h. eat.' q:s! the Union of Presbyterians, IN CANADA. ♦.» BY REV. ROBERT CAMPBELL, M. A., . *« MONTREAL. PRIZE ESSAY. MONTREAL: Fv E. GRAFTgN ■'(», , '»y' J. c. BfOKWr, j^il ;k. ^^A.]- mM^^'-^ OW THE Union of Presbyterians, IN CANADA. BY REV. ROBERT CAMPBELL, M. A., MONTREAL. PRIZE ESSAY. MONTREAL : F. E. GRAFTON 1871. mi PRIZE ESSAY. •:o:- JUDGES:— Very Rev. J. Cook, D. D., Principal of Morrin College, Quebec ; Rev. W. Taylor, D. D., > Enhine Church, Montreal ; Rev. pRoFEf-soR Mac- ViCAR, L.L. D., Presbyterian College, Montreal; Hon. a. MorriSj Minister of Inland lu venue, Ottawa ; Justice Torrance, Montreal, award. The adjudicators named to decide upon the best essay '* On the Union of Presbyterians in Canada, with special reference to the advantages and practicability of such a Union, and the best method of bringing it about," for which essay a prizs of $200 has been offered by several gentlemen, members of both branches of the Presbyterian Church, arc of opinion, by a majority of three to two, that the essay bearing the motto, " avtxofievot aXX^Xwv iv 22 ministered in this Church, as they have heretofore been by the respective Bodies of which it is composed, in a gene- ral accordance with the directions contained in the West- minster Directory of Worship. " • The Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland has had a Committee engaged for years in the work of forming a small selection of Hymns, and very considerable success has attended their labours.* The Synod of the Canada Presbyterian Church initiated a move" ment last year f for the formation of a selection. And although as yet the body to which the Presbytery of Stam- ford belongs has not given its sanction to the use of Hymns, it is significant that a very large minority in the Gene- ral Assembly of 18C5, advocated the taking of the onward step ; so that there could be very little difficulty in agrecj ing upon a selection, if all were united. Of course, any legislation by way of authorizing the use of HymnpJ should be rather in the form of a permission to introduce them, than an enjoining of them ; and it might be made the condition of their introduction, that Congregations unanimously, or almost unanimously desired to use them. In this way, those who might have conscientious scruples on the subject could avoid the use of them, but not have it in their power to call others to account for using them. AVhat is said of Hymns, holds equally of the question of instrumental music. The most advanced point on every * At the meeting in June 1870, the Synod agreed to sanction the use of the Scottish Hymnal, prepared by the Committee of the Church of Scotland, which received the imprimatur of the General Assembly of that Church in May 1870. t In 1866. 23 question must necessarily be taken in the United Church. 6. The traditions of the different sections of THE Church, proposed to be united, runninc; in oppo- site directions, how can a (Jnion be expectkd ? or course, if they choose to liUi- tliese distinctive tradi- tions to their hearts, and if tliey hud better nutriment for a divine life in these than in lioldinp; and practising a pre- sent charity and forbefinnee. then there can be no Union. But if they can idl 1,^0 back lo the time when there were no distinctive traditions, when the Presbyterians of Scot- land were all embraced in one Church — the time of Knox, and Melville, and Henderson, and Kuthcrford, names which all sections of Presbyterians alike hold in grateful remem- brance — and make the Church of that time the common object of traditional love ; or, better still, if they can go back to the spirit X)f apostolic times, as it manifested itself in the acts of the Apostles, whilst they may still hold their individual opinions on intermediate events in the Church, then shall they be willing to keep their traditional Shibbo- leths in the back ground, provided a sufficiently good reason for so doing be presented. One circumstance favours sucb an expectation : in this land traditions are made comparatively light of. 7. Very nearly related to the last discussed obstacle to Union, is that which we next notice — Difference OF FEELING AND SENTIMENT ON SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MATTERS. This is after all probably the greatest obstacle that will have to be encountered, although others may be ostensibly set forth as the greatest. Through the social status conferred by the position of Ministers of the Church 24 of Scotland, and their early associations in the parent country, they are more conservative in their ideas, and have as a rule more sympathy with worldly accomplish- ments than the Ministers of the other sections of Presby- terianism; although, not a few of the Ministers in the Free Church elument of the Canada Presbyterian Church, are at one with them in these sentiments and feelings. They cling more to the past, give to experience a co-or- dinate position of influence with logic and speculation, laying great store by refinement of taste and manners. Whereas the tone of the Canada Presbyterian Church, as a whole, and especially of the U. P. element, is commonly held to be decidedly radical, not disposed to do deference to anything because it Isold, and finding the way to their views and sentiments by the cold penetrating steel of a severe logic ; and the argument is that there never could be much congenial intercourse between individuals whose instincts, tastes and habits of thought differ so materially ; and, therefore, a Union is impossible. Thus do some very wise and thought- ful persons look upon the subject. But upon the circum- stances, now stated, can be founded one of the best argu- ments in favour of Union. Granted that the extreme opinion, supposed to be held by some of the ministers and people of the Canada Presbyterian Church, when they set down the Ministers and people of the Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland, as behind the age through their obsolete toryism, and as wanting in piety and