176 RURAL LIFE IN CANADA 



ever, arisen, through the custom of having these ad- 

 ministered by the authorities of the different denomina- 

 tions in turn. George Frederick Wells, lately Eesearch 

 Secretary of the Federal Council, a recognized authority 

 on the matter, says : " Transitional Federations, where 

 churches for a time have to relate themselves to different 

 denominational organizations, suffer from too much 

 friction." We are fortunate in possessing in Canada 

 a more promising agency, in the Joint Union Com- 

 mittee with its new function of oversight and adminis- 

 tration, for such local union churches, awaiting the com- 

 ing of the organic union to which we look forward. 

 Meanwhile, here, as in the United States, " the para- 

 mount end is the establishment of efficient co-operation 

 among evangelical denominations so as to meet the 

 unmet spiritual needs of America and bring about the 

 establishment of the kingdom of heaven here." 



The next requisite in the programme is Special 

 Training for the Ministry. Not that there should be 

 one class of ministers trained for the country and 

 another for the city. We desiderate one civilization 

 in city and country alike in which all shall be at home, 

 and therefore reprobate any further distinction of class. 

 But special training is called for in methods of dealing 

 with this problem on the part of all ministers, so that 

 those whose lot happens to fall in the city shall have 

 a sympathetic understanding of it, while those whose 

 choice is the country pastorate shall have efficient equip- 

 ment for their tasks. To some slight extent, perhaps, 

 elective courses of study may prove necessary, though 

 only in a limited field. But there is need of training 

 for all alike along new lines of direct contact with 

 social problems under the teacher's eye, that is, for 



