CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16158, 12 March 1918, Page 8

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

ANNUAL MEETINGS

The annnal meetings of the Congregational Union were continued yesterday At the morning session, a devotional service was conducted by Rev. W. H. A, Vickory. The business meeting, which was resumed at 10.30, was presided over bv tho Rev. A. Hodge. A letter from two Knrotongan soldiers in Narrow Neck Camp, conveying cordial greetings to tho I'nion delegate?, was read by the Rev. G. H. Eastman. The following motion, moved by the Rev. W. Saunders (Ihinedin) was carried : — "This council, having had placed before it an account of the cooperation in social service of the Otago Congregational Churches with tho Presbyterian" Church of that pro- \ ince, expresses its hearty appreciation of the action of tho Presbyterians in inviting such co-operation • strongly recommends Congregationalisms in other parts of the Dominion of Now /inland to enter on a similar eo-oper ion if opportunity offers; declare < its willingness sympathetically to consider any proposals from the Presbyterian Church for yet closer eo-oporation in Christian work; and oven expresses its hope that an everincreasing co-operation may eventually issue in such practical federation as'will make the ultimate union of tho two historic Churches both natural and easy, if such union is for the glory of Cod and the extension of His Kingdom. "That a copy of this resolution bo sent to the chairman of the Presbyterian Social Service Committee in and to the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand." A deputation from the Chri&tciiureli Ministers' Association was received. The Uev. A. T. Thompson, of St. Andrew's Church, paid graceful tribute to the influence of Congregationalism upon his own life. Speaking of union, he emphasised the need to realise common principles lit fighting a common i'oe.

Tho Rev. T. Fee (Methodist), in a happy speech, welcomed tho delegates, and expressed a hope that the meetings might serve to awaken a greater spirit of co-operation in asserting the great principles of tiie Christian Church. Rev. F. B. BusUeld (Baptist) spoke briefly on behalf of the Baptist Church, in the absence of tho Rev. .1. J. North. Tho Rev. .7. Rood Glasson replied to tho deputation 011 behalf of the Union. A conference, on '-The Relation of Evangelical Doctrine to the Spiritual Progress of tiio Church," was held in the afternoon. The Rev. A. M. Aspland said he was assured that the evangelical gospel of the Grace of God is the only message calculated to holpliuinanity , and bring it to the goal presented in the spiritual kingdom established by Christ. The speaker went to some pains to define the term ''evangelical,'' and said that, turning to tho more positive aspect of the question, while he would be one of tho first to protest against this person or that being labelled as "not ovangelical," at tho same, time ho thought tnat, with all charity,, he might be permitted to say that a church which denied salvation to any outside the pale was not ovangelical, or where the gospel was limited to 'sacramental rites, that church could not be said to bo evangelical. Evangelical religion, as he knew it, stood first and foremost for salvation from sin | by the Grace of God revealed in Josus ! Christ.

In the ovcning, tlio'Jlov. I. Sarginson conducted an intercessory empire* scrvieo, and delivered an address 011 "Religion and tlio War." The speaker said that the question, as to whether or not war was Christian depended upon the occasion. In the present case the Central Powers, in their consciousness of military might, had dared | to attempt to wade through blood and outrage to world supremacy. The rest of tho world had been horrified by their deliberate crimes. In these circumstances, which, ho asked, was themoro Christian attitude of other nations— abject submission to German might and terrorism, or the rising of the mighty millions of the new .chivalry, declaring in God's namo that they would, fight to the death against the hideous Power that crucified Belgium? To smash the German tradition that, for her, all wars must be a splendid investment, was one of the main purposes of the Allies. In these distressful times, mind and soul were thrown back upon tho Eternal for comfort and strength, and for a means of rising above it all to a move commanding world view. It would, however, be cowardly to eliminate tho unpleasant subject of war from the mind and feeling, for tho thought, feeling, hope, and will which people p*ut into the war wero of real value. The thousands of ,milcs which separated the bodies of people here and the bodies of those they lovod could not count for much between spirit and spirit. During the service anthems ' were given by the Linwood choir. To-day's meetings of the Congregational Union will be of a missionary character; in the afternoon at _ 3 o'clock addresses will bo given by Miss Jean Begg, on "Life in Samoa," and Miss Lorna Hunt. 8.A., on "Tho Function of Women." In the evening Miss G. H. Eastman • and Miss Jean Begg will give addresses, and Mr W. M. Trigg • will speak on Home Missions. ■ •