Life and Letters of John Cairns, D.D., LL.D. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVIII CHURCH UNION MOVEMENT 1863-1873 Cairns' relation to Movement--The situation--Negotiations opened--The Civil Magistrate--State aid--Articles of Agreement--Voluntaryism defined--Free Church Anti-Unionists--Discussions as to Doctrine, Sustentation Fund, etc.--Acceptance of Articles--Difficulties as to procedure--United Presbyterian restlessness--Speeches and correspondence--Growing opposition--Cairns as controversialist--Failure--Effect on Cairns--Explanatory letters. FROM 1863 till 1873 Church Union was Dr. Cairns' chief public concern and interest. It occupied his mind and heart, and absorbed such leisure as he found amidst his pastoral and professional duties. To some extent it affected even these; for in deciding not to go to Morningside he was influenced by the interests of Union, and, as his letters have shown, he refused a professorship in the English Presbyterian College on the explicit ground that he could not leave the United Presbyterian Church when the Union movement was at a critical stage. The period so occupied was the 'tableland ' of his life. When he began to make Union Speeches, to attend Union Committee meetings and to correspond on the subject, he was forty-four years of age, full of elasticity, energy and resources, with obvious and undefined power of expansion either in theology or in practical affairs; when the Union proceedings ended, he was fifty-five, and the general lines of his activity, as well as his position in the eyes of the Church and the country, were to a large extent determined. Yet this movement, which enlisted the best energies of his full manhood, was unsuccessful. It is true that his personal repute was rather increased than lessened, that he displayed faculties hitherto latent, and that his inward life ...