CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1930, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS

THE TvTNG MEETS LAMBETH DELEGATES. POSSIBILITIES OF CHRISTIAN REUNION.

| RUGBY, July 23. The King and the Queen to-day greeted at Buckingham Padace 300 Bishops who are at present in London for the Lambeth Conference, and during a speech to them his Majesty referred to the effect of the war ou religion, and to the possibilities of Christian reunion. He expressed particular pleasure at meeting the Bishops of the Anglican Communions not only from the Dominion ibut from the United States, and he said that he had observed with interest that among the delegations, visiting Lambeth had been an important one from the Orthodox Church. 'His Majesty continued “Looking back upon the beginning of this series of Lambeth Conferences, it must be a source of pride and thankfulness io reflect on that testimony which they bear to the growth and development of the Anglican Communion. One hundred years ago if was little more than a Church of a single kingdom, but the present Conference is world-wide gathering of united, though mostly self-governing, churches, w’hich has attained the proportions of a general Council. “I remember ten years ago that the question of reunion of Christendom was foremost in your thoughts. You put before the world an idea of unity and the plea for a new endeavour to heal the rents in the fabric of the . onurcli. I am most happy to learn that this appeal has not been fruitless. Jt is my earnest hope and prayer that the work which your last Conference began may prosper and that the deliberations of this present Conference may re’ suit in some notable advance being made towards this great and desirable end. The main subjects for consideration are summed up under the general bead—‘The faith and witness of the Church in this generation.’ 'Hie subject has been well chosen and with keen insight into the needs of the present day. “The obvious and material damage of the war is not now so manifest as when you last met. The wounds are to some extent scarred over, but men’s minds and, souls are still troubled by the wounds which the war inflicted, and they are perplexed through the shocks thereby dealt to old beliefs and spiritual 10.-alties. At such a time the fathers of the Church will do well to take counsel together how best to bring home to the world to-day, in ways most appropriate to the difficulties W'hich beset it, the truths of the everlasting gospel that God reigns, and I pray that His blessing may rest upon your deliberations.”