CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24254, 23 March 1940, Page 5

CHURCHES OF CHRIST

centennial ■ Conference presidential address one hundred years* progress v (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Mar. 22. The Centennial . Dominion, Conference of the Associated Churches of Christ opened in Auckland yesterday: Mr Alex. Donald, of Auckland, presided, and at his request the presidential address was delivered by Principal A. L. Haddon. of Dunedin, on the subject, "The Living Church: the Old Century and the New." The- speaker said, inter alia: . ..... "It was a strangely different world when the century Common diseases were re?* - , dtd with superstitious dread and m alarming death rate. There was practically no sanitation; dental or hospital work. Insanity and crime were but little understood. There was no general education and universal franchise was far in the future. This was not entirely due to lack of knowledge: it was very largely due to a prevailing unconcern for human welfare. During the first 30 years, of the .century, excessive in-dividualism-'held.'sway. It shaped the theory tauaht by thinkers, and the policy practised by Parliaments. • -V '.' Social. ;.Cp-pperation ' "T|ie literary "brilliance of Dickens, -the* "thuriderings';. pi eloquence bt'Kusicth; the patient' preaching of the Christian Socialist like Charles. Kingsley followed by a growing crescendo of religious denunciation brought about a gradual .but;decided change. The century .we.tefelebrate has witnessed an almost % unbelievable change of spirit and life.^i.h'these respects. It was against this background that the movement for Christian unity which called the . Churches of Christ into being was commenced.'" It was urged that, denominational rivalries and church disunity were opposed to the mind of Christ; and the,be.st.interests of men. '-;':; ',;,'• « " One hundred years ago there was little attempt at international cooperation. It. was the "past.;.century that gave to the world the •.World Court, the. League of Nations,'and the Paris Pact by which:-the civilised countries agreed , that' ;■ war can no longer be regarded as. an instrument of national, policy. This high .ideal it .has not been po§£ible:tp realise %s yet, but it took 1800 years for'the Christian conscience to eradicate the sin of slavery. "Two invaluable things belonging to the heritage of the Churches of Christ are freedom and fellowship. These God has given us in the past,, and we hold them in trust for the future. We uphold, and we contend that ultimate Christianity will embody, both congregational independence and true catholicity. " Christian thought during/the past century has brought to new emphasis two vitally important" truths—the imminent nearness and activity of God, contrasted with the deistic picture of Him.enthroned apart in splendid.isolation: and a clearer conception <of the person, of Christ! The modern rediscovery, of. .Him has rightly . been called the outstanding achievement of the religious mind of the last 100 years. The Work in New Zealand " The work of New Zealand Churches of- Christ commenced .in 1844,. when Thomas Jackson arrived from Scotland at: Nelson/'Witb- all denominational organisation and creeds should 'be abandoned? "and T Christian unity bought, on the basis of; essential as revealed in 'the; New Testament/ Jacksbn soon gathered a group of discipl'esS-as. ihe' did later in Auckland. The church" in Dunedin had its beginning With the arrival of the Scottish settlers, the Buttars, Bremners. Colvilles: and Dewars—in 1358. Under the-notable,ministries of H S. Earle. G. L.Surber. J. J. Haley and M. W. the ..'congregation grew rapidly, and tbecame'. the largest Church of Christ in-Australasia. Some tilings we of 'tbrday niay learn from these pioneers—the need of enlightened and courageous faith in the principles fou which-we* stand., the sincere .ministry of. the total church membership, and the rnaiptaining. of congregational liberty whiter buildm* an increasing Dominion arid world fellowship.".; ..-. "' ''':=■-: r --:\--