ANGLICANS AND PRESBY- TERIANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14355, 27 October 1908, Page 3

ANGLICANS AND PRESBYTERIANS

I'lIU SVGUI'STKD KEI-.NJON; HIS LOUDSHU' THE PRIMATE SPEAKS. AX INTERESTING ADDRESS. Last owning, in St, l'aiii'f* Caihedia!, his Lordship the Primate (Bishop Xevill) delivered tho second portion of his address 10 the Anglican Synod, whiih is at present in session. The latter half of the address dealt wholly with the proposed amalgamation of the Anglican and Presbyterian Churches, and. in the Bishop's own words, was "an appeaj for corporate reunion." It proved of a highly interesting character, and the full text is appended:'— As Christians we tire fully perstiadad that all thing's arc of God. A, s philosophers we may trace the Divine through every realm of progress. When in remole ages that author of the book on beginnings could find no belter word than chars to bring before our minds (he undeveloped condition of the material world, ho goes on to' toll us that the spirit of God moved upon this confusion and reduced it to order and beauty, and with all our modern boast fulness about the Saw of- evolution its a sufficient explanation of tho observable advance towards perfection, the very existonce and continuous operation of "that law itself is inexplicable unless wo recognise the Eternal Spirit as tho originator of tho scheme and the cvcr-piteeut actuating force in ite unfolding. If, Ut. s n, wo must recognise the working of God as the true explanation of all harmonious advance in the grosser sphere of material existence, should wo not, still more ckarly recognise the same hand as the weaver -of the complicated wob of human history? The study of history and civilisation, and even of religion, scorns to nuke el«tr thai every new birth has its birth pangs. Every advance towards sweetness and light must bo--through clouds and darkness; every step gained in liberty awl security is the outcome of war, and yet the truth remain.s that God is working in all and through all. It is because of the density of th.3 material that its movement is with effort and dietresj. It i s because God is the Mover that. the result is an evolution of good. Tho beneficent outcome imparts no quality of goodness to the movement iteelf; many a devastating war and'many a social disturbance! and, may I rot also say, many a .religious icformation have owed their origin to the tnoet wicked motives, and have yet been productive of new conditions advantageous tol humanily or contributory to the advance of the divine kingdom, and"all this because Gcd knows how to make oven the wrath of man to praise Bini. z it is the duty o'f the Church so to watch . the movements of the Divine Spirit in the world,that she may be ready as a sensitive medium aild agent, to understand His purpose and to co-oporatc in its accomplishment. Phis is at all times her function, .but Ihe responsibility for the discharge, of that function i s greater in proportion' to the occurrences from time to time of observable movement demanding her attention. There is a movement, very observable to-day, which is intimately connected with the very, lite of Christian sociofy-ono which, has ken silently, mysteriously, yet powerfully and universally, at work for some time pact within tho Church herself: I rnean tho movement towards tho reunion of Christendom. Hidden, indeed, from tho viciv of the many because hitherto tin's has been litHo more than the cherished hope of the soul; but as the spark which passes along' tho tinder . gives witness to tho firo which Bmbuicbrs and spreads below so this.aspiration for unity has moved among tho di'ied wood of dead controversies until we see, almost with an awed surprise, tho flame bursting forth simultaneously in fardistant quartern. To this great movement towards Christian unity—now tco manifest to noed apology—l wish once more, dear brethren, to direct your earnest, attention. T!)o All-commanding voice seems to headdressed to us avain: "Can ye not discern 'the signs of .the tiroes,?" Would God that my poor voice in such a matter might reach beyond my Synod, beyond my communion, when I remind you that it is ours to-day to imitate the prophets of old timo and to "search what, or in what manner of time the spirit of Christ which is in us doth signify." For surely this movement is of His spirit. I spoke just now. of the universality of • the sentiment of unity, and wo need no further proof of this than the report of the proceedings of tho Lambeth Conference recently hold. . A committee Consisting of , no loss than 57 archbishops and bishops ' gathered from 'almost every part of the world was appointed to consider and report upon the subject of reunion and intercommunion between (a) Episcopal Churches and (b) non-Episcopal Churches, and theso great divisions embraced in their immense scope the seven following subdivisions, each in themselves opening out themes of tho utmost ■vasljness—viz: (1) The orthodox Eastern Church; (2) the separate churches of the East; (3) tho Latin communion: (4-) the separate churches of tho West; (5) theUnitas Fratriun or Moravians; (6) the Scandinavian churches; (7) Presbyterian and other non-Episcopal Churches. It is manifestly' out of my power to give any account within the limits of this address of the recommendations of the committee. on cash of these great subjects, though I shall touch on some of ihcm. Tho -bishops commence their report by a restatement of tho principle atssertcd 'by.tlhe Lambeth Conference of IS97—viz., that "tho Divine purpose of visible unity among Christians is a fact of revelation," and they append to,that report no less than 20 resolutions which were adopted by the Conference, resolutions which were sympathetic and wise, and which are sure to bo studied with interest throughout a very large part of Christiandom. One very important fact is brought into prominence by the statements contained in this report—viz., that the uttoranccs of former Lambeth Conferences on the subject of reunion have not fallen unobserved ami fruitless, hut that on' the contrary approaches towards intercourse with the Anglican communion havo been nioro frequent and more friendly during the past decade than at any period since tho Reformation. To speak for a moment of tho Orthodox Eastern Church, it is noteworthy that the authorities of that great division of the Apostolic Church have sent some of their students to the (Jniversity of Oxford, whilst the English Church 1)03 sent a student lo the Theological College of the Island of Halki, the professors of which important institution are devoting their learning and ability to the closer study of the Holy Scriptures. It has been too much the custom to dismiss these ancient churches with a waive of the hand as being ignorant and superstitious, but. it should be remembered that whatever injuries Uiey have suffered in some countries by Turkish oppression and persecution, that a brighter day has downed. It should also lrc borne in mind that beyond the creed ilcelf the Eastern Church lias 110 general dortriuil f K |3 ; , no oal.U like that of Popo. Pius IV; no 39 articles or Westminster Confession to bo signed, but "holds fast thejwm of found words without wavering" because of its intense reverence for the word of God and tho guidance of her teachers. I may be asked why 1 am occupying time hy a so full allusion to tho Eastern Church when it is known lo some of you that, I am chiefly desirous of awakening the interest of church people and Presbytorians to the proposals which havo Jatelv been ■put forward with the object of affecting union between them? M v answer is twofold. One, that when the members of the Presbyterian Church come to realise that it is .not with themselves alone that wo aro iosking to promote unity, but thai we turn with some ywiruing towards a sister church which they have been taught to regard as impure, they may see in this some'ground for hesitation in -the acceptance of any overtures which might be made; and, secondly, that since this great movement, of tho Spirit d God i> far wider than any mere local or domestic policy of the Church in any particular corner of the world our own (tcings must bear some relation to thai larger whole, 'for '" none of us liveth to himself," and there are those who think that th: makir,.g of sueh concessions as would be called for in order to effect union, with the Presbyterians would probably throw back the recognition of fuil intercommunion in other quarters. I confess j that I dn not greatly concern myself with this latter jioint, because it appears to mo th|if if Divine 'Providence opens out for us at tome particular time the opportunity of doing that which is manifestly I'itfht, our duly is to accomplish that right if possible, and leave to the Sovereign Disposer of events tho ultimate issue!. C-no step at a time is enough for creatures who grope in the dark. But as to the Church ot the East and any fear of being drawn ! into alliance with it, I wish to take this j opportunity of showing something more of her character than is commonly known. I havo already said that she is not bound i down by any -very detailed statements o* : doctrine to which her clergy or laity must : subscribe. It follows that should this ut : that particular interpretation of a doctrine j be found to lie mi, any wise out of harmony . ,wrtb the teachings of Holy Scripture, an w

