UNION OF CHURCHES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19717, 18 February 1926, Page 6

UNION OF CHURCHES.

RATAXA’S ACHIEVEMENT. FIFTEEN CHURCHES IN ONE FAITH. (From Dim Own Corespondent.) WANGANUI. February 1?. Katana's new church is to be erected shortly, and when completed it will be a credit to the movement. Katana, a quiet, modest Maori, has accomplished something that all the churches have failed to do, and that is the amalgamation of the various denominations. For _many years there has been a good deal of talk about the union of the churches, but the talk annarently has been mostly insincere. Big difficulties were raised by the clergy and lavmen. The union of churches appears to be as far oil as ever. Katana, however. has shown the churches that such a scheme is possible. There are now over 100 ministers and 400 deacons associated with the Katana Church, which has united and taken into its fold Church of England. Roman Catholics, Presbyterians. Methodists, Congregationalists. Salvationists. Seventh Day Aaveutists. Mormons, etc., with sundry other denominations. Katana has united 15 churches in one faith. It is understood that next year there is to be a big convention, which will be attended by representatives from other parts of the world. Locally the movement is also developing fast, and Katana is growing into quite a thickly-populated and well-contained township, with its stores, bank, picture theatre, etc. Katana himself has held several meetings lately, and in addition to orchestras already established it is intended to start a brass band. The Maoris are very musical, and it is believed that the new brass band will grow into quite a good musical organisation. It is also proposed to go in for closer settlement, and about 1500 acres are to be subdivided into small holdings.