New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-14
THE SCOTCH CHURCHES.
Triumph of the Highland Opponents
Of Reunion.
London, August 8.

they either could net or would not follow The
New Lights into the Free Church they remained
outside the enlarged fold. made fetch Of their
theological standards. and became a dwindling
remnant Of irreconcilables This minority sec
ton Of what was originally the Reformed Pres
hrteiian body has declined in numbers during
the last thirty years. until there are now hardly
more than eight or ten congregations in Scotland.
and # is supplied with ministers mainly from
an analogous religious communion In Ulster.
What exultation there would have been among
the hard headed burghers If the courts had in
servened on their behalf and decided that theirs
onlv was the true light, and that the despised
remnant was entitled to inherit all the Reformed
Presbyterian propertiesi The Aud LIGHTS did
NOT have in their time the good fortune OF the
trreconcilables, who revolted against the fusion
OF the United Presbyterian and Free churches
8 few years ago. They have had the ordinary
cate Of rear guards, which are unwilling either
% gisband or 10 march on with the new battal-
IONS
The United Free Church. when It was formed
nv g process Of analgarnation in 1900. repre-
Eented almost as many fusions as seeessions.
F6ere were the secesslonists Of 1913 and the
Relief Church which was founded in 176l by
rSenezer Erskine. ana by the fusion of these
two bodies in 1S47 the United Presbyterian
Church was created. The Free Church came
into existence in 1913. when 450 ministers. led
by Dr.. Chalmers. seeded from the Established
Presbyterian Church Of Scotland, and It at
frsc{ed IN the course Of few decades other
Bodies Of Separatists. The original. or pioneer.
Eeceders, representing an earlier revolt against
The Scotch Established Church, united with the
Fses church in 1852, and in 1876 the New
Lights coalesced with II, after a prolonged
struggle with the more conservative section OF
the Reformed PresbEterians. The reunion Of
the United Presbyterian Church with its COM
r1union roll Of l94.399. and the Free Church,
with its membership of 203. 6S4. brought together
in 1890 the largest two religious conmunions
IN Scotland which dissented from the estab-
Hshe6 order and polity Of Scotch Presbyterian
ISM and we're dependent upon voluntary sup
port This fusion was mainly due 10 the per
sistent efforts and astute leadership of DR..
Rainy, principal Of New College. Edinburgh.
who had recruited, as the head OF the chief
theological school # the Free Church, large
body Of enthusiasts: supporters in the ministry.
when he first proposed union. thirty years ago.
there was less hair splitting over dogma in the
confessions Of faith than over points Of con-
stitutonal polity; but as time went on the vet
Grams in opposition dropped eff, and the Flu
sionists finally secured complete triumph in
the Free Church Assembly. Reunion was Writ
uaIly a financial rather than theological prob
lem as each body had its own system Of min
isterial support and congregational properties:
but the obstacles were removed in the course
Of five years by a series of compromises and
adjustments, arranged By a joint committee.
Fusion ives adopted unanimously in the United
Presbyterian Synod. and by an overwhelming
uajority-502 10 2e--in the Free Church.
This minority did not know when it was
beaten Five OF the twenty-nine ministers and
congregations voting against reunion ceased TO
offer resistance TO the movement but the re-
naming tWenty-four protested against the ac-
tton Of eleven hundred. remained outside the
new United Free Church. and claimed exclusive
authority as THE saving remnant Of the Free
Church and absolute control over the eeclesias-
teal funds and properties. The minority, rep
resenting mainly Gaelic congregations in the
Highlands. appealed TO the Scottish courts. and
were unsuccessful before two tribunals. -Four
judges united In the decision that the Free
Church was a self-governing body, and that the
majority had the right 10 carry the property
with them into the United Free Church. The
minority. defeated in Scotland, appealed to the
House Of Lords. and has been triumphantly
sustained this week by the highest British
court The previous decisions have been re-
versed and the ty5nty-four frreconcilable min
istsrs and their congregations are now legally
constituted as the Free Church with more than
Sl00oQo90 in accumulated stock and capital
with q thousand churches and mahses
throughout Scotland. with colleges. assembly
halls End missions throughout the world, and
with an aggregate property which could not be
repaired without an expenditure Of 100000.
The rear guard is left In possession OF the field.
Tie main army is dispossessed Of its privileges.
cut on from rations and supplies, and placed at
TIC mercy Of a small but determined squad of
Highland ministers. Ignorant congregations,
which were not sef-supporting, but dependent
upon the uberality Of Free Church men In the
Lo"iands, are new the heirs Of accommodations
o wealth for religious work and charity at
nome snd abEoaa The victory Of the old guard
OF reacuonaTies is Toe complete 10 be effective.
Inc Gaelic ministers cannot administer the
properties which have been decided to be theirs
Is me true representatives Of the Free Church.
1oF can they expe the ministers OF the United
free Church from kirk and mense and supply
ne vacant pulpits In carrying their points Of
law they have created an Impasse. which will
oe broken through and removed by direct act
u Parliament after a concordat OF some kind
mas been arranged between the victorious minor
"y and the embarrassed majority.
The decision, which nominaIiy deprives eleven
hundred ministers Of pulpits and homes and
US OF sd0O00000 from the working assets OF
the United Free Church, Is based upon the legal
meets Of the disposal OF a trust Lord Halls
VIE' who has written the main opinion, con-
~lsIs II OF no importance that an overwheln-
"s majority OF the Free Church Assembly
se-ea IN favor Of the fusion Of the two bodies.
ne accepts Lord Eldon's dictum that the orig
~ purpose OF 4 trust predeterInines the use
leh is TO be made Of the Accommodations of
"aFy under ii. He reverts TO DR.. Chalmerss
11Iesses and the minutes Of the secession
ll0ysinent OF lS43 and proves that the Free