WORKING TOGETHER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16470, 5 July 1921, Page 5

WORKING TOGETHER.

COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS.

Tho first meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations of Christchurch, which was formed recently in place of Council of Churches, and now in-•fJ-v*'* representatives of the Anglican Church, was held at the Y.M.C.A. building last evening. Bishop Julius presided, and there was a large attendance of delegates from Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Congregational Churches and the Salvation Army. The meeting opened with the singing of the ct Old Hundredth,” after which Bishop Julius led ,those present in prayer.

BISHOP JULIUS’S ADDRESS. Bishop Julius, in his opening remarks, thanked the members of the now defunct Council of Churches for having so kindly and generously dissolved that body and formed the new council so as to bring in repreesntatiyes from his own Church' He felt the honour very deeply, and. he thanked God for the spirit that had led them to form the new council. He did not doubt that the Spirit of God would rest upon them if. in all their deliberations, they followed

the teachings of Jesus Christ. Ihey should strive to serve together without dissensions. They had undertaken a Sreat and heavy task. There were larp differences of opinion between the various denominations, some on nonessential points, and these wore often the ones over which they made the greatest fuss. There were also differences of opinion on essenttial questions and on these there could be no compromise. The new council would be called upon to consider great Questions religious, moral, social, economic and political, on which there were enormous differences of opinion. The formation of the council was rt great venture, and it might be asked was it worth while dissolving the old council, whicn was doing good work. He would venture to say “Yes."’ (Hear, hear.) The meeting that night almost convinced him of the truth of this. A certan class of the community, men of the world-, would violently resent the movement Vnd would tell members of the council to mind their own business by looking after men’s souls and leaving their bodies alone. There was some round for this objection, because men of the world probably knew 11s much about political and social problems as they did. However, the council s business was to bring social, economic, political and other problems under tho l>gnt of tho law of God. (Applause.) Iho prophets of old had dealt with political ;,nd economic questions. Ihe oi God were being ignored and forgotten, and men did not bring their problems binder the linht of revealed truth. It was the duty" of Christian people £o so It was no use praying uitnoux working They could work for U-.ci poor and af&cted, tor tnoso who were destltute and neglected, and ti> to bit th - people generally to a higher, purer and richer life. (Applause.)

QUESTION OF CO OPERATION. Tne Rev » . J. Williams, who was president of the Council ot laid the meeting that night indicated the highest land mark that the social, moral and spiritual forces of Christchurch had ever attained. Ine cooperation of tho Anglican Church with the other churches on the council was a erre-at and definite advanco aioug tho lines suggested by the Lambeth Conference. No sooner had the report oi that conference reached ChristchurcM than Canon Wilford sent out an invitation to ministers of other denominations to attend a conference. They had met together and had conferred on matters of common interest. It v/as a delightful experience, for they had got to know eath other better. Previously the churches had looked at each other as it were across a gull. Perhaps the Anglicans had looked upon the non-Anglicans as radicals, and the non-Anglicans may have considered the Anglicans a stiff, starchy lot (1 daughter.) However, they were getting to know each other better and it was a

Joy to find how closely united they ■were in the things that mattered, ne had wondered if such an advance towards co-operation nad oeen made in tiny piace outside Christchurch, when along carne the bombshell from little Nelson regarding the interchange ot pulpits. A Methodist minister had preached in tho Ne»son Cathedral, the xdsiiop of Nelson in a x resbyterian Church, and tho Dean in a Methodist Clinch. They had done well in Christchurcii, but they would have to make some leeway before they could Overtake Nelson, which was sometimes ©idled “ Sleepy Hollow.” However, under ».ne constitution of the council they could not discuss the question of interchange of pulpits, but if Bishop Julius made an application to the Christcb~ r ch Ministers’ Association for an all-round interchange it would receive very favourable consideration. On behalf of the non-Anglicans, he wished to thank the Anglicans for the spirit, had shown in joining the council. All the advances had been made by the Anghcans, who had asked if it was not possible to find some way of uniting with the Council of Churches. There were many evils that required to be dealt with, such as the evils of gambling, cirink, debasing pictures, and the evils that were causing social and industrial unrest. Christchurch was * favoured city, but the ono great need ei Cbristciiurvli was a moral clean up,

and they should bring to bear on the task the best wisdom they could secure. He thanked God he had been spared to see this union of congregations in the service of Jesus Christ, and he believed the council would prove a great influence for good. CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNCIL. o On the motion of Archdeacon Uagpatt, the following tentative constitution, drawn ujj by a committee consisting of seven members of the Council of Churches and seven members of the Church of was adooted : Name: •* Representative Council of Christian Congregations for Social Service.” Short title : “ Council of Christian Congregations.” Object: To promote the physical, social and moral welfare of the people and the extension of the rule of Christ among all nations and over every region of human life. Representation: To be bv congregation. Every meeting place where there is an organised religious life shall be included in the term congregation. Delegation: Representation to the council shall be determined in the following manner :—One delegate for the first 100 members or part thereof ; one for each full 100 thereafter: all ministers, Salvation Arjnv officers and home missionaries of affiliated congregations shall be ex officio members of the council. Officers: The officers of the council shall consist of a president, three vicepresidents. a general secretary and a corresponding secretary, a treasurer and a committee consisting of one from each denomination. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected : President Julius • vice-presid-ents, Archdeacon (Anglican) Rev John Paterson (Presbyterian) and Rev T. A. Jourrhin (Methodist); General secretary. Rev J. J. North : corresponding secretary. Rev J. R. Yoiina*: treasurer. Mr J. O. Prtidhoe • committee, Revs J. R. Hewland (Anerlican) W. Tanner (Presbyterian). S. Lawrv ntpfiio'h'cfci Pastor Woolnoimh (Church of Christ'* and Messrs A. W. Beaven (Congregational) and Alfred Wilkinson (Salvation Army). PROBLEMS FOR THE COUNCIL.' , The following outline of problems which will be dealt with bv the council was then presented by the secretary 'Rev J. J. North) :

