THE Church Union Gazette for September contains an article of the first importance by the Rev. J. A. Douglas, on the position reached by the conclusion of Constantinople on Anglican Orders [100 Years Ago, 19 August]. He urges caution, as we have done, and points out that it is but a first stage, though a most important one. . . Even if the other Churches concur, formal and full intercommunion with the East is impossible without full dogmatic agreement. In our communications with the East there has never been any concealment of the fact that among ourselves there are wide differences of opinion and outlook. But if intercommunion is not yet in sight, something has been attained. The Orthodox Church is obliged by the logic of her history to maintain that she is the only certain representative of the One True Church, and therefore she cannot recognize the validity per se of any sacraments outside her fold. Yet she does not therefore deny their validity. She employs in practice the method of the economy, that method so difficult to the Western mind, and may declare valid at her discretion the ministrations of other priests than her own, as Anglican, Roman, and Armenian, and may sanction the resort of her own people in case of need to such priests. Constantinople, speaking for itself, has now regularized practice which has long obtained in America, in South Africa, in Australia, and other countries where there are isolated Orthodox Christians.

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