RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CLOSER UNION. EXGLISn AND RUSSIAN CHURCHES. An important step towards inter-com-munion between tho Church of England and the Church of Russia was taken (says the London "Standnrd") by tho l'ppcr ifouso of Convocation of Canterbury, which concluded the July sessions at Cliurcli House, Westminster, on July fl, a re.-olution was passed welcuming tho formation of a Russian society for (lie promotion of closer relationship. Tho subject was introduced by the Bishop of Oxford (Dr. Gore), who said that ho had been urged by interested persons to announce that a society had been formed in Russia with tho object, of making tho doctrines and practices of tho English and the Eastern Churches better known to each other, and this society had been approved by the Holy Governing Synod -of tho Russian Church, lather Pullar, of tho Society of St. John the Evangelist, had recently lectured before the leaders of tho Russian Church, and his statements concerning the English Church had been listened to with favour. He wished now to ask their lordships to express their satisfaction at the formation of this .society. It had been suggested to Mm that it might 1» desirable to include in (lie resolution they might pass a statement that the day would scon come when their 'Churches would lie joined together in the bonds of inter-communion. As yet, however, it was best not to nnticipnto too much, and so he wished to go no further than to urge tho need of the two Churches being better known each to tho other. Therefore he moved:—

"That this House has heard with a deep sense of thankfulness of the formation of a Russian society for promoting closer relations between the Churches of Russia and England, and also the fact that the statutes of that society have been sanctioned by the Holy Governing Synod of the Russian Church'; and expresses the earnest hope tliat the blessing of God may rest upon the peace-making efforts of tho society, in the first instance, by making the practice and doctrines of each Church better known to % other." Tho Bishop of Loudon seconded the resolution. He said he had been in close ouch with somo of the.leaders of the Russian Church, and he considered it would be a great pity if they did not at once respond to an invitation which came trom that great institution. The Archbishop of Canterbury gnve his support, and said that, though it would he dangerous to--prophesy, he could imagine that generations hence their present action would stand out with prominence from among other matters which had occupied them a much longer time. ' ior many years," he said, "we have been in touch, in an unofficial wav, with the authorities of tho Eusleni Church, but there is an extremely marked-difference between that kind 'of communication, winch might conceivably havo been regarded as a mero act of enthusiasm on either side, and an action such as may be taken by us this day. ' ' "There have been rash things said and attempted on more than one occasion during my experience. But now wo havo something which, to a largo extent, is novel. A society lias been formed in Russia itself under tho auspices and government of the leading Russian,ecclesiastical authorities. Instead of attempting to go too fast, we want to understand one another, and when we havo better understood ono another it will be mora possible than to-d.iy to formulate something which may bring us closer together than we havo been bofo.*c. Nobody can fail to sec difficulties, theological, ecclesiastical, social, and political. It is impossible to read the records of' Russian life in its social aspect, without somo of us feeling that wo should shrink from identifying ourselves with a civil life that takes some steps with regard to the political government of its people which we should, in. some ways, ropr.-ib'itc. We understand Hint tho civil and ecclesiastical life of Russia, ore so closely intertwined as to make the social aspect of the. question one which we ought not to ignore or belittle. My firm beliof, is that, the formation of nil organisation of this kind will tend in the direction wo desire." His Grace added that he had received an intimation that both he and the Archbishop of York would bo invited to .join tho society. As for himself, provided ho received a direct request from (lie president, he would bo willing to become an honorary member, and ho bclived tho Archbishop of York would do the same. v Tho Bishop of Exeter thought it would bo moro advisable to await a formal invitation from the society before they agreed to any resolution, but tho Bishop of Oxford urged that they wanted a spontaneous expression of opinion, and to free env action.of theirs from such formalitj. It was then unanimously decided to pass tho resolution. THE MOVEMENT IN CANADA. We havo read with tho greatest, pleasure tho reports of the General Assembly of tho Canadian Presbyterian .Church in the rising city of Edmonton (says the "British Weekly"). Tho main subject was* union. Although tho considerable minority that voted against union havo caused delay in its consummation, yet the Assembly, to the surprise of many, reached a unanimous finding. In its deliverance tho Assembly stated "that tho fact that a large majority of thoso voting have declared themselves in favour of tho organic union of tho Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches is a strong indication., that the ultimata result of tho present movement will be tho consummation of such a union, and pledges itself to do all in its power to maintain and deepen tho unity of spirit which has marked the courso of the negotiations, and to continue to promote the fraternal intercourse and conference with the, other churches which havo made tho present veto possible." Special instruc-* tions were given for measures of cooperation, especially in the founding of new charges and in theological education. Tlis Union Committee was enlarged by the addition of not a few who were meanwhile in favour of delay. The leader of the anti-Unionists, Principal Mackay, spoko very nobly in seconding tho motion. He said that no one could doubt that a movement towards tho readjust-, liient of (lie Christian forces of Canada was directed by the Master. Also a great deal was due to the.majority, whose right must, bo -safeguarded. He was willing to go with open mind to confer on every phase of this question, and if, in the end, it. is the practically unanimous judgment of tho Presbyterian Church: that organic union is the course of duty, he and thoso who thought with him would bo willing to go with their brethrcu. • This, is a iino utterance, and very hopeful. 'We shall be miserably disappointed if our friends in Scotland fail to.agree. Their task, after all, is less onerous than that which'has fallen to tho Canadian brethren. They had to unite churches so diverse in many ways as the Presbyterians, tho Methodists, and the CongTegationalists. In Scotland tho immediate concern is with Presbyterians alone. Doubtless the Establislimont problem is hard to solve, but it is not beyond the reach of solution if both parties sot high nliovo other aims tho coming of tho Kingdom of .the Father.