Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-08-01
GREAT CHURCH UNION
IN CANADA NOW Sure
Presbyterians, Methodists and
Congregationalists to Merge
Throughout Dominion.
From the Religious Rambler.

IAOtiA SuC IN
BY a three to one vote the Canadian
Presbyterian general assembly has fa-
vored organic union with the Metho-
dist mi Congregational denomina-
lions. The other two bodies had already
| gone OH record as favOring the ANAL
gamation of the three diverse demon
nations. The final act of
ton Is now inevitable. What is prob
ably the greatest merger in all church
history is assured. Unless the Pres
byterians of the states oul get
ahead Of the denominations across the
border, Canada will have the record
for church union.
One fact wh.ch causes his great
merger to stand out above all the 9TH
er church unions, past. pending and
prospective, Is that 1t involves three
distinct types of denominations. The
Congregationalists stand for indepen-
dency: Methodism stands for a modi-
fed episcopacy %(although the Cana
dian church is without bishops) and
h Presbyterian church stands for
government by presbyters or elders.
Yet a way has been found to weld
these diverse bodies into n great
| whole.
This extraordinary Project would
have been impossible had not Canada
already made great strides in church
union by consolidating the divided de-
nominational families. Thus instead
VI kOkIIIS "a III 4ISSOy t0IldIl
church in Canada, as is the case in
the United States. there Is now but one
IN the entire denomination. Likewise
there Is but n Methodist denomina-
ton n one Congregational denomi-
nation. The process which has already
been accomplished in canada is now
under way in the states, where Pres
byterian bodies are drawing together
and Methodist bodies likewise.
Where the Case Now Stands.
This great Canadian union has been
up" for several years. 1t has been
debated IN many church gatherings.
Recently It was put to the vote of the
Presbytertans a third of the member
ship did not vote, which many took to
pc q sign that they were not ready for
the issue. But the general assembly,
which has lately been in session in
Toronto. took decisive action by a vote
Of 17S to 81 in favor of proceeding as
rapidly as possible to the union.
The COngregationalists. in their ma
uonal council. were absolutely unani-
nous In favor OF going forward to the
completion OF the union. The Metho-
dist general conference has also put it
vOring union. The Presbyterians were
the laggards. Their acquiescence as
oures the fact.
It Is rather remarkable that the
Presbyterians voted to give up their
UNCONVENTIONAL identity at this time,
Tor the great congress OF Presbyterian
representatives had given such an ex-
hibition OF Presbyterian potency and
had SO deeply stirred the denomina-
tional- enthusiasm that some observers
!elt that this newly quickened demon
national consciousness would balk the
union proJect. 1t is proved not to be
q case, however. and the negotia-
lions have been put into the hands OF
q committee to proceed to the epochai
issue which has been the goal OF the
most advanced leaders In the denom-
lnation.
Anolicans Take Forward Step.
One of the unexpected by products
OF the union movement in Canada was
b effect upon h Anglican, church,
which q organized a Church Unity
league" and which takes the adj
vanced position OF recognizing the
nom Episcopal churches. In England,
Canada and the states, the Anglican
2 Protestant Episcopal Churches,
which hold the doctrine Of the historic
I~epiocopacy. have not been willing to
recognize the validity Of other ordi-
nations than their own Thus they have
churches In b fullest sense Of that
term. The Canadians. however, have
zone q step forward, although their
action has called forth q protest from
the bishops Of eastern Canada At the
recent meeting OF the Church Unity
LEAGUE. 70 which, by the q Earl,
EGrey his CONGRATULATIONS. loud
I0pplause greeted the following utter
nee from b venerable Archdeacon
wouldn't you Ike to meet-Iohn
hunyan. Francis Of Assist. Thomas
David livingstOne. n Paton-of the
Hebr1deo, ~ we'll M Keble. Phil