The Bishop of Durham sends to Tuesday's Times an admir-
able letter on the use of the word " Protestant," in which he points out that "Cosin, of Durham, certainly no hesitating Churchman, though he learnt a generous breadth of view in his exile in the Commonwealth time, uses the word in his will (see his Works, Anglo-Catholic Library) in a sense, and in a tone, characteristic of his time and of his school. He dies in concord with all Churches professing the true Catholic faith and religion which I desire to be chiefly understood of Protestants and the best Reformed Churches." The truth is that the English Church has a clear and indefeasible right and title both to the appellation" Catholic" and to the description "'Protestant," and if her sons are true to her origin, tradition, and essential spirit she will retain both, as Cosin