BISHOP AND REUNION.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17751, 1 July 1929, Page 6

BISHOP AND REUNION.

THE ANGLICAN ATTITUDE. BROAD-MINDED VIEW. SYNOD TO EXPRESS OPINION. Some significant remarks concerning the attitude of the Church of England towards the all-important question of Church reunion were made by the Right Rev. C. A. Cherrington, ■Bishop of Waikato, speaking in St. Peter’s Cathedral last evening. The Bishop instanced the fact that reunion had never come nearer than it had in South India and the whole problem was going to be discussed with the view to action being taken at the Lambeth Conference next year. New Zealand bishops would be attending this conference and would support the principle of reunion if it was the wish of the Province. He was hoping the Waikato Synod, opening to-day, would give him a lead and encouragement to present a strong case at the Lambeth Conference.

Bishop Cherrington said negotiations towards reunion had been progressing among the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Congregationalist and Anglican Churches for 10 years. All churches had agreed on all essentials with the exception of one, namely, the retention of the episcopal office. It had been suggested that all clergy in the Churches mentioned should be on an equality for at least 30 years. It would be difficult for the Church of England to renounce the doctrine of apostolic succession. The Church of England, added the preacher, was the mother of the Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationaiists, who had broken away about 250 years ago. These churches were now seeking to return and nothing should be done which would hinder a spirit of compromise ; the whole question had to be handled very carefully. “Are We Better Men 7“ “Dare we say that we Anglicans with our historic associations, our doctrines and sacraments,, are better men and women than our brethren the Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists?” asked the Bishop. “Are we better lovers of Christ than they?” If reunion could be effected in one part of the world he predicted that movement would soon spread. He urged the congregation to pray that Synod this week might be guided and that tlie New Zealand Bishops would be filled with hope, and strength when the great subject came before the Lambeth Conference next year. It was unthinkable that Anglicans could eat with, talk to, live with and fraternise generally with people but could not pray and worship like them.