CHURCH UNION IN SCOTLAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1198, 5 August 1911, Page 9

CHURCH UNION IN SCOTLAND.

WAITING FOR A LEAD. "Tho Scotsman" has made a general inquiry into 'the congregational and pui>lic I'eelitig oil tho question of Church' l.mon, and tho result, it says, is-the best answer that can at the. moment bo given to a speculative question suggested by Dr. A'orman Maclcod in tho Union debate. A-fortnight-ago 'on being: asked to express an opinion on tho negotiations. "What is it you want?" ho proposed to say to tlio people; "is it a new ecclesiastical cdilicc, resting on a purely voluntary bas.is, or,-if you liko to put it-so, on the basis of Disestablishment; or is it a reconstructed edilice, resting iir tho "old foundations?" Correspondents who aro accredited and reliable, and who number more than two hundred, were invited to co-operato; (hoy wero supplied with schedules of questions; they wero asked to answer theso questions with tlio most careful accuracy. The result of tho inquiries is summarised as follows:— (1) That the old bitter feeling between Church of Scotland and United Freo Church ministers and people which existed so long after tho Disruption has passed away, and given place to sentiments of a more cordial nature. (a) That co-operation between ministers in the two great branches of tlio Presbyterian Church has greatly developed in recent years. (2) That tho people as a wliolo in all parts of tho country . are friendly to union. (a) That for the most part the people, however, have not had an opportunity .of considering tho question from'the point of view of any-work-ing scheme to give practical effect to the proposal, and that more timo is needed for them to consider it thoroughly. (3) That thero is a unanimous view in Church of Scotland circles that union should be effected, not by tho agency of Disestablishment, but oil tho basis of reconstruction and a conservation of the endowments for religious purposes. (a) That there is in the United Free Church a body of opinion favourable 'to union oh the basis of reconstruction on "the old foundations," provided "spiritual freedom" within the reconstructed Church is assured., ' (b). That equally thero is a body of members in tlio United Free Church who maintain that union is only possible on a voluntary or-Disestablish-ment basis. (4) And that a general feeling prevails in both Churches—tho ardent Disestablishes only excluded—that tho four propositions of the Church of Scotland Union Committee form a workable basis for future negotiations. The fdur propositions aro as follow:— (1) That tho reunited Church shall be recognised by the State as national bearing tho uamo of the Church of Scotland, preserving her identity with tho Church of tho Reformation and tho Revolution Settlement as contemplated in the Treaty of Union, and exhibiting a national testimony to tho Christian faith. (2) That sho shall be recognised as a. Church undertaking a provisioji, of re : •ligious, pastoral j faro | co-extensive'witlr ScHtlnnd, and:'adapted to thc'terf'itiii-Ml- 1 population. ' , (3) That- tho Courts of tlio Church' shall . continue to bo .recogniscd by jaw :as possessing a separate ; and_ exclusive jurisdiction- in matters spiritual. (4) That tho • ancient endowments shall be conserved for the United Chnrch in otder that with necessary readjustments they may continuo to be_ used towards the'support of religious ordinances under a territorial system. Tho ardent advocate of Union (says "Tho Scotsman") may bo disappointed with the tenor of some of tho statemoiits which are made, describing tho apathy of congregations. It is plain ermugh that there is as yet. no moving enthusiasm among the people. But when tho indifference which exists in many places is sharply probed, it is found to have its encouraging symptoms. In one of tho schedules "tho common temper of the people is analysed with pungent, words. "It is difficult-to say -what is wanted, as the. members of tho Church as a rulo do not understand the difference of tho distinctive principles in doctrine and government of tlio two Churches.' Ecclesiastical controverv is dead; tho Churches nevertheless stand apart; tho people, findin" nothing to account for tho separation, lapse into unenlightened indifference— surely not a mental condition that is favourable to active Church life and' cni terprise.