United ministers' Conference.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VIII, Issue 12, 1 June 1918, Page 90

United ministers' Conference.

For the last ten years it has been the custom m Gisborne on Whit Monday for the clergy of the district to meet the ministers of other denominations m conference to discuss controversial questions m a perfectly f rank manner m order to get a knowledge of one another's position as a first requisite for any removal of obstacles to union. This is m accordance with the recommendation of the last Lambeth Conference, and ten years' experience has proved that, it can be done with advantage and without any sacrifice of principle, or bitterness of feeling. The meetings have taken place at Te Ran College. At the last meeting held on Whit Monday, May 20th, there were present : — Anglicans: Yen. Archdeacon Williams, Revs. Packe, Rawnsley, Ward, Wilson, Chatterton, Malcolm, Drake, Te Kanapa, Puha, Wharehina and Tokoroa. Non- Anglicans : Revs. Aitken and Wheeldon (Presbyterian), Abbey (Wesleyan), Carlisle (Baptist), and Messrs Parlane and Jones (Presbyterian Home Missionaries). The Yen. Archdeacon Williams was voted to the chair. The meeting began at 10.30 a.m. with a short but very helpful devotional paper on "Prayer" by Rev. Abbey. He dwelt very strongly on the necessity of undisturbed private prayer if the life and work of the minister was to be effectual. After this the Yen. Archdeacon Williams opened the subject for discussion, which was, "Are the present divisions of the Church justifiable." He drew a sketch of the early history of the Church m its undivided state, and then gave an outline of the various divisions from the schism between the East and West m the 11th Century, and the rise of the various bodies which separated at the time of the Reformation, and afterwards down to our own day. The evil results, of these divisions were then pointed out, and the question asked whether it Avas necessary that they should continue, and if not, what steps should be taken to improve the present condition of things. Rev. J. Carlisle (Baptist) followed, and stated that m his opinion so long as the Anglican Church did not recognise the other religious bodies as branches of the Church, the present divisions are justifiable and will continue. He considered that the Baptist Church was as real a part of Christ's Church as any other communion, and had the seal of God's approval m its spiritual results. After the two opening addresses the discussion was continued by Revs. Ramsay, Chatterton, Aitken, Wilon and Packe and Messrs Parlane and Jones until 1 o'clock. Quite a

number of important points were brought out. The Conference proved most interesting and the time w,as, all too short. The members lunched together afterwards at the Alexandra Tearooms.