SUCH was the form of the Royal Protestant Declaration as at first proposed by Mr. Asquith to Parliament, but afterwards changed to “a faithful Protestant.” To all acquainted with the present condition of the Church of England, it seems incredible that any man with ordinary intelligence would regard such a declaration of any worth. Fortunately, for this point, there was recently a notable libel action, in which Dr. Horton was charged with labelling the Academy, because he asserted it had gone over to the Roman Catholics. It would appear that its Editor, Lord Alfred Douglas, and Mr. Machen, the reviewer of Dr. Horton’s book, are faithful members of the Church by law established in England, and here is what they think about the Reformation. Lord A. Douglas, the editor, was first called, and stated that he was a member of the Church of England.
Lord R. Cecil.—Is it true that your views on current literature are given with a bias toward Rome?—Certainly not.
Is it true that the Academy may be ranked with the Tablet, the Month, and the Universe?—Certainly not.
The witness, continuing, said that when he received a copy of Dr. Horton’s book, entitled My Belief, he forwarded it to Mr. Machen, who was a member of the Church of England. The Academy took up a High Church attitude, and its position must be affected by such statements as appeared in the Daily News.
In cross-examination by Sir E. Carson, the witness said that he admitted the Academy had published statements against Non-conformity.
Strongly against Protestantism in the English Church?—That is true, I think.
Strongly against the Reformation?—No, I do not admit that. The criticism of the Academy has been against the way in which the Reformation has been distorted and used for improper purposes.
Do you call yourself a Protestant?—Certainly not. I strongly object to the use of the word “Protestant.” The word is not to be found in the Prayer Book.
Mr. Justice Darling.—You object to be called a Protestant?—The word is unscientific.
Sir E. Carson.—It is a horrible word?—It is a horrible word.
And you don’t hesitate to insult people who call themselves Protestants?—I do not insult people.
Mr. Justice Darling.—Sir Edward, you seem to have investigated this a bit. Where does the word “Protestant” come from?
Sir E. Carson.—It has been used since the time of the Reformation as a protest against the doctrines of the Catholic Church at the time.
Mr. Justice Darling (to the witness).—You object to be called a Protestant?—I say the word is nowhere used in the Prayer Book. It is not the way in which the Church of England ought to be described.
WITNESS AND COUNSEL.
Sir E. Carson.—Do you protest against Protestantism?—I don’t protest against anything. I can be a member of the Church of England without detesting or hating the Church of Rome.
Sir E. Carson.—No one has asked you to hate anything.
Mr. Justice Darling.—You ought to hate the Devil and all his works.
Sir E. Carson.—I would rather not pursue that subject. (To the witness)—Did you know that Mr. Machen, who criticised the book, was a hater of the Reformation?—I suppose he was.
And that was the man to whom you sent a book by an eminent Protestant divine?—I knew Mr. Machen was an eminent High Churchman.
Sir E. Carson read an article which appeared in the Academy on 7th December, 1907, in which Mr. Machen, after describing how he attended a meeting of the English Church Union many years before, went on to say:—
“I cursed the Protestant Reformation then with heart and soul, and still do I curse it and hate it with all its works and all its abominable operations, internal and external. I loathe it and abhor it as the most hideous blasphemy.”
To the witness.—Those are the views of the man you employed to write the review?—Yes.
Are they not disgraceful words?—Certainly not.
Offensive words?—You may take them to be offensive.
You are asking damages because we say the journal has passed into Roman hands?—It has not passed into Roman hands.
Mr. Arthur Machen, who reviewed the book, My Belief, said that he wrote the article complained of by Dr. Horton. He thought that it was fair criticism.
Cross-examined.—He did not call himself a Protestant. He looked upon the Reformation as a hideous blasphemy, and thought that it did more harm than good.
The case was decided in favour of Dr. Horton.