zeal through their sym- pathy with the world's social distinctions and refinement and literature, were true ; and granted that the opinion supposed to be held on the other hand, by some of the Ministers and people of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of ^cotUmd, when they look upon the minis- ters and people of the other church as hot-headed revolution- ary enthusiasts, with a good deal of assumption and bigotry, were also true — even granted that a few extreme men hold these extravagant views on either hand, while the great ma- jority He ncjr each other in the middle ; and granted that there were a greater measure of truth in them than there is, it may be asked whether the evils complained of on the one hand and the other, would be lessened by contrast and se- paration ? Will the drawing of sharp, clearly defined lines between them holp to better things ? Will it not rather exaggerate those extreme views, views which often arise from the suspicions an ignorant uncharity throws around an object to which it is opposed ? If the one party fancies that the other has too much of the fossil about it, and is wanting in the more decided characteristics of religion, one would supp ise the way for those, who think they themselves are better, to help to remedy tlie defects of their neighbours and to break the shell off them, and get their hearts and hands to move with more energy, is not to keep at the greatest possible distance from them ; but it is to draw near, and, by friction break oflF the crust, and by contact galvanize the torpid into life and activity. And on the other hand, if the conservative Presbyterians look * upon the others as endangering the stability of law and order by their revolutionary tenets and so imperilling constitutional liberty in the land, surely it is their duty to seek to modify these principles, of which they profess to be afraid, by a free mingling with, and attempting to improve 26 those they hold to be wrong. Imbibing oxygen, or nitro- gen, or carbonic acid gas, alone, would soon destroy life ; but by the union of these elements, atmospheric air, the chief food of our bodies, is formed ; and just so those tendencies to which reference has been made, and which it must be in all fairness allowed do exist, although not in the degree extreme men believe, are the natural complements of each other— the Canada Presbyterian Church needing the cautious conservatism and regard for precedent and experience, which characterize the Church of Scotland iu all her branches, and the latter needing an infusion of the life and zeal which characterize the former. Sand and lime and water, taken separately, have no tenacity, but by uniting the three a substance is formed of rocklike com- pactness and adhesiveness. Every wise man deprecates the pitting of class against class iu the state, and, instead of wishing to draw sharp lines of distinction, would rather see class linked to class, merging into each other with im- perceptible glide ; and all writers on the Constitution of the English State have observed that it is the great diversity of classes, working in harmony, that gives such stability to British institutions. On the other hand, the mischief ac- cruing from keeping antagonistic elements apart is clearly seen in the case of Koman Catholic communities in Canada. In parts of the country where there is a free mingling amongst Protestants and Romanists for educational and social purposes, Roman Catholicism has none of the repul- siveness which it presents in communities where it is not modified by contact with Protestanism. So that the fact of diversity of view and sentiment, instead of being pre-* 27 judicial to a union, would rather tend to produce that modified condition of things which would be most ftivourable to justice and toleration and success. When all in a com- munity are of the same opinions, the likelihood is that the tendency of that community will be offensively exag«;erated ; just as a taint in the blood, physicians tell us, is mul- tiplied by close marriages. Would that some Menenius Agrippa arose who could persuade the opposing elements, we are discussing, that they are needful to each other, and that their common safety consists in forbearing and com- bining with each other. Besides, there are already, it may be presumed, many in each of the churches, almost as far apart in their in- stincts, tastes, and manners, as the most discordant dementi in the United Church would likely be. 8. Some of the concluding remarks in the last para- graph anticipate the answer to be given to the objection that IT WOULD SCARCELY BE SAFE FOR A MINORITY TO ENTER INTO A COMPACT THROUGH WUICII THE MAJO- RITY MIGHT TYRANNIZE OVER THEM. The largest ele- ment in the United Church, doubtless, would be the Free Church element — as yet there can scarcely have resulted a complete coalescence between them and the U. P. ele- ment * and so we speak of them as distinct, — the next largest would be the Church of Scotland element — the U. P. element the next, — and the Presbytery of Stamford would be in a small minority. The great diversity of * This was written early in 1867, of course, every year helps to obliterate the old dig tine tions> and they must be less marked now than they wero then« 28 elements would render any attempt in one party to over- whelm another, so long as the elements would remain dis- tinct, utterly futile. And then it cannot be forgotten that every section of Presbyterians has in it men who would command influence and power under any circumstances ; and this fact would be a guarantee for security against any attempts at tyranny or oppression. Of course, in time, there would be neither a disposition nor a temptation to oppression, as it is to be hoped that after a few years, for- bearance and cooperation the old lines would be blotted out, and then individuals would view things according to their merits, and would rank themselves on one side or the other according to the tone of their individual minds. That this would be the case is abundantly manifest from the result of the Union of the Burgher, Anti-Burgher and Relief Churches in Scotland. For a time there could be seen a perceptible preservation of the individuality of the several elements, just as the waters of the Ottawa are easily dis- cernible from those of the St. Lawrenoe, for miles below their junction ; but no one, looking in upon that united Church now, could tell that this man was once a Burgher, that man an Anti -Burgher, or a third a Reliever. 