CHURCH CONFERENCE AT MASTERTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2671, 29 November 1909, Page 7

CHURCH CONFERENCE AT MASTERTON.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND MENTAL HEALING.

A conference of clergy and laity held, in St. Matthew’s Church, Masterton, was largely attended, the Anglican Bishop 0 f Wellington (D r Wallis) acting as chairman. The first subject of discussion was a paper by the bishop, entitled “Christian - Science and Mental or Spiritual Healing.” . , „ The Bishop said that pain and suitering were not always in all circumstances, evil things. Christian Science teaches that pain is not compatible ■with a God of love, but God is a God ot | love —therefore pain does not really exist,. Christian Science teaches that Gocl could not have made His creatures capable of suffering, but Bishop Wallis remarked that if He made His creatures- capable of imagining they suffered, be saw no difference. Other systems allied to Christian Science acknowledge t-lie pain and suffering but teach that we can so enter into the life of God as to be exempt from pain and disease. Bringing the whole question to a practical issue, the bishop said that we could enter into union with God through Jesus Christ only, and it was necessary to see what Christ taught about suffering and what he did with regard to the sufferers. Appealing to the New Testament it was found that Christ did heal, and so did his disciples in obedience w> the Master’s express command. lho question to be faced, then, was’. Has the Church lost its- power to heal the sick ? In answer to this it must bo remembered that the cures were no universal; instances were given where cui>£s were not effected, showing, at least, that Gcd did not always think best to heal, also showing that sutiering bad its purpose to serve. It is quite clear that the Church' cou.d and should do more in the direction of mental and spiritual healing—but only by greatly strengthening her _ physicial forces and creating in the mind of too patient a hopeful expectation of recovery. Ho thought the Church, m the near future would do more in this matter by the prayer of faith and the laying on of hands ; for while it was a;ways evident that there were cases which should not be prayed for, as, for instance, the restoration of an amputated limb at the same time many remarkable ’cures had been effected by creating in the mind of the patient a strong expectant hopefulness. For the Church to do this, however, she must renew and deepen her spiritual life. The Itev. V. Kitcat introduced the second subject for discussion, “The Teaching of the Church with Regard to the Acquisition and Possession ot Wealth.” Tiie speaker stated that Ohristainity was not a system, hilt an unveiling of God. It appealed to the, spirit within, and laid down the principle of man’s duty to God and to his neighbor; but it left men to work, out tho“ application. Ohristainity insisted upon the responsibility of wealth, and the rich were cautioned that they must give an account of the use they made of their money. ~ ~ Mr J T. Fowler said the Christian on the subject of wealth declared that wealth was a trust, which must be administered faithfully. , In . particular eases abandonment was : advised A* bell all that thou bast and give to the poor”). Christains of early days accepted this call, and bishops vied with cadi other in qliarity, while a strong feeling of sympathy existed between the different dioceses. The speaker quoted several- resolutions passed at the Lambeth Conference of 1908, m which it was hold that property was a trust held in trust for the' community. . The Rev. W. Rain© stated that Christ did not propound a social scheme ft Was his object to teach tihe individual, for society was not to reform the individual, but the individual had to reform society. Christ chose his followers alike from the poor and the rich, and also the, needy pool, who were unabler even to warchase the necessaries of life. Inequalitv, lie contended, vyas not an evil: it v>ras a mark of social progress. Gut such extreme inequality was a mark ot social disorder, and should bo rectified. Mr. Holtz stated that wealth came chiefly through three sources —viz., the soil, industry, and commerce. With regard to the first .a man must, not acquire land which he did not intend to use; while, in regard to the second, it was. the duty of an employer to see that his employees did not live sordid and squalid lives. Dealing with, tho third be stated that speculation in tlie necessaries of life, corners and trusts in

food staffs/ could hardly be termed Christian ; acts. / Mrs. Wallis mad© allusion to the evils which might result from the high rents that obtained in the towns of New Zealand. .

The Rev. E. Young. Carterton, stated that God never intended that there? should be grinding poverty, drudgery,, and ignorance, and reforms in this respect should be led by the Church.