RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 11

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CHURCH UNION,

CONFERENCE AT MELBOURNE. INTERESTING SPEECHES. The Congress on the Union of Churches commenced its sittings at the Town Hall, Melbourne, on September 1. The Rev. Alexander M'Callum presided. Tho following wero the churches represented:—Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Congregationalist, the Church of Christ, and tho Society of Friends.

Among those present at either the afternoon or evening sessions wero: The Anglican Bishops of Bendigo, Gippsland, Wangaratta, and of Timievelley and Travancore (India); Dean Stephen, Canon Hart, Canou Huglios, the Rev. C.' H. Kelleway, the Rev. Professor Adam, tho Revs. Dr. Morley, T. Adamson, and Leyton Richards. In tho presidential welcome Mr. M'Callum said that he gladly extended a welcome to the members of this the first meeting in connection with what promised to bo a most interesting series of conferences. What the outcome would bo even tho most sanguine could hardly prophesy. Those who had been preparing the business of this congress had been conscious of a spiritual help and comfort which gave assur--1 ance of tho Divine presence at all tho ' sessions. Nineteen hundred years ago, Christ sought for His disciples, among 1 other great spiritual benefits,, that they 1 might he preserved in ooncord and unity — unity as real and intimate as the relationship between the Father and the | Son. Almost every temperamental typo was represented among the men for whom this prayer was prayed. The one point which they had in common was the sincere attachment to Him who had called them into His service and fellowship. The days when Gliris- ' tian dogmas were being formula led ' wero no less strenuous than the days of affliction when there were no lack ' of martyrs. Because human nature was only human nature, it to bo : wondered at that camps came to bo : formed within the church itself. The ' Kingdom of God, however, would come, ' and the will of Gad was surely to be 1 done on earth. There was a growing 1 consciousness. of the deep, underlying ■ unity which existed because of our re- ■ lationship to Christ. No one in this gathering, however, would imder-rate 1 nor discredit creeds or any formal pro- ■ fession of faith. Sentiment would lin--1 ger round the households of faith I which had nurtured us. It was' not to 1 be expected that they would contcm- ; plate with complacency any dismantling of the rooftrees under which they were born, and where their fathers ' and mothers had worshipped God and found peace. Tho grace of God, however, ivent outside boundaries which they had set for themselves. They miglit not knowhow to reconcile this to the plans of church-building, but they could all Tejoice in the doings of God even when they might come, with something of surprise. The only permanent basis of unity within the Church would bo found in the affection of her members. Given such a basis of the task of construction would surely be easier, but patience, thought, and prayer would be needed. Perhaps some great leader with a gift for synthesis might be given, and here on the soil of this land, where men wero experimenting iu economics, wo might bo called of God to lead His Church in this great grace,. There was a call to-day to fields which were white to harvest, but lacked harvesters. Mis-sion-field workers were so oloso to awful facts that they worked elbow to. elbow through the iong' days. 'When'" they came home it was' with tearful stories of men and women and little children who cried out, and there was none to answer their cry. These'things wero our problems. Archdcacon Hindley said that he welcomed the congress because of a new spirit which had come to the Christian church all over the world. Bitterness and strife were passing away. In the United States of America, Canada, England, and Australia, without any collusion or any correspondence as far as he know, man who loved the Lord Jesus C'hristnvcre drawing nearer to God. The congress was to bo uiiollicial. There oould be no harm done. .No member could say the door was closcd. Every member seemed actuated, by a desire to find out a solution of difficult problems, and were looking and praying ior guidance by the Spirit of God. iiiey believed and prayed that presently all barriers wouid be broken down and that the new church, when it came, would not be an exclusive church, for tho Spirit of God «;as one of inclusion, and it was going to include all that' was best in spite of difficulties. Speaking at tho ovening session, Dean Stephen said that he had been very reluctant to speak on this subject that evening, but alter he had though tho question over, it had seemed to him that he tfould bo losing one of tho opportunities of a life-timo should ho not do so. He trusted that they would pardon him speaking for a moment as an Anglican. It was often supposed that it was the Anglican Church which stood in the'way of reunion. Perhaps it was thought that the clergy laid too much stress on orders, or that they put exaggerated emphasis on things that were of no importance. It was quite possible that the attitude of tho Church in tho past had not been all that it should have boon. It was quite possible that they had been wrong j but'as soon as tho Church was convinced that such was the case, tho error would be acknowledged. (Applause.) The Epis copalian Church did' not want to stand in tho way of reunion. (Applause.) Twenty-five years ago the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops, from which ono practically obtained tho judgment of tho Anglican Church, mado proposals for the reunion of Christendom, and is sued a sketch of the possible basis of reunion from their point of view. At every Lambeth conference since tho samo subject had been discusscd. Tho Anglican Church would welcome proposals for reunion, Under present conditions thoro was a feeling of uncertainty and of insecurity in tho minds of mon outside the-Church. A man wished to como back to tho Church. His father had been an Anglican, his mother a Presbyterian, and his sister a Plymouth sistor. (Laughter.) Very likely that man would not go auywhero because ho did not know which was tho nearest to the mind of Christ. Tliero was that uncertainty about what Christ was. Reunion would mean that there would ho more energy available for social work. A combine or trust at least stood for business efficiency. It produced economically, and avoided wasteful competition. Tho .Church of Christ should bo a great trust or combine for tho production of righteousness; and if it wore united in that way it would moan greater efficiency and economy in its own proper work. The State was rapidly taking over what used to be the work of the churches in tho advancement of social righteousness. The State had taken over education, was taking over tomperanco reform, and was dealing with the cure of disoases and the rolief of poverty. It ought also to be dealing with tho housing question. No doubt there was a great gain in elßciency\and economy in the State doing this work, bccauso it could deal with the wholo problem, but it lost in inspiration. Everything needed a touch of religion to give it effectiveness, and tho State knew that perfectly well. Fear of sectarian jealousy prevented tho State from making : use of the Church in doing these works, i Why was there no religious instruction . in State schools? Why did tho at- . tempt to establish a chair of thoologv fail P There was an Established Church . in England. Ho would ba sorry to boo .

ail established Church in Australia, oven if it wero his own. But the Established Church had 0110 good point. it was one religious body to witness to tne world that the whole nation was religious.

The Rev. F. C. Spurr (Baptist) said that the present time was one of exceptional gravity, marked by spirit of unrest, it was only possible to interpret this unrest in terms ' divine. It was believed that God was in it, and that it represented tho birth of a better life. Children should bo brought up and educated in Christian surroundings. The need for unity was mosi ol all needed for education. Tho unity of tho Christian ohurches would mean that there would be schools and a university belonging to the church, made possible by tTie pooling of the wealth of the churches. (Applause.)