A WARNING NOTE FROM “THE ENGLISH CHURCHMAN.”
A VERY grave statement was made in the House of Lords by Lord Crewe on Tuesday, 8th December, in reply to a question addressed by Lord Braye to the Government. The question concerned legislation in favour of the abolition of the Protestant Declaration required by law to be made by the Sovereign of the realm at the first meeting of Parliament after accession. Lord Crewe, while deprecating the discussion of the subject under present circumstances, said that the Government hoped before long to submit some proposal which would have the effect of meeting Roman Catholic objections to certain words in the royal protestation. This alarming announcement was promptly and forcibly met by Lord Kinnaird, who warned the Government that it must not be assumed that Protestants, who felt very strongly on the subject, would quietly acquiesce in proposals which vitally affected the Church and the throne. The Duke of Norfolk expressed his gratification at learning that “the Government had the courage to face this difficult and delicate subject.” Thus the nation is threatened with the recrudescence of an old conflict between the forces of the Papacy and Protestantism, whose issues are calculated to provoke religious passions and animosities not easily pacified when once stirred. It is devoutly to be hoped that wiser counsels will prevail in the Cabinet. Meanwhile the United Protestant Societies should call together their respective Committees for counsel and prayer, with a view to determining on wise and resolute action. At all costs this latest Papal assault on the Protestant Constitution and the national faith must be resisted in the name and strength of the living God. The Sovereign’s Declaration against the idolatrous Popish religion, and the Protestant Coronation Oath, with the Bill of Rights, form the last statutory defences of our civil and religious liberties, and their abolition would nullify the chief claim to the throne of the present royal family. The covert design of the Vatican is to reverse the settlement of 1688, and to open the throne to a Papist.