SECOND DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 16

SECOND DAY.

The sittings of the Council of the Con« giegational Union of New Zealand were resumed on the Bth inst., in the Moray, Place Church, the Rev William Day presiding. EXPERIENCE AS A FACTOR IN CHUBCH WOBX* The Rev. D. Hird, M.A., opened a discussion on the subject — " How to utilise the experience of church members for the benefit of church work." He said the* question was not one of any fresh organisation, but of utilising the experience that now exists. He was persuaded that there* was a wealth of spiritual experience in our churches that never seemed to find any adequate expression or to be put to anything lika its possible use. One need of the church to-day was not so much repression of ite experience, but its expression. Would it not be possible to have some kind of fellowship meeting or conference ia , which the spiritual experience of the members could be so unfolded that the churcht as a whole would be benefited? The* tendency to-day was to leave too much to the minister, and to regard his spiritual , experience as the sum-total of the expen- ■ ence of the church. It would be for the 1 , ' good of church and minister alike if the lay element in our churches were utilised* to a greater extent than it now was. 1 Ministers as well as people would be helped? and refreshed by meetings at which there could be an interchange of experience. FORMATION OF A CHRISTIAN MAN* 8 THEOLOGY. The Rev. W. D. M'Laren, M.A., o£ London, introduced the discussion on the above subject. In the first place he said that theology was the orderly knowledge of God. It was no more possible to keep away from theology in the things of religion, *ha.n it was to keep away from any particular development of science or of tho mechanical arts in the knowledge of the natural world and in the practical affairs of life. Men who tried to be super* rational always ended in being irrational*. Never was it more necessary than to-day to theologise. Without theology all proper feeling became mere emotionalism, and! j whiie feeling was necessary to man, without the control of theology it simply became the steam engine off the rails, and as theology was necessary to feeling to guide it, it was also necessary to create it. It was all very well to talk, as some people did, about feelings ruling our theology — and one had specimens enough of it, and miserable specimens, too, — but true theology j waa tho true ruler of feeling. The map! who ruled his theology by, feeling invari-t ably ruled it by fake feeling, but the mart ' who controlled his feelings by his theology, forever enjoyed God. Then, also, as theology was necessary for feeling, • so it i was nocesary for practice. As was a man's theology, so vvafi hi» practice. Profe.>sor (iilray expressed his pleasure at meeting Mr M'Laren. They were old! friends, and had both been brought up together at Edinburgh at tho feet of one of " . the greatest modern Congregationalists — Dr Lindsay Alexander. — (Applause.) On the motion of the Rev. J. M. Stoops, seconded by Rev. J. H. M'Kenzie, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr M'Larea . for his addrees.