Congregationalism in New Zealand.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7077, 24 February 1893, Page 3

Congregationalism in New Zealand.

The following is a nummary of a bold and suggestive paper read by the Rev. E D. ye oil at the recent meeting of the Congregational Union at Christchurch, and received by the members with declared satisfaction and approval The title of the paper (" OongreRationalism as a factor in the national. life of Neir Zealand ”) must not be taken historically, for it can hardly be maintained that Congregationalism has been or ia a measurable factor in the national life. Even including those beyond the reach of our services,, we can only claim 13 per 1000 of the population, and a fair estimate of the numbers attending the cervices gives no more than 5 per 1000. It will not do to include in our conception of tbe'influenceof Congregationalism the efforts 0 t those who, in considerable numbers, have become absorbed into other churches. Con gregationahsm becomes a factor in the national life by means of i's organised churches, and individual activities that are not related to those churches and are not directly inspired by church life cannot be included in our estimate of its influence Our question is :—When Congregationalism berecognisable factor. what will be its characteristics distinguishing it fro ol , other religious factors P H it has no distinctive mission, its 'representatives ought to throw their influence and energy into the work of the larger bodies. If our churches ar«r to exercise upon the life and thought of Zealand a characteristic influence, they must do so, (1) 'by means of the exercise of theological freedom, (8) by a distinct response to the social demands of the age. With regard to the former, the open mind, welcoming light and truth from every direction instead of prejudging ail teaching which does not. bear a theological imprimatur, the faith that mani fasts its vitality by growing with oho possessor’s growth, the .purged vision that traces the present working of a living Qrod instead of dating back His latest revelation nearly 2000 years,™-?-these are. to be sought in the typical Congregational preacher and in a modified degree in the hearers. One‘important element in our influence on the thought of the nation should bo that the theological freedom of our ministry be actual as well as virtual, and honestly acknowledged as well as tacitly permitted* What is often called, with a parrofc-hbe ignorance and iteration, " the simple Gospel" ought most certainly to be proclaimed, and its appeal to the lowly and weary heart affectionately emphasised ; hut how can intelligent Christian people ha satisfied wit h hearing every week and year after year, what they know already as familiarly and exactly as the preacher does himself P The vast majority of sermons are precisely of that kind, but they are abundantly provided by larger and richer ecclesiastical bodies than ours. If Congregationalism is to become a measurable factor in the national life its pulpit-teaching must be of another order, must be worthy of the freedom wherewith the spirit of Jesus Christ makes free. In the alarm felt and exhibited by many good persons, not unrepresented in the Congregational body, as to the tendency of science and criticism, and modern culture generally, there is strangely enough a good deal of unconscious atheism or at least deiem Yet if God be guiding and guarding His children, if He be educating the race of man with age- 1 long patience and unerring wisdom, surely modern science and culture are part of Hia plan;-surely they have not taken God by surprise! Temporarily useful or permanently true, each onward step of scientific discovery and suggestion must bo included in the teach- , ing of the Universal Father, and can shake or threaten only those elements of our fa th and thought which needed to be shaken and threatened. It should bs our special function to show that no intellectual progress makes the Christianity of Christ obsolete, and that its ?undamental truths b o compatible with the richest results of both art and science. (2) It is evident that a coble opportunity | offers itself to whichever of the Christian sects 1 will most cordially and most intelligently respond to the demands of the ege for social, industrial, and commercial reform, for the emancipation cf the producer and just distribution of the products. The intimate association of responsibility between organised Christianity and the frightful evils of modern civilisation is pressing heavily upon an increasing number thoughtlul minds and sympathetic hearts. Congregationalism should shake itself free from that responsibility by taking the side of righteousness and brotherhood, apart from the baser considerations of pecuniary profit and social prestige. Along with the striking return to the personality and teaching of Christ there has come an indignant indictment of the “ spurious Christianity" which has usurped His place, comforting the rich sad preaching hujnility and contentment to the poor. To call this exaggerated and unfair will settle nothing ; it expresses the ideas 6 1 millions who long for a church that shall embody the pare and simple religion of Jesus, and direct the multitudes toward a practical instead of a , merely theoretical brotherhood. I cannot admit that the functions of O mgregationa; churches ought to be limited to the development of the spiritual life- We need not go far to find proofs that " the preaching of the Gospel” and “the culture of the spiritual life ” are not all that our churches need do for the saving cf manki d. Along with the regeneration of the individual must go the renovation of society and the remodelling of its system ; for it has now become abundantly evident tbatenvironrnentdoes greatly influenc e character and largely determine what it will be. Besides the smaller circles of thoughtful enquirers to whom we should offer a rational and, coherent expos! tion of Ohristianily,combining and harmonising the teachings of Jesus end history and nature there are for larger numbers of toilers, outside our own and other churches, wrestling with adverse conditions and hard problem#, and •hove all with the tremendous momentum of a and firmly established system. That system has grown np under the aegis, almost under the benediction, of organised Christianity, and of course the disinherited masses distrust the religion so intimately associated throughout the past with tyranny j and privilege. Congregationalism might be- ] come s noble factor in the national life if it | brought to the aid of the workers, and to tfeo | solution of their most urgent difficulties, Christian faith and sympathy and intelligence, with a distinct and ungrudging recognition that “ new bottles M must bo found for tbo strongly fermenting " new wine " of modern thought. If it does not heed the call there seems still less hope that any other existing sect will, and therefore another church on a broader basis, and with humanitarian aims as wide as the first invitation to “ those that . labour and are heavy laden," must be formed. Oh the pity of it! If the Master’s call is disregarded and the door cf oppor tunity not entered, others will be found to'"do the work' that the coming day demands; the vineyard must be given to those “ husbandmen who shall render the fruits io their seasons.” The alienation of the labouring masses from Christianity as at present organised is a great fact; to dispute over the allocation of the responsibility for that alienation is; to waste time and divert attention from the more important question of remedy. In the teaching of the .Pew Testament there ie still a vast unexhausted Adaptability, and in the perfect life of Jesus thereis still an infinite fund of inspiration and noblest impulse. Has Congregation alism the requisite adaptability to meet the new claims. of a new age ? -dud has it. enough of " the enthusiasm of humanity, enough of " the same mind that wai in Jesus Christ," to impel its adherents upon the path of reform and self-sacrifioe ? If not, let it die out in obscurity arid silence, or let it consummate the karakiri arid dismissits members into other denominations. I believe that the Christ-mission is to-day very like what it was jo tb* first century, a musiori of warning and

denunciation to tbe rich and luxurious and conventionally “ respectable ” classes, and of hope and freedom and enlightenment to tho e that “ sit in darkness ami in the shadow of death.*’