UNION OF THE CHURCHES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 220, 18 January 1911, Page 5

UNION OF THE CHURCHES

A METHODIST PROPOSAL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. The Primitive Methodist Conference to-day discussed the question of union with the main Methodist body. The proposal was cordially supported, and a, committee of 12 ministers and 12 laymen was formed to open negotiations and report to next conference, when. finality may be reached. The ultimate idea is to form a national church, including all except the Anglicans and Catholics. The Primitive Methodists are prepared to make reasonable concessions, the delegates being strongly in favor of union.

A STEP FORWARD. Wellington, Last Night. The most important of all the subjects discussed by the Primitive Methodist Conference now sitting in Wellington has been the question of union with the Wcsleyan section of the Methodist family. It was dealt with at to-day's session, and though the anain question of basis for the union was not touched upon by any speaker, a forward moveof interest and importance was resolved on.

The matter came before the Conference in the following remit from the Taranaki District Synod; "That the Church reaffirms the decision of the Dunedin Conference of 1908 upon the question of Methodist union, and that a letter be sent to the conference of the Methodist Church in New Zealand, informing them of our desire for union, and expressing our willingness to entei into negotiations for union, and to cofer with any committee they may set up in devising a basis of union for submission to members through the quarterly boards; that a representative committee (ten suggested, two from each district) be set up to meet and confer with any committee appointed by the Methodist Church of New Zealand in framing a basis for the union; that the basis of the union when adopted by the committee be forwarded to the respective stations prior to the September quarterly meeting, so that the matter may be fully discussed, and come up for final settlement at the conference of 1012." The Dunedin decision was as follows; "That we affirm our desire for union with the Methodist Church of New Zealand on such basis as may be made by reasonable mutual concessions and compromises. At the same time we are oi opinion that to endeavor at the present time to formulate a basis that would meet with acceptance and communicate full and iiappy union would be futile, until the day arrives when it shall be possible for the churches to discuss the matter untrammelled by Australian influences, and to unite in framing a Methodist Church for the Dominion, enjoying complete self government, and thus prepare the way for union.

Mr. U. E. Bellringer, who moved the Taranaki remit to-day, said it was not now necessary to discuss the question of basis of the union. The Conference, however, could discuss the appointmeai of a committee to go into the whole matter and investigate possible basis ot the union. This course was agreed on by the Conference. The motion was seconded by the Rev. W. Laycock (Invercargill), and carried without discussion.

Mr. Bellringer then moved that a committee be set up to ueal with the matter, and remarked that he had endeavoured in nominating members to give representation to the irreconciliables, to those amenable to reason, and also to enthusiasts. Personally, he belonged to the former category. "So am I," "So am I," was heard from various members of the Conference.

The committee he nominated was an follows: Revs. J. Clover, J. Cocker, J. Dawson, E. Drake, J. Guy, S. Henderson, W. Laycock, T. H. Lyon, W. S. Potter, G. Knowles-Smith, and C. E. Ward, and Messrs. W. Dobbs, J. Froggatt, S. W. Hall, W. King, W. T. Lill. J. C. Thompson, A. Varney, J. Watklnson, Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C., the president (Rev. G. H. Mann), vice-president (Mr. G. H. Styles), and the mover.

The Rev. W. Laycock seconded the motion, to which the delegates agreed without discussion.

The Conference also agreed to the proposal that the committee print and circulate the proposed basis of union, and submit a report to the Conference next year, when the whole question could be discussed and decided. The Rev. J. Dawson said he took it that the first thing to be done would be to approach the Methodist Church at its conference, which would be held at Cliristchurch within a few weeks. If.moved that Mr. Rellringer be appointed secretary of the committee.—As an amendment, the Hon. C. M. Luke moved that the election of secretary be left to the decision of the committee itself, and the amendmnt was carried. It was further decided that the expenses of the, committee be paid from the contingent fund.