CHURCH UNITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14610, 21 May 1918, Page 8

CHURCH UNITY.

PRESBYTERIAN OPINION. RIVAL MOTIONS FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. The familiar question of unity among the churches will be revived at the meeting of the Presbyterian General Assembly to be held m the Christchurch next November, but signs of opposition to the proposal have already developed. The Rev. Dr. Gibb, of " Wellington, has given notice to move : In view of the manifest weakness and loss occasioned to the work of the Christian church through its manifold divisions, and especially to the waste of men, money and effort m our own country m the over-lapping and multiplication of churches m sparsely populated rural district*, m view of the pressing need at least,, of a living federation of the churches for the solution of the exacting problems that the war is thrusting upon all the churches; m view of the fact that several denominations working side by side m this Dominion are very near to us, both m their interpretation of the evangel and m their general methods of work; and, above all, m view of the mind of our Lord reflected m His word that His people should, wherever possible, without sacrifice of essential convictions, manifest their unity m an outward union, the Presbytery of Welington overtures the general asaem bly to take the subject into serious consideration, and to devise such means -as may be necessary to ascertain whether the people of our church are prepared to consider sympathetically a definite movement, aiming at a union of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and CoHgregational churches of New Zealand, and of such other Christian bodies as may find it possible to come together on the basis of a common creed and a common policy." This motion has been before the Wellington Presbytery, and the discussion adjourned until next meeting, when it will be considered together with an amendment, moved by the Rev. J. Pat-f-son, senior minister of St. John's Church, and seconded by the Rev^ B. Hutson, as follows: "Inasmuch « as the subject of the proposed overtures occuvied the minds of assemblies, Presbyteries and sessions from 1903 till 1904, and differences of opinion of so strong a character were, disclosed that the promoters of union asked the assembly to proceed no further, and inasmuch as this subject was again raised m this* Presbytery so late as 1916 (when all other Presbyteries . were silent) and an overture which was sent to the assembly evoked so strong an opposition after long discussion, the assembly agreed to dismiss the subject , by proceeding to the next business, and inasmuch as we are living m a time of war, when many of our ministers and people are m the army abroad, and all unnecessary controversy should be avoided — this Presbytery therefore declines to transmit the overture to the assmbly. At the same time, while doing so, the Presbytery rejoices m, and 1 is thankful for, the harmony and fine brotherly spirit which exists m this church, and toward the other evangelical churches, and m our hearty co-operation with one another "ii all good works bearing on the weuare of the Church of Christ." If motion is adopted at the Presbytery's next meeting the assembly will be saved from a discussion on the subject of union.