20 OCTOBER 1917, Page 13

CHRISTIAN UNITY AND USEFULNESS.

(To THE EDITOR or THE SPECTATOR.") Ste, Writing from a Wesleyan manse, and as one who, on this many-sided subject, has aforetime taxed the Spectator's hospi- tality, may I respond to your correspondent's invitation and express delight with the " findings " at Cheltenham? So far so good. The distance from Cheltenham to Canterbury may be greater or less than a mere outsider can calculate, bill even an unofficial starling-point, inspired by fine motives, cannot be altogether futile. The Church of England and Nonconformity had , better, in the common interest, come to working terms for the public good or an impatient country will soon he crying a plague on both our houses. Your space is precious. May I be abrupt ? First, let the intricate question of organic reunion sleep a while; stop all talk about our " unhappy divisions," and cultivate, is season and out of season, a great spirit of Christian unity and mutual goodwill. Second, abandon a while all arguments as to which is the true Church, and concentrate on trying to be and to produce true Christians. Third, let us all—Church and Chapel— so auticipate the peace rejoicings that, when the time—God hasten it—has come, there will Ise in every parish a united religion. service conducted by the representatives of all the local denomins- lions, and which peer and peasant alike shall he urged to attend. And—if a layman in military mutters may " form foure "- fourthly, believe that e'er Lord's prayer " flint they may all be one " will be on the point of fulfilment, not when any particular ecclesiastical orgnnisatIon is in sight, but when all who name Christ's name are acting together sacrificially for the salvation and happiness of mankind.—I am, Sir, Ac.,