A somewhat confused debate took place in the House of
Com- mons on Tuesday night, on the subject of a motion of Mr. W. Holms, for a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the Scotch Church Patronage Act of 1874, and its effect on the reciprocal relations of the various religious denominations in Scotland, and to ascertain how far the people of Scotland are in " favour of maintaining the connection between Church and State in that country," while Sir A. Gordon proposed to amend Mr. Holms's motion by asking for a Commission instead of a Select Committee, to examine the causes which keep asunder the Presbyterian Churches, and whether or not they may be so removable as to admit of their reunion in a national Church. The debate, of course, turned chiefly on the question of Establishment, and whether or not the Churches which are now Voluntary Churches do well to be angry at the national resources given to a Church which no more represents the people of Scot- land than the Free Kirk or the United Presbyterians represents them. Mr. Gladstone and Lord Hartington maintained that this was a question to be determined by Scotch public opinion, though Mr. Gladstone did not hold a Select Committee the best way to arrive at Scotch public opinion. Mr. Cross was very indignant at an appeal to Scotch public opinion by men who would not even make up their own minds ; and after his speech, a singularly uninstruc- tive debate, consisting, as regarded the leaders, of recriminations, was adjourned. A State Church which is not only the monopoly of a sect, but which is wholly uninfluenced by the State, can hardly last, but we doubt the grievance being really felt so keenly as political exigencies in Scotland require it to be expressed.
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