A LIBEL ON THE REFORMATION [To the Editor of THE
SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—The misquotation of the Church Catechism which Lady Brooke so sternly condemns is undoubtedly a somewhat serious matter, as it is the principal ground upon which a very common misrepresentalion of Church teaching is based.
I have myself, in the course of a long ministerial life, never failed to point out to candidates for Confirmation that the use of the future tense appears to sanction every lawful ambition which a man or woman can entertain, no matter in what position they happen to have been born. At the same time, it must, I think, be admitted that the " libel " had some little excuse in bygone days ; for instance, in " Mrs. Trimmer's Charity School Spelling Book," published, I think, in the early days of the last century, there is a prayer for the use of the children, to the following effect : " Be graciously pleased, 0 Heavenly Father, to give me strength and cheerfulness, . . . to labour and do my duty in that state of life which Thy wisdom has seen fit to allot me."—I am, Sir, &c.,
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