CHURCH UNION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 223, 13 June 1908, Page 6

CHURCH UNION.

A REMARKABLE MOVSMT- IN CANADA. PRESBYTERIANS APPROVE. THREE DENOMINATIONS CONCERNED, nv ieleceaph—rr.i:sa association—coi-yriohi. Ottawa, Juno 11. Tho General Assembly of l'resb.vterians of Canada, by 156 votes to 32, has accepted the principle of union with the Methodist and Congregational Churches. A HUGE MISSION FIELD. MEMBERSHIPS OF THE CHURCHES. The greatest occlesiastical quostion in Canada, to-day is the present Church Union movement between tho Methodist, Presbytorian, and Congregational Churches. "Such' a union (writos the Rev. J. R. Robertson, 8.A., 8.D., of Revelstoke, British Columbia) tho Christian world has not yet seen. Outsido of Canada many'probably regard tho matter as but the' fancy of enthusiasts or tho Utopia of idealists, but within l the Churches in Canada it is a most serious matter over which many are praying much and working hard. "The problem, then, is tho organic union of three of the .most aggressive evangelical Churches. These Churches bavo a combined ministry of about 3425 ordained ministers: -viz., Methodists, 1800; Presbyterian, 1520; and Congregational, 105. Their combined. ,memberships approximate 553,000, viz., Methodists 300,000; Presbyterians, 268,000; and Congregationalists, 18,000. 'Their., combined flocks are about 1,705,000, viz., Methodists, 850,000; Presbyterians, 2G5.000; and Congregationalists, 55 t OOO. With such numbers, and keoping in mind the twenty colleges, and annual missionary revenues of nearly a quarter of a million sterling, all of which would need united administration—these and many other considerations indicate the magnitude of the problem, v , ■

"The first step was taken by tho Presbyterian Church, in 1890, by seeking co-operation with other chnrches in their home ; mission work with a view to avoid overlapping and waste. This met with a cordial reception, and spme good resulted. Tho second step was taken by the Methodist Church when the General Conference in 1902 made a definite proposal for organio union between tho Pres-" byterians, £00,000; and Congregationalists, Churches. This met with a cordial reception also, and ,was. followed by the appointment of largo union committees of tho respective Churches, j • . .. . - .

"The third/step in the work was done by those committees meeting together as a joint committed and endeavouring to find somo 'basis of union' to submit to tho Churches concerned. Their work lias been progressive. Tho 'basis'' on which they have been labouring has fivo departments, viz., docft'ino, polity, the ministry, administration, and law. These cover tho ground. This joint committee has held four important <sheetings, viz., in December, 100-1, 1905, 1900, and September, 1907, at each of which progress was made. Each yoar the sevoral committees have reported their progress to their respective Superior Courts, stating that so far no insuperable barriers are found in drawing up a ' basis.' The Superior Courts have oach year received these reports with favour, and instructed their committees to continue their work. At the same time they have sent down to the courts and congregations explanatory statements for tho -information of the people. , "A fourth step was taken at the mstanco of 'tho General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1908, when the invitation was given to the Anglican and Baptist Churches to join in tho negotiations for union. This step was takiyi looking to tho union of the wholo Protestant- body in Canada. This .is the vision of many, but the present indications are that the Anglicans and Baptists will not join tho present movement. "The next step will, be' tho presentation to the Supreme Courts of the several Churches of the 'Basis of Union' as completed by, the ' joint committee. With the exception of tho 'Administration' department tho proposed 'Basis' is now complete, and will probably .be' presented to tho Supreme Courts during 1903. , If tho basis is received with favour it will then bo sont down to the whole membership of the Churches for their consideration and action. The thousands of congregations .will then begin thoir real- work. What tho futuro of the movement will bo can only yet be surmised; but the verdict will be rendered by tho entiro membership. "So far the . great majority are urging strong reasons for union,' 1 and in tho Presbyterian Church are. ably led by such men as Principal' Patriok, of Manitoba College; Principal Gordon, of Queen's University; aud President Falconer, of, Toronto University. Among the many reasons urged are the following:— "1. Tho Mind of the Master as. expressed in the New Testament ideal of tho Church: i.e., Christ's ,prayer for unity-'taken along with Paul's? figure of the Church lis the ''Body' of Christ seems to indicate an organic union of believers. , This reason gains weight from the negativo argument that the prosent divisions, ad infinitum, wero surely not in tho mind of the Master. "2. The agreement in tho great essentials of tho Church far outwoigh tho disagree; ment in tho non-essentials, and these remove the reason for perpetuating divisions. When the causes calling forth the different denominations are removed, why continue tho denominations? "3. The great homo mission problem _ m Canada is urged as one of the most pressing reasons for uuioh. Nearly one quarter million immigrants came to Canada in 1906. About 300,0G0 is tho approximate total for 1907. The proportionate increase in tho United States never passed beyond per cent, per annum of the population, whilo in 190(5 in Canada the increase reached 3 per cent, of the population. This year the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches together are bringing about one hundred ministers and missionaries from tho Old Country, and yet iwo need more.. Even now wo are not overtaking' the work in proportion to the iucreaso of population. Then to cover the ground of the many far afield settlements, to avoid tho overlapping aud local rivalry 'in mission fields, and to guard against the' present waste in men and money, Church union is strongly urged. "i. Tho foreign mission problem of'world evangolisation is ever urging the mission of tho Protestant' forces of Christendom. "5. The Church in her preseni divided'state can nover successfully cope with the problem of the masses outside the Church either in Christendom- or heathendom."