ligious disabilities, or denying the rights of
conscience.

VII

In the assurance, given us in the Gospel, of the love of God our
Father to each of us and to all men, and in the faith that Jesus
Christ, Who died, overcame death and has passed into the heavens,
the first-fruits of them that sleep, we are made confident of the
hope of Immortality, and trust to God our souls and the souls of
the departed. We believe that the whole world must stand before the
final Judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, with glad and solemn
hearts, we look for the consummation and bliss of the life
everlasting, wherein the people of God, freed for ever from sorrow
and from sin, shall serve Him and see His face in the perfected
communion of all saints in the Church triumphant.

The Committee on Constitution recommended a definite union of the Free
Church denominations on the basis of a federation which should express
their essential unity, promote evangelization, maintain their liberties
and take action where authorised in all matters affecting the interests,
duties, rights, and privileges of the federating churches, and to enter
into communion and united action where possible with other branches of
the church of Christ throughout the world. It is proposed that the
federation shall work through a council consisting of about 200
representatives of the denominations in order to carry out their will.
The Committee on Evangelization and the Ministry also suggested certain
practical measures necessary for cooperation in these important branches
of service. The scheme has been carefully thought out and elaborated,
but at the same time is not too cumbrous for action, and if it can be
carried out there is no doubt that it would secure the ends aimed at. In
many ways the doctrinal declaration is the most important part of it,
and shews a sufficient general agreement on essentials to ensure
harmonious working. The fate of it lies of course with the different
denominations concerned. By this time most of them have had an
opportunity of considering it and, generally speaking, it has met with a
favourable reception. The Baptists, Congregationalists, and United
Methodists have declared their willingness to proceed to closer union on
this basis. But the Presbyterians and Wesleyan Methodists have referred
it back for further consideration. Rightly and natura