9. The last obstacle to union, to be noticed, is THE attitude OP THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURH OF CANADA IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND IN REGARD TO THE QUESTION. Oncc, in 18t)0, that church, through the index of its highest court, seems to have favoured the idea of union, but twice, in 1861. and again ia 1866, by the aame index it has vetoed any attempt to deal with the subject practically. Does not this latter fact show that it is useless to talk ofUniou? It iiiust be ackuowletlged that the later deliverances of that Synod seem to point to the conclusion here indicated ; yet a narrow cncjuiry into all tlie facts connected with the introduction of the subject into that Synod, would prob- ably throw such light on the matter as should neutralize impressions drawn from the voting on those occasions. It is well known that certain ministers of that church had committjd themselves against union. As it happened, the two last occasions on which the subject was touched upon, the attendance at the Synod was small, owing in the one case to the remoteness of the place of meeting, and, in the other, to the disturbed state of the country at the time; and the opponents of union in both instances mustered in larger numbers than its friends. And we believe it is within truth and justice to say, that in neither case was the deliverance a fair declaration of the opinion and wish of that Church. On the whole, perhaps, the instinct of that Church and its general desire for union may be better learned from the reception the subject had when it was first introduced, not only in consideration that the attend- * ance at that meeting was large, but also, in that the subject was introduced without any previous warning, and without allowing any one to draw himself up into a resisting at- titude — as a man's manifestations of character given, when he is off his guard, are held to be the best index to his native disposition. Besides, it is well known that the cause of union received, both in 1861 and especially in 1866, great damage not more from the astuteness of those who 30 led the opposition to it, than from the want of a proper un- derstanding and nianagemont on the part of those who sought to promote it. The subject, to receive fair play, ought to be taken up by men o^ pn'stiyn^ and not on tlie eve of the assembling of the Synod. The manner in which it was last introduced^' caused many whose convictions are strongly in favour of it to give it but a lukewarm support ; whilst many, not unfavourably disposed towards it, for the same cause, either voted against it, or did not vote at all. It must be remembered, too, that the discussion at the last Synod f was not touching the merits of the question although it helped indirectly to show the leaning of those who were present. And we think the opinion is well founded, that if the subject of union were remitted to Kirk Sessions and congregations, in all the churches pro- posed to be united, it would be found tliat the great majority of the people in all of them the church of Scotland included, would declare for it. True, it might be expected that some of the old warriors, both in the ministry and out of it, would fight rather shy of a Union with those with whom in former days they measured arms. But with the exception of a few of the leaders amongst the people, who were strong party men in the days of conflict, and have had their partizan feelings kept alive by an attendance at Church Courts, the bulk of the congregations would probably be found clamorous for union. If any of the ministers doubt this, all that we have to say is ^Jry — let the people vote spontaneously, without any speeches for or against. * In 1866. t In 1866. 81 CHAPTER IIK Tir. THE ADVANTAGES OF SUCH A UNION. \Ve c:in fancy it was often on tho lips of the reader, us lie was niakinjj^ his way tlirou^li the preceding; figures and speculations, desiujncd to prove the practicahility of union, cui bono? Aye, that is the question — what 7 o i interest of all that a thoroughly efficient Theological School should exist in the Province, even tliough Kingston should remain the seat of it. And then Morrin College in Quebec, and the proposed Theological School to be opened in Montreal under the auspices of the Canada Presbyterian Church/'^ might be merged into one, and so afford a good training to candidates for the ministry not only in the Province of Quebec, but also in the Maritime Provinces, as well as offer an al- ternative to such students from Ontario as miujht desire to have a change of schools for a session or two. The same difficulty would probably be experienced as in the case of Queen's College, otherwise we would suggest that Montreal should be the seat of the in-;titution. It is of material consequence to Students of Divinity to have access to the best society and to the best and most varied preaching, advantages likely to be more fully secured in Toronto and Montreal than in Kingston and Quebec. But the found- ation of Morrin College is, wj believe, imperative, that it shall be situated in Quebec.f 5. A UNION WOULD GIVE AN IMPULSE TO THE MIS- • This theological school was commenced under favourable auspices in the autumn of 1867, and ha^ gone on increasing in pros- perity and eflBciency under Professors McV'icar and Gibson. f As Morrin College is sustained from an endowment created by priyate beneficence, and does not appeal to the Church for