CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.

Timaru Herald, Issue 170296, 14 August 1920, Page 9

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.

ON LAMBETH CONFERENCE RESULTS.

i By Electric Telegraph—Copyright, j AusU'auun ana Cuoiu tVun. | Received 5.5 p.m./ August <3th" I . . LONDON, Aug. 12. . The Ai chbishop < j 1 (J t iutcrO >i; v has issued an encyclical 'letter oil behalf of tiie JLambetn Conference. ■> it says; "Xho juea, which dominated ContereiicOj and one ivliicJi is prevatent and potent throughout the world to-day js tile idea of fellowship, iour terrible years' loss of international fellowship emphasised its value, but the war wliich Orolie one fellowship created others. Nations oecam© associated and alliances cemented with then- blood. Thus to a world lor fellowship ,we present our sage. The church must itself be -i pattern ol : fellowship. Men began r.o think of a re-union of Christendom as an imperative necessity, and in the shadows ol suffering tiie ancient Eastern Churches drew nearer to our own than over before. . All realised that reunion is a most important subject, and it was entrusted to the largest committee fever appointed in Lambeth Conference. Iho decision reached almost complete unanimity. It is- not- by reducing groups or Christians to •miiornutv, but "v JJglitJy using their diversity that Churches can become all things to all men. We are coma need that t his ideal cannot be fulfilled if groups are content to remain separated, or joined only in some vague federation. Their value in Christian life can only be .realised if they are united in on© visible society, bound by ties of common faith, common and common ministry. This vision points the way to reunion. The road may not be short but- we believe it to bo sure." ' The encyclical en urges iinprovement of fellowship within the Anglican coiuniuiijou at. fciu most direct method of preparing ior reunion. The Church must frankly t'cknowledge that it has undervalued and neglected the work of women. It approves of the revi/al of the Order of Deaconess. OTHER TEACHINGS. The encyclical, referring to Spiritualism, Christian Science, and Theesoy declares that their teachings injure spiritual life and endanger iojviitv : to Christ, but' it recognises chat i movements are largely reactions against materialism. Tuere was sometJiing wrong with the Church if it failed to afford a refuge against materialism. There was 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 abundant treasures to bring comfort and solace to a world confronted with internecine conflict. CAPITAL AND LABOUR, Capital and labour were each aiming at exclusive supremacy, cjucn acy was not cousisteiic with the Christian ideal of lehowsiiip. The encyclical luges men to rearrange their niutua. relations, to cease competing in n spirit or suspicion ana hostility, it is Christian justice that all should snare equitably an the results of labour. I'ho letter appeals for international fellowship, .ma commends the principles underlying the League of Nations.

GOVERNMENT OF UNITED CHURCH.

Received S.oU p.m., August 13tli. While the Conference considered it necessary that a reunited church should have an episcopal form ot government, it is inferred that it must be an episcopate without prelatical elements. VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS. The Conference passed a that the peace of tne world, no iebi than Christian principle, demands the admission of Germany and other nations into the ljeaguo of Nations at the earliest moment-.

Tlie Conference recorded a protest against colour prejudice among the different races of the world, whicu hinders intercourse and gravely imperils the-peace of jbhe world. 'The Conference, in approving the creation of Deaconesses, left it optional whether candidates cared to pledge thimselves to a life of celibacy. Opportunity should be given to qualified women to speak in consecrated or unconseorated buildings. Resolutions passed declared that Spiritualism as a cult involved subordination of the intelligence and will to unknown forces. To that extent it was an abdication of that self-control to which God called us. There was a direct tendency in Christian Science to pantheistic doctrine, while denial of the reality of disease suffering was irreconcileable with facts. NEW ZEALANDEKS TAKING PART The Bishop of Auckland .was .1 member of the industrial and Social Pro--1 Ijlerns Commit.tee wirich remarked as significant that no area iu New Zealand in which prohibition had been carried by a three-fifths majority had reverted from 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 was included among the members of the Reunion Committee.