that my own Church would gain rather than lose in her interests under such a system.  Men would be more disposed to listen with attention, and examine with candour the arguments we make use of in favour of our Church views.  We should gain more of the sympathy of our countrymen who differ from us, by a calm expostulation than by bitter invective.  Beautifully and wisely was it written by a sacred pen nearly three thousand years ago, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.”

I have such confidence in the excellence of my own Church, that I believe to bring persons into closer and kinder connection with our system would be the more likely way to gain their approval and their favourable judgment.  In nothing do we lose more of the confidence and estimation of our fellow-countrymen than in the feeling of our being intolerant and exclusive in our religious opinions.  It is curious people should not see that the arguments addressed in a friendly spirit must tell more powerfully than the arguments of one who shows his hostile feeling.

With these feelings on the subject, it may be easily understood with what pleasure I read, in the Edinburgh Courant of November 10th, a report of what our Primus (Bishop Eden) said, at the entertainment which was given on the occasion of the consecration of St. Mary’s Church, Glasgow.  In speaking on the question of Union, the Primus said—­

“I think I may speak for my Episcopal brethren, when I say that if the heads, especially of the Established Church of Scotland—­for that is the body that has most power and influence—­if a proposal were made by the leading men in that Church, in concurrence with those who hold views similar to themselves—­a conference of the representative men of the different Churches—­to consider in a Christian spirit what our differences are, and what are the points on which we are agreed, we would be most happy to take part in it.  Such a conference might, in the providence of God, lead to our being drawn nearer to each other.  I believe that then the prayer which the Bishop of St. Andrews offered up would he the earlier accomplished, namely, that the Episcopal Churches might become Reformed, and the Reformed Churches become Episcopal.  If any proposal of this kind could be made, I believe we would be most ready to accept any invitation to consider whether the various Churches might not be drawn nearer to each other.” (Great applause.)

The Coadjutor Bishop of Edinburgh in his address, after briefly referring to some proposals that had been made for union among the churches in South Africa, went on to say—­