The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1927. THE FAITH AND ORDER CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1927. THE FAITH AND ORDER CONFERENCE.

I in-: ]‘aith and Order Conference proceeding just now in .Switzerland was convened primarily t.> consider the great questions of faith and order in their bearing upon the matter of the unity c'l the Christian Churches of the acrid. The conference consists of about 600 members, represening 9.) different Christian communions, and drawn from about 40 nations of the uorld The holding of the conference, says one report, marks an epoch in Cniistian history, and its promoters are hopeiul that as a result there will he a greater measure of unitv in

the presentation of the great purpose for which the Church stands The Con lerence in itself, is the consuuunntioi

o! ninny years of preparatory effort In 1910 a commission was organise* at the instance of the Protestant Kpis copal Church in (lie United States t< formulate plans and make arrange meats for the holding of a world con fereiice on faith and order. Xegotia thues were opened up witli the leader? ot the several Cliurelies in different parts of the world, and encouraging replies were received from most of them. It was hoped that in a short time Irom then the commission would be sufficiently advanced to make definite arangrments tor the convening of the conference. But the Groat War intervened, and for the time paralysed all further effort in that direction. Che central organisation, however, remained intact, and as soon as possible after the termination of the war negotiations were lesumed. Although the Homan Catholic Church, in accordance with its traditional policy of isoation from all other Churches, is not lepresented, some distinguished ecclesiastics of that- communion have intimated their good will, and an assurance of their prayers for Divine guidance to be vouchsafed to the conference. But while the Latin Church is officially standing aloof, all the other great communions are represented. The Anglican. Greek. Orthodox. Armenian. Lutheran, Old Catholic, Presbyterian. Methodist, Congregational, Baptist and other Churches operating in almost all parts ol the world. are represented by specially appointed delegates. Tn this connection it is interesting to observe that the Archbishop of Sydney, the Bishop of Adelaide, and the Rev. H. X. Baker, will officially represent the Anglican Church of Australia. Delegates from the other Churches of the Commonwealth and from New Zealand were expected to Ire present. There is quite an influential representation of the great Churches of England, America, Canada. South Africa and other parts of the English-speaking world; while among other countries having seats at the conference will he Germany, France. Sweden, Switzerland. Greece. Bulgaria, Norway. Hungary. Czechoslovakia, Russia. Norway, Hungnrv, Slovakia, Russia. and Esthonia. Interpreters are present to translate speeches, and they (or the most-

important of them) will be reproduced into three of the best-known European languages. A wide 'range of subjects will occupy attention. These will include:—(l) the call to unity; (2) the Church’s message to the world —the Gospel ; (ill the nature of the Church; (4) the Church’s common confession of faith; (5) the Church’s ministry; (0) the Sacraments; (7) the unity of Christendom and the relation thereto of existing Churches. The procedure is, each subject will he introduced by two speakers, who will he allowed half an hour each, ami these will Ire followed by four speakers, each to he allowed 10 minutes. This, with the devotions, occupies the morning session. from 10 o’clock to 1. The afternoon session of two hours and a-half is for free discussion. For the Ill's! seven days the conference will he thus occupied ; for the next seven commissions will be considering tlie findings to be recommended; and the last two days will he given by tbo conference as a whole to dealing with the reports or findings of the <<ollllll issions. 11l this way it was suggested that, ample opportunity will given for valuable contributions to the consideration of the subject by those whose names a<e not on. the printed programme. Tll the preparation of the programme care is being taken that every type of Church faith and order shall he represented, and that the smaller a.s well as (lie larger nations and chinches shall have a voice. An endeavour has been made to get, the best men who can contribute what is most valuable for the consideration of each of the subjects. It was at first hoped that by preliminary inquiries and conferences a sol of propositions on the .several subjects might he formulated as: the basis of discussion. tint, ill presence cl the oan.ger that such a method of proof educe might hamper freedom oi discussion. it was 11lt.imat.ely resolved that only the. subjects will b ‘ given on the programme, while the material prepared by a commit tee will he printed, “as suggest iv ■ of questions which must naturally arise in anv consideration of the general subject.” In this way it is hoped to avoid even the appearance of any bias for or against any view. All types of creed and polity, will meet, on the ground of absolute equality and entiie freedom. It will he too much to hope that even so widely representative a gathering, animated by the highest, motivc-s. and patirnlv labn-r

ing to arrive at unanimity, will he able to remove all difficulties, reconcile all antagonisms, and provide a basis for reunion. But. at least, it may do something to assist in so desirable a consummation It cannot Ik’ overlooked in this connection that the limited conferences held subsequent to the issue of the Lambeth Appieal have doe something to create a better understanding among bodies fo.rmcrlv very wide apart. In recent- conferences, a modified view of cpiscopaev has been agreed to. allowing it to he renresentntive and constitutional, and functioning enineidentic with a practical expression of Iho Presbyterian

Congregational principles. Interpreted in the light of the teachings of Iho New Testament and in harmony with the practices obtaining in the early C nristian Church, agreement on essentials is not impossible. Nevertheless, the pathway is not easy. Each branch ol the church has como to «ling <u

too tenaciously to some distinctive feature ol its polity or article of its creed, or even In minutiae of its practice; and it is in the strength of its holding to these lion-essentials that the difficulty is mainly ti be found. The conference claims 110 authority, houever inlluontiul its individual membership, cither to 11eg.1t iate or to hgi,slate. It .simply calls for Christian people to deeper penitence villi regard to the disunion of the churches, and to greater and more definite efforts Innards the unity of Christendom. The “p.gamble" for the conference beautilii 1 It* sets this iorth : “We, the members of the World Conference on Faith and Order, whose names are hereinafter written together with those, of the Churches, which have sent us here or to which ue belong, are met ill the name ol God. We believe that the Holy Spirit is moving the hearts of Christian people far and wide to deplore our divisions and to desire the oneness of Christ’s -people. We accept with gratitude the call which has brought u.s together; we commend our ' v;, rl-: most humbly to the guidance of the Iloly Spirit; and in reliance upon His leading we pass to the consideration of the subjects prepared for our conference.”