MR. BIRRELL ON THE ARCHBISHOPS' LETTER.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Surely both Mr. Birrell and yourself have curiously missed the most obvious explanation of the wording of the Archbishops' letter. They call the Church of Rome their "sister-Church " without the faintest thought of "pretty com- pliments," as Mr. Birrell supposes; nor yet in obedience to Christ's precept to " love your enemies," as your editorial note suggests; but simply because that phrase contains in itself the whole Anglican contention, which is that the English Church has as carefully preserved a claim as the Roman on that Divine Parentage, from which each branch of the Catholic Church derives its being.—I am, Sir, &c., H. E. 0.
[We suggested nothing of the sort. Our remark had no reference to the Archbishops' letter, but was a mere criticism on Mr. Birrell's vindictive outburst.—ED. Spectator.]
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