We trust that no notice will be taken of the
fanatical appeal in regard to the use of the word " Protestant " sent to their Bishops by a number of High Church extremists, and communicated to the Press. The clergymen who sign it declare that they cannot use the Coronation Service recom- mended for use on Coronation Day as it now stands, because the Service states that the King has taken an oath to main- tain -"the Protestant reformed religion established by law." The word Protestant," they say, whatever its origin, is popularly taken as opposed to "Catholic." Therefore to tell people that the King has taken the oath will create the erroneous impression that the Church of England is in some way opposed to primitive and Catholic antiquity. The whole thing strikes us as a piece of silly pedantry. In the first place, however much the clergy who sign the letter may dislike it, it is a fact that the King takes the oath. Next, it is not true that the public regards " Protestant " as opposed to "Catholic," but as opposed to "Roman Catholic," a very differ- ent thing. Thousands of good Churchmen, who would never abandon the designation " Catholic " as the exclusive desig- nation of the Roman Communion, glory in the name " Pro- testant " as implying the fact that their Church—the Church of England—protested at the Reformation against the errors and corruptions of the Church of Rome. In truth this dread and detestation of the word " Protestant " is the vulgarest of errors for those who profess to be loyal Anglicans. The repudiation of the term does not in the least impress the Roman Catholics, if and when it is done to win their favour, and it does separate those who advocate that repudiation from some of the noblest and most typical mem- bers of the English Church. Unless we are greatly mistaken, Hooker and Jeremy Taylor, not to speak of Laud, were quite willing to describe themselves as Protestants. Needless to say, we do not desire to force any English Churchmen who dislike the appellation to call themselves Protestants. But they, on the other hand, have no right to treat the word as if it could not be used by good and loyal Churchmen. Such intolerance is detestable, and utterly unworthy of the best traditions of our Church.
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