Dr Gibb's Report on Union.

To The Editor.

Sir,—I ask permission, through your columns, to say what I was in processa of saying when I was interrupted by the Rev. Dr Gibb in the Assembly last week. Dr Gibb, referring in his speech on union to conferences held during the year between the Wesleyan and Presbyterian Committees, made the following statement:—"These Committees had had a number of meetings, and though it was not proposed at this stage to submit the articles of faith drafted, he desired to call the Assembly's attention to the magnificent fact that the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches had been able to see absolutely eye-to-eye in regard to the doctrines believed in by both Churches." Further on in your report of the proceedings we find this:—"Dr Gibb: I said there was unity between the Committees.—'Rev. P. B. Fraser: I am prepared to question that unanimity" And later, when I proceeded to question the alleged unanimity, I was inter rupted by Dr Gibb on the pretence that I was discussing the articles, which I never intended to do, but to discuss Dr Gibb's assertions about the articles.

Now, what I was prevented from saying when I was interrupted was that I wished to point out that Dr Gibb's "magnificent fact" that the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches had been able to see absolutely eye-to-eye in regard to the doctrines believed in by both Churches" is not a fact, but contrary to fact, and it is very unfortunate that at this preliminary stage such unwarranted statements should be made by Dr Gibb even in the heat of the moment. Being a member of the Committee, and taking a keen interest in the movement, I am in a position to speak as a competent witness as to what that Committee has done at the meetings I attended, as well as its convener, Dr Gibb. I content myself at this point with contradicting this assertion of Dr Gibb's. The Presbyterian Committee, as a committee, has not itself come to any agreement on the articles in question. Therefore, for Dr Gibb to assert that there is "unity between the Committees" is, to say the least, wildly inaccurate.

So far I have referred only to Dr Gibb's speech. The following more guarded statement is from his report: "In compliance with their instructions your Committee, in co-operation with the Committees of the other Churches, has held several meetings, at which the question of a suitable creed has been under consideration, and a number of the articles of faith have been framed. But being persuaded that if any creai advance is to be made in the matter the advance must be slow, and the mind of the whole Church ascertained at each step, your Committee deems it inexpedient to submit these articles to the Assembly at this stage." This statement obviously is more guarded than Dr Gibb's speech, and if he had kept to the tenor of his report he would not have forced, me into the position of having to give so pointed a contradiction to the assertion of his speech, In his report he says merely (1) "a number of articles of faith Have Been Framed"; (2) "the Committee deems it inexpedient to submit these articles to the Assembly at this stage." There is nothing here about the Committee's having "adopted" any article of faith, much less "the articles" referred to in Dr Gibb's speech; there is nothing about any unity in the Committee or about any unity with the Methodist Committee on these articles—on the contrary, the fact is it was unanimously agreed in the last meeting of the Presbyterian Committee to report to the Assembly that consideration of articles of faith was not "sufficiently matured" for them to be laid before the Assembly. I have searched Dr Gibb's report in vain for this declaration; and as he in his speech has made a statement so much at variance with fact, I feel compelled also to draw attention to report, which it is true is more guarded than his speech, for while his speech errs much in excess his report errs rather in defect.

page 63

Obviously this matter is of the deepest interest not only to Presbyterians, but to Methodists and Congregationalists as well; and nothing is to be gained for union or the cause we all have at heart by a wrong impression being created in the mind of the Church at large as to the actual progress of negotiations.

I do not know whether Dr Gibb has returned to Wellington. Probably he Jus. Consequently I need scarcely remind readers of this note to suspend all judgment in the matter until Dr Gibb has an opportunity to explain or to correct me on any point. I hope those specially interested will keep my letter by them for reference.—I am, etc.