CHRISTIAN UNITY.
(To THE EDITOR or THE " Seemeroa."3 Sse,—In response to Mr. H. F. Walker, 1 should like, as a Non- cenformist minister of forty years' standing, to refer to tho ".Cheltenham" proposals, which have assuredly made an excel- lent impression on many Free Churchmen. I have always through my own ministry easel on the principle of working as completely with Anglican clergymen as they would work with me, but even such as professed friendship with ns hare until very recently observed a significant silence on interchange of pulpits and full recognition of the validity of our "Orders." In truth, Anglican eselusiverees has more amused us than offended, save when the larger interests of spiritual religion have suffered. As we have worked in larger towns, and won the ear of numbers of working men to our message, it has never troubled us that priests went by on the other bide without recognizing, and even denying, our tights. But "Cheltenham" has perceived the facts. We shall never be won by those who deny our ministry, while on terms of equality we are open to cooperation. Amongst ourselves, we or our congregations determine with whom we make our pulpit exchanges, and certainly we should believe in as much care, or more, when interchange is offered by our Anglican brethren. They should never forget that we hare always recognised their " Orders "—a term many of us dislike with our hereditary dis- trust of the priest, while we hold the dictum that whom God qualifies and inspires He Himself ordains to any ministry.
It may be too early to speak of interchange or mutual associa- tion in the observance or "administration " of the Sacraments; but it does, while discussing "the equal ministry," occur to ns that full spiritual equality should include equal recognition at the " Holy " Communion. Certainly we should welcome at "the Table of the Lord," which is neither Roman, Anglican, nor Non- conformist, the presence and voice of an earnest clergyman, and it may not be premature to ask why men like Dre. Jowett, Clifford, Campbell Morgan, or say the Rev. Luke Wiseman or the President of the Primitive Methodist Conference should not idler an extempore prayer, after_ our fashion, at an Anglican "altar." Sooner or later this point must arise in the friendly controversy now raised.
I close with a suggestion. Will our Anglican brethren in the huge centres, who are sympathetic with " Cheltenham," arrange local Conferences on the subject, for Free Church ministers would gladly respond, and 61101 men as the Bishops of Peterborough; Carlisle, and Birmingham, Dean- Henson and Bishop, .Welldon are trusted and respected by all branches of the Free Churches ? The attitude of the Spectator on religious reunion is of deep
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