Dr. Sidney Berry, eminent Congregational Church leader from England, who is touring Tasmania, addressed a large gathering in the Congregational Church last evening.
He said the Congregational Church was making a notable contribution to the promotion of Christianity. Present members' forefathers were pioneers in the movement for freedom of conscience and freedom of worship throughout the world in the centuries of persecution. Congregationalists had been driven from the country. Many had gone to Holland and helped to pioneer the great republic of the West. Even in Australia Congregationalists were pioneers in Christianity.
Because Congregationalism was spread throughout the world, it was entitled to be called a universal church.
Referring to recent developments, he said much had been done to narrow the divisions between the churches in Britain and the United States. He mentioned the exchange of theological students and teachers.
War had done tremendous harm to religion in Britain. There were the blackouts and the separation of families, which tended to discourage church-going. However, the church was recovering. There were 300 Congregational churches in Greater London.
He brought a message of cheer and goodwill to the churches of Australia on his tour of the Commonwealth.