ago of wider knowledge may wit.iiout '<lilllcuily inc<lify former opinions upci l it. hurtcr nm u»hmf tluit mis mi K hl well h.> )>>• -i quotation from a work r,f authority '» Hio Kiioian CIMM-oh »(li. ilu-Duties of "!'■ •■"•hli L'r;ffli." Umlh the |, M d of what lie is lo loach wo mid. "All the article of tin. I'aiih an , fon |.,j nr< | i n (,| ln >void of (iod-i.c., in.the books of the Old and .yir IVslamcn-ls. Those necessary for r v , :, , h ""- ilavo ,w " f '" lll '=t«l tfam the'word <■' ('.oil in ilu. c'.nuncils of Nice mid Con-' fiUnll]lo))l(>aixl.pul totrclhcr into unit form called tin- sj-mliol or crral. Since the Articles of the Faith' arc container! in Scririlmv, ii follows Lpyond flwpufo thai. jvo hold Ihe woi«| of (! c< | ;,,,, the mlmi foi'.iulalinii. and jvi-fcct rule of our,holy fnilh. Wherefore it.' is our'duty''lo search Hip word of Cod and to <lrnw from it divine trtifli lo toach the people, and lo conlirni ow own wards from the. woivl of (io-d; and to this lost |o bring; all doctrine, which either we ourselves mav hear from others or others from us, receivinjj what ,is iißfocable thereto and rejecting what is contrary.''. I ;im wire that my Presbyterian friends will acknowledge thai this declaration is not oneivbit lea evangelical than their own, and il is supported in the book from ' which I quote by many passages of Holy Scripture and by passes from the sermons of such fathers a-, St. Atliaiiasi»is and Basil the great. Ave we not wrong, then, dear hretbren, to soy with traditional complaceilcy, " Stand bye, for I am .holier than thou"?

