CHURCH UNION IN SOUTH INDIA
SIR,-1 am tempted to waste your space by answering the not very kind letter of your correspondent, the Rev. Edward Leach ; but I think it will be more useful to complete my article on Chtuch Union in South India by passing on to your readers infoimation which has come in since the article was written. I mentioned that, during September, the General Assembly of the South India United Church (Congregational and
Presbyterian) would be meeting to give its final decision on the scheme of union and that, owing to persistent anxieties, it was not certain which way the vote would be given. News has now been received that- that Church by an overwhelming majority has given acceptance to the scheme. The three Churches concerned with the scheme in India have, therefore, now given their approval, and the union of the Churches can go forward. But, as I pointed out in my article, it has been the policy of those con- cerned in the negotiations to go forward very slowly, to make sure that the fullest information should be availabla4o every single person affected by the scheme, to give opportunity for reasonable criticism, and to secure the greatest possible measure of agreement It is the opinion of some very well qualified to judge that a decision of such moment should not be implemented until the Lambeth Conference, which is due to meet in 1948, has had the opportunity of giving a further considered judgement upon it. Whether this further delay will be agreed to by those in India I cannot say, but I am quite certain that nothing will be done hastily or precipitately, and that the next steps will be marked by the same prudence and caution as those which have gone before.—I am, Sir,
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