support, all that it has asked is that it shall receive recognition at the hands. of the Church, so long as it has a fully equi])ped statf of Professors. Its continued existence, therefore, in Quebec, would occasion no embarrassment, but ought to bo matter of thankfulness to all that can estimate the local influence for good which such an institution must exercise in a Roman Catholic community. B 88 siONARY EFFORTS OP THE CHURCHES. In some sense the churches in the colonies are themselves only missionary churches, and so cannot be expected to do much for others ; but inasmuch as the terms of the Lord's commission imply that Christianity is an expanding thing, not nursing selfishness, not promising happiness merely to the possessor, but, like the sun, diffusing light and blessedness around, no church can be healthy in its own religion, that is not a missionary church. But the difficulty, at present felt in the churches in regard to Foreign Mission operations, is that men and means cannot bo found in a limited church; whilst the larger the church the gre iter is its capacity for successful missionary enterprise. 6. Union would give to jhk Presbyterians in this country their rightful social and political INFLUENCE. Wc do iiot mean by this that they should go shoulder to shoulder to the polls, or take up party cries. Such a course cannot be too loudly deprecated. The church is transgressing its proper bounds of influence when it begins actively to dabble in the details of politics ; and the variety of sentiment, which the supposed United Church would represent, would make such a thing impossible. But what we mean is that Presbyterians would be in a position, in dealing with great questions which aiFect them, to assert and maintain their principles and rights against the encroachments of other churches. And now that confederation is an accomplished fact, the new combinations and discussions that may arise, involving educational and religious questions, may make it necessary that Presbyterian ism shall assert its power* And to this end they should have an organ in the prcsg, as other ohurolics have. This would b3 possible if all were one : any paper which the intelligent Presbyterians of Canada would read and sustain, would be sure of success and power. Accord- ing to the latest statistics of the provinces jointly* the Presbyterians rank in numbers next to the Roman Catuo- lics ; and when their well known energy and thoughtful - ness are taken into account, it is manifest that united they would be a mighty power in the Dominion. 7. Union would make a ciiurcu op such mau- nitude and importance that scotsmen ■would be PROUD OF IT. We fear it is the case that many of them become ashamed of belonging to a small fragmentary church when they reach a position of wealth and social influenco, and in their well known ambition and desire to bo on the winning side, are too prone to betake themselves to a larger and more influential communion. But a cliurch of the dimensions and social and political power that a Union would create, would enlist the sympathies of all Scotsmen, and the children of Scotsmen, as well as Scottish Irishmen. And thus all those whom we are at present in danger of losing, would be retained — we should then be as a church for Scotsmen, what the English Church is for Et.glishmen, and the F.oman Catholic Church for Frenchmen and the bulk of Irishmen. 8. It would enable the Ministers of the DIFFERENT BRANCHES OP PrESBYTERY TO GIVE THAT * The numbers respectively in 1861 were, Roman Catholics; 1,337,893 J Presbyterians, 469,946 ; Church of England, 465,272 j MethodJBts, 431,933; Baptists, 18,982; Congregationalists, 17,757. ENERGY TO PREAClIlXfJ THE GOSPEL WHICH IS NOW SPENT IN DEFINING THEIR POSITION, extending their peculiar tenets, or, it m;iy bo, in some cases, uncharitably misrepresenting their neighbours. This would be an in- estimable advantage. AVc fear Mr. Kemp in his review,* although he notices it, docs not estimate it at its full value. It must be acknowledged, as he hints, that sectarianism is a mighty engine, and has accomplished great things in the way of propagandisni in connection with other systems as well as Christianity ; but he has, pei;haps, something to answer for who invokes its aid. He might as well almost call up evil spirits //•o?)^ the vasti/ deep ; they too would bo powerful aids in any enterprise wherein some of the worst passions and feelings of men were to be worked upoUi And if the Union that has taken place has had the eflFect Mr. Kemp ascribes to it, of killing sectarianism in the bodies united — that unhappy principle of antagonism by which alone too many natures can be developed — and pre-eminently so Scottish natures, — we think it has achiev- ed a marked success, and so is the forerunner of the greater toleration and charity which the more widely extended union, we are contending for, would inevitably create. And even if the Union failed in other respects, to the extent Mr. Kemp has attempted to make out, which, as has been successfully shown by Mr. Inglis and Mr. King, f is not the case, this fruit alone were worth creating a Fnion for« f A Review of the state and progress of the Canada Presbyterian Church, since the Union in 1861. By the Rev. Alex. Kemp, M.A., Windsor, C. W. * Replies to Mr. Kemp's " Revietc," published in 1867. 41 9. Nearly related to tlio last noticed advantage is the one we have now to state,- -Union would confer GREATER INDEPENDENCE UPON MINISTERS AND KlRK- Sessions, and so purity of discipline would have a better chance of being maintained. The fear of speaking out the truth, lest it should offend his hearer.