I will only add on this subject that as the National Council of the Kussian Church is about to assemble- tho Lambeth Conference decided to seild thereto a lellcr of greet ins from tho Anglic.™ communion, and that such letter should be personally convoyed by (ho hand of two or more of our bishops.Wo of the J'iist may naturally take,tin interest in Eastern communions, for Jerusalem is the mother of us all; but with the Western—Sncaning thereby the Soman Catholic—.there is obviously 110 prospect' of union tinder existing circumslalicca.

I should liko to have said something as to tin. now reviving life of the ancient Church of Holland, which Jias the honour of being the only one of the' national churches of the West which never yielded to the usurpations of tho See of Rome, but has remained to thi3 day, notwithstanding the direst persecutions, a living witness of the original freedom. of, the churches. I should like, too, to have enlarged upon tho growing . intercourse between Ihe Church of Sweden and our own, but I have only time to recall to your recollection that in 1878 I visited Bishop Bjork of Gothenburg, the Archbishop of I'psala, and liishop Grafstroin of Stockholm, and from theso prelates obtained full accounts of the care-, which bad been taken to preserve inviolate the succession of their hishojTS. In 1888 I pressed upon Archbiehop Benson tho desirability of- inviting

one or more of their bishop-, lo hold inletconr.se with ours clui-un* Itw Lambeth Conference of that. year, should it be thought improper lo invite litem lo ;i seal in lite

contetenie itself. '1'),,. on l v outcoiHC o this, however, wits the appointment, of t committee of the conference, of which

was a member, to report upon the -position of Ihe Scandinavian churches. A similar course was pursued in 1897, but on .the last occasion these ("florid have been followed by die official mission of the Hishop ol Kalinin-, who was the bearer of a Latin Idler lo the prcoiilcnl. of ihe conference from the Archbishop of Upsala askins Ihe bishops assembled lo deliberate with the liishoii of Ktilmar us (n the method to be pursued lowards the liindiii'r together of the Iwo churches. The Arch" bishop of Canterbury was requested by the conference to appoint a commission to pursue this subject. lam now in a posilion Ic turn your attention to a branch of this subject of retiuion which has a more direct and immediate bearing upon our local ecclesiastical relationships-£ mean the prospect, which has somewhat unexpectedly presented iltself of late, of the welding- into one powerful, historical, and evangelical organisation, the Anglican and Presbyterian communions. When one contemplates the almost irresistible influence for good which such u consuinmnlion would ensure, and the emphatic answer which an action involving so muoh of self-denial on both sides would afford to the envenomed accusations of the

