WHIT IS THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND P [To THE EDITOR
OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sr,—The two grounds for your contention that the Church of England is the national Church are (a) that she does not exclude any Christian Englishmen from her ministrations who are willing to use them, and (b) that she affords place for a great variety of belief. It is difficult to see how these are differentiae of the "Church of England." The "Presbyterian Church of England"—a title officially claimed by one of our Free Churches—has just as broad a basis. May I mention another point ? To say that the term " Non-conformist " is used to state that the other Churches have a narrower basis is to prejudge the issue. A Nonconformist was one who refused to obey the Act of Uniformity. Hence, the word, if retained, must be used in some different, and perhaps more respectful, sense. I suggest that it be used to denote "one who does not seek by outward unity to cloak the serious inner differences which disturb the peace of the Church."—I am,
Sir, pc., (Rev.) J. 0. WATTS. 54 Newland Street, Silvertown, IlL
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