Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 17922, 18 March 1922, Page 6

Opinions in the Congregational Union on tho subject of uniting with Presbyterianism have been as various as those which John Bunyan encountered on tho question of tho printing of his hook. To approve of the principle of union is one thing, and that principle has been reaffirmed, but tho difficulties of an actual amalgamation are apt naturally to loom larger as the prospect is brought into nearer view. Tho Congregational ists, who were the promoters of the-, latest negotiations, have found more differences of opinion in their own body, it is evident, than was anticipated when the latest movement was commenced. A proportion of’ their members who believe in union are afraid of absorption in the larger body. In the circumstances, all that Congregationalista have been able to do has been to decide that the question of union be left in abeyance till it can be discussed, with tho Methodist Church as a third party. Tho position of the Methodists is that, like the Presbyterians and Congrcgationalists, they have approved tho principle of union. The Presbyterian Church, has twice approached them (as it has also approached the Congrcgationalists) with proposals for union, and in tho sequel found divisions of opinion in its own Assembly which have caused the proposals to be made abortive. Union of Churches would defeat its own object if, in the case of any denomination, it could "only he secured at the price of a dissentient strong minority preferring to go its own way, leaving as many Churches, still as there were before. That is a risk which no denomination is ■willing to take, and which naturally affects the voting on such issues. But the union of Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches has been very much in tho air in Canada, Australia, and South Africa. There are signs that it is nearing its fulfilment in tho oldest Dominion. The question will emerge again an this country.

Church Union.