THE METHODIST CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 271, 8 April 1913, Page 8

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

UNION CELEBRATIONS. , A public meeting, at which there was a large attendance of persons from various denominations, was held in the I heat re Royal last night, in continuation of the mission celebrations of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. The Mayor (Mr. G. W. Browne) presided, and associated with him on the platform were ministers and prominent workers in various local churches. Well-known hymns, led by the united choirs, were sung by the audience, and a collection was taken up in aid of the United Church funds. Several solos were also given.

The chairman, in his opening remarks, referred to the occasion of. the gathering, and with every expression of good for their welfare warmly congratulated the two churches on the consummation of their union.

The Rev. P. Hales, pastor of the Baptist Church, wished the two churches who had first become one the very! choicest and richest of the Creator's I blessings. Passing on, he remarked that' there seemed to. be an idea common in the mind ,ot young New Zealand that, their Dominion led the world, but they I had to look to Australia for a lesson | that it had been taught, in the shape of the union of the Methodist Church. If the Christian Church was to do the work that God sent it into the world to do, she must present a solid front before the world, and stand, every Christian man and woman, shoulder to shoulder, that they might join in a united fight against wrong. In New Zealand, to his mind, the conditions were "dead against" division so far as church life was concerned. Denominationalism had had its day; sectarianism was dead, except perhaps in the minds of a few of the clergy; and the world now waited for one, thing —and he was glad' that his Methodist friends were to some extent giving it to the world—and that was a fellowship between Christians that would show to men and women whp'wpre outside the churches that the churches were all

agreed on wliat might lie called the fundamentally of Christianism. He believed that all the churches were agreed as to the efficacy of this principle. "There are," he speakor went on to say, "no heretics in the church torday, and thank God for that! (Applausei) "I believe that this great Methodist Church in New Zealand will by tiliis act influence hundreds of thousands of men who have not been influenced, because I believe, that I am right in saying that both sections of this great church have been prepared to give up something m order that they may present a solid- front to the world." Concluding, he wished the united church peace—"the peace that,'passes all understanding"—and that in all its life there would be unity -and concord. Mr. 11. Okey, M.P., also expressed pleasure in being present at what was a historical occasion. Two churches which had been carrying on the same work in the same Way had agreed to come together and to be as one. Competition was said t'o'be>'tl»e life of business, but this wits hot so in the ease of churches. In the maintenance of bo many different congregations there was a great waste.. Whenever a new township sprang up in the backblocks, the different denominations were each keen to establish a 'chijfyhV There, was competition to secure the ground first, and then, after a few years, one found, say, two empty churches. and a half-starved parson: That, he took it, was going to be done away with, j : the funds wasted in the past, were going to. be utilised in a much better direction. He felt sure from the manner of its bringing about, that the union was going to be a success. ■ In conclusion, he congratulated the united conference on having as its head such an able man as the Rev. S. Lawry. The Rev. T. H. Rosevcare remarked how pleased the Presbyterian Church was that this union had been consummated. They rejoiced because they believed that it was in the interests of the Christian Church as a whole that this union

liad been brought about. They believed that it would tend to the better development of the work of God as a whole. The result of the united church would be that the work that both of them were engaged in would be carried out more effectively. On behalf of the Presbyterian Church, he conveyed to the United Methodist Church the heartiest and sheerest of wishes.

The Rev. S. Lawry (president of the United Conference) also addressed the meeting. At the outset, he corrected one or two misapprehensions on the part of previous speakers. For one thing, there had been no difficulties in doctrine to be got over. Referring to the Rev. Mr. Haies's statement that New Zealand had tn go to Australia for an example, he said that for over thirty years efforts had been put forward for the consummation of Methodist" Union. As early as 1883 a basis of union was drawn up and agreed to, and the only reason why it did not come into existence was because of the backwardness of Australia. The Wesley an Church of New Zealand was at that, time connected with the Australian Wesleyan Church, which body vetoed the proposed union. The seed was sown, however, of the union of the Methodist churches now existent In Australia. Certain sections of Methodist union had already been brought about in New Zealand, but until this year it was still incomplete. They had a better basis of union to-dav than had they persisted in their endeavor to unite with Australia. On the score of practical efficiency. there had not been much to' choose between the constitution of the two churches now a united church. The speaker traced at length the history of the severance of his own church from Australia, and the various steps which led up to the present union of the two New Zealand churches. There were things in which the two churches differed. but there had never been the slightest feeling of resentment shown by those in the minority. If the Methodist Church continued to stand for all thai was best and holiest in personal character find conduct, lie had no fear for her future. Cod preserve them from ever becoming ashamed of their creed in that respect. That would be the spring from which they would make their biggest ' advancement. Methodism was not'born 1 in a revival, as was sometimes said, but I a rerival had been born in the heart of

John Wesley. Concluding. the ,speaker indicated how tin l spirit of union was catching on and progressing along solid lines in various districts that ho had lalclv visited.