CHRISTIAN UNITY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR:1
SIR,—I have followed with great interest the discussion on Christian Unity, not because I agree in the least with the views of yourself or your correspondents, but because it is of first-rate importance to learn and understand the ideas of a considerable section of the community, if only that we may differ more sympathetically.
I' do not want to be drawn into any argument, but I am constrained 'to point out what I believe to be a fundamental misconception of the Church's attitude. It is, of course, simply a statement of a well-known fact that the term " Church " means to some an organization set up for conveni- ence, while to others it means an organism of Divine origin, membership in which rests, not upon convenience or prefer- ence, but on obedience to Divine authority. It is not my present concern to defend either of these views, but rather to suggest that the actions and attitude complained of on the part of Church people, and notably, of course, parsons (for no religious discussion could be appetising without the parson to beat) are due, not to rancour or natural sourness or bigotry, but to the belief in the Church as the divinely appointed organism of Christianity. No doubt it will appear to some as difficult to realize that a considerable number of intelligent people do hold this belief, as it does to you, Sir, that many are Tariff Reformers. But that does not alter facts, and the chief value of discussion is surely that as many as possible may understand, and understand sympa- thetically, the principles upon which opponents rely. and the motives from which they act.
Perhaps it may enable some of your correspondents to realize the position better if I explain that no one believes the " Anglican " Church to be more than an integral part of the organism referred to ; no one thinks of it as a separate
entity, and at the same time puts forth authoritative claims on its behalf. At any rate, I hope this letter may have some effect in disposing people to "think no evil" in the way of attributing bad motives. In conclusion, I beg you to believe that I am not venturing by any subtle process to convert you, Sir, from your somewhat undogmatic faith. That I would fain leave to a hardier man.—I am, Sir, &c., [We may fitly close this correspondence with Mr. Winter- botham's temperate statement of the other side. — ED. Spectatorl
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