PRESBYTERY MEETING

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4515, 9 October 1930, Page 3

PRESBYTERY MEETING

CHURCH UNION. Rep. W. H. Nicholas attended ilie meeting of the Presbytery of Wanganui which look placA at Marton on Tuesday. Rev. G. King reported that the convener of the Assembly’s committee on church union had referred certain matters to the church union committee of the presbytery, of which he was convener. The appointment was suggested of a joint committee of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, lo consist of four members from each church, to arrange for plans of cooperation between the two churches. The : .Presbytejry suggested that in addition similar consultative committees be appointed in fairly large local centres, to supply the main committee in Wellington with particulars concerning local situations and to spread the spirit of union through the church. Mr. Mclvor pointed out that a mistake had been made before in that, a previous movement for union was started from above. The leaders and committee were in agreement, but the trouble arose

from the strong body of adverse opinion amongst the laymen of the. church.

Mjr. Nicholas pointed out that the proposals suggested did not quite meet the requirements of the Assembly, which were that the present mind of the church on this matter should be ascertained.

Another proposal made was that a movement should be set forth by means of unofficial committees to strenghtheii the sentiment in favour of union in the various chui'ches and denominations. The plan was one for quiet educative work and was necessary to meet the requirements made hy Mr. Mclvor and Mr. Nicholas.

Mr. Mclvor opposed the setting up of unofficial committees. They would have no value whatever. The church had its courts and its congregations and, apart from them, there should be no bnck-doo|r methods of carrying out propaganda amongst the people. Anything that was done should be done officially.

Mr. D. W. Low also opposed, holding that the' best means of propaganda would ‘be the appointment of the consultative committees already agreed to. The motion was lost.

A further proposal that the joint committee take into consideration all questions dealing with the oveirlapping of effort before any definite action was taken by the churches as a whole, was put forward. Mr. Nicholas seconded the proposal, instancing the case of his ov'ii district (Foxton) and Shannon. The motion was agreed to. 'The next proposal was that, where Presbyterians and Methodists found that their own denomination could not undertake work in the district in Which they resided, they be urged to enrol themselves as communicants with the Methodist or Presbyterian Church as the ease might Ibe and so fulfil their loyalty to their own denomination and to the Kingdom of Christ. : 'H

A further proposal, recommending that a wide campaign of propaganda be undertaken throughout the denomination, was suggested by Mr. King and his committee.

Mr. Mclvor, st warm advocate of union, still felt that there was danger in this suggestion. The Assembly was anxious that, the mind of the e'hureh he known, but active propaganda would tend to promote union with other churches at the price of disunion amongst their •own people. Air. King, in reply, outlined the type ofr propaganda that was suggested, namely, the issuing of certain pamphlets, etc. He did not think they could possibly be divisive in any way. It was after all merely a suggestion to the ehurch union committee. The proposal was agreed to. Rev. G. T. Brown moved that Mr. King’s committee be asked to approach the various sessions and congregations within the bounds of the Preslbytejry with a view to discovering' the mind of the church. This was what was reallv required by the committee, and none of the proposals so far really touched that. It would be left in the hands of individual ministers as to how they could best ascertain the opinions of their congregations. Air. Brown’s motion was carried.