The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-03
CHURCH UNION IN CANADA.


! Canada seems to be taking the lea'
in Church Union. Ia 1876 the fOu
sections Of Presbyterianism ia Canadi
were united almost without dissen
tient congregation. and with the hap
piest results. Presby te-ianlsm ha
prospercd since as never before. 4
few years after the four branches o
Methodism followed the good exampl
OF the Presbyterians. and with lik'
blessed results. Then the EpiscopaliaI
Church caught the contagiOn, and APP
pointed committee to meet will
any similar committee that NIGH
be appointed by any other Chris
tian Bodies, to consider the
feasibility of the Union on larger
scale. In succession similar committees
were appointed by the Supreme Courts
of the Methodist AM Presbyterian
Churches. These committees met il
conference in Toronto last April, bui
sat with closed doors. through fear Of
possible Misunderstanding arising out
OF defective reports OF the discussions
The Presbyterian Committee reported
briefly 70 the meeting of Assembly last
June that it was deeply impressed
with the courtesy and Christian feeling
and earnest desire for union of the
brethren with whom they were in con
ference and recommend the reap
pointment Of a committee on union
with other churches. which was accord
ingly made.
The committee of the Episcopaliar
Church reported last month TO the
meeting of Provincial Synod held il
Montreal. The Provincial Synod is th,
Supreme Court of the Episcopal Church
IN Canada. The report states that the
following points were discussed at the
Toronto conference: /, Corporate unity
,, The amount of unity in doctrine
worship, and modes of action between
the three bodies represented: 3, The
Holy Scriptures; 4, The Creeds, and
that although no formal resolution:
were passed, there seemed to be good
ground for hope that basis of agree
ment might be arrived at which would
meet with general acceptance as to the
following points:
/. The Holy Scriptures as contain
ing all things necessary to salvation
and as being the rule and guide Of
faith.
?. The Apostles Greed, as the bap-
tismal symbol, and the Nicene Creed as
being the sufficient statement of the
Christian faith.
3. The two Sacrements, ordained by
Christ himself-Baptism aud the Sup
per Of the Lord, ministered with I'M
falling use of Christ's words Of insiitu-
ton and of the elements ordained by
him.
The large majority of the conference
agreed that 1.-The ideal of the unity Of
believers set forth in the Scriptures. es-
pecially in our Lords microscopy
prayer, while chiefly spiritual in its
nature, can be fully represented only
in an undivided state of the Visible
Church, in which perfect fellowship
shall be maintained throughout the en-
tire body of Christ, and it is the duty OF
the church and of all its members. con-
tinually to aspire toward aud labor for
the completeness of this manifest
union in the Lord
The committee felt that such encour
aging progress toward the great end in
view had been made in this first con
ference. that the Union Committee
should be re-appointed. The report
includes with an expression Of "grat-
Jude 10 God who has enabled the men,
srs Of the conference to advance SO
far in concert along the path of broth.
erly union and concord, thus giving
grounds for the further hope that under
tbs guidance OF the Holy Ghost, the Ii.
luminator, the day may not be far dis
tant when the Lords Prayer for the
unity of his body may receive among
us its fullest accomplishment"
The report was received by the Synod
with much enthusiasm. The confer
ence was referred to as one Of the most
remarkable gatherings that had ever
taken place IN the country. Dean Car
michael, OF Montreal, said that he had
entered the conference with trepida
ton, but left in rejoicing in the mar
velous spirit of unanimity that had
prevailed throughout; that the founda
tions Of brothsrly love and friendship
had been laid there that would be life
long.
The report Of the committee was
unanimously adopted by standing vote
the whole assembIage joining in sing
ins the doxology. Praise God from
whom all blessings now" 1t was also
unanim ously agreed that a committee
should BE- appointed to arrange for the
publicationo Of an abstract Of tteproceed'
ipgs OF the Toronto Conferen"e en- Uoior