SIR,—The noble appeal of the Chairman of the Congregational Union
far from being, as Mr. B. G. Theobald suggests, " a purely personal point of view," represents, I believe, a passion for Christian reunion which, in the face of our present distress, steadily grows in intensity.
No one can be conscious of the widespread revolt from religion with- out seeing that the issue for Christians is no longer a choice " according to taste " between Anglican and Free Church, or between both and Rome. It is just as much a struggle for the future of man between Christendom as a whole and Atheism as a whole as is the struggle between the Axis and the Allies.
I find myself, as an Anglican, craving for reunion not only with our Free Church, but also with our Roman brethren in Christ, as one of the paramount needs of oui time The question today is no longer " Why? " but " Why not? "
On the one hand, born of indifference or scorn, is the recoil from the acknowledgment of a Divine authority from which flow all our several duties and restraints. On the other hand, common to all three of us— Free Church, Roman and Anglican alike—is the offer of a glorious destiny opened to us by a Divine Redeemer with all its Inspiration for present life and service.
What therefore we have in common is of such magnitude, what things we differ upon are of such comparative irrelevance, what we are faced with is so disastrous, that there is neither time nor room for hesitation in forming a united front.—Sincerely yours,
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