MOMENTOUS STEP.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 123, 27 May 1929, Page 7

MOMENTOUS STEP.

SCOTS' CHURCH UNION Established And United Free Join Issue. ■ 20 YEARS' NEGOTIATION, ("Times" Cables.}; . . r LONDON, May 26. After 20 years of harmonious* negotiations the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church have agreed to enter into an incorporating union. The final discussions were held simultaneously by the two assemblies, each consisting of more than 1000 members. Scenes of fervent enthusiasm marked the meetings. - ( _ The Duke of York, as Lord High Commissioner of the Church _of Scotland, attended the Church of Scotland s Assembly, accompanied by the Duchess, and they listened while Dr. John White, a former moderator, submitted the reso-

lution. Dr. White said the union realised both the dream of former generations and the vision that the present Church s unchanged continuity and identity would be enriched by the cumulative contribution of the sister Church. The resolution was passed with three dissentients. Dr. Robert Drummond, sponsoring the resolution for the Free Church, of which he is a former Moderator, _ said it was the most momentous step since the eonvenanting struggle. The resolution was passed with. 39 dissentients, trie smallest minority in the long negotiations. , ..; . The Rev. James Barr, who was Labour member of the House Commons for Motherwell; Lanarkshire, in the last Parliament, the leader of the minority, declared that he and his followers were going into the "wilderness because the causes of separation had not been removed. He announced that thei minority would carry on the United Free Church.' The formal Act of Union Is fixed for October, when it is expected that King George and Queen Mary will attend.