The sun., 1893-06-01
The Free Church Of Scotland.

The Free Church OF SC0tlanQ.
Among the most interesting events that
have lately taken place In Great Britain
was the celebration Of the jubilee, or tlf-
tieth anniversary, Of the foundation OF the
Free Church Of Scotland. But for the
amazing success Of this religious organiza-
ton, whose ministers from the outset have
been supported by voluntary contributions,
We should hear nothing Of movements to
disestablish the Anglican Church in Wales
and the Established Presbyterian Church in
Scotland. The Free Church is an object les
son whose significance no one can mistake.
1t was on Thursday. May 49, 1s43. that,
under the leadership OF Dr. CHALMERS. 47O
ministers OF the Church OF Scotland, or
nearly two-ffths OF what was then the
whole number. severed their connection
with the State. and combined to form n So
called Free Church. The cause Of the se-
ccssion was the exercise OF church patron
age, and especially decision Of the highest
court to the effect that not even the vehe-
ment opposition OF a united parish to
nominee presented by the patron. would be
any barrier to his settlement as minister.
Sooner than submit to the imposition Of
spiritual teachers against their will. the
large fraction Of the Scottish people which
represented most distinctly the old Puri-
tanic or Covenanter spirit resolved to cut
themselves Off from all the pecuniary re-
sources OF the Established Kirk. and thence
forth to support their pastors by voluntary
offerings. 1t was tremendous undertake
ing. and but few Of the onlookers believed
it would succeed. for fifty years ago the
Scotch. considered as q people. were poor.
and they had always been noted for thrift
and an unwillingness to part with money
on sentimental grounds.
1t turred out. however. that. in what
Scotchman looked upon as a case Of con-
science. there were scarcely any limits to his
generosity. The funds needed for erecting
churches. manses or ministers dwellings.
schools. colleges. halls, and mission build
ings were promptly and lavishly supplied.
Moreover. general sustentation fund.
suggested by DIR. CHALMERS. was raised
to provide fixed minimum income for
every minister. which at the present time
amounts to eight hundred dollars q year,
that Is. considerably more than the mini
mum income OF clergymen OF the Church Of
England. In the very first year after the
secession the sum contributed by the Free
Church for all purposes was upward OF
one million eight hundred Thousand dollars.
During some twenty years the income con-
tinued to average about the same amount,
but throughout tho last ten or twelve
years 1t has exceeded three million dollars
For the year ending March. 1893. the total
contributions were more than three million
two hundred thousand dollars.
The entire sum contributed during the
fifty years Of the Free Church's existence
Is one hundred and fifteen million dollars.
and the number Of ministers has mean
while increased from 470 to 1,l69. Not only
has the Free Church been self-supporting.
but 1t has been active In missionary work
abroad. The income Of its foreign mission
department has increased from thirty
thousand dollars in 1S43 to about Ave hun
dred thousand dollars. and its working
staff has been enlarged from handful of
employees at the former period to eight
hundred and seventy agents. besides four
hundred and ninety two unbaptized preach
ers. In India. In Arabia. In the New Heb
rides. and in Southern Africa. the mission
arlcs Of the Free Church are energetic and
successful. We should add that the Es-
tablished Church OF Scotland itself has
profted by the example of the seceders.
The abolition OF patronage In that Church
by act OF Parliament in 1874 bore striking
testimony to the soundness of DR.. CHAL-
MERss viows on the subject.
Two changes have come over the spirit of
the Free Church Of Scotland during Its life
OF fifty years. 1t declared at the outset
that only with reluctance did 1t abandon its
connection with the State. and that it would
be ready to return to the Established Church
when the latter should be properly consti-
tuted: that is to say. when the obnoxious
exercise OF patronage should be abandoned.
We have seen that the right OF patronage
was abolished In the Established Church
some nineteen years ago. Nevertheless.
with the exception Of a small minority, the
OF the Free Church are deter |
mined to maintain their independence of |
the State. The other noteworthy change Is |
that, although the secession was instigated |
and carried out by the most Puritanical |
element in the Established Church, yet. at |
prssent. the Free Church is decidedly more |
liberal In Its theology than the older organ
ization. tits true that MI, ROBERTSON SMITH |
was deprived OF his professorship in Free |
Church college on account OF his assent to |
some OF the conclusions of the KUENRN |
school OF Biblical criticism. But subse- !