Church's foes; when added to all this s one is brought face to face with the waste 1 of material resources, the undesirable 3 schemes which have sometimes to'bo re--1 sorted to for tbti maintenance of religious 1 agencies, and the terrible lossofspirituality 1 which these things involve, leading many, • alas! to learn to justify neglcot of divine worship itself, because they can see that 1 all things are not as they should be within • the Church herself; when all these things t and more are brought to view, then I ! thiiik the true-hearted servant of God must ' address to himself the question, fe this • sad condition of things without remedy? For surely nothing less than a conviction ', that this is so can justify its continuance! t The great vr.luc of certain negotiations j which have recently been carried on in . the neighbouring colony of Victoria, be- ' fween the representatives of the two com- > munions is that they hare pretty clearly ' shown that reunion is feasible. I do net I say that all difficulties have been removed, ! but I do say that the admirable spirit ] which has hitherto been displayed augurs ; well for a successful issue in God's good time. The resolutions arrived at by this j conference and a scheme prepared for a solemn, formal, and public consummation ' of tho proposed union, are, I believe, in the hands of leading Presbyterian divines , city. I have held cemversationi with ' same of them upon the question, and also , with some of the leading laity, and tho . largeness of heart air.d "breadth of view . with which each and l all have met (.lie subject here in this centre of prvileged Presbytci'ianism has, I thankfully record it, filled me with hope. I have chosen this subject upon which to address you in Synod, dear brethren, in the hope that it may enga.go your attention, awl perhaps it may bo thought desirable to constitute a permanent committee or commission to utilise any opportunities for conference awl intercourse which may occur. It is probable that tho mombors of my Synod, and possibly some outsido it, may desire to have a more explicit statement of the present situation in' relation to this question, together with somo expression of my own views upon it. As to the situation, them, I understand that Archbishop Clarke, of Melbourne, .'was approached b/ some loading Presbyterians and' asked_whether he would preside over' joint meetings of committees d-uly elected to represent the two churches with a view ta ascertain what proposi-tons or, fmidamental questions could be accepted on both sides. The propositions or resolutions accepted by the oomiwittees were then to lie submitted to a conference of delegates appointed by each church, and should tho resolutions of tho committees find acoeptanc3 by tho confenance they were then, finally to be submitted to the supreme legislatures of each body- in Australia. The subjects upon which agreement was eventually arrived at, both by the committees and tho coni«reno3, were " The Foundations of tho Faith," "Tho Sacraments of Salvation," and "The Authority and Grace of the Christian Ministry," specifying on this subject that ordination should be ministered with prayer and fasting amd imposition of hands _on ,the part of those vvho had authority so to minister. It was recognised that, up'to the time .of the Reformation there was one. common succession of orders ■carried, en through bishops;..'and it was decided that in the United Church this method should be continued. With reference to those ordained before the consummation of the unicn it. is proposed that during the performance of the very impressive ceremony prepared for that occasion, should it arrive, that the Primate of Australia on tho one hand, and the Moderator of the' General Assembly on the other, should in a very personal manner confer upon the presbyters of each body all the rights, powers, and authorities pertaining to the ofiieo of a priest in the church, as set forth in their respective ordinals. It is probable that this bold proposal will be the subject of much discussion, but if corporate reunion is ever to take place it appears to me to be difficult to.devise it more solemn and suitable scheme than the one proposed, and 1 think it far better than tho careless manner in which so many non-episcopally ordained ministers at the restoration of the. monarchy were allowed to officiate as priests ot the Church, on no other condition than that of conforming lo the powers which then had come to be. At this point I will endeavour to set before you my own feeling in reference to this movement, so widespread and so little looked for, and first I would say that I believe it to bo of God, and, if so, it follows that we must be very careful lost hy any mere _ prejudice or preconceptions we place a hindrance or stumbling block in the way of tho accomplishment of the Divine purposes. You say, perhaps, "We must adhere firmly to what we believe to be true principles of Church order," and I say, " Yes, but may not those principles -however true in themselves,-be capable of a much wider application than in eases which are ordinarily presented to us?" r To put the matter as plainly as I can, I do not doubt that, many of our people would] experience some feelings of perplexity if, after the suggested union were accomplished, the elemnts of the holy Eucharist wore presented lo them by a clergyman who had been only presbytorially ordained. I present such a case as containing the crux of tho whole question. Let' us then examjne it fairly from a spiritual point of view. We say that the "Church is the body of Christ, Ihe fulness of Him that filleth all in all." We say that "by one Spirit we wore all baptised into that one body, ami were all made to drink of one spirit." We say that in that one body there are diversities of ministerial offices, but that, it is the same Spirit who divideth to every man severally as He will. What ;s this but to say that the body of Christ is ever actuated by the Spirit of Christ, and though ordinarily acting through arrangements which are at least of apostolical authority, these are not Jo be held bo lo bind and limit the operations of that Divine Spirit as that He may not, upon some worthy occasion, as when the body itself is putting forth all its vitality for Ihe healing of its wounds, efficaciously bestow tho needed gifts of order and life for the pcrfectine of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ under arrangements of exceptional charac- , ter. Are we not justified in regarding an event so unique, so absolutely without parallel, as the one under contemplation, as a fitting occasion for a special bestowal of spiritual gifts? Think of it. dear brethren! A vast assemblage in some chosen place, calling upon God to pardon all the sins of passion, of self-will, of arrogance and greed, which had so much to do with the original separation, and then presenting to each its own body of clergy lo the highest official of the other body on raised platforms, that the notable act might be seen of all; then, as each individual presbyter receives from tho primate or the moderator the right hand of fellowship, there are sooken in the name of the ever-blessed 'Trinity, words intended to convey all the ministerial powers and gifts residing in the body represented by the power of the Holy Ghost. Surely, in so supreme a moment the hearts of all in Ihe great assembly would palpitate with one great throb of spiritual emotion, which would go up before God as a prayer for Divine benediction upon a ' marriage so illustrative of the spiritual union that is between Christ and His Church. You see from all this, dear brethren, j that in what is contemplated I fear no breach of those chirreli principles which we cherish as wo havo been knight, but rather an exceptional mode of their application. Writers on ecclesiastical polity—such as Rishop lir.olcer-have abundantly justilicd abnormal action nnd?r circumstances of J necessity, arguing that even a layman may I administer the sacraments where" it is impossible for a priest to bo had, But the plan and theory which I am cominendms

