The prospects of a compromise between the Free Churches of
Scotland do not improve. The Commission of the Free Church Assembly met on Wednesday, and it is evident from the language of the Moderator, Dr. Murdo Macqueen, that the victors are elated with their victory. He did. not enter closely into details, but it is evident that wherever the Remnant has disciples they claim the church and the manse, that they desire to take over the colleges, to control the missions, and generally to behave as men whom their Trust incapacitates from large concessions. Thus, though they are willing to grant an interim delay till 1905, during which the United Free Church may make arrangements, they insist on the re- payment of what in secular affairs would be called the " mesne profits" since 1900, and on an "honourable understanding' that there shall be no teaching of the dogmas on which the Churches differ in a sense contrary to the one they themselves accept. That last clause, though doubtless dictated by con- science, will be most galling to the United Free Church, whose members are aware that one cause at least of their opponents' bitterness is their own tendency towards increasing Liberalism. We may hope, however, that, although the en- riched Free Church may now receive the adhesion of some minorities who opposed the union of the Free and United Presbyterian Churches, grave discussion will temper bitter- ness and allow of a reasonable, if painful, compromise.
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