12 SEPTEMBER 1935, Page 17

SIR

L delightful to hear the Provost of Queen's chanting "ds Palinode ! One is reminded of Jerome's dream, in which the saint saw himself brought before a celestial tribunal, and scourged for being more Ciceronian than Christian. So vivid ,vv,as the dream that he awoke to find his shoulders black and blue. Erasmus admired Jerome and loved the classics. Reading Plato, he could hardly avoid exclaiming : "Holy Socrates, pray for us." And as he studied Cicero he had to Stop and kiss the manuscript. But the witty Dutchman had no thirst for souls, no rousing slogan. Seldom is the scholar a prophet. Luther ranks as an exception. The fierce earnest- !less Which shines out in his writings is indeed a contrast to the urbane tolerance and compromise of Erasmus. Yet why go back to the Reformation for a parallel ? Bishop Butler said to Wesley : " Sir, the pretending to extraordinary revelations and gifts of the Holy Ghost is a' horrid thing." There is at least one prelate who would like to say the same to the founder of the Oxford Group.--I am, Sir, yours

obediently, E. J. Bolus. The Rectory, Monk Sherburne, Basingstoke.