Serious Situation in the Church of England.
—The aggressiveness and lawlessness of Sacerdotalism continue to menace religious and civil liberty, and an independent Press is the only effective instrument to resist and defeat the grave peril. Developments of serious moment will at no distant date compel a fierce national issue, and the results may be of a much more disastrous kind than average Englishmen appear just now to anticipate. It is obviously but prudent, therefore, to awaken public interest in the great principles which are at stake, to point out the momentous possibilities involved in the approaching national struggle, and to inspire courage and resolution in the hearts of all who fear God and love their native land.—English Churchman.
The Englishman Churchman.
—Those of our readers who wish to have an intelligent grasp of the momentous struggle going on in the English Church cannot do better than become subscribers to the English Churchman. This excellent weekly is edited by the Rev. James Ormiston. Its leading articles are a pleasure to read. They deal with matters of topical interest, and give forth no uncertain sound. There is here no base surrender of truth for the sake of peace. Each week there is also a leader dealing with spiritual matters, and a column or so of Protestant Notes by Mr. Walter Walsh. The first issue for this year has an excellent leader on “Bible Protestantism.” It is scarcely necessary to remind our readers that the distinctive doctrines of free and sovereign grace are clearly proclaimed from the editorial chair. Though a Church of England paper, we regret to say that we have nothing to compare to it in Presbyterian Scotland for sound doctrine and spirituality of tone.
Bird’s-eye View of Romanism in Great Britain:—
| | In 1851. | 1899. | 1904. | 1905. | 1906. | Dec.
1907. |
|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|
| Priests, | 958 | 3235 | 3818 | 3965 | 4051 | 4075 |
| Churches, chapels, stations, | 683 | 1854 | 2008 | 2013 | 2076 | 2121 |
| Religious houses—men, | 17 | 260 | 303 | 303 | 317 | 314 |
| ” women, | 53 | 557 | 754 | 768 | 785 | 813 |
The Roman Catholic Tablet, of August 12th, 1905, spoke of “the arrival of the (French) exiles in their hundreds and thousands.” The estimated Roman Catholic population of the United Kingdom is 5,500,000. There are about 1,500,000 Romanists in England and Wales. Of these, 1,000,000 are Irish, 300,000 foreigners, and only 200,000 English. According to the Tablet, of February 12th, 1898, 25 per cent. of our criminals are Roman Catholics. There are 34 Romanists in the House of Lords, and 81 in the House of Commons.