to your consideration, <l.?ar lirpiliren, i ; < h\icli tliat if it (oMticl arei-planc by our Church, eny. thionghout Ihi* province—and if in'flic Jong run if iind acceptance by oiiv l'rosbvtfi'ian brethren,—it niMrn not thai- our pulpits only will he upon lo them, hut (hal lliey may stand li.v our altais; if means, tco, that diotvscs imisi- he divided ami bishops appointed over lliew, just as in tho Australian scheme it .i* proposed that tiii< dav of the consuminaliou. <>f the union shall witm-a Iho consecration of several Prt*b>wian ministers, per s altum, and their induction to new sees. And T. have lived to fay all tin's in lVcsl/ylorian Dunediu.'but I fcnoiv.thai all I have .'aid will par-* lint a* the topic .of a fleering 'moment, unto there lie-deep down in the hearts of ail a desire to hasten llio fulfilment of the Master's prayer, si courage lo take practical steps for its accomplishment, and a. wilijnpcs to make all sacrifices which may lawfully ho made to bring earth, so near to paradise, If I have been bold in upcaking; in mioli a city of such a union, I justify myself by tho' remembrance ■that Knox, audi not Meivillc. is the coryphaeus of this place. Knox, a vehement denouncer, indeed, ol all which he held to be tyrannical and corrupt, lint no jnconsideralo opponent of the Church'* ancient regimen. Unable. on acromit of failing licnlth, lo lake pari; in Ihe "lieilh agreement" of 1572. which recommended the conl-inuance f of episcopacy, lio nevertheless showed that this was in accordance with his desires by sending a. letter some months later to tho General Assembly, calling upon thai body to carry out the agreement by filling- the vacant bishoprics, which hitherto it had neglected lo do. It may l:e true thai the. rapacious nobles sought in the " agreement of Loith " to appease the Church by tho continuanco of Iter offices and titles while they laid violent hands' upoiii her property; as it is also true that later on—viz., in 15E0—those samo nobles, having- seized almost all there was to take, voted the extirpation of episcopacy, as thereby they rid themselves. of the rightful owners of tho property, and so made themselves secure; but John Knox had nothing to do with Uiis. Ho had long before been removed from the tumultuous scone, but not before he had sent his two sons to England, who- each received episcopal ordination thero, and-quietly carried on tho work of beneficed clorgymen-tho ono at Cambridge and the other in lfeex—to the day of their deaths. I cannot but believe that were John Knox with us hero to-day tc witness the altered- stole of things—the absolute removal of corruptions against which he justly inveighed, the peaceful government of tho Church by the harmonious action of her constituent . elements, the purity of Iter ritual and liturgy (superior to that liturgy which he himself prepared, and which was in use for over 70 years),— if, I say, he were witness of all these things, he would surely lift up his strong voice- to his followers, and say: "Sirs, ye aire brethren; why do ye wronjr one to another, weaken the Christian cause, and paralyse oven the power of Jove by remaining apart when united ye might evangelic the world?"

Errflvren, this groat movement will shortly be brought before' the authorities of the, respective .churches in Australia. Let not Now Zealand merely look on in profitless amazement, 'but lot ns, with ai faith oqual- lo their own, he prepared to respond to tho impulse of the .spirit which is once more moving upon the face of the waters.