DIVIDED CHRISTENDOM.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2334, 16 December 1914, Page 7

DIVIDED CHRISTENDOM.

Sir,—Dr. Averill, tie Anglican Bishop of Auckland, iri his recent charge to the Auckland Synod ( said: "The question of the visible unity of the Church must be tlie question of questions with all who love tie Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth." These are true words. The whole of the Bishop's deliverance on this subject' was true and manly— altogether, perhaps, the best we have yet had. How much is involved in Ohuroh unity 1 United Christendom carries with it compulsory arbitration in place of war, economic justice instead of the , rank economic injustice which still obtains in every country in Christendom, just laws, industrial peace and goodwill, great material, incrol, and intellectual progress for all nations,- and. best of all, the salvation of the world, which Christ said would follow upon the unity of the Church, and , which did result from Church unity in the first century of the Gospel age.

Bishop Averill further stated: "Surely the first stop towards the- attainment of the visible unity of the Church is to study honestly and fearlessly the teaching of the New Testament about the Church, and compare it .with presentday ideals." Has the Anglican or any other Church ta&en this "first step?" If the Churches desired unity they would be glad to etudy the' New Testament. Members of the different sects would meet to study it. It is manifest, as the Bishop says, that the sects do not desire unity, although some of them may prate a great deal about it. Mere opinions do not divide the Church, for in matters of opinion Church members agree to differ, and in every Church men of very different opinions are found cordially co-<)perating. On close examination, it will be perceived that Church divisions are really caused by substituting fiction for facts. What is needed everywhere, therefore, ie gatherings of Christians to ascertain what are the facts, and they may gather the facts from "The Acts of the Apostles," which is a plain and simple history of Christianity in practice in the first Churches. As so much depends upon Church unity, Christians will readily meet for this purpose, and the world -will then see who are the Christians, and also who are the wolves in ehoep's clothing who care nothing for the flock.

In the New Testament sectarianism is classed with the foulest of crimes, with the filthiest of sine. And rightly so, because it prevents the salvation of the world; and helps to hinder all progress. Sectarianism is the greatest foe of God and man, and the astounding thing about it ie that there is absolutely no excuse for it, lor the Almighty has made the unity of His Church to depend upon the recognition of plain facts, in regard to which there can bo no honest dispute. That professed Churches of" Christ should place tho most powerful weapon in the hands fo Satan, and keep it in his hands for so many centuries, is the greatest of all wonders. The writer of "Thq Apocalypse," when he saw the sectarian woman, "the scarlet lady," in his vision, 6aya, "I wondered with a great wonder." And well he might. It is surely timo that all good Christians turned away from that impudent scarlet woman and her equally impudent and callous daughters. —I am, etc., EDWARD T. EVANS.. Station Road, Otahuhu. December 13, 1914.