church was iu a position to announce a definite plan of action, tho Conference expressed itself as most ready to meet us whenever the time had como for close consideration of the problems involved in tho proposal for union. Your committee thinks that in the presentcircumstances there is r> better way. The suggestion of the Waitsihuna Session seems in part to meet the case. It is, " that a standing committee should ho retained with a view to awaiting, recording, and co-opeiaiing with any such developments as may eventuate from time to time, and which may prepare the way for union satisfactory to all parties concerned." Tho movement towards union is proceeding apace in the Australian colonies and iu Canada, and the developments in those countries will supply valuable help for the solution of our own problems. It is further recommended by the committee that the Assembly should instruct to arrange, ii possible, for a conference with ilic Methodic!, Congregational, and other evangelical churches with a view to tho formation r.f a council for a settlement of questions of overlapping, and lor combined action iu the furtherance of great national i?sues like Bible-in-schools and tho repression of the social sins of the community.. Your committee therefore recommends the Assembly to adopt the following deUverar.ee:—" In view of the manifest existence of great differences oi opinion in the Clinch on the question of framing a basis oi union in doctrine and polity, the Assembly resolves that if is inexpedient at this juncture to proceed further with the matter. It resolves, however, to appoint a committee to awr.it, record, and report from time lo time to the Assembly such developments of the question an may occur m this colony and elsewhere, and it instructs the committee lo endeavour lo negotiate with Hie evangelical churches of New Zealand with a view to the formation of a council, by means of which the overlapping of churches, especially in rural districts, may be prevented and combined action taken for the furtherance oi great national issues iike 33ib10 in wheals and tho promotion of righteousness in tho community." Tho Rev. I)r Cibb. in moving tho adoption of tho report, said it was not his intention in endeavouring to commond tho concluding proposal to tho Assembly, to present any argument- for union, or to discuss any of tho arguments which had been adduced against tho idea of union. Tho nitration realiy before the Assembly on this occasion was a question of timeliness. Had tho lime omiie the Church should pursue active negotiation with a view to amalgamation with the Methodist and Congregational bodies? Was that sentiment Midio-nily clear and emphatic to justify the ccnttnunticn of the negotiations about- which tho I'resbytcriM ami sessions were consulted m the remit, rent, down to thrm last Assembly': lie felt that- it might liavo bcun possible, !to thought it. would have been possible, in view of tho returns sent in to the remit both by Presbyteries and session.-, aim which were tabulated in tho report ho had just read to carry :v motion in that Assembly, with a view to continuing the negotiations for amalgamation with the Methodist and Congregational Churches in polity and in doctrino. Thero was a suHicioul. majority of members present in favour of the course, as indicated in the remit lo make it possible io carry a motion in favour of continuing tho negotiations. But that mot ion . could only bo carried after a strenuous battle. Last Assembly, when replying on behalf of the resolution, lie then had tho honour to submit, he had said that there was no member of the Asseiphly more resolved than ho to do all in his power to prevent strife in the Church, and that if it appeared when the matter went to the Presbyteries and kirk sessions that- the Church was not in favour of it, or that the matter could not he gone on with without heartburnings and bitterness, he himself would bo the last man to persevero with it. He might say to the Assembly now. after seriously, thoughtfully, and prayerfully considering tho returns to tho remit by tho Presbyteries and sessions, ho had eoine lo tho conclusion that it would he unwise and inexpedient to seek to forco such a motion on the. Assembly and accordingly ho had recommended tlio Union Committeo to adopt- the course, set forth in the report, and in the resolution with which tho report closed. He might say that ho regarded the returns in the light of all the circumstances, in the,light q[ all'that hud taken place in the la*jt 12.months, and ill the light of an attempt.to.defeat .union. He held that they might as well try to stop the waters of Niagara from pouring lis to prevent the union of the evangelical churches of this country every other country.—(Applause.) Ho knew that argument would not advance this cause, neither did be think'argument would hinder it. This union would co'nio from three things (thero might be moro factors)—(!) The gradual realisation of the oneness of the message the c'vnngelical clmreta of this country were bringing to the souls of men; (2) through tho deepeninpr of mutual sympathy and esteem, a deepening, ho thanked God, which was becoming more manifest every year; and (3) he believed it would coijie through the unseen but irresistible inspiration of the Spirit, of God.—(Applause.) From tho first lie had said lie regarded the movement begun two years ago as an educative iriovbmont. it would go mi, cvpn if the Assembly should reject the motion. Ho was perfectly certain tho movement would still go on, and the consummation would be hardlylong deferred. 110 hardly over thought it would come in his own lifetime, but if it came before ho went henco ho should thank God, even as an old man. Possibly, from present developments, it would not come even thou; but it was ooming. At some far date, from some far watch-tower in eternity, they, the members of that.Assembly, would sec the dawn of a united evangelical church in -this land, and when they saw it they wou'.d rejoice with exceeding joy.—(Applause.) The Rev. W. Gray Dixon (Auckland) seconded the motion. The Rev. I. Jolly (Paliperston North) said that it was with deep reluctance and under a feeling of compulsion of conscience that he rose to move an amendment. It had cost him much earnest prayer and much of will to overcome that reluctance. Ho moved the following amendment:— "The Assembly gratefully rccognise3 the Christian spirit of the Dnioii Committee's report, and believes that its recommendations to terminate tho movement for the arrangement qf a dpefcrinal basis with a view to union with the Methodist and Congregational Churches js for the welfare of our Churoli and of the cause of Ohrist; but the Assembly thinks it inexpedient to instruct tho committee to be appointed to report to (be ChurohVon- ui^ion;ijiovepienta • eliewbgre, as such iritormauoji pan easily

bo obtained through the ordinary channels, and.reports given in tlio Ciiureli courts on the question of union would, in tlio divided stato of opinion in the subject, tend to provoke unprofitable discussions, to the injury of the peaco of tho Church: tlio Assembly therefore instructs tho committ-co to limit its efforts to tho securing of the greatest pos;ib!o measure of co-operation with other ohurohes in aclvancing the cause of Clirist in our land arid throughout tho world, and appoints a eommittco to carry out the same, "With this alteration tho Assembly adopts tho report."

Tlio Rev. Dr Nisbet said that ho was one of 13 who opposed union in the Presbyterian Church of Australia. Stripped of its verbiage, Mr Jolly's amendment simply meant tho omission of one clause in Dr Gibb's resolution. The difference was so slight that lie would propose an amendment which ho hoped Dr Gibb would accept. Tho amendment, which was seconded by tho Rev. AV. Hcwitson, was as follows: — " In view of the manifest existence of great differences of opinion in the Church ■on the question of framing a basis of union in doctrine and polity, the Assembly resolves that it is inexpedient at this, juncture to proceed further with the matter, and begs to intimate tho same with regret to the sister churches. It resolves, however, to appoint a committee to endeavour to negotiate with tho evangelical churches of New Zealand, with a view to the formation of a council by means or which the overlapping of churches, especially in rural districts, may be prevented, and combined action taken for the furtherance of great national issues like (lie Bible-in-sehools and the promotion' of righteousness in tho community."

After considerable discussion the vote was laken, when S2 votro were received for Dr Gibb's motion and 80 votes for Dr A'isbct's amendment.

The Moderator declared Iho motion carried, and tho Assembly adjourned until the evening.