RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1210, 19 August 1911, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CHURCH UNION. SYDNEY PRESBYTERY'S POSITION. At (ho meet ing of the Presbytery of Sydney recently tho proposed federation of the Congregational, Presbyterian, and Methodist Churches was discussed in committee. Dr. ilacqiioen moved Hint tho committee, recommend iho Presbytery tu ado]ifc the following resolution:— '"i'hat, while recognising the important fioryico which has been- rendered by thu Union Cominiltco in connection with these negotiations, and .while l-ojoiciuj; that, so far as doctrine is concerned 'Iherb would appear to bo so great an amount of unanimity among thoso representing t'ho churches specially iirl crested, yet, , huisluuch as iho proposed scheme of polity contains some things that iu our viewwould not bo acceptable to our people, and further because tuoro seems to be no strong desire on the part of our people for union, while on Iho part of many there is a strong opposition to it, this Presbytery deems it unwise to pursuo these-ne-gotiations any. further at tho present time." The Rev. Gcorgo Chalmers seconded the motion. -. • . . Dr. Burgess moved the following amendment:— ■ -.•■-. "That the Presbytery of Sydney hereby ■ expresses. its hearty appreciation, of tho arduous labours of tho joint committees' of the Congregational, Methodist', and' \ Presbyterian Churches, and / its readiness to welcome such co-operation among t'he Evangelical Church as would advanceChrist's honour in this Commonwealth; fiirlhcr, that in so far as the doctrinalposition between the negotiating churches is concerned the Presbytery npproyes generally of Iho statement of doctrine as a satisfactory'expression of tho faith of Hie Churches concerned; .bitt it disapprovesof organic union on the basis of the proposed scheme of polity, particularly in regard to tliii eldership arid the ..pastoral" office." . ■ . Dr. Macqnccn withdrew his motion in favour of the amendment , , and tho threo first-sections of tho - amendment 'were agreed to. Progress was reported, and (ho section—"but it disapproves of,, organic union on the basis of the proposed s cliomo of polity," otc.-wns left for further discussion. ' ' ~':'-.