RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 834, 4 June 1910, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CHRISTIAN UNITY. LETTER BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERHURY. The Archhishop of Canterbury has sent to each Bishop of his Province a copy of the following letter (dated April 9) "which he has himself addressed to the clergy and laity of his diocese on the subject of Special Prayer at Whitsuntide, on behalf of unity among Christians, and lias ex pressed a hope that the bishops may, in their several dioceses, talce such steps in tho matter as they deem it to be possible and right:—

Sly dear Friends,—You will, 1 think, remember a serious and weighty letter which was put forth just four yean, ago, signed by the leaders of different Christian communities in England. In that appeal, while deprecating any large, and as we thought premature, schemes of corporate reunion, or any attempt to treat our existing religious divergencies as unimportant, we urged mwii all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity the duty of united prayer, at tlie then approaching Whitsuntide, on behalf of the reunion of Christians. We based our appeal upon the assumption which all Christians can make their own, namely: "That our Lord meant us to be one in a visible fellowship: ■ "That our existing divisions hinder or even paralyse His work: "That we all deserve chastisement, and need penitence, for the various ways in which wo have contributed to produce or promote divisions: "That we all need open and candid minds tn receive light and yet more light, so that, in ways w<? perhaps as yet can liardty miasm", we may be led bade towards unity." Such was our appeal, and ] have reason to know tiiat the outcome was neither small nor unfruitful. 1 venture now, in our own diocese,'to renew tli<j request, in the belief that our Whitsuntide prayers will thus be inspired with an increased earnestness and with a larger hope. Such special prayer, offered at the most appropriate of all seasons, must not, of course, bo an isolated thing. Wo have continual need of prayer for the outpouring of , the Holy Spirit upon all who acknowledge the Lordship of Christ, that by His power they may not only be strengthened in their dis<:ip!eship, but may be increasingly drawn together in their fellowship one with another. AVe are this year, in an almost unexampled degree, reminded of the need, the possibility, and the significance of such united prayer. The World's Missionary Conference, which, is to be held in Edinburgh next June, will offer to Christendom an object lesson of the most striking kind as to the unity of Christian purpose, devotion, and endeavour underlying the differences which -sunder us. The greatest missionary, statesmen and pioneers now alivo'will, ■ without compromising in the least degree their distinctive opinions and-modes of action, meet for counsel and prayer upon the vital question how wq can best fulfil our Lord's command, 'and help to win the world for Him. Pray, then, that the conference may be guided and inspired by His Holy Spirit. Pray also that our own homework in our Master's name may in every section of His Church be carried on with a deeper enthusiasm, a. more' persistent courage, ,a wider brotherliriess, a. more unconquerable trust in His purpose "that they all may" be one." . We cannot offer such a prayer to Him in vairi. .. ... .. . ... ■;-... I am your faithful brother and'servant in the Lord Jesus Christ, Randall Gantuar.-