CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Otago Witness, Volume 1851, Issue 3809, 15 March 1927, Page 32

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

ASSEMBLY AT WELLINGTON WELCOME FROM OTHER CHURCHES. WELLINGTON, March 10. Prior to the opening of the forty-fourth annual Assembly of the Congregational Union of New Zealand last night, the Wellington district tendered a dinner to the visiting delegates, numbering about 60. The Rev. A. W. Holland presided, and welcomed the visitors, and the Mayor (Mr C. J. B. Norwood) also extended a welcome. The Bishop of Wellington (Bishop Sprott) referred to his friendship of over *5O years with the late Rev. J. Reid Glasson, and said that, although he had not met them personally, he claimed t-o have many friends amongst the great writers of the Congregational community from whose works he had derived great help. It showed that they could give and receive inspiration from each other’s writings, even if unity between churches was not as visible as it should be. He had not a cut-and-dried scheme to remedy that, but he believed the time would come when the Church of Christ would be wholly united.

The Rev. \V. Shiver extended a welcome on behalf of the Presbyterian Church' and the Rev. F. E. Harry welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Baptist Church. He rejoiced unfeignedly at the advance the Congregational-Church was making in New Zealand. Brigadier Macaulay, representing the Salvation Army, said he was sure the Christian churches had long gone past the days when they were disposed to tell each other to “Go fw Jericho.” The churches were fighting the one great fight. Pastor W. G. Carpenter extended a welcome on behalf of the Church of Christ, and the Rev. W. Rowe for the Methodist Church. .«•