CHURCH UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1380, 5 March 1912, Page 6

CHURCH UNION.

. METHODISTS AND PRIMITIVE , "" METHODISTS. BASIS ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY. (By Telerrann—Press ' Association.) Auckland, March 4. The desirability of Methodist union in New Zealand was once again affirmed by tho conference' of. tho Methodist Church to-day. By tho voto of 130 members, the conferenco accepted the basis formulated by a Joint Committee for tho union of tho Methodist, and Primitive Methodist Churches under tho name of "Tho Methodist Church of Now Zealand." Tho profiosals for the unification of the work of ho two Methodist Churches havo boon discussed during tho past thirty years, and the scheme was actually consummated by. the conferences of tho two Churches last year. ■Tho subject was introduced by the following motion by tho Rev. fe. Lawry (Christchurch) :—

(1) The conference receives with pleasure tho communication, from the conference of the Primitive Methodist Church stating that it has adopted the basis for union as recommended by the Joint Committee by n vote of 60 to 10.

(2) The conference desires to reaffirm the conviction which it has previously expressed on soveral occasions, "That the completion of' Methodist union-in New Zealand is strongly to bo. desired,'. and would promote tho greater effectiveness of Methodism and the .larger issues of Christian work throughput the Dominion."

(3) The conference hereby adopts the report of tho Joint Committee on Methodist union, agrees to accept the proposed basis ns an equitable adjustment of the differences in the constitutional laws and usages of tho two Churches, and resolves to take all necessary steps for the consummation of union at the earliest date that may bo found practicable. (-1) That all further matters relating to this question bo referred to a committee consisting of the president, ox-president, and secretary of conference, tho Revs. J. J. Lewis, W. J. Williams, G. Bond, P. W. Fairclough, J. A. Luxford, T. G. Brooke, C. H. Garland, W. Beady, B. H. Ginger, J. WaTd, C. H. Laws, J. Wrigley, Messrs. J. E. Wheeler, J. Veale, A. C. Caughey, E. Dixon, G. H. Bennett, G. Tiller, J. G. Harkness, S. Gorman, J. A. Flesher, Hon. G. J. Smith, G. E. Blackwell, C. S. Howard, E. Hosevear, and E. Aslin (Rev. C. H. Laws, convenor). The first and the second paragraphs of the motion were carried on the voices. In moving the third paragraph, Mr. Lawry said that in 1883 a basis of Union was drafted, and was accepted by the conference of 1881. _ A large portion of that' scheme was incorporated in the basis of Union recommended by the Joint Committee, but in some respects there were important differences. Mr. Lawry added that it had been found that in actual working, the two churches_ were more nearly alike than were their respective constitutions, bo that it was _unl;kely. that'there would be any serious difficulty in working upon the proposed constitution.

The conference approved of the_ basis of union without amendment subject to the acceptance by the Joint Committee of proposals regarding the Supernumerary Fund. The resolution was carried unani--mously, ISO votes being recorded. The result of tho voting was received with applause;, and tho conference sung tho Doxology.

A good many years ago the first .step in the way of Methodist union in this Dominion was taken when the Wesleyan Methodists, United-Methodists, and Biblo Christiaus joined forces and formed what is known as the Methodist Church. Tho Primitive Methodists also took part in tho negotiations, but eventually decided to stand out until the larger Methodist body had separated, as far as government was concerned, from the Church in Australia. It was generally understood that the movement for the completion of Methodist union in New Zealand had only.been postponed, not abandoned, and after some further.negotiations representatives of tho two bodies met in Wellington in Juno last, when, after careful consideration of all points of difference, a basis of .union was agreed upon, there being practical unanimity on all material questions'. This basis was adopted by the Primitive' Methodist Conference, held at Christohiirch in January, and new tho Methodist Conference at Auckland has also accepted it. It will now have to be submitted to tho various quarterly meetings of both Churches for confirmation, and tho final step is expected to be takan in 1913, when tho conferences of both bodies will meet separately (probably in Wellington) in order to receive the Teports of .the quarterly meetings. If these reports are found to be 'favourable to the terms of union, the conferences will by formal resolution complete the movement. The members of both conferences will then, it is understood, meet as one body, forming the first united Methodist Conference of ftew Zealand. Tho basis of union was published in Thk Dominion on January 13.