[To THE EDITOR OE THE " SPECTATOR."] Dr. Welldon having
now admitted in reply to " Inquirer " that "the truth of a religions creed or system must ultimately be determined by the evidences proper to religion," it seems a pity that he should have sought at the Church Congress to determine it by the method under dis- cussion. His subsequent remarks in the Spectator of October 22nd, while not adding to the logic of his case, suggest the question of how far the influence of race rather than religion may be the main factor in the matter of national success. Does Mr. Welldon believe that had France adopted Protestantism at the Reformation she would now hold India and Canada ; or that Spain, had that country abjured Catholicism, would to-day be ruling over a stable and en- lightened South America? I think not. Surely there is strong evidence to be found in the fact that English Roman Catholics, to say the least, are no whit less admirable than Anglicans or Nonconformists, whether in affairs of State, civic virtue, moral sense, or personal worth. Mgr. Vaughan's contribution I understand as an argument in reply to Mr. Hensley Henson, and not as indicating the idea that were England to become Catholic to-morrow her national success would be lessened thereby.—I am, Sir, &c., Guy's Hospital, S.E., October 241h. J. A. REASIDE.
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