^, and so send them to his neighbour's Church over the way, we can imagine must have a considerable though an unconscious influence upon a man's preaching, tending to make it timid ; for no minis- ter, we suppose, likes to see his pews getting empty, espe- cially when empty pockets must be the companions of empty pews. It is reasonable to believe that discipline has become more difficult by the multiplication of sects, — offenders are more likely to become insolent and defiant, when called to account, as they know they can easily find a refuge across the street, with no perceptible change of pri- vileges or worship. But in case of a Union, he that would flee from justice would also have to flee from his Presbyterian faith. 10. The enlarged field which would be thrown open, by a Union, for the exercise of talent and energy, would INCITE at present Ministers to a fuller proof OP their Ministry and would be likely to at- tract to the profession men op talent and energy in the future. Of course, if the great men in the church should become greater comparatively, by a Union, there being a larger number below them, so should the little men become less, being lost in a crowd. But in as much as no one is disposed to take it as a foregone con- clusion that he belongs to the latter class, the damping b1 42 effect which the fact of diminution mi;;ht otherwise have, would not be felt, and every one would be spurred on to aspire after distinction. It would be soinethin<^ to be first man in a church numberinr^ four or five hundred Ministers. A greater number of eligible positions in the church, as Ministers and Professors, would be open to those who fIiouM make full proof of tlieir Ministry, inciting them to greater industry both as Students and Pastors. * And although this may bo called a worldly incentive — a low and unworthy motive — still it appeals to things as they are, and helps to stir up an element of great power, legitimate within certain limits; and so it cannot be left out of sight in estimating the results of Union. 11. It would refresh and cheer the hearts OF BOTH Ministers and people. It would give them all an impulse onwards in the divine life, to feel themselves moved to that charity wliicli bcareth all things, liopetU all thinggj hellevetli all things generously. This is the oppo- site of that state of things which sectarianism creates ; and if it would be less zealous and noisy it would be un- doubtedly more beautiful and Christlike. If Ministers and people would only lay aside suspiciousness, which is the parent of uncharitable antipathies, and estimate each other's character as it really is, without prejudice, they should find more good in each other than they suppose. They should find it not so impossible to have intercourse * Taking in the Presbyterian ChuroLos of the Maritime Provin- ces, the number of Ministers, according to the returns of 1866, was 666, of whom 165 belonged to the Lower Provinces. The latest returns show the number in Ontario and Quebec to be 488 ; and that in the Maritime Provinces 158 : in all 646. 41 with each other as they had thought ; and, although that intercourse could not be expected to be very easy among older people, yet the very efifort to carry it on would expand their generosity and rejuvenate tlieir hearts. One can conceive how it would refresh and delight two of the antedisruption Ministers, who had been previous to the stirring events of 184"!' intimate companions and friends, but who from honest convictions took diflferent sides then, to be able to meet again, after a quarter of a century's separation, in terras of fraternal relationship. It would stay the dial of time and bring them both back upwards of twenty years in their pilgrimage, to revive the friendship of their youth, which, though held in abeyance in the meantime, had not died out in spite of adverse circum- stances. The capacity for friendship remains; for, although sects the most nearly related are often keener in their aulmosity against each other than they are against others far apart from themselves, this is upon the same principle that the members of a family quarrelling feel more bitter against each other than they do against their common foes. The very nearness of their relation- ship occasions this — the wrong, they conceive they have suffered at each other's hands, is aggravated by the thought that one so near as a brother or sister had done it. But every one knows that these feuds, though bitter for a time, are easily settled — some little affliction, or an absence from each other's sight for years, causes them to forget their differences, and binds them together again ; and why ? just because there remains the capa- city for love, by reason of the nearness of their relation^ b2 44 ship. So doubtless, in the case under consideratioD, though the elements, proposed to be united, have been estranged and separated for a time, their unity of origin, and their former relationship, would make it possible for them speed- dily to forgot the hard things they onoe thought, said and wrote against each other. It would do good to one and all, taking away all occasion for morbid antipathies ; for it is a strango'phenomenon that those feelings which ministers caution their people against cherishing towards each other, they make a practice of habitually indulging in themselves, under the questionable pretext of '' contending for the faith once delivered unto the saints," as if that faith needed that evil should exist to promote its good. Surely the thought of securing the foregoing advant- ages, to result from Union, ought to have the effect of making us willing at least to try if it can bo brought about. The Province has lately seen the unwonted spectacle of politicians, long hostile to each other, agreeing to forget their differences in order to accomplish confederation with the Maritime Pro- vinces) and thus to ensure not only the mutual interests of all the Provinces, but also the perpetuation of British Ins* titutions on this continent.* Is it to be inferred or allowed that politicians) who are for the most part con^ fessedly men of this world, are more capable of the christian grace of forbearance, when occasion calls for it, than those who profess to be influenced by the spirit of Jesus and His Apostles, whether peoplp) elders or ministers ? # Referring to the Coalition Gorernment formed In 1864, of whi«h J. A. JifoPonaldi, Cartler and Brown were m#mberii CHAPTER IV. IV. THE BASIS OF SUCH A UNION. 