Dr. Parker on Tuesday delivered rather a striking address before
the Congregational Union, which now includes about half the two thousand three hundred and forty-two Con- gregational Churches of England and Wales. He wants the Union drawn much closer, so close, indeed, that it would differ little from the Presbyterian organisation. He would have the "United Congregational Church" assume distinct responsibility for every one of its ministers, would have it lay down a test which every candidate for the ministry must pass, and would have it establish colleges responsible to the general body, a Sustentation Fund for worn- out ministers, and a number of bursaries for ministers in the form of librarianships and lectureships. The governing body would be an assembly elected by county Conferences, which, as we understand him, would help to keep up "one central and governing purpose and discipline." Dr. Parker was anxious in declaring that his scheme would in no way interfere with the independence of the Churches, nor would it as regards the election of pastors; but, we take it, the central body would very soon issue "counsels of modera- tion" in regard to dismissals, to which deacons would object more than ministers would. Indeed, a pension scheme is incon- sistent with dismissals at will. The drift, in fact, would be towards Presbyterianism, which, as a Parliamentary system, has always a certain attraction for the Churches which reject Episcopacy.
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