THE WAY TO FIGHT SICERDOTALISM. [To Tat EDITOR OP THZ
SPZCTAT013.1 Sin,—Please suffer a word of comment on your article on "The Way to Fight Sacerdotalism " in the Spectator of March 11th, in which you remark :—" Only let a similar spirit revive "—i.e., the spirit of zeal—" in the remains of the old Evangelical party, or of the old Broad Church school, and all the nonsensical talk about conspiracies will vanish. What is wanted is a new Palley, a new Keble, and a new Newman, but informed with the spirit of the Reformation, not of sacerdotalism and Ritualism." It is in this as much as implied that the two schools in question are at present apathetic, disunited, and doing nothing. As to the condition of the Evangelical party I have no authority to speak. But as concerns the Broad Church section I can assure you, Sir, that your information is not up to date,—which I believe that you will sincerely rejoice to learn. Up to something like a year ago, that body was totally dis- organised, and its members wasting their strength in isolation. Since then, however, all this is changed. The Churchmen's Union, which aims at representing and uniting liberal religions thought in our Church, has now come into active existence : and along with this Union there is its organ in the Press, the Church Gazette. No "new Pusey " may have arisen—that remains to be seen—but the body of Broad Churchmen are now prepared to take, and are taking, their share in the "spiritual battle" which you speak of, and which is already begun. The Union is youthful, and so it is the policy of a certain portion of the Press to ignore it. But I am fully aware that you, Sir, have only passed it over because your attention had never been drawn to its existence. As a member of that Union, I trust that you
after duly verifying my statements, will give them publicity.
15 Windsor Road, Denmark Hill, S.D., March 13th.
P.S.—Inquiries made at the offices of the Union, at 18-20 Temple House, Temple Avenue, B.C., will meet with every attention.
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