New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-03
SCOTTISH CHURCH UNION.

The brief announcement was made last week
that the Assembly Of the Free Church of Scot
land, in session at Edinburgh. had voted in
favor OF union with the United Presby terrain
Church. That marks the most important Incl
dent In Church matters for more than half a
century in that country. which Of all In the
world takes most general and most vital in
terest in Church matters, whether theological or
merely ecclesiastical. It marks the ending of
the chapter of Scottish Church history which
began in 1S43, when the great disruption Of the
Scottish National Church took place. It comes
by no means Unexpectedly Discussion of it
has been rife for years, and for some months
past has been conducted with that intensity and
whole souled fervor which are characteristic of
Scottish Churchmen. Expectation has been that
the union would be approved; for, while there
has been little enthusiasm for it anywhere, there
has also been little opposition to it save in the
remote Highlands aud islands. The vote Of last
week. 592 for it to only % against 1t. was over
whelming, but scarcely more than had been
widely predicted.
What will be done by the minority opposed to
the union does not yet appear There is reason
10 expect that many, perhaps most, of its mem
bers VIII refuse to accept the new order of
things, and win secede from the Free United
Church" and join, perhaps, the small body of
account of alleged theological heresies in it's
teachings Some Of them may go so far as to
contest in the courts the legality Of the union.
though in that they are not likely to be success
ful. At any rate, the union will now be re-
garded by those approving IT as an accom-
pHshed fact. The date of the first general meet
ing Of the representatives Of the reunited Church
has already been fixed for October 81 next
There have also been made arrangements for
theological teaching In the colleges and unver.
stiles and for the administration Of the various
funds of the Church. In fact, the machinery Of
the union has been put into complete order 1t
only awaited the formal vote Of last week TO
put 1t into operation.
Curously enough there seems to be reason TO
anticipate n certain degree of dssension and
even OF disunion n result. of this act OF union
entirely apart from the course of the few dissi-
dents already mentioned. This is threatened
upon political grounds 1t will be remembered
that fifteen years ago there was a considerable
going over to the Episcopalian Church ON ac-
count of Mr.. Gladstones Home Rule scheme
That was done by those Scottish Presbyterians
who had been Liberals but who could not brook
Home Rule and therefore became Unionists in
politics, and who did not feel at home in the
Presbyterian Church because Of the strong
Home Rule sentiment which prevailed in Il and
therefore became Episcopalans at the same
time. In the present case the controversy Is
over the South African war. The United Pres
Dyterian leaders are largely pro- Boer while the
Free Church leaders. who include many expert.
ehced African missionaries who understand tho
SUBJECT well, are as strongly anti-Boer. When
the two are brought into immediate contact Ia
the same organization there will be a consider
aD!e amount OF friction and it is thought likely