We are not surprised to find that Mr. Horton, the
Noncon- formist Fellow of New College who was nominated as Examiner in Religious Knowledge, and sustained by Congregation by 53- votes against 44, was rejected on Thursday by Convocation by the enormous vote of 576 against 155 (majority, 421). We do not ourselves think that Mr. Horton would have
the examination less well than the other Examiner, Mr. Pope, of Worcester College; but it was felt that if one. Nonconformist was confirmed as Examiner in subjects which include the special Formularies of the Church of England, —the Thirty-nine Articles,—any other Nonconformist, even though he were a sceptic and a cynic, could hardly be objected to. Unfortunately, however, this possibility will not be in any way prevented by the rejection of Mr. Horton, Next year, a nominal Churchman, who thinks the Thirty-nine Articles a jumble of confused compromises, may be appointed examiner without a single protest, and may make the examination a farce. The truth is that an examination in the Thirty- nine Articles of the Church of England is a complete anachron- ism for young laymen. Scripture is still reverenced amongst us, and there is no practical danger that men who do not con- scientiously object to an examination in Scripture would make a farce of that examination ; but there is much danger iu the case of an examination in the Thirty-nine Articles, and the only true remuly is to substitute a secular subject of no greater difficulty, for all who prefer it. Moreover, so long as the examination in the Thirty-nine Articles is continued, we must say that we think it more decorous to select as examiner some one who is under- stood heartily to accept them. But how many such—even among Churchmen—are now left ?
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