CHURCH UNION IN CANADA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15350, 13 January 1912, Page 7

CHURCH UNION IN CANADA.

Undoubtedly, tho greatest question which has 0011:0 beioro the Prosbytc-rian Church .in Canada, since 'the union of 1875, is the proposal of organic union "with tiio Mctliodist and Congrcgatiunnl Churcihes. Uliis /[iiostion Jius bsoti le/ore oomnuttees of the clmroliets ooncormxl for nearly sewn yoars, and <luring the luit fow yoars it has boon di.-cJssod with mztv or less warmth by tho conns of the church and in tho religious .press. P.y a vote of 160 against 73, tho .Ai-tom'bly of 1910 decided to remit tno .question of the approval of the basis of .union agreed upw by 'the joint conuuitteo of tho negotiating ciliuroiies, lo presbyter.its, under the terms of tiio Harrier Act. Th's reference resulted in tho expression of approval by S5 prisbjierie.s, and of disapproved bv 14 presbyteries, wltilo in ono jir.vbytery live vote was a tie. Of tho inembr-rs of presiiyteriov voting the figures .published in the Canadian CJiutWt Ite-cxird .gave 927 approving of tho lxisis of union and 516 disapproving. In viow of this result, the Assembly, wliich met tit Ottawa last June, unanimously agiccl to adopt the .following rojin of its Special Committee 0:1 Churdli Union;—"Tsiat whereas tho Aswnrbly has pl.iood itself on record ns in favour of church union, and whereas a u.ujority of presbyteries, under the Bcrricr Act. have expressed the san-.o ju<lgniont, this oonimittee recommends the Genoral As-=e.mbly to send Who whole matter down to sessions and oonirrogation'. in tho fonn of (t,!;o throe foil-wing questions:--(1) Aro jll favour of organic union wrih tho Methodist and CUmrohcs? (2) Do v-ou O'pp-rove of tiio prcp.ife.l basis of union? (3) Have you any suggctstioiis or alternative's to offer? A common form for recordintr ballots is taing projxtreel and iwH fre-m rho Church Offices, Toronto, aetl wilj b? ferrt to all our sessions in time ifor an early vote on this question. ArpanpoiiientK will bo made for momliers of i-ersions and members of congregations lo record their votes separately and also for jvlhcror.ts to express timir eor.onrrenoo or ..-.oncisrrence. The rc-nlts of the vote uto do bo reported to olrrte of prcshvtorv on nr the loth day of next March."