26 MAY 1900, Page 24

The Church of Cyprus. By the Rev. II. T. F.

Duckworth. (S.P.C.K. is.) —Mr. Duckworth's little book (the reprint of a lecture delivered at Oxford and Cambridge) dees with an inter- esting subject. We do not remember the name of any great theologian that the Church of Cyprus has produced; but it claims an ancient independence, which is indeed beyond all question, as well as the honour, of which it may be at least said that it is not impossible, of having been founded by St. Barnabas. In common with some other Christian communities, it has suffered more from the successors of St Peter than from the successors of Mahomet Our Richard I., having conquered the island, sold it to the Knights-Templars, who, after distinguishing their brief tenure by a frightful massacre, disposed of it again to the Counts of Lusignan. With this dynasty came in the Latin Church, which promptly established bishoprics of its own, finally disestablishing the Greeks, and compelling them to acknowledge the Roman Bishops as their superiors. When Venice succeeded to the Counts of Lusignan things became worse rather than better. The Turkish conquest brought relief. In fact the Latin element was ultimately expelled. The present regime has brought with it, of course, the Pax Britannica, and the Christians, having a fair field, show a progressiveness which will soon practically bring the whole island into their possession. Mr. Duckworth has made a good little book out of this subject. With his hopes for the future we wholly sympathise. He must remember, however, that he has no power to relax the Athanasian anathemas. To deny the Double Procession of the Holy Spirit is as fatal as to reject the whole Creed.