1. The only principle on which union would be possi- ble is THE PRINCIPLE OF FORBEARANCE IN REGARD TO ALL THE POINTS OF PAST DIFFERENCE bctwixt the bodies to be united. But what, says some one, are we to give up all that wo have been contending for, and declare that our past testi- monies have been worse than useless ? Not necessarily so. The attitudes of the different sections of Presbyterian ism in Canada may have done their work in aiding the morale of the diflFerent churches in Scotland in the days of conflict ; but the conflict may be said to be over even there, as all parties have now taken their places ; and inasmuch as it was never more than sympathy on the one hand and the other that led to the past respective positions, they now cease to have much meaning ; and, if it be desirable other- wise that we unite, they need not hinder. Besides, it is doubtful whether any thoughtful observer, not committed to any side, who considers the condition of things existing in Canada up till 184«4, would not say that it was worse than impolitic to disturb the harmony and peace of a Church, doing its work faithfully and well here, merely in order to affect the state of things in an- other part of the world. It was surely introducing a pre- sent and palpable evil to accomplish what was after all only an intangible and sentimental good ; sacrificing the interests of our Church and people for the sake of aiding and comforting one side or other in the Churches of the Mother Country. 46 These remarks, indeed, apply chiefly to the two larger sections of the Church proposed to be united. The United Presbyterians may, if any section may, arro- p;ate to themselves the right of .shapin;^^ a Presbyterian Church in these Provinces ; fur to tlicni must bo given the credit of supplying the first missionaries, not only to Canada, but to all the l^ritish Province^. Tliey, indeed, in large measure surrendered the field in 1840, the Church of Scotland Ministers in the colony having extended their numbers and attained to positions of influence, so as to be able to form a Synod in connection with the parent Church ; but all of them did not agree to this arrangement, and at that period, and for many years afterwards, some of the points of practical diff'erence between the established Church and the U. P. Church at home existed here. But whether an impartial and thoughtful observer would say that there never was any ground of difl'erence between Presbyterians in this colony, or not, he would say that now at least, considering their respective positions, there is nothing to keep them asunder, if it should be to their advantage to unite ; so that in advocating this Union, we are not justly liable to the charge of latitudina- rianism, or to be met with the statement, that the prin- ciples and advantages set forth in this essay, would warrant a Union between all denominations of christians in this land. The different sections of Presbytery are all branches of the same stream : in doctrine, in history, and in Church polity, we are one. Episcopacy, Methodism and Congre- gationalism, are the products of another country and people, different in their genius and temperament from 47 the people of Scotland and the North of Ireland ; and vte and they could never coalesce. Besides, there are differ- ences of both doctrine and Church policy which would render a Union with them impracticable ; but between the Presbyterians in this colony, there is no difference that any one except a Presbyterian can apprehend — and even he has to acknowledge that such difference is of no prac tical moment. It is indeed so unimportant and unreal that truth is not compromised, and the most sensitive conscience can scarcely be offended, by the exercise of for- bearance upon it. But these differences have been alrea- dy virtually disposed of by the Union that has taken place ; for between tl>€ Church of Scotland Section and the Free Church Section there is no difference, except in feeling and sentiment ; and when the latter found a basis of Union with the United Presbyterians, there could be no difficulty in the former doing so. And le&t it should be said that the result would be to produce a Church witbout any vigour, because having no part* alar testimony, it is sufficient that there are evils of a present, felt nature to be grappled with, besides that Pres- byterianism is historically a protest against prelacy on the one hand and Congregationalism on the other, and wotild still have its occupation as such in this country. The real evils are the prevalence of the idolatry of reason and the discarding of the principle of faith on the one hand, and on the other hand, the prevalence of ritualism, which consists in the exaltation of sensuism and credulity, and the dethronement of reason. To correct these opposite tendencies of the age, and to keep the even balance be- 48 tween faith and reason, ought to furnish a platform to that hranch of the Church which has always claimed to be the most thoroughly reformed of all modern Churches, and to have returned the most nearly to the model and spirit of the first christian Church. It is having great real evils to grapple with that keeps the Church from morbid self dissection ; for, so lung as the ancient Church hud heathenism lo contend with in Europe and Asia, it was one ; but when this contention ended in triumph for Christianity, then the church broke up into fragments. And the probability is, if Scotland had not become so thoroughly protestant at the reformation, and so more outward work had been left for the Church to do at home ; or if the Church of Scotland having got her machinerv at work at home, had then turned its ener- gies to propagating the gospel in foreign lands ; there would not have been so many divisions amongst Presbyterians, breaking out from within on the slightest grounds. 