(1) The first and gravest matter that confronts the new council is suggested in the constitution we have adopted. The promotion of international goodwill is a task we have accepted. The League of Nations is the concrete expression of a world-wide desire to escape from the arbitrament of the sword. The Christian people of Great Britain and of America are organising for the promotion of the objects of the league. It is imperative that we should engage in the same task. Mr H. G. Wells sees in the possibility of the churches being aroused everywhere to take up the problem of tho world’ peace, the last hope of saving the world. This Councir of Christian Congregations is the" body in this community to which the public have the right to look. An educational propaganda and the formation of a League of Nations Union is a task to which we must immediately address ourselves.

(2) We shall be compelled to concern ourselves with the neglected children of the community. A case of old world malignity has occurred in tho city. A

mere child has been sent diseased and pregnant to the rel'uge- The mother’s defence is of great moment. Sh pleads that she cannot keep a family and earn their living at the same time.

There is enough goodwill in the community te grapple with such a problem. Women who are widowed and worse than widowed ought to be more adequately guarded than they are for their own and for their children’s sake.

(3) Problems touching Capital and Labour fall within our order of reference. Particular questions of “ nicely calculated less and more ” belong to the courts, but the two fundamental questions too much neglected by the religious in time past will constantly concern us. These are tho questions touching the duties as well as the rights of Capital, and the rights as well as tho duties of Labour. The relations between Capital and Labour must be moralised. Talk of class war must be exorcised. We must seek after fundamental righteousness. <i) As Christian Churches we are in a position to ascertain the facts con corning the housing problem—a prob leni from which both matters of health and of morals spring. . A census of the city undertaken unofficially might bo invaluable in this connection, and ought not to be beyond the powers of a council which means business. (d) Tho unsolved problem of the liquor habit will be up for national treatment next year. This council can never consent to be spectators of so vast an issue go intimately interwoven with the welfare of the nation. Following the ad rice of the bishops of Lambeth,, we ought to secure and tabulate the fullest and meet impartial information concerning the operation and results of prohibition among the 100,000,000 people of the U.S.A., an 1 ainomz the British, as distinguished from the French sections of Canada. 16) Gambling problems are not less pressing or menacing than liquor problems. The licensing of a State gambling machine has been . responsible for Hie quadrupling of gambling totals in a handful of years. The almost incredible total of £IO.OOO 000 will be reached in this year of financial stress. The whole question of the State license will have to be considered. The task of educating the people on the economic and moral perils of gambling ought to )>e undertaken. Sharp serutiey. ought to be given to the forthcoming report of the Commission, and any suggestion of an increase of gambling facilities ought to be man-handled by this Council of Christian Congregations.

(7) There are questions touching on divorce law which will require early attention. The ambiguity of the re- , cent Act is not satisfactory, and the i discretionary powers vested in judges j which allow the stigma of divorce to be i affixed to an innocent party, require attention. The tendency to enlarge the number of causes of divorce and to increase the facilities is opposed to the traditional attitude of all Christian churches. But apart from all theological interest the bearing of ea,sy divorce on social and national well-being is undoubted. It will not be possible lor l this council to refrain from some con- ' sideration of this troubled question. Matters pertaining to physical litres l 1 before marriage and the wisdom of seeking legislative action to enforce the requirement Iff a certificate will also come up for consideration. Both the eo-open-ting bodies in the present eouzi-

cil have expressed themselves strongly in this connection.

(8) The better _ care of the feebleminded is essential to . a well-ordered commonwealth. That in this Dominion this is a neglected tract of social activity is generally admitted. The aggregation of the mentally deficient in great institutions is far from ideal. To Christian people the question ought to make an immediate appeal. We ought to support strongly tne demand for an advance on present methods, and most especially in regard to those many who are but a little below the normal, and who are at present so ill provided for. (9) The development of orphanage work by the different Christian churches is of great public importance. Threats against this form of philanthropy will be sternly fesisted. Wise guidance as to method and good oversight will be welcomed. (10) Projects for beautifying the city and for making it anproximate to the “ Citie Faire ” should receive generous support from the council. The relation between seemly surroundings and general well-being is obvious. (11) There remains a final question which cannot be ignored, and that concerns the religious education of the child. The constituents of this council have different ideas as to how this great end may be accomplished. Those differences ought to be debated and an attempt made to arrive at a common policy. The meeting closed with singing of the Doxologv.