CHURCH UNION

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16962, 11 October 1920, Page 7

CHURCH UNION

PROSPECTS NOT HOPEFUL,

Tho prospects of Church Union are not regarded as hopeful by the Rev. Dr. J. Gibb, who returned to Wellington from Groat Britain last week. "In saying this,", he said, "I am thinking especially of the proposals for a union . of the Anglican Church with the non-An-glican communions. As far as the Presbyterian Churches of the United Kingdom are concerned, the proposals are doomed to failure. These Churches would unite with the Church of Englnand readily enough, but it must bo on 'n, basis of absolute , equality. Tho suggestion made by the Anglican Bishops' Conference that Anglican ministers .should be recognised as Presbyterian ministers, by a simple declaration that : this standing has been granted them, while Presbyterian ministers in order !to obtain a' similar standing in the I Anglican Church must receive- ordina- ; tion sit the hands of a bishop, will be : turned down by the vast majoritv of the I ministers and people of the Scottish J churches. There are a few very High i Churchmen in the Church of Scotland who would no doubt stoop to'this, but while the world lasts, the churches of Scotland as a whole will utterly refuse such terms. There is much more hope of union between the non-Anglican Churches. In England there is » 1rencly a successful federation of these, ;<nd a scheme 13 under consideration niminfj at drawing the bonds still closer. In Scotland, union between the Church of Scotland and the Unitod Free Church is almost a certainty. I say almost, for there is a small but very resolute section of the United Free Church who j are extremely dissatisfified with tho j union as proposed. They contend that I when all is done, the Church of Scotland will still be the Church ot Scotland, i established }>y the law of the land, and j with this union they say they will have ! nothing to do. But the feeling for union is so strong that in all probability these protesters will be overcome, and jn a few time the dividing walls rill be levelled; and the Scottish people, with but few exceptions, will be fonnd within the pale of one great XationaJ Church."