22 JANUARY 1910, Page 18

CHRISTIANITY AND THE ELECTION. [To THE EDITOR Os THE "

SPROTATOR.1 SIR,—In view of one of your last week's notes, and its strictures (with which I quite agree) against one party claiming the sanction of religion for its propaganda, I trust you may be able to find room for the enclosed and a comment upon it. The cutting is from the Daily News of this morning (January 20th). You may perhaps be able to imagine a Liberal Nonconformist's feelings about the Established Church when he reads such a paragraph.—I am, Sir, &c., 39 Shrub End Road, Colchester.

THOMAS HEPB17RN.

TS DEUX ' TO BE SUNG IN a WOOLWICH CHURCH FOR Mn. CROOKS'S DEFEAT.

The Rev. Lewis D. Thomas, Vicar of St. John's Church, Robert Street, Plumate-ad, has issued a large number of cards bearing the following:—

St. John the Baptist Church, Robert Street, Plurnstead. Sunday, Jan. 23, 1910. Special thanksgiving service to Almighty God for the timely deliverance of Woolwich and Plumstead from the hands of the Socialists and Sabbath-breakers.

Study the 4th Commandment. There will be four celebrations of the Holy Communion, at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., midday, and after the evening service. All communicants are earnestly invited. The "Te Deum " will be used instead of the processional and recessional hymns.

Lewis D. TROIKAS, Vicar."

[We of course condemn the action of the vicar as strongly as our correspondent, but what could be more unjust than to use the isolated act of an ill-mannered fanatic to prejudice the question of the Establishment P What makes it specially unjust to do so is the fact that the authorities of the Church acted at once, and with the utmost vigour. The Bishop Suffragan of Woolwich immediately called on the vicar to withdraw the announcement and cancel the arrangements for the offensive portion of the service, and in an interview with a representa- tive of the Daily Chronicle expressed his deep regret at the occurrence. The incident as a whole reflects anything but discredit on the Established Church. It shows instead how determined are the authorities to prevent an unworthy and partisan use of the services of the National Church.—En. Spectator.]