CHURCH DIFFERENCES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 286, 27 November 1908, Page 3

CHURCH DIFFERENCES.

A PLEA FOK UNITY.

PROPOSED CONFERENCE. During the sitting 0 f ' tne AucWan I Anglican Synod on October 13 a mu tj„ | was carried urging that practical cll'ec Should be given ia Auckland to Um re solutions passed at the Unibetu Con ference Of Anglican Bishop., from al parts of tne world, and published .i their letter of August, this vear. 'l'hi resolutions are as follows : * I " Every opportunity should | JL . 2'" ed " £ . '' , "" l " ,ratio ' l "leinwis ot cliftereiu coniinunious in H matters pertaining to the social ,-uu moral ueitare of the people.*' " V l '-' hiembers oi tile Anglican Com- ~ shou , lu Uke i' ili,ls 10 "tudjT™ doctrines and position of those who are separated irom it !lud to proniotc a dial mutual understanding; and is a means towards this end, the Conference suggests that private meetings of "- i a ", la . vmen of diflerent Christian bodies, for common study • discussion, and prayer, should be fre-' Ijiieiitly held in convenient centres." •the constituted authorities of the

various churches of the Anglican Communion should, a s opportunity oilers 'an-anjge Inferences with represent tnes of Other Christian Churches, and meetings for common acknowledgment of the sins of division, and for iatereesWOJU for the. growth of unity/' At a meeting of the Aiu-klaml Uerijy -Wwiation, held on Tuesday, October Z r Cl ,¥ l,c " 1 " Present, the following resolutio# w as unanimously carled. That, deeply conscious of the dangers, of our happy divisions I which so seriously delay and obstruct ,«rtl C T nS ° f - thri3t ' s on twrth, this mesting of the clergy of the diocese of Auckland invites ail Christian ministers in the Auckland diocese to a conference, with a view to the formation of a Christian Unity Soeietv, which shall atFord to all who join it onportuaities for common prayer, mutual study, and frank discussion of our difterences."

*i. was uiso movca and carried that ■ committee, to consist of Canon Mac Murray, Canon Haselden, and the Kev UN. bcott-lloacrieff, should be appoin e 5L° f rr - v . out tlle above "solution, rhe following letter liua accordingly been drawn up by the three gentlemen comprising the Committee, and has been sent to all Christian Ministers within the diocese, so far as it was possible to ascertaia their names and addresses • We have much pleasure in asking you to attend a conference to be held at* St I Mary s Parish Hall, Parnell, on Tuesday, December 8, at 10.30 a.m. We would beg of you to make your attendance an engagement of the first importance ; and, further, if y ou tannot be present m body, we would ask for the support of your prayers, that the deliberations of the Conference may be guided by the Holy Ghost, conducted in perfect charity, and by the blessings and furtherance of God issue in some practical result. May we draw your prayerful attention to these two DOlTlrfl p i ■

* The Need of Unity: Everywhere' !£. Bee a ° vc , rla PP in g of agencies, stupidJy wasteful of both monev and men and a mutual distrust, the fruit of mutual ignorance. While tire forces of our common Lord are too often waging fratricidal warfare, the forces opposed to us, drink, gambling, impurity, complacent materialism, selfishness of indiallied c * asßes » are °nly too closely

"The Nature and Purpose 8f a Christian Unity Society; It is not a premature attempt at corporate reunion, as absurd as it would be dangerous without the assent of the other parts of the communions to which we belong. Its objects are common prayer, mutual study, and frank discussion of our differences.

Common Prayer: There is one prayer at least in which we caa all join the prayer taught us by our Master ;we can unite, too, above the reach of phrases or methods which divide us, in an act of silent prayer for the spirit of love. r

''Mutual study: We must all see quite clearly, if wc will but-consider the matter, that ignorance is the source of almost all our misunderstandings. We want facts, more facts, and still more facts concerning each other's aims and methods. We must b'e prepared for some years of patient and laborious study before a desire for unity can be aroused in us strong enough to break down all the barriers that keen us sonaratc.

"Frank Discussion of our Differences :We are none of us wholly in the right. None of us possess the complete truth, 'l'be Catholic Church is wider than any part of it. l,et lis in frank discussion bring our several contributions to the common stock : let ;i - learn, on the other liand (to quote Up wise words of Newman) that 'half the controversies in the world are verbal ones, and could they be brought to a plain issue would ' lie brought to a prompt termination.' "Too long have we beer, afraid of the phantom looming through the fogs of prejudice. Let us draw near and we shall find him to be a man like ourselves. Let us but walk side by side, and we shall recognise our brother."

It is desired to inform any minister who has not received a copy of the letter that the fault is in the directory.