SOUTH AFRICAN CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1002, 17 December 1910, Page 9

SOUTH AFRICAN CHURCHES.

UNION I'AIjLS THROUGH. "Negotiations, for the amalgamation • of the Churches, in South Africa and the formation of ''the-United'Protestant - Church', for thjjt countrv have ■ fallen • through (says .the ''Christian World'). Tho Presbyterian Churcli, which' has : just held its'.General Assembly in the - I Trr.nsyaul, has apparently resolved': to take no further part in the effort. 'It is .' - very evident that the colour question had considerable influence in this dcei- ' sion. Recently, when the Congregational Union held its jubilee gatherings- . in Johannesburg attention wav.'drawn to the .fact that tho-coloured and .iiative. members in, : the Congregational churches are nearly, twenty times moro - numerous tlian'the .European members. .. The. visit.of a deputation (such as/ that : which . thi!.. Congregational Unio n•; of England and. Wales have agreed to send 7'■ to-South Africa) is:tlius cstrcmely'time•lj» for not only from fipancial and other .7? causes, -but even from; this abortive-ef- '■'■ fort at-union its churches have suffered ."' considerably. ». Anticipating that; union, -v-, several well-known . . Congregational :'S ministers _liave recently entered tths'.V'. : ; Presbyterian . Church,and the question will naturally be. raised (should . that .'-S, Church - retain their services) whether :-v----some return will not be due to the do- ';i nomination iri whose colleges tlicy were . trained. Thrco .. important- -cluirehon .: ■ which had .union- trusts (i.e., jointly Congregational and 'Presbyterian, ■ ara : w supplied by the. latter bodv. and ■have ; nu- connection" with. the', commuii. '■ ioh,jvhicb >did it's .share .in. their -'foiindi- ' tion. It is evident that the pronmtijre '■ action-which has been taken has'-iveat.. ;i v ■ ened, iron! ; every; :pdiiit of viewy ' tlve ' : p6sitio'n v 6f. tfe'CongregationaL'churchej> in South Africa.- 1 Othc-r 'overseas do : minions'. will note this with interest.'-'-; '