THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 138, 7 March 1921, Page 7

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

QUESTION OF CHURCH UNION STRENGTHENING THE KINGDOM OF GOD *> , - At the Methodist Conference on Satday Air. E. Rosevear presented the report and balance-sheet of the contingent fund. The income, including credit balance, was reported to bp £3195 ss. 4d, and the expenditure £2946 12s. 9d. A long discussion took place on the ■ machinery clauses of the fund, Mr. Rosevear announced' that he had been in office as treasurer of the fund for twenty years, and that he had made up his mind to retire at the succeeding conference. He was heartily thanked for his services, and a motion was carried with sustained applause that he be asked to reconsider his decision to resign. It was decided not to increase the circuit levies, but that a sum of £3OO be loaned from the children's fund to the contingent fund if needed. . The Rev. C. H. Law's introduced the question of church 1 union. He welcomed the new spirit that had created a now atmosphere on this question. The recent Lambeth Conference had made a great advance in the recognition of the nonAnglican churches. The appeal of the Lambeth Conference raised l the question of how it was possible to have one effective ministry throughout the visible Church of God. ■ This was the crux of the whole question. It was surely a source of weakness that each church faced its difficulties and the world"s problems alone instead of being one, and meet as a federation tq present a united front to l the powers of sin. The following resolutions were carried: "The conference expresses its deepening conviction of the evils arising from the present disunion within the Christian church, whereby Christian fellowship is limited, the witness of the church to the world is weakened, and mutual counsel and co-operation in the practical extension of the Kingdom of God is rendered difficult of achievement.” “The conference has heard with joy of the appeal of the bishops of the Lambeth Conference on the subject, of the reunion of Christendom, and recognises the gracious spirit of good-will which inspire it to the lofty vision which it sets before the whole Christian Church? and its frank recognition of tho status as churches of the non-Anglican communion, and of the validity of the Christian ministries exercised therein. The conference is convinced that it is the duty of every Christian Church to examine carefully such an appeal in the spirit of Christian sympathy and conciliation, with a view to discovering how far its suggestions open the way to tho restoration of the visible unity of Holy Catholic Church, and it requests the Committee on Church Union to give special consideration to this matter, and report thereon to the next conference." "if am while conference urges upon ministers and officials the deepening of the spirit of prayer and good-will among our people, the circulation of information regarding the striking movements towards reunion that are so characteristic of the modern world, and the willing acceptance of every opportunity of united fellowship and Christian co-operation which may arise in their respective localities. '■While looking out in faith and hope towards this vision of a larger union, the Conference once more expresses its conviction that the recently proposed union of certain of the non-episcopal churches in this Dbminion would be for the strengthening of the Kingdom of God, and would promote, rather than delay, the healing of every division m the Body of Christ.” ■ - PUBLIC QUESTIONS ADDRESSES AT TOWN HALL GATHERING. Yesterday the pulpits of the various Methodist churches were occupied by ministerial visitors, whilst in the afternoon a gathering to deal with public CLiiestions was hold in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall. The vice-president (Mr. W. Dobbs) presided over a gathering of between three and four hundred. The Rev. C. Eaton, of Dunedin, in dealing' with the question of “The Church and Modern Thought,” advanced the plea that modern problems, being due to increased and deeper thinking oi the people, were really the natural oonseqitence of the work of the Church. In illustration of this ho quoted the Church’s activities in past ages as the pioneer and patron of learning. rhe Church’s task in every age was to reaffirm the fundamental truths m the language of that age. He deprecated n nv fear of the Higher Criticism, but rather a welcoming of the re-dlscovered place of Christ. The Church of to-day must guard the bulwarks of faith, again st credulity. There must be collusion of .all truth, hut also collision, with error, .the pride of intellect and arrognney of culture. Mr. Moses Ayrton, Palmerston North, was chosen to present the problem of "The Church in Relation to Industry.” Dealing with the underlying conditions, he spoke of modern methods as being those of large-scale productions, thereby creating two opposing classes ; the body of men who hired workers and paid wages, and another body "who received wages in return, for labour. These two classes were, of necessity antagonistic in aim and being rapidly and increasingly organised the danger lay in a conflict which might even become revolution. The problem of to-day was to readjust the relationships of these classes, and this could only be done by change of motive, which, instead of being that of profit, should become that of service for others. Industries are Intended for man, not men for industries. The Church could not take sides, but by emphasising the great doctrines of-redemption, forgiveness, and righteousness, as applied to social reIntionsbips. should create an atmosphere whereby it would become, possible for representatives of both orders to discuss and endeavour to secure a solution to industrial problems on a basis acceptable to all. Quarrelling only accentuated the difficulties; sane thought might eave the situation. Let the Church do its duty in providing the atmosphere. .