Church Unity.— The general tendency among the Protestant denominations has' been toward the unifying of the Christian churches, and this appears the more remarkable when the present rehgious condition is compared with that of 100 or even 50 years ago, with its polemics and antagonisms. There has been a breaking down of barriers and a marked dimi nution of the jealousies and rivalries of the past. The old sectarian spirit has, to a large extent, disappeared and a cordial spirit of good will has manifested itself even in those bodies which special privileges or exclusive theories had tended to separate from others. This is seen in the increasing co-operation in good works, in the frequent inter-denominational comity and in the general attitude of the churches toward each other. It is remarkably manifested, as we have seen, in the changed attitude of most of the churches in regard to higher education. Federation of denomina tional colleges in a common state university has been accepted by many who were once stren uously opposed to it, as the best solution of our educational problems. In the three chief Protestant churches of Canada, the Methodist, the Presbyterian and the Anglican (they are named in the order of their numerical strength), which are each now a unit throughout the Do minion, the tendency is toward a still larger union. In 1902 a joint committee of the Pres byterian and Methodist churches met to con sider the problem of co-operation, and com mended the principles of comity and non-in trusion, until some scheme of organic union was agreed upon. For some years after this
the -union movement progressed, the Anglicans and Baptists favoring co-operation and fra ternal comity, the Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists an organic union of their churches. In 1909-10 the Congregational and Methodist bodies approved of the union scheme by large majorities,. the Presbyterian Church referring the basis of union to the presbyteries, 793 of which approved and 476 opposed. The general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, which met in Winnipeg June 1914, definitely committed their Church to union with the Methodist and Congregational churches by a very large majority. The name of the church formed by the union is to be "The United Church of Canada," with 20 articles of faith as doctrine, and an accepted polity of church government, administration and ecclesiastical laws. There is however a small but powerful minority in the Presbyterian Church opposed to the unity movement, and it is possible that the protest of this opposing section and the ex istence of various practical difficulties may pre vent the consummation of the scheme for some years to Coma