The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-16

3IiSJS. Cn1icQ oAA -if[l4t1-
site Protastants. The free Bapt.S.
ar practically back with the Norhe7.
Baptist body.
The immense undertaking 81
merger OF the PresbyterianS Cong.
~ga,ionalists and Methodists Of Car
which has been under considera4 4
for a number of years. still drags
slow length through the ehur
courts. Something in the way Of -
cisive action is expected this sprins
The sentiment of the German Ie-
formed churches concerning the pr
posed union with the Northern Prs
byterian Church Is being canvas.
and on the whole 1t is said to be
vorable. will probably Be- th.
next union to which the parent p.
bvterian body will be a party. .as
legal difficulties which nave attend
the reunion with b CuInberlla1
Presbyterian have dampened IL,
ardor of many church leaders Tor ue>
union enterprises.
ecclesiastical 'Ahinities~'
Men who follow religious affairs
closely seem to think that the NOV
nent which has suddenly shown sl.h
vitality for a union Of the Southern
| and United Presbyterian churche4
| falls into a unique classification +
is not the result of agitation by mra
whose hobby is church union. I'LL
fact, it springs from no agitation *
all. Nor is it a plan proposed ay
ecclesiastical leaders. 1t seems NOR
like the case of two GUN persons
who have grown up together as good
friends, and who all at once dlscoEs
that they are meant for each ott4er
and should get married. This roa4i
be diagnosed as a case of eccleslastIael
affinities.
Both the United Presbyterian ant
the Southern Presbyterian churches
L~Il o-< - ~ ~A-4, A,a4 -
forms and doctrines Both show
markedly the S~cotch-Irish STRAIN.
Both have been conspicuous for SAB
bath-keeping and for family religion.
Both are in the fore front Of foreign
missionary activity. Both have tel
American ChrtstendOm in lay activity
Both are rather suspicious Of what
they esteem the lax theology of mo
Northern Presbyterian Church and
both have pointedly veered off from
overtures to union with this larger
body. Both are smaller denomina
tons, the United Presbyterians mum
bering about 10000 members. and
the Southern Presbyterians about !
quarter Of a million.
Psalm Singing on Wane.
The old Scotch practices Of sing
ing the psalms, and Of excluding in
strumental music from worship. haVs
been distinctives of the United Pres
byterian Church along with Opposl-
ton to secret societies Now It IS
, frankly conceded that these .distinc-
tives" are generally ignored. IT IS 3
rare United Presbyterian Church
which does not possess An organ. or
: "kist Of whistles" as the Scotch call
ed it. Often the contest between thu
conservatives and p~rogressives on this
. point has been bitter. One old elder.
the story runs, was called upon i,
p~axy ~ ho
organ was first used. Let your ma
/. chine ray for you" was his tart an
| swer Few such irreconcilables now
, remain.
. AS for the singing Of psalms. they
have been rendered into new metrieai
I revlsaons which sometimes seem li6tr
TO Moody and Sanky hymns and tunes
than to the rendering Of Rouse's Yer
SION. In the tentative outline OF ths
proposed union the use Of psalms ri
De made optional with the local con
gregation.
The thought of the leaders IS ta3r
the union shall be consummated al5n.
moderate lines. with as little disar-
rangement Of present methods As pos
s1ble. Their will be a joint gener+l
assembly, but fer the present at least
the mission work. hich does not IN
pinge. Will continue to be admins
+ tered as it is The two prosperou1
publishing houses will remain. graI-
ually. OF course, combining papers
The work for the negro VIII ~
merged and turned over to the south.
ern men for management. Probate
one nrsf consequence of the union ~
De the extension Of cOlored eyan-ea-
cation. The United P~resbyteriIu,
nave several strong Institutions amor
the negroes, but the men active III n.
branch of missions have express
themselves as confident thai this 9TH
cult service a best be done by work
III erS who have spent their lives in -
4 south. The increase of interest ~
at Coiored CHARACTERIZATION in the Sou'1
ern Church has been a notable reear
development.
y The Laymen's Prominent Part
ed A singular phase Of this unIar
that the laymen are conspicuous. +.