CHURCH UNION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1668, 7 February 1913, Page 4

CHURCH UNION.

The union between the Methodist and the Primitive "Methodist Churches of New Zealand - , which has been finally ratified and consummated during the. present: week, will bo hailed with satisfaction by people of every shade of religious thought. Each of_ the Churches concerned has had a history of- wnich it has every I reason to be proud, 'and in consent-' |ing to the; act of union neither of them was required in any shape or foim to repudiate its past or to cast aside:any of its fundamental: principles. It is not a case of the mere absorption of the smaller body by tho larger, but it is. a.free union on equal terms, arrived at after full discussion in a most frank and brotherly spirit, which augurs .well for the future. The united Church will have 193 .ministers and 63' home missionaries. Its properties have cost £515,277, the debt upon them being only, £94,055,_ while the attendants,at public.worship, including Sunday scholars, will aggregate over 100,000. A great institution like this, backed up by the new enthusiasm arid more efficient working .which united action will supply, cannot fail to exercise a far-reaching influence for good directly on its own people, and indirectly on the.community as a whole. The Methodist Church of New Zealand, therefore, deserves .the, best wishes of all who have the welfare of the country at heart for a happy fu-. ture, and one which will be successful in the best.sense of the, word.

This amalgamation of the forces of Methodism in New Zealand is a matter of great interest to all Christian: rjeoplc. ' It is a sign of the times.! There is a growing dissatisfaction throughout Christendom at its present unhappy divisions, and an intense .longing is felt toy. the best minds in all religious bodies for a better- understanding between.■ the various denominations leading on to ultimate reunion.' It is felt that' the present'state of rivalry and competition cannot be in accordance with the mind of the Founder of Christjanity, and,that the divided front which the: Church as a whole" presents to the hostile and indifferent at home and the heathen abroad is a hindrance to the work of winning the world for Christianity, In.England, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Now Zealand, union movements ..are, •or , have reocntly_ pnen, J in progress, .hut, the" •divisions-'bf centuries'? cannot' be healed in a day, and tha'Viscst minds are well aware tHat.a hasty, ill-considered,'and superficial amalgamation may put back the cause'of real unity- for years. , ,It is. there-; fore necessary to make haste slowly. The work of preparation is going oh. in various places, and in many ways even ''whore outward organic union is not yet in sight. ■ Nearly eyery Church in Christendom is feeling after unity. The Anglican Church has. laid down as its basis for negotiations the acceptance, of'the Nicene and. Apostles' j Creeds, the 'Holy Scriptures, the 1 , sacraments of hnntism and the Lord's Supper,, and the historic -episcopate: the two V Presbyterian Churches in Scotland arc at. present anxiously endeavouringto settle their: differences; and in Canada several of the Protestant Cliurehes have. gone a long Way in tho direction nf unity. Coming nearer home we find thajt in Australia more than one attempt ihas recently been made to bring various Churches toother, and, though so .far without visible success,,tho friendly negotiation's and.tho honest endnavours of each to understand the other's tioint of. view have done much to bring about a better feeling arid a more inr/>lli»ent grasp of, the situation. Indeed,: the bare recognition of the need for union is in itself, a real sterj in advance. \.

Turning to the United' States, we find that a- very interesting unity movement has just been pet on font, in theform of a proposal for a world conference on faith and order. It originated in the Protestant Episcopal' Church, the suggestion being that all Christian Churches throughout the world should be, asked to, serid representatives to a conference with a view to considering and promoting tho growing desire -for the reunion of Christendom. The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his approval,, and an English Committee has been set ud., -The great Roman Catholic Church is also manifesting an earnest desire for re.union, though perhaps in a different way.'\ Speaking at Manchester , recently, Dean Rothwell deplored the present divided state of Christendom, .and asked how with such diversity' could missionaries from Christian nations hope for success among the heathen? In a discussion which followed, tho Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford said they ought to pray more for unity, especially for union with the Greek Church. Since the rejection of Anglican Ordcrs'by Leo XIII,. the 1 hopes for an understanding between the' Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches have received a set-back, but in the opinion of many good judges this door has not been absolutely and .finally closed and barred, though it raust.be admitted that the .possibilities of closer relations between the Anglican and Greek Churches are at present more hopeful. ■';,'•. ■ ...-".

Viewing' the whole outlqok in a, broad and comprehensive way, most people will agree with tho declaration matlo by representatives of various Churches in England a few years ago to the effect that Christians should be one in a visible fellowship; that existing divisions hinder, or even paralyse. Christian work; that members of all religious bodies need, open and candid minds to receive light, and yet more light, so that in ways as yet hardly imagined they may lie led back towards unity. This yearned-for reunion will have to be something far greater and nobler than a narrow uniformity. It must include all th.it is of permanent value in the special, contributions which the various denominations

and schools of thought have made for the enrichment of tlio spiritual life. To the possibilities of such a re-unitctl Church could anyone venture to put limits? It might regenerate the, world.