Scottish Church Union Voted by Assemblies

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6919, 27 May 1929, Page 7

Scottish Church Union Voted by Assemblies

Handful of Dissentients Free CM Minority Goes Into Wilderness Times Cable. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, May 25. After 20 years of harmonious negotiations, the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church have agreed to enter into an incorporating union. The final discussions will be held simultaneously between the two assemblies, each consisting of more than 1000 members. Scenes of fervent enthusiasm marked the meetings. The Duke of York, as Lord High Commissioner of the Church of Scotland, attended the Church of Scotland’ assembly, accom-panied-by the Duchess and listened to Dr. John White, a former Moderator, submitting the resolution. He declared union realises both the dream of former generations and the vision of the present The church’s unchanged continuity and identity would be enriched by the cumulative contributions of the sister church. The resolution was passed with three dissentients. Dr. Robert Drummond, in sponsoring the resolution at the Free Church assembly of which ho was former Moderator, emphasised it was tlie most momentous step since the covenanting struggle. The resolution was passed with 39 dissentients, the smallest minority in the long negotiations. The Rev. J. Barr, M.P., the leader of the minority, declared he and his followers were going into the wilderness because the causes of the separation had not been removed. He announced that the minority would carry on the United Free Church. The formal act of union was fixed for October, when it is expected the King and Queen will attend.