PRESBYTERIAN ONION IN SCOTLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2630, 10 August 1904, Page 17

PRESBYTERIAN ONION IN SCOTLAND.

The following letter appeared in Friday's Daily Times: —

Sir, — In your article on the Scottish Church property ease, just decided by the House of Lords, there occurs an historical inaccuracy, which you will perhaps allow me to point out. You represent those who broke away from the Free Church on the adoption of the Declaratory Act in 1892 as if they were identical with those who refused to go into union with the United Presbyterian Ohurch in 1900. This is not so. They were two distinct bodies, and they continue so : the former known by the name of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the latter by thename of the Free Ohurch of Scotland. The former never claimed the property; they simply withdTcw and formed a new body. The latter, at the time of the union in 1900, refused te move from the Free Church position as they understood it. and claimed to be really and historically the Free Church of Scotland, and therefor© entitled to hold and administer the Free Church property. "Whether Christendom will recognise that body as the historical Free Church or not, it has, after four years' litigation, established its claim to hold and administer the property. The situation is extraordinary. Some 24- congregations have possession of over 1000 churches and manses 3or which they have no present use : while «ver 1000 congregations have no right to call the churches and manses, which they have erected at their own cost during the past 60 years, their own. No wonder that the de-cision has caused "intense excitement in Scotland." The decision, however, is not unprecedented. In 1852 the original Secession Church joined the Free Church. In one congregation — Thurso — a few of the Eaembers refused to go with that union.

They claimed the church building, and after long and costly litigation they established their claim on substantially the same ground as the [Remnant] Free Church has now established its claim to the' Free Church property. — I am, etc., Alex. M. Fixlatsox. Waitati, August 4. i