8 JUNE 1901, Page 23

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not bun reserved for review in other forms.]

The Church of Scotland : her Divisions and Reunions. By C. G. McCrie, D.D. (Macniven and Wallace. 6s.)—Dr. McCrie does not attempt to give an exhaustive account of the move- ments which have taken place within the Seottish Church. He does not deal with individual secessions. Consequently we do not hear of the Sandemanians, to give a conspicuous instance of these minor revolts, if they may be so spoken of. He describes the larger movements. This description it would be quite impossible to epitomise in any available space. There was the division of the Covenanters into Resolutioners and Protesters. Then the indulgences published by Charles II. and James II. produced three parties : (1) those who returned to their cures; (2) those who did not return but held communion with those who re- turned; (3) those who denounced all who had anything to do with these concessions. The Seceders of the eighteenth century were divided into Burghers and Anti-Burghers, and each of these divisions was again sub-divided into Old Light and Now Light. This is, of course, a very rough and imperfect account, but it gives an idea of Dr. McCrie's subject. His study of it is most careful and complete, and he furnishes the necessary supplement by a narrative of the reunions in which more comprehensive and broader views of Christian unity have happily resulted.