A LIVELY CHURCH MEETING

Temuka Leader, Issue 2432, 1 December 1892, Page 3

A LIVELY CHURCH MEETING

The Auckland correspondent of the O.D. Times wired on Monday night:—The liveliest church meeting for some time past took place last Monday evening at the Put-street Wesleyan Church Sunday School Union. In the discussion opinions were divided as to the merits of the existing Auckland Sunday School Union, in which all denominations are enrolled, or the desirability of founding a union in connection with the denomination. In the course of the discussion,

The Rev. Joseph Berry said he was weighted down and almost crushed when he thought of the needless divisions in the Christian church, and now it was proposed to establish a union that would militate against a splended institution in which was gathered together the Sunday teachers of all denominations. This was not calculated to foster fraternity. Proceeding, he said: It has been affirmed that the Anglican Church has a successful Sunday School Union. What of that / If the Wesleyans sought to teach such rubbish as my godfathers and godmathers promised for me, to make me a member of the church of Christ and one of the children of God, why let them have a union by all means. The Rev. T. G. Carr; I strongly protest, Mr Chairman (the Rev, W. Morley, president), against such remarks as Mr Berry has just made. The Church of England teaches the grand truth of Christianity. The Rev. J. Berry : You can protest; but it is rubbish all the same. The Rev. T. G. Carr : It’s nothing of the kind. It is pure gold. Mr Haines : As at present conducted the examination of teachers in connection with the Auckland School Union is a farce. I have not seen the questions. The Rev. Mr Berry : Of course not; you would not made such a foolish statement if you had. Mr Haines; But the idea of taking out of the whole Bible eight solitary chapters in the Acts and granting a certificate of Biblical knowledge upon the answers to these was absurd. The certificates carried no weight. The Rev. J. Berry ; I strongly protest, Mr Chairman, against such utterly unfounded opinions going out from the district meeting. Mr Haines says that he has not seen the questions. I have. The Rev. G. B. Munro (Presbyterian) and myself were the examiners, and I can say that the questions wers most difficult, I move that Mr Haines be asked to withdraw the words, otherwise it will go forth that this meeting characterises the examination of a splendid institution like the Auckland Sunday School Union as a farce. I most strongly object, sir. The Rev. William Morley : The meeting is in no way committed to Mr Haines’ words. He alone is responsible for them.

The Rev. J. Berry : Do you disallow my motion, sir '! The Rev. W. Morley : I do. The Rev. J. Berry : “ Then”— — and with this word the rev. gentleman jumped up from his seat on the platform and strode out of the room. The Rev. H. Bull instantly rose, and moved —“ That this meeting expresses its pleasure at the formation of the Wesleyan Sunday School Union for New Zealand, and trusts that ihe welfare and prosperity of the union may -be promoted by receiving the hearty co-operation of the schools in the Auckland district.”

This was carried. At the Wesleyan district meeting on Tuesday the Rev. J. Berry said that he wished to explain that, in the warmth of debate the previous evening, he was betrayed into using a word of which, in his calmer moments, he did not approve. He had spoken of a part ef the Church of England catechism as “ rubbish,” and he said he wished quite voluntarily to withdraw the word- He added that his object was not to say an unfriendly word against a great Church for which he had the profuudest regard, but to show that there may be a logical necessity for their having a separate examination, which did not exist in the case of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

The episode has caused a mild sensation in the city, owing to the position of the parties concerned in it.