2. We can all agree to accept the west- minster CONFESSION AND CATECHISM AS OUR SYMBOLS, whatever our other differences j just as all classes in the Empire, whatever be their interpretation of the rights of citizens, are agreed to rejoice in the British Flag. All British Statesmen are sworn to support the Queen and Constitution, and yet how great is the diversity of ways in which they seek to fulfil this obligation t In like manner although slightly different meanings may be attached to certain chapters and clauses of our Symbols, by different sections of Presbyterians, all are willing to accept of them with explanation 4 And although certain parts of those 49 standards may in the opinion of some, be capable of improve- ment, the same difficulty would be found to attend any attempt at change that has been experienced in attempting to alter the En'^lish Book of Common Prayer, or to obtain a new version of the Scriptures into our language. Men cannot be found to agree upon thj changes and emendations required, although all are agreed that some changes are necessary; and the same latitude must be allowed in dealing with the standards that is granted in dealing with the English Scriptures — that of exphiining and annotating whenever the reader feels that such explanation or anno- tation is necessary to free the passage from obscurity and prevent misconception. This is, in effect, what has been done in the case of the Union amongst Presbyterians in Australia, in Nova Scotia, and in Canada, so far as union has yet gone. 3. The united church would bear the same relationship to all sections of presbyterianism IN SCOTLAND. Of course the nominal connection with those churches would be broken off. No demand could be made to any one section of them in particular for either men or money ; but the probability is that both men and money in proportion to our necessities would be furnished to us to the extent they are at present, without any soli- citation on our part, as is being done in the case of the United Church in Australia, Committees having been ap- pointed in each of the Presbyterian Churches of Scotland for the purpose of aiding that Church. And there can be no question, that in the event, which in the nature of things must be rare, of a minister, licensed no by any of the churches of Scotland who should cast in his lot with us, i^cttln^ a c ill back to a charge in the mother- country, there woul] be little difficulty in the Church at home reccivinir hiui without a forfeiture of status by his en- tering our United Church. That is to say, a minister of the Established Church bccominj; a minister of the United Church of Canada, would retain his old status in the Esta- blished Church of Scotland ; a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, his in the Free Church ; and a minister of the U. P. Church, his in the U. P. Church. But if a U. P. minister, we shall sny, sought admission into the Church of Scotlandj through the channel of the United Church in Canada, his relations to the established church would be nowise different from that of a U. P. minister in Scotland. And when the fostering kindness of the three parent churches is considered, it would only be a fitting thing that, previous to a Union in Canada, their approbation of that union should bo sought, as it would no doubt be given ; and by conference, an understanding might be arrived at as to the future relations of individual Ministers, belonging to the United Church of Canada, to the different branches of Presbyterians in the mother country, if any of them should seek admission into one or other of these churches: Tn any case, even though the relations to the parent churches, should be broken up by connection with a United Church here — which is not likely ; it would surely not be worth hindering the advantages that we have seen would accrue from Union, for the sake of the rare chance of one of our Scottish Ministers getting a call back to his native countiy ; and any on*? who covets a berth in any of the 51 parent Churches, would no doubt be willinf); to submit to such enquiries as those Churches think necessary in admit- ting strangers to their privileges. 4. It has been said in discussing the subject of Union in the Synod and press of the Presbyterian Church of Cana- da, in connection with the Church of Scotland, why WILL NOT THE OTHERS COME BACK TO US ? Let them come back and we will receive them. We have seen that if any section has the right to assume to be the parent church in these Provinces, it is not the church of Scotland- but the U. P. section. And then, apart from the ungracious- ness of the proposition ; such a proposition as no loving father, to use the favourite metaphor employed on these occasions, would make to his prodigal son, for certainly its spirit is not that of the father in the parable ; that pro- position cannot be made in sincerity, for 90 out of every 100 of them never wore in that church, and so going back " is not the word." There are only about a dozen in the Canada Presbyterian Church, nnd the same number in the Presbyterian^Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland, now remaining of those who belonged to the latter Church in 1844?. But if this call to come hack means that all the Canada Presbyterian Ministers arc welcome into the Church of Scotland in Canada, it is enough to show the insincerity of the challenge that some of those putting it forth, have uniformly and with great consistency, from the year 1834 onwards, opposed the ad- mission, on equal terras, of Ministers not educated in connection with the Church of Scotland, either at home or in Canada. The only way to effect Union is to meet on middle ground, as Cncsar used to'meetthe Gallic Gcncvals; one cannot pretend to a right to absorb the other, 5. But what guarantee is there that if they WERE united they WOULD LONG REMAIN SO ? Would not the united Church be in danger of again falling to pieces for want of homogeneousness ? The tendency of the age, for one thing, would help to keep them together, until such time as the old division lines had been forgotten. And the very fact of uniting would imply a determination not to break up again. A sense of consistency too would help to prevent a recurrence by any of the parties to the Union, to the old party watch-words, so that a revival of the old cries would be impossible. And then if the teachings of the past go for anything, they should tell us the folly of dis-union and the wisdom of keeping together. The Se- cession Church first broke into fragments, and then came together again ; and the principle of union, in this case, has been long enough in operation to be thoroughly tested and found sufficient. The same is true of Union in the U. P. Church of North America and in the Church of the Lower Provinces ; and so far as the Union in Canada has yet been tried, it has worked most harmoniously. Here, then, &re/acts which should go to combat the speculations of those who predict that the Union, we are arguing for, would be of short duration. There must be no more seceding by minorities, because they cannot get things their own way. ** Come ye out from among them," is a sublime motto, when a minority in a Church feel that the great principles of Christianity are lost sight of in that Church, and cannot, by any effort of theirs, be restored, as when i^ Luther 53 came out of the Roman Church ; but in all matters of detail and discipline, wo should have sufficient confidence in the power of truth to prevail, and should not lose our patience if we do not find it succeed all at once. By hav- ing this confidence, and feeling that right is on his sidcf every man should work within the Church until he finds his views prevail. Government by a majority is the prin- ciple of Presbyterianism, and by keeping this principle intact, there would bo no danger of new divisions growing out of an United Church. 6. The name. Inasmuch as the whole of the Con- federate Provinces have obtained the name of Canada, and inasmuch as the idea of union, which we have applied only to the Provinces hitherto known as Canada, should in time be extended so as to embrace the Presbyterians in the Maritime Provinces as well — and this could be easily effected upon the general principles contained in this essay, form- ing a church of which all Scotsmen might be proud — the most suitable name would be The Presbyterian CiiURCL OP Canada. This would be different from any of the names now existing. And steps should be taken at once, in case of Union, to have a general Assembly ; and for that purpose Ontario or Upper Canada might be divided into four Synods, and Quebec or Lower Canada into one to begin with ; with the prospect of New Bruns- wick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island coming in at no distant date,''* * If Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Vancouver's Island ttnd British Columbia will enter the confederation, and the name of Canada bo applied to the whole, it is obvious that the most fitting 54 CHAPTER V. V. MEANS TO BE USED TO BRING UNION ABOUT. 1. Let tho ministers of the different churches indi- cated inculcate from the pulpits, with Jesus and Paul, that charity is the chief of Christian graces, and let them exhibit it in their own sentiments and characters. 2. Let there be not only an interchange of social cour- tesies between the ministers, but also a frequent exchange of pulpits. 3. Specially, let the j)eople take the matter into their hands, as it is properly their question — thei/ have to bear the burden of disunion, and they would be the gainers by union ; and if they said union there must he, the ministers would have to follow. The people have taken tho lead in all the unions that have taken place thus far* j so that union title for a church coextonsivo with this supposed Dominion, would be that auggeited above, •• tiik presbytkuian church of Canada.' If, however, they choose to maintain a separate political existence, while tho Presbyterian population desire to be ecclesiastically united with their brethren of tho same faith in the dominion, the proper name, although a clumsier one, would then bo, " The Prks- ■ VTKRiAN Church of British north America." * This remark holds equally true of tho union now in contem- plation as of former ones. In the preceding part of this essay, it is said that tho first movement towards union, at least lo far as tho Presbyterian Church of Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland, is concerned, was made by tho overture introduced into the Synod of that Church in 18(30. But tho good work thus inau- gurated by the Rev. Dr. Goorgo was greatly beholdan to the meetings of the elders of tho different Presbyterian Churches in the City of Montreal, held in tho interest of Union. The meeting held in the house of Mr. J. C. Bocket, in that city on the 14th March, 1866, at which 20 elders were present, and the proceedings at which wore 55 * is their work, as there is no 'doubt tliat (Z/xunion has al- ways been the creation of ministers. 4. Let tlio subject bo quietly discussed in families and communities and congro<»ations first. But let it not bo thrust upon unwilling synods — let no effort be made to liurry it on before men's minds and hearts are prepared to give it a cordial support. Let tlie Synods be the last places in which it is to be discussed. Let the churehes first speak Irorn bv^low, and speak in such a tone and with so much of hearty unanimity, tliat to inlroilnco it into the Synods would be to carry it with eiithu>y the results of their i-orrospondenco witli all tlie elders of the two Chundies, the fiict that not only iu the City of Montreal, the most inMuential (jU liter of both Churches, but tliroughout the entire Synod, two-tliirds of tlic sussions, and presii- juably also the same projiortion of the j)eoj le wliom they rt-ju'csentod, were in favour of Union. To the elders in iMontreal, therefore, not a little eredit is due in hastening Union.