CHURCH UNION.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 6

CHURCH UNION.

-4- ! ; • DISCUSSED BY PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY / feeling of the church to BE TAKEN By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Christchurch, February 21. At the morninj sitting of the Presto" terian Assembly to-day it was decided, ; nfter a long and interesting debate ana , bv a very substantial majority, to take the feeling of the people of the Church as to the incorporate union of the Congwational, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches in the Dominion. The matter came before last night's sitting through the presentation of twelve overtures from some sixteen Presbyteries in favour ofthis course. „ . The Eev. Dr. Gibb, of Wellington, m moving the adojrtion of this course, said tlmt the union of all the Churches wiib 1 what the Himc was not vet ripe for, but was an ideal for which alt might ceaselessly pray. But at most the feeling of the members of the Xresbytcrian Church might be taken as to tho desire for the incorporate union of the three' Churches in question, so lie nioyea , that tho matter bo sent .to Presbyteries services and coiigregations for xepoit at next meoting of the Assembly. This "was seconded by the Rev. 1. Jouy, of Auckland, who said that any _who , opposed such steps had to justify their opposition in face of the grent'doctrines , thus to be espoused in the interests or the growth of Christian chanty. The ltev. Dr. Kennedy Elliott moved an amendment to the effect that com jJ tees be appointed' to ascertain whether the feeling of the Church might not be better met through a federation of the three Churches concerned. He not ■opposed to union, but. considered that federation should precede incorporation. Tho Rev. I. Miller, of Feildmjr; second-, ed the amendment. He wished to conserve, the peculiar heritages of r )y----terianism-while .joining hands with tue , other two Churches. Tho Env. .Tames Millar, of Thames, supported Dr. Gibb's moti°i>, ns the points of agreement between the tlireo Churches were far'more numerous than the points of dill'erence. and also on economic, social, and international grounds. The feev. It. M. Eybuni also supported the motion as more directly than the amendment pointing to the issues betora the Assemblv. "Are you going to nlirt out the mind of the Churches. or not. I. Miller, of Westport, supported the amendment. He was a stronff unionist, but thought federation should come .first. , , . , The Eev. John Patterson, of Chnst•chuTcli, thouaht he voiced the mind of vouiiff New Zealand in stmpg that the tradition of the Old Country should not kill out the aspirations of a new one. It was a fault of the Church that she was over-cfuitious. . Mr. ll'Fnrlhnc, Foilding, supported the amendment,-niter which the .debate wna adjourned until this morning. On the resumption of the debate, the Hex. A. "N'hvte, of Port Chalmers, supported the motion.' Ho declared that union vns comintf. Thereafter the Clerk of the Assemblj, tlie Eev. J. H. Mackenzie, moved a furtiter amendment, to the effect that the two resolutions before the house should be sent down to tho Chjirch for eon- .. sideration and report. He thought such n, course should make for unanimity, and so help the cause of ultimate union. Mr Thomas Bain, of Dannevirke, . seconded tlii's amendment. The Eev. C. J. Tocker, of Gernldine, thought that in view, ot tho overtures sent in they could not do otherwise than act in' accordance with the motion. . ~ I i " Tho Eev. W. George, of Dunedin.w ( ported the motion. , F S V said, had disrupted: the Church to save it, but now they Wjd to, unite it foi a like purpose. With so many _,httlo churches and sects they.could not win the country for Christ., The Rev. John Dickinson spoke strongly against the motion. He challenged supporters of union to come out from their livings- for a disruption.

Tho Rev.'Dr. Erwin supported .the moHon.- As things were it'was impossible to impress with the churches- unity the man in the regarded the elm relies as bo hiisy fighting well other that no time Was left for them umtedlv to fight the devn. t . Tho Rev. Dr. Gibb, m replying, saw he loved the old Presbyterian Clroreh, its fiong nud story, but he loved Christ and the Kingdom more. The vote, which was taken by calling the roll, gave a result as follow :-For Dr. Gibb's motion, 115; for Dr, Elliotts amendment. 15 j for the I?e*. Mr.Mackenzie's amendment, 27. Ihe/motion xvnfl thus carried by a substantial majority ADDRESS BY BISHOP JULIUS day not -fab distant. By Mcpraph—l'ress Association Christchurch, February.2l. At a luncheon tendered to the members of the Presbyterian.Assembly, reference was made to the subject of church 11111011. The absence of the representatives ot the Methodist and Congregational Churches was referred to by the Rev. J. J. North (president of the Council of Churches), wlio expressed the opinion that the invitations had gone astray 111 the post or otherwise. . _ ... , The Moderator (tho. Rev. Gray Dixon) expressed his gratification that Bishop Julius wa£ present. 'Whatever steps were taken in the way of union they would require sooner or later to. take in .tho Anglican Church. ■ ... Bishop Julius said he heartily rejoiced in the prosperity of the Presbyterian Church'and. tho good work it was doing. "I ntn glad to stand here," His Lordship continued, "aud say that I, at all events, hope that the day is not far distant when we shall, be one." There were a few things that separated them,, a few , things that it would bo a shame lor; them to treat as nothing. He believed > that God was leading them towards union" and that they would come to -look at tilings in very different light from what they° ! had looked at them in the past. "That time," said His Lordship, ' must come as soon as you are converted." The conclusion of Bishop Julitiss- romark was drowned in a burst of laughter. His Lordship weut on to say that lie prayed to God unceasingly that the time might' yet come when there would' .be no division, and. above all, that the Presbyterians, to whom Anglicans and other communions owed so great a debt of gratitude for their learning hopes, aud high ideals, would be one with Anglicans in tho servic" of their Lord and Master. The Rev. J. J. North• said, regarding . tho question of union, that, history had shown that time had made, effete the troubles and trials of their forefathers, and that in these days the differences , that separated Christians were diminishing. '