CHURCH UNION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1944, 25 February 1919, Page 3

CHURCH UNION

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY DISCUSSION. UNITY, NOT FEDERATION, Christchurch,,Feb. 22. The Presbyterian General Assembly this morning continued last night’s debate on the proposal that, the GD-esbyierian Church should unite Avilh the Methodist and Congrega lional Churches. The Rev. J. H. Alackonzie moved a further amendment that a committee he appointed to combine the motion and the amendment, in order that the question of an incorporate union, and a federation, shall both he placed before the lower courts and the congregations, the committee to report to the Assembly Avithout debate, and the Presbyterians to report to the next Assembly the result of the appeal to the church. He said 1 lie union Avas coming Avirbout any doubt whatever, hut not yet. He Avould like to see it in his day, but ho doubled if be Avould over sec it. He regret ted there Avas a danger of Ike question causing division in tho church, and he believed his amendment Avould prevent it. The Rev. W. Scorgic said lliat today the churches must unite to save Christianity. This young country, which had not been evangelised in a half century by a divided church, should be evangelised now by a united church.'

Professor I). „ Watters, of Otago University, said the Assembly should do something, and it should be done on the lines of Air Alackeuzie’s amendment.

Dr. Gibb, in reply, said that federations Avcre Utopian and useless. The proposed federation of the churches would place unity further ol'l; than ever. The Presbyterian Clmrcii, a tier its own unity, bad gone ahead with leaps and bounds. It Avould be a profound mistake lo go to the congregations on H>e question just now. He loved the .Presbyterian Church, with her traditions, her heroes, and her saints, bid he loved (he Church of Chris! more.

Al 1 pan. (he Moderator declared Iha I on Ihe vole being taken amongst both ministers and laymen, 115 voted for Dr. (Jibb’s motion, 27 for Mr Mackenzie's amendment, and 15 for Dr. Elliott's amendment. The motion was declared carried, several members recording their votes against it.