SCOTTISH CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 574, 31 July 1909, Page 9

SCOTTISH CHURCHES.

PROSPECTS OF UNION

• Tho Auld Kirk of Scotland and tho United Free Church—the Church of Dr. Chalmers—, ■have been, as tho "Scotsman"'.puts,'jit-"ox—: > ainining what divides them from each oilier,. ' aiid froni'the rest of Christendom,".and as a ,- result tho "Glasgow Herald" says th'at;"thiy; • ' .future historian of Scotland, will , point l ,to ,- May, 1909, as a golden month."',>.• ... ~ j-'v • "It lias," continues tho "Herald;" "seen., ' tho; completion of tho negotiations,-for.; un-. , , - restricted conference between the Glhixcli' ofivV." > Scotland and the United Freo Church on- tho existing, ecclesiastical . situatipn . and "on- tho, main causes that keep tho, Church-:, apart.,' - Tho resolution of tho two great Presbyterian • bodies,to" meet for; the "full, frank discissionof the things that separate tbctn is credit- 1 ablo to their heart and judgment, and! will , givo satisfaction 'to tho, country. In , spito* .of conventional declarations as to theaxsla-- ■ tion of Church and-State and of more br lossj • .defiant statements of eternal principles tho. Churches liavo been drawing over nearer mi - the bonds of Christian; charity. ' Tho Uriiiedi ' ' Free Church has proclaimed disbelief -in l co-: • operation as a-path to union, and as regards. , regulated co-operation tho'disbelief, may 'bo'- ' ' justified. But: it. is vain to think that Okv • rapid spread within recent years of synipa±hy and' mutual helpfulness has not; i foundations, firstly ,vof the coming conference > and; secondly, of, whatever ' good may result •- ' ~for some good must rositft—from its ings.,\But let no ono 'think that union has: . boon achieved becauso tho Churches haw> ro-. solved to confer. Wo helievo "most ■ jrrmly' i : that tho meetings will have the happiest,con-t sequences, that faco to face with each otberi ; tho_ rci)rosentatives of the Churches will soolj - - their differences in a better perspective, and. 4 aboyo all will learn to know each other aa- ' brothers and not enemies"or Strangers. Tbor-o ■ must, however,- bo no misunderstanding .asto the seriousness of the obstacles , thai iavo I to'bo overcome before anything in l the' natuiot: i of or incorporating—is pos'-. ■ ■sibleJ That >'ay lie disappointment and ro-* crimination. :Tho : discussion is to; stricted ; the-principles of'both '.Ch-orcfces em' to bo open_ to' dobato,. ( '' Both'.'of them h01d;...' . by the national .'recognition ,of rcjigion and \ spiritual'independence, and;,tho'question: t0,,; bo decided now is in .what sense theso'',are■ interpreted by the. one, Church and:tho othor.- • But while debate:.will,bo unrostrietcd: tho,.; members iof. the conference wiU W riiridlvVrestricted. '■.'V'- ' , "Only :a brief .timo: after _the n :.oureh . of„. , Scotland'•_ Assembly 'had• una-nim^u'Jiy.'agrwl,:.::, to enter ill to, unrestricted it tobkw' 'f -a, step that at onco'brought. it-inoarer.to,tho ;' , ■United Frod, Church.' By-a-, largo-.majority . tho, Assembly, accepted tho,. formula, of ; suW '■ Confession; on TClrichi wo v havo i£t -' ll - 1 alberfM .commented. ; tho pbM» nr ' tioiL^jthisl»4Tho .two great., l^Ptfebyteriaii;.',l ' l '- 1 .CliUrclies-'iyay to the .ConfMioii as'aii! '' document, but they do; riot accept, it': ns. setting ~fortli- : the teaching of ■ modoru , ■ Christianity."