LAMBETH CONFERENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2028, 14 August 1920, Page 4

LAMBETH CONFERENCE.

MESSAGE TO THE WORLD. IDEAL OF FELLOWSHIP. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (A. & X.Z.) LONDON. August 12. The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued an Encyclical on behalf of the Lambeth Conference. The ideal which dominated the conference, he says, and one which is prevalent and potent throughout the world to-day is the ideal of fellowship. The four terrible years' loss of international fellowship emphasised its value: but the War which broke one fellowship has created others. Nations have become associated, and alliances have been cemented with their blood. Thus, to a world craving for fellowship, we present our message. The Church must itself be the pattern of fellowship. Men have begun to think of the reunion of Christendom as an imperative necessity, and. in the shadow of suffering, the ancient Eastern Churches draw nearer to our own than ever. Before all, we realised that reunion was the most important subject, and it was entrusted to the largest committee ever appointed in a Lambeth Conference. Its decision was reached with almost complete unanimity. II is not by reducing the groups of Christians to uniformity, but by rightly using their diversity. that the Church can become all things to all men. We are convinced that this ideal cannot be fulfilled if the groups are content to remain separated, or joined only in .some vague federation. Their value in Christian life can only be realised if thev arc united in one visible society, bound by the ties oka common faith, a common sacrament, and a common ministry. This vision points the way to reunion. The road mav not be short, but we believe it to be sure. The Encyclical then urges the improvement of fellowship within the Anglican Communion as the most direct method of preparing for reunion. The Church must frankly acknowledge that it has undervalued and neglected the work of women. It approves the revival of the order of deaconesses.

The Encyclical, referring to Sniritualism, Christian Science, and Theosophy, declares that their teachings injure the spiritual life and enclanger loyalty to Christ; but it recognises that these movements are largely reaction against materialism. There would be something wrong v.-ith the Church if it failed to afford a refuge against materialism. There vas much in Christian Science which might be found within the Church. Many distracted souls turned to Spiritualism for help, not realising that the Church had tbundant treasures to bring comfort slid solace to a world confronted -with internecine conflict.

Capital and Labour were each aiming at exclusive supremacy. Such a supremacy was not consistent with the Christian ideal of fellowship. The Encyclical urges men to rearrange their mutual relations and <easc competing in a spirit of suspicion and hostility. It is Christian

justice that all shall share equitably in the results of labour. The letter appeals for international fellowship, and commends the principles underlying the League of Nations. MANY SUBJECTS CONSIDERED. (A. & N.Z.I LONDON, August 12. While the Lambeth Conference considered it necessary that the reunited Church should have an episcopal form of government, it was inferred that it must be an episcopate without prelatical elements. The conference passed a resolution declaring thai the peace of the world, not less than Christian principles, demanded the admission of Germany and other nations into the League of Nations at the earliest moment. The conference recorded a protest against the colour prejudice among the different races of the world which hindered intercourse, and gravely imperilled the peace of the world. The conference, in approving of the creation of deaconess orders, fejt it optional whether candidates cared to pledge themselves to a life of celibacy. Opportunity should be given to qualified women to speak in consecrated and unconsecrated buildings. Other resolutions declared that Spiritualism, as a cult, involved the subordination of intelligence and will to unknown forces, and to that extent, was an abdication of the selfcontrol to which God called us.

The Bishop of Auckland was a member of the Industrial and Social

Problems Committee which remarked that it was significant that no area in New Zealand in which Prohibition had been carried by a three-fifths majority had reversed its previous decision. The committee declared that it was an offence to the conscience of the Christian community that men able and willing to work should be forced into idleness. It affirmed the principle of a living wage. The Bishop of Waiapu is included among the members of the Reunion Committee.