THE KIKUYU CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14889, 31 January 1914, Page 16

THE KIKUYU CONFERENCE.

DR. MASON ON INTER-COM-MUNION. f Tn opening a Church Missionary Society, salo of -work at Canterbury recentiy, the Roy. Dr. A. J. Mason ' (Canon of' Canterbury Cathedral) ob- '-'•' nerved :—*.■_'" tremble ' a -.little a- •- " the- latest: news from Irgailda. -.'.• There is no ono- on earth, .!■• believe, "•'■::. who more honestly or ardently desires tinion. between tho .Christian peoples • '■'■than I do.- T-most earnestly desire to ;i v-ce" .union"-.promoted between ourselves and -all .othei-'Evangelical Christians. ■••'• But" I think there are right and wrong ways to promote that union. I do not myself .think that inter-communion be- , tween Christian people is r ;;a .starting 7 .point "for-union, but rather the climax iiv'the'other direction.- : Perhaps some, -of-you know to what I am referring— - the famous Conference of, Kviingelical ■: : vand _Protestant'Mis_ibnaries.in the dio- ■ •■■.- cese-ibf.Uganda which took place this ->> year. It might be right• it anight be Wrong. _' I do not;venture to say. But ..:■'-.■ Ido say this: that no one of us', whoever be might be, bishop or archbishop, V or anybody -else, cant treat the; Sacrdr .•.-inents'of Christ as if they wore, merely Htho symbols ;• of his ow*A ■'• goodwill tos : wards somebody else. belong to '■-'■ Christ and to; the Church as a whole, ".'•'■--'.and';.'-- one, has; a right r to deal with ; - them as if they were private concerns.: ..-■'■ of his own.. I do not say that is what : v ■; place in Uganda; I do not know the details vvell enough. I know rthis:that -it-would be a very.., great .hindrance to the case of* re--union as a *v"". whole if, for the sake of a temporary ;■:; union between Protestant missionaries -. in_Ug_tida, the Church of England . . came to bo split into two divisions.. I : will ;Say ho more oh that .point, hay- "■■';,_ ing said so much, which' in... honesty/_• v. • fcltbdiind tosay.,' I do not think; that *.'■/., tho "Church 'Missionary Society as a _: whole" is; actually committed to v tho ";, policy-assigned to.the two .bishops ion ' > that occasion;''' ".,;: