KIKUYU.
[TO Tag EDITOR OP THR "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The Kikuyu affair, of which you write admirably in your last issue, bids fair to bring certain matters in the Church of England to a definite issue. If the talk about unity is to continue, it is high time. Extremes meet, and it is a curious fact that the two chief barriers to union at the moment seem to be the High Churchmen of the Episcopal and Baptist Communions. Here in Scotland the situation would be amusing if not so deplorable. The Scotch Episcopal Church, containing a mere moiety of the population—its strength and weakness, as of old, consisting in the adherence of those who appear to share "silly" King James's idea that Presbyterianism is scarcely "the religion for a gentleman "- boldly claims to be the true Scottish Church ; and proceeds to =church the rest of us. Recently two persons, to my know- ledge, were told it was wrong for them to drop in to worship in a Presbyterian church, because the ministers were "not ordained," and in one of these cases the warning was con- veyed by a dignitary of the Church. The idea falters down. I happened to be conducting service at a Presbyterian church in the Highlands remote from any other place of worship, and a lady, an Episcopalian, asked if I thought it would be a "sin" if she came. She was manifestly sincere; and I could but reply, "Well, I have often worshipped in an Episcopalian
church, and have never felt I committed any sin." She came; and, thanking me afterwards, innocently remarked as if surprised, "Do you know, you said a great many things quite like what my vicar says P " What had she been taught to take us for? Presbyterians are not supremely concerned about " Orders " ; but, if that matter is going to be canvassed, there are one or two rather pointed questions they will have to ask about Episcopalian Orders, education, and training. Meanwhile they recognize that Episcopalians are as good Christians as themselves ; they admit them without any disciplinary ordeal to their Communion; and are happy to welcome them to their Divinity Colleges, and to number them
among their missionaries.—I am, Sir, &c., PRESBYTER.
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