The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-05

the Contemporary ReUie,0, gives this an
swer CATER explaining the past passive
attitude of the Free Church,
1t was very certain, however, that this could
not continue always; and there was some dan
ger that it might continue too long. Yet it GER
tainly would have been difficult to get the Free
Church to move, had not the events of 1874 oc-
CURED. Those brought her at once into the
field. The State as represented by the Conser-
vatlve Government, and the Church Established,
took the status quo in hand with view to re-
model it, They did so without any recognition
of rights or interests external to the privileged
denomination. 1t seemed to the Church that
the changes made were meant to lure Free
Church members by an illusory profession of
Free Church principles. But it is not necessary
to the present object to impute any but the best
and falrest intentions. Whatever the intentions,
the very fact that Church and State were at
work to revise the situation was q challenge the
Free Church could not decline. A certain mum.
Der of her members were inclined to declare for
a reconstructed Establishment, another section
was 10th to move at all, but the General Assem-
bly, by three to one, declared for Disestablish-
ment, and successive Assemblies have affirmed
the decision. This decision, no doubt, rested
partly on the conviction that Establishments are
Objectionable whenever they tend deeply to
divide Christians who ought to be united
whenever the Church and the State have become
divergent in principle-and whenever the
Church Established is thrown for its defence on
the principles of indefinite comprehension and
OF concurrent endowment. But it mainly ex
pressed the conviction that the existing Estab
lishment is grievance and a wrong. and must
be brought to an end.
DR.. Rainy tells us that there is no
doubt that the Established Church rep
resents minority, not merely of the peo-
pie, but of the church-going people, OF
the country. 1t is even minority of
the Presbyterians of Scotland.
The Established Church of Scotland
has, moreover, ceased to represent the
traditions and the historical sentiment OF
Scotland. 1t has not only seen one half
of the followers Of John Knox break
away from them into independent and
powerful organisations, but it fails to re-
fleet any longer. the moral and spiritual
features which distinguished for two CEN
turtles the religious life of Scotland
There are, moreover, certain districts of
country in which it has few adherents,
and where it is solecism to speak of it
any longer as the Church of the Scottish
people.
No doubt the abolition of the Estab-
lishment" would infict an apparent blow
on the Christianity of Scotland. There
would be doubtless falling away and a
dispersion of certain nominal friends of
religion. The same would be the case
with the TALL of the English Establish
ment-only worse. 1t would ensue on
the withdrawal of the public stipends
from any organisation, ecclesiastical or
otherwise. But, if the Church is So
ciety of true believers, no necessity re-
mains to weigh such considerations. We
do not want mere names on the Church
rolls, even if they are those of muniicent
patrons. We want true men, the body
of Christ and nothing else. He is abun-
dainty able to fructify the mites of the
poor until they shall far exceed in value
all that the rich worldlings may pour
into the treasury.