"Rainy wi'oot the Principal". XXI.
The United Presbyterians had forced Rainy's hand in 1896. The two Churches were now set on a course that would bring them into union by the last year of the 19th century. While the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland was united and cheerfully looking forward to the union, the Free Church of Scotland contained two parties, a majority who felt as the United Presbyterian did, and a large minority who distrusted the United Presbyterians (as well as the minority) who could very well cause all sorts of trouble.
Rainy came to the Assembly of 1896 full of foreboding. He had to act, and he knew that he had to welcome the United Presbyterian offer. He acted, as ever, with caution. Instead of moving that the Assembly immediately accept the United Presbyterian offer, he moved that the matter be remitted to the union committee to be considered carefully before the next Assembly. The motion was agreed on, and Rainy was relieved that the Assembly had not blow up into a full-blown debate over it. Another year would give him time to convince the Constitutionalists that union with the United Presbyterians was not selling out the principles of the Free Church.
Following the 1896 Assembly, Rainy and the 'Unionist' leaders (dubbed the 'Rainy Party' by the Free Presbyterians, who were now in the position of outsiders looking in to the Free Church) began a concerted effort to convince the Highlands that the United Presbyterians were not Arminians or doctrinaire Voluntaries. Ironically one of the things on their side was the fact that the United Presbyterian theological professors (most notably James Orr) were percieved by many in the Free Church to be more orthodox than many Free Church Professors. James Orr, after all, had defended the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, which Marcus Dods had given up!
Some of the supporters of union in the Highlands took a different view. They thought that if as little as possible was said about union, it could be brought about quietly. They did not want the Free Assembly to recieve a wheelbarrow-load of overtures opposing the union and thought this was the best way to avoid it. Looking back on this strategy later many Unionists felt that it had actually been counterproductive, giving the impression that something was being covered up. Rainy wrote to Murdo Macaskill of Dingwall to warn him:
"I understand and appreciate the motives which lead you to deprecate controversial agitation. It is quite true that stirring of waters in public renders it difficult to refrain from some measure of discussion and perhaps of collision. At the same time it is so extremely natural, after last Assembly's action, to have overtures, that I confess as yet I hardly see a way of avoiding it. But I have a great desire to respect all reasonable susceptibilities. Perhaps we may see a way through the difficulty. But meanwhile I wish to say that you, as well as we, should be considering how to make the best of what is certainly coming.We must in some shape compare ideas while there is yet time, if we are to avoid treading on each other's toes. It will not do to wait till currents form which will carry us away. We must be strong enough to grasp the situation firmly and reasonably."
But the Church as a whole, and particularly the Highlands, were not 'prepared'. Really many Highland Free Churchmen had become alienated from Edinburgh already, and there was little Rainy, or anyone else, could have done to bring them into the union.
The union was now all but inevitable. God willing, in our next post we shall observe the road to union further.
Rainy came to the Assembly of 1896 full of foreboding. He had to act, and he knew that he had to welcome the United Presbyterian offer. He acted, as ever, with caution. Instead of moving that the Assembly immediately accept the United Presbyterian offer, he moved that the matter be remitted to the union committee to be considered carefully before the next Assembly. The motion was agreed on, and Rainy was relieved that the Assembly had not blow up into a full-blown debate over it. Another year would give him time to convince the Constitutionalists that union with the United Presbyterians was not selling out the principles of the Free Church.
Following the 1896 Assembly, Rainy and the 'Unionist' leaders (dubbed the 'Rainy Party' by the Free Presbyterians, who were now in the position of outsiders looking in to the Free Church) began a concerted effort to convince the Highlands that the United Presbyterians were not Arminians or doctrinaire Voluntaries. Ironically one of the things on their side was the fact that the United Presbyterian theological professors (most notably James Orr) were percieved by many in the Free Church to be more orthodox than many Free Church Professors. James Orr, after all, had defended the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, which Marcus Dods had given up!
Some of the supporters of union in the Highlands took a different view. They thought that if as little as possible was said about union, it could be brought about quietly. They did not want the Free Assembly to recieve a wheelbarrow-load of overtures opposing the union and thought this was the best way to avoid it. Looking back on this strategy later many Unionists felt that it had actually been counterproductive, giving the impression that something was being covered up. Rainy wrote to Murdo Macaskill of Dingwall to warn him:
"I understand and appreciate the motives which lead you to deprecate controversial agitation. It is quite true that stirring of waters in public renders it difficult to refrain from some measure of discussion and perhaps of collision. At the same time it is so extremely natural, after last Assembly's action, to have overtures, that I confess as yet I hardly see a way of avoiding it. But I have a great desire to respect all reasonable susceptibilities. Perhaps we may see a way through the difficulty. But meanwhile I wish to say that you, as well as we, should be considering how to make the best of what is certainly coming.We must in some shape compare ideas while there is yet time, if we are to avoid treading on each other's toes. It will not do to wait till currents form which will carry us away. We must be strong enough to grasp the situation firmly and reasonably."
But the Church as a whole, and particularly the Highlands, were not 'prepared'. Really many Highland Free Churchmen had become alienated from Edinburgh already, and there was little Rainy, or anyone else, could have done to bring them into the union.
The union was now all but inevitable. God willing, in our next post we shall observe the road to union further.
Labels: Principal Rainy
posted by Highland Host at 10:30 am
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