CHURCH UNION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 488, 22 April 1909, Page 5

CHURCH UNION.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION DISCUSSION. , ANCLICAN DEMANDS. CRITICISED BY- DR. BEVAN. (DT TKLEOBAPH—MESS ASSOCIATION—COr-YMOHT.) '■'.■■■''■■':'' ■ Melbourne,; April 21. ; At the half-yearly meeting of-the Congregational Union,, reference, was made, to the proposed union- of Churches. 1 -~ : Dr, Bevan thought, tho members .should take a straight-out course, and eitheT say they were going into, tho subject or drop it. : The president'said the union's committee had decided not to.meet until it received the reports of tho Lambeth Conference'.- : ;Dr, : Bevan Toplied:—"That' 'conference has met, and wo don't '.know! where we are. Meanwhileysorrio .-sort, of negotiations w.cro going on between: .the Anglicans and-, the Presbyterians. . Tho Anglicans' ;- demand '■ for a historio opiscopate is-. unhistorical, 'Unchristian, illogical, and. perfectly impossible'. It is merely an ecclesiastical dodge to secure supremacy.'.' ■-■>■ ■-■ :: .• ■ ■•'.'.. : "<, ,'-.'■■■'".-' ! .It was '-agreed' that' the committee should submit a,motion.ai.the October meeting. ';," ;' LAMBETH CONFERENCE; DECISIONS. / •The four articles.put forward by the Lambeth Conference of 3888, and since reaffirmed,; as a basis on which approach may be made towards reunion are:—(l) The Holy Scriptures; (2) the Apostles' Creed and the.Niceno Creed; (3) the Sapraments of Baptism end the Supper of the Lord; (4) theHistorio Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to.-the varying needs of the nations and peoples Balled of God into ; the unity ■ of His Churoh.\r ■; -.''^i:.-: ; " .-,,>,'■- { -..■■.-; v-Tho Lambeth Conference of 1908 agreed to the following resolution:—"The conference receives with thankfulness and hope the report of its committed, on Reunion; and: Intercommunion, and is of opinion that, in the welcome pvent of any, project of reunion,between any church; of: the Anglican Communion and any Presbyterian (dr: other non-episcopal ohurch, which, while'-.preserving.the;faith.in its integrity and purity,'has also exhibited care as to the form and intention of-ordination: to the ministry, reaching-the' stage of responsible ■official .negotiation, .• it might be possible to make an approach ■ to reunion' on the basis of' con-* ■ secretions °to : the. .'episcopate ■ on' lines suggested by siioh 'precedents- as -those of '1610. Further, in'tho opinion of. the;' conference, it might bo ■ possible to authorise arrangements (for the period of transition towards full union 'on the.basis of -; episcopal which would.respeot.the conviotions of those who had not received episcopal: Orders, without .'involving ;any surrender:, on', our..part: of' the principle.'of: Churoh order laidrdown in the Preface' of:the Ordinal attached, to.:', the- Book of Common' Prayer.", V ■.■.-.-.-;.;;: |W; '•■■:'.:■.-.■ ■:''"[Dr.; Bevan was chairman of the-Congrega-tional .Union, in'lßß7-88. His family : has been Nonconformist'from the time ■ of ■.Charles'-'-ll.].''.'- ; '-.)-'i'-.-'.--- > •■..:■:':''.,''■'■'-■'■.■ ...■'■■