New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-21
THE SCOTCH CHURCHES
FUSION OF THE FREE CHURCH AND THE
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
IT'S RELATIONS TO DIS
ESTABLISHMENT
London, June q


the last century and a half can be reduced IN
mathematical formula: eight separations and
six reunions. The last reuni1n has been sane
toned by the unanimous vote of the United
Presbyterian Synod and by an overwhelming
majority-592 to 29-of the Free Church As
sembly. under the leadership of Principal Rainy
The reunion of these two religious bodies the
Free Church and the United Presbyterian
Church will be effected in October. under the
new title of the United Free Church 1t will
bring together the largest two religious COM
munions in Scotland which dissent from the
tabHshed order and polity of Presbyterian
ism, and each of these Coalescing bodies has
been either erected or strengthened by the pre-
vious fusion of constituent elements. The Free
Church has a communion roll of 293,6S4 and
the United Presbyterian Church one Of 1889
The United Free Church will have a member
ship Of 4SS,OS3. against 64S.476 in the Estab-
Iished Church of Scotland This consolidation
can hardly fail TO exert cumulative influence
upon the question of disestablishment in Scot
land and there will be a reflex effect discs
tabIshment in England and Wales
The alternating effects of secession and fusion
are illustrated in tn history Of these two re-
Iigfous bodies which TO be amalsamated in
october The Free Church was the outcome of
the secession in 1913 Of $40 ministers, led by
DR. Chalmers from the Established Church Of
was proof of their sincerity. and their con-
gregations. with few exceptions, rallied about
them and completed the disruption Of the Estab-
Iished Church. In 1852 a body known as the
Original Seceders, which had survived from
earlier separation, united with the Free Church.
In 1876 there was another accession of mem
bershfp from the New Lights, the more power
full of the two sections Of the Reformed Pres
I byterians. which had parted company thirteen
years before There is now fresh amalgama-
ton with the United Presbyterian Church.
which was itself created in 1S4T by the fusion
of two religious bodies-the secessionists Of 1888
and the Relief Church. which founded in
1TG1 by Ebenezer Erskine. The United Free
Church when the process Of reunion is com
pleted this year will represent almost man
fusions descriptions.
AN IRRECONCI.ABLE MINORITY.
Religious reunion in Scotland is never car
ried unanimously There Will always be a
minority who disapprove OF fusion, and remain
outside the enlarged fold. Mr.. Barrie's Aud
LIGHT burghers, who adhered tenaciousIy 70 the
Cameronian traditions. could not follow the
New Lights into the Free Church They have
dwindled in numbers during the last twenty
four years. until there are now hardly more
than half a dozen congregations. and this rem
nant is supplied with ministers from anal0-
gous religious body in the North OF Ireland
There are invariably irreconcilables who can
not adjust themselves TO new conditions. but
make fetch Of theological standards. There
will be a minority entirely out OF sympathy
with the new scheme OF Presbyterian fusion
There were no protests against IT at the session
Of the United Presbyterian Synod, but when
Principal Rainy. ar the Free Church Assembly.
made a strong appeal 10 the minority and
questioned the eXpedienCy OF separation there
were twenty nine ministers and laymen who
insisted upon expressing their dissent and vot-
ing against reunion It a beggarly minor
ity, since 592 votes were recorded against It.
but the little group With Scotch persistency
stood by its coIors. protesting against reunion
on the ground that the attitude OF the kirk
sessions had not been ascertained; that the
General Assembly was exceeding its powers
and that the standards and constitution OF the
Free Church had been violated. There VIII De
a remnant Of irreconcilabIes like the Aud LIGHTS
and other rear guards or religious connunions
and dissenting bodies which have been IN
willing either to dsband or 10 march with new
battalions.
The reunion Of these Scotch churches has been
an easy and natural process. There was no
serious divergence Of opinion between them on
any fundamental article Of Presbyterian faith
or on any detail Of worship discipline When
Dr. Rainy headed an unsuccessful reunion
movement twenty-five years ago there was some
hairsputting over the Interpretation OF the
Confession Of Faith in the two bodies but the
main objections were raised by constitutional
lists under the leadership Of Dr. Kennedy and
Dr. Begg who argued that the Free Church
Assembly was incapacitated by its own princi-
pies Of polity as established in 1913 from sane
tioning a compact of fusion with the United
Presbyterians. DR.. Rainy, principal OF New
College Edinburgh. has been the most infu-
entail leader in the Free Church, and as the
head Of the chief theological school he has re-
cruited large body OF personal adherents IN
the ministry. The constitutional DIRECTORS who
once thwarted him have dropped off one by
one and in the Free Church Assembly he has
finally secured a complete triumph The min
listers rallied around him. and the congregations
deliberately and without much enthusiasm fell
into line. A joint committee OF the two bodies
has been laying the foundations Of united
Church during the last five years, and now that
the work has been done it is evident that there
has been no sacrifice of faith or principle on
either side.
Apart from having common share IN Pres
byterian doctrine. usage and discipline. these
two churches owed their existence 10 revolt
against lay patronage under an Established or
State Church. This the origin of Ebenezer
Erskine's secession movement and Thomas Gil
lespIe's Relief Church during the last century.
and the United Presbyterian Church was re-
cruted from the survivors and successors OF
these two dissenting bodies. and the Free
Church also represented a disruption Of the
Scotch Establishment. caused by lay patronage
The two churches had practically the same
standards of faith and their ministers were
supported by voluntary contributions ot the
laity Reunion virtually a financial rather