WHAT CONSTITUTES MEMBERSHIP. CHURCH UNION IN SCOTLAND.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 9

WHAT CONSTITUTES MEMBERSHIP.

CHURCH UNION IN SCOTLAND.

The special committee appointed by the English AA'eslcyan Methodist Conference to discuss and formulate , "a moß' definite statement as to what constitutes membership in the AVesleyan Methodist Church" without "impairing tho usefulness and permanency of the class-meeting" has issued its recommendations. They will be submitted t n the. Bradford Conference as follow: —■ (1) The class-meeting must bo the basis of membership. (2) Members must be diligent in attendance at the class-meeting, the society meeting, the Lord's Supper, and the public ordinances of the sanctuary. If any name is to bo removed from the class-book for other than grave moral reasons, the minister must interview the person concerned and then tako tho opinion of

the leaders' meeting. (3) Persons who regularly take the Lord's Supper, but are not members of society, may be admitted to full membership after probation on the nomination of the minister and with the leaders' meeting's consent if they are willing to put themselves under the pastoral care of a minister. Their names shall be in a class-book, and the minister must meet them for counsel and spiritual oversight at stated times if they are. willing to attend the society meeting and submit to the church discipline. Only one voted against the first resolution, and four against the last. Tho second met with no opposition. I

A NOTABLE STEP IN ADVANCE. In every way worthy of the importance of the occasion and full of nopo for the ecclesiastical future of Scotland (says the "Weekly Scotsman") was tin.' "manner in which the General Assemblies of the two great Presbyterian Churck's received the Report of tho Joint-Committee on Union. The deliverances adopted by the Assemblies were almost identical. 'i'ho General Assembly of the Church of Scotland expressed lively satisfaction that some. real progress has beeTi made, ..and reappointed the committee with instructions to continue their deliberations and to report to next General Assembly; and tho General Assembly of the United Free' Church, while also expressing the satisfaction with which they learn of-the progress that has l>een made, reappointed the committee "with instructions to present, if possible, to next assembly a completo report upon the matters remitted to it." This marks a notable stage in the progress of the churches towards the goal of ultimato union. The speeches of Dr. Norman Alaelood and of Dr. Robson in moving the adoption of thp report in their respective assemblies breathed the spirit of hope which is now animating the churches. Tho Church of Scotland, declared Dr. Macleod, was willing that everything which ever led to a secession should be cleared out of the way. In a great measure all these things have been already cleared out of the way." And as for the things that are left, such as the power of the Church to deelaro who are the members of the Church Courts, and the power to define . its parishes, and such matters, the Church of Scotland is willing and anxious to have them declared to be within the jurisdiction of tho Church. On the important matter of the Church's relation to its creed, Dr. Macleod declared that the Church desiderated full free, dom to define its relations to the subordinate standards—i.e., the Westminster Confession of Faith. Ho and Dr. Robson were at one in their contention that everything must be done consistently with tho principles of spiritual independence. The churches are agreed in regard to that. The only question is how to attain the most ample realisation of that spiritual independence which both churches claim. Between tho two churches at present, there is unity in all fundamental matters, and tho differences are only incidental. Were this movement for union to fail because of metaphysical discussion on incidental triiles, then truly, there would be reason to despair of the Christian republic in Scotland.