UNION OF CHURCHES

Evening Star, Issue 19614, 21 July 1927, Page 16

UNION OF CHURCHES

SUCCESS IN CANADA Afj ADVENTURE OF FAITH . A remarkable movement was. brought to a conclusion on Juno 1(1, 1925, bv the formation of the United Church ol Canada. The total number of congregations that were merged into one church was 8,691. This number contained 160 congregations of the Congregational Church, 4,797 of the Methodist Church, and 3,728 of the Presbyterian. Of the three denominations the Methodist was unanimous tor union, eight Congregational churches remained nonunion, the continuing Presbyterian Church totalled 784 congregations. Tho membership of the new church was 700,000, and it represented over 2,000.000 people. This experiment in union was not, made without'a great deal of preparation. During the lasi century many smaller unions were effected. Various types of Presbyterians were formed into a solid group in 1875. The Methodist Church of Canada was finally formed in 1884. The Congregaionallsts united in 1906. Tho lesser unions paved the way for the great amalgamation two years ago. - AIMS ABUNDANTLY REALISED. The Uidted Church has just issued a pamphlet giving information as to its experiences. The results have far exceeded expectations, and must go a long way to promote union elsewhere. In'"the various councils and church courts business has been managed without any evidence of friction along the denominational lino. The-bogy of 1 incompatnbility of temperament has not appeared in any obstructive or disruptive form. Those now united feci that it was a shame amd a pity that they should have for so long a time remained apart. Financially the aims ol the church have been abundantly realised. Last year for missionary, social, educational, and benevolent work an appeal was made for £BOO,OOO. This sum was reached with £15,000 to spare. All deficits that existed in various funds at the time of union have been wiped out; the whole field has been manned. _ All types of work have been fully maintained; every contract lias been met, every bill paid, and there is a surplus in tho bank. A REMARKABLE STIMULUS. United work is being done in Canada among Italians, French, Hungarians, Chinese, Japanese, and Indians._ Abroad 645 missionaries arc _ maintained in twelve different countrios. A remarkable stimulus has been given to young people’s work". Classes for training in leadership have more than doubled in size, and fully 51)0,000 young people are working in organised classes under different names.

Concretely some of the benefits achieved are: (1) Twenty-si.x boards and, governing committees have been reduced to six; (2) all the publishing interests of the three united churches have been amalgamated; (6) one denominational paper takes the place ol the former three; (4) rival congregations in, small communities are significantly merging, amd the United Church is becoming the centre of the community’s religious activities and life. In the west especially rivalry and waste have been almost wholly eliminated; (£T it is no longer possible for rival congregations to enter new areas in growing cities and towns, now churches will ho located at such points ns will guarantee a parish with a minimum of competition and a maximum of efficient work; (6) fifteen theological colleges have been grouped into eight, and a further reduction in the _ number is probable. The economic saving is _ com siderablo, but the result in efficiency must in the long run outweigh all other gains.

WIDER AND DIFFERENT OUTLOOK Generally tho results have .surpassed the diearns of ardent enthusiasts. The outlook of all concerned is wider ami different. A new spirit pervades the representative gatherings of this great church. Members and ministers alike feel the swing of united effort, and' from coast to coast there is a growing sense of a common cause and a common love and loyally to' the risen amd reigning Hoad of the Church. What was an adventure of faith in 1925 now may bo properly designated as a discovery of fellowship. There is no evidence that a single man in the ministry'of tho United Church has the remotest desire to return to the days of denominational differences and rivalry.