RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1168, 1 July 1911, Page 10

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

CHURCH UNION IN SCOTLAND

EPOCH-MAKING REPORTS.

After two years' negotiations (the first being spent on'preliminaries), there was issued on .May 17 the report of the Cornmil tee on the Union of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church. The conveners of the Church of Scotland, in the report stated- that they had gone so far as to outline a constructive policv by means of which Vhev believed "misunderstandings and hindrances could be removed and the great-object of Presbyterian reunion in Scotland therebv advanced. They attach verv great importance to the following propositions:—

(1) ihat (he reunited Church shall be recognised by the State as national, bearing the name of the Church of Scotland, preserving her identity with the Church of the Reformation and the Revolution Settlement as contemplated in the Treatv of Union, and exhibiting a national testimony to the Christian faith.

(2) That she shall be recognised as a Church undertaking a provision of religious ordinances and pastoral care soextensive with Scotland, and adapted to the territorial distribution of the population.

(3). That the Courts of the Church shall continue to bo.recognised by law as 'possessing a separate and exclusive jurisdiction in matters spiritual.

(i) That the ancient endowments shall be conserved for tho United Church in order that with necessary adjustments they may continue to be used towards the support of religious ordinances under a territorial system.

As regards the National Recognition of the Protestant Religion and the Presbyterian order of government, it was represented that the United Free Church shared in the desire to maintain the Protestant and Presbyterian character of the religious life of Scotland. At the same time, that no arrangement could he accepted which would limit the spiritual freedom of the Church receiving State recognition, or restrain her in the adaptation of her agencies and resources to the varying needs and circumstances of. the' people of Scotland, or which would involve the denial to oth»r churches of. their proper, character and rights.

The statement, by the representatives of tho Church of Scotland, that they consider tho objections stated from tho side of the United Free Church to the present recognition of the Church by the State to be removable, and the suggestions in this direction which they make, were cordially welcomed and recognised as very valuable. At the same time, it was intimated by (hose representing the United Free Church that the terms of the appointment under which they were acting precluded them, in their view, from entering, at this stage, upon the discussion of those suggestions

On the part of the United Free Church, agreement was expressed in the position 'that the nation, acting in its corporate capacity, ought to render homage lo God, and to promote in all appropriate ways the interests of His Kingdom. While it is the duty of the State to avoid intrusion into (ho sphere of personal religion, it is hound to give protection in the free exercise thereof to all its faithful citizens.

This relation must include the recognition of the Church as having received from Christ a sphere of government in matters spiritual and ecclesiastical in which the State can neither confer nor exercise authority. This, (he United Free Church representatives staled, they regarded as essential. In such recognition all branches of the Church would share, enjoying (hereby entire freedom of selfgovernment in all matters of. doctrine, worship, and - discipline, and of legislation and administration necessary thereto. In name of the Church of Scotland Committee—Norman Macleod and Balfour of Burleigh, Joint Conveners; John White, Clerk. In name of the United Free Church Committed—Archd. Henderson and George Robson, Joint Conveners; Alex. Martin, Clerk. j