46 CIIURCH UNITY 



"arrogant," "offensive," in offering terms 

 of unity to other historic churches that 

 they will only characterize as " Christian 

 bodies," "sects," and even "dissenters." 

 Such fashions of speech, whatever may be 

 thought of them, do not alter facts and 

 things. The Church of England is re- 

 garded as no better than a sect by the 

 oldest churches in Christendom; and the 

 Episcopal Church in Scotland is treated 

 as only a dissenting Christian body, whose 

 prelates could not lawfully take prece- 

 dence of a Presbyterian minister. The 

 gracious Queen herself devoutly receives 

 Presbyterian communion. In a country 

 like ours, with no established religion, why 

 withhold the civil title "Church" while 

 conceding the polite use of the ecclesi- 

 astical title "Reverend"? Such slights 

 to some minds are as irritating as the 

 Roman Catholic repudiation of Anglican 

 orders. Nevertheless, the simple fact 

 that in the face of such inconsistences and 

 at the risk of sacrificing courtesy to prin- 

 ciple, some Episcopalians do take high 

 churchly ground against Presbyterian 

 orders, shows the strength and honesty 

 of their convictions. Does any one doubt 



