20 MARCH 1886, Page 3

Dr. Cameron moved the rejection of the Bill in a

speech which showed that he regarded the Bill rather as an endeavour to tempt the laity of the Free Church back into the Established Church without their ministers, than as an endeavour to pre- pare the way for a real treaty of reunion. It was only on the basis of Disestablishment, he said, that a reunion of the Presby- terian Churches could be effected ; and this Bill, which was intended expressly to render Disestablishment unnecessary, would be regarded with great dislike and distrust by the Free Churchmen, who looked upon it as intended to take the Church question out of their own bands. The Committee of the Free Church had resolved that the passing of this Bill on behalf of the Legislature "would be a new and grave example of the complete disregard [by Parliament] of the rights and wishes of the Free Church of Scotland." Mr. Trevelyan, as the Minister for Scotland, took the same line. The Free Church, he said, had 1,100 ministers and an annual income of £625,000, and pro- perty amounting to £3,000,000 sterling. All these interests were at stake, if any attempt to undermine the Free Church by a flank march should be successful. On a division, the Bill was rejected by a majority of 25 (202 against 177).