Talks have been going on over a long period of time between the Church of Scotland, the Episcopal Church of Scotland, the Methodists, the Congregationalists, the United Free Church and the Churches of Christ aimed at uniting these Churches into one large denomination. The talks failed because an attempt to integrate the Episcopal Church into the Church of Scotland as an independent Synod (but with bishops having no ruling voice over the General Assembly) was not acceptable to the Episcopalians (Daily Express 6/2/75). To the Episcopalians, bishops are regarded as an essential part of their structure which they will on no account abandon. Consequently any attempt at union with a Church holding Presbyterian principles is doomed to failure from the very start. It appeared at one time that the Church of Scotland would succumb to the temptation to sanction the re-introduction of bishops for the sake of unity but in recent times has moved away from this stance and is strongly opposed to any attempt to foist bishops upon her.
Northern Ireland
Mr Merlyn Rees, Secretary for Northern Ireland, declared a short time ago that a new mood is abroad in Northern Ireland and people want an end to violence. His aim, he said, is to establish a Government in Northern Ireland which will have widespread acceptance.
Mr Rees has an unenviable task in trying to bring lasting peace to that war-torn Province. So far it is largely the IRA terrorists who have called
the tune, arranging a cease-fire when they felt it was in their interests to do so, and resuming violence when it pleased them. The durability of the cease-fire arranged in February will largely hang on the concessions granted to the Romanists in any permanent settlement arranged between the two sides in Ulster. Negotiations, then, are bound to be carried on under a threat, or an implied threat, of a resumption of violence. How a just and equitable solution of Northern Ireland’s problems can be worked out in such an atmosphere it is difficult to see. One thing is certain: the Protestants of Northern Ireland are not prepared to have an unjust settlement imposed upon them.
The prospect before the people of Northern Ireland seems to be one of continual threat from enemies within and without. In these dangers to its very existence as a nation, the Roman Catholic Church plays no mean part. The price which the people of Ulster will have to pay to preserve their dearly-bought civil and religious liberties is that of perpetual vigilance. The real settlement of the Irish problem will only come when the Lord is pleased to pour out His Spirit on the whole of Ireland. Then — and only then — will the eyes of the oppressed Romanists be opened, and the nation joined in one spirit and one mind so as to live in Gospel harmony and peace.