ition to the preaching of His
Gospel, the Sacraments of Baptism and of the Lord's Supper, as not
only declaratory symbols, but also effective channels of His grace
and gifts for the salvation and sanctification of men, and that
these Sacraments being essentially social ordinances were intended
to affirm the obligation of corporate fellowship as well as
individual confession of Him.

(3) That our Lord, in addition to the bestowal of the Holy Spirit
in a variety of gifts and graces upon the whole Church, also
conferred upon it by the self-same Spirit a Ministry of manifold
gifts and functions, to maintain the unity and continuity of its
witness and work.

In subsequent discussions a very considerable advance was made on the
positions here laid down. It was felt that if ever reunion was to become
a reality the question of order must be frankly faced, and the following
statements were put forth for the consideration of the churches
concerned, not as a final solution, but as the necessary basis for
discussion in framing a practical scheme:

1. That continuity with the historic Episcopate should be
effectively preserved.

2. That in order that the rights and responsibilities of the whole
Christian community in the government of the Church may be
adequately recognised, the Episcopate should re-assume a
constitutional form, both as regards the method of the election of
the bishop as by clergy and people, and the method of government
after election. It is perhaps necessary that we should call to mind
that such was the primitive ideal and practice of Episcopacy and it
so remains in many Episcopal communions to-day.

3. That acceptance of the fact of Episcopacy and not any theory as
to its character should be all that is asked for. We think that
this may be the more easily taken for granted as the acceptance of
any such theory is not now required of ministers of the Church of
England. It would no doubt be necessary before any arrangement for
corporate reunion could be made to discuss the exact functions
which it may be agreed to recognise as belonging to the Episcopate,
but we think this can be left to the future.

The first point to note in regard to the work of this Conference is the
remarkable unanimity achieved in regard to Christian doctrine. While
there is no intention