UNION OF CHURCHES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10273, 7 May 1919, Page 7

UNION OF CHURCHES

"OBSTACLES TO IT ABB INSUPERABLE."

The Rev. speaking on "Obstacles to Christian Union," at Kiugsway Hall, recently (states a London paper), said that, humanly speaking, they -were insuperable. The chief was tho general unconcern of Christian people. Ono of the concrete difficulties was the Churoh of Rome. It would bo easy to loavo Ronio out, but ho did not proposo to do that. It would bo as fatal to have a union of the Churches with Homo out as to have a Leaguo of Nations with Gormany out. (Applause.) With regard to the question of reordination, ho knew somo of his stiffnocked Nonconformist friends, and he could not imagine them bowing their heads to that yot. A bishop must not be a prelate, said Dr Orohard. Tho higher up a man went in tho Churoh, tho leas no should recoivo, so as to bo quite sura ho did not go up for other reaaons. "By all moans," ho said, "lot us have tho laying on of hands by the bishop, but I should' like to seo tho servant girl and tho 'bus-drivor corao out of the congregation and lay on hands us well. Lay ordination could not do anyono any harm." . It was quite possible, ho continued, that wo should have a Government soon that would not ouly disestablish tho Church, butdisondow it. "There is money wanted, yqu know," ho added. "Wo may ovon havo to give up our buildings. Tho Queen Anno Bounty Churohos will then bo turned into mortuaries, and somo of tho Nonconformist churohos into cinemas and public baths, whioh is obviously what they woro intended for (Laughter.) "Some people aro aghast, and say, 'What idolatry' when they see a man praying in front of a painted imago. Thoy eeom to think that ho bolioves tho imago is real, but tho fact is that ho prays in front of it, just as you pray in front of what, after all, you worship—your bod. (Laughter.) "Anothor man shouts at God until you nearly'jump from your scat. We cannot breatho ono another's atmospheres. It would be well for us to mix up a littlo. Every Church ought to recognise a freedom to adopt the forma of worship found of spiritual valuo to any othor." Church union on tho basis of the truo authority of love and tho truo obedionco of loyalty, ho added, was tho most pressing quostion before tho modern world, and society was falling to piocos from lack of it. If tho churches could not bo united, it was of no uso talking about uniting nations, classes, or anyono.