CHRISTIAN UNITY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTSTOR.”1 Str,—There are, I do not doubt, among your readers many laymen D110 do not read Church newspapers, but who are interested, with great goodwill, in all genuine efforts to promote Christian unity. For their benefit may I, as briefly as possible, call attention to the result of a Conference of clergy and laity held at Cheltenham for three days in the latter part of last month ? The members of the Conference were not delegates, but it would be fair to any that the Conference was representative of mast shades of opinion
among Anglican Evangelicals. The Conference also contained some members of the Churchmen's Union, otherwise known as Liberal or Modern Churchmen.
The primary subject of discussion was " Practical Steps towards tinily," and the general sense of the Conference was expressed in certain " Fittings," the effect of which may be shortly stated as follows. Ministers of orthodox Nonconformist Churches, called and ordained by duly constituted authority, exercise ministries which are ministries of grace equally with that of the Church of England, and rightly and duly administer the Sacraments. Proposals for closer union with Nonconformists should aim at combined action rather than absorption, and should not involve the reordination of ministers. Support should be given to those clergy who have accepted invitations to preach in Nonconformist places of worship; and legal barriers which prevent the clergy- from inviting recognized ministers of Nonconformist Churches to preach in parish churches should be removed. Duly admitted members of Nonconformist Churches should not be repelled fronts the Lord's Table in the Church of England merely on account of such membership. It has long been clear to those who hare any real appreciation of the Nonconformist position that no negotiations for reunion, or federation, are possible except upon a basis of absolute equality in regard to the ministry. At last, and, as far as I am aware, for the first time, a purely Anglican assembly, containing a majority of clergy, has admitted, not grudgingly, but gladly and boldly, the Nonconformist claim to ministerial equality. I suggest that this is an event of consider- able significance. To what will it lead F It would be most interesting if some of your Nonconformist readers would state their views of what might he achieved in the matter of Christian unity on the basis of the Cheltenham " Finalings."—I am, Sir, sec., II. I'. WALSER. 21 Blenheim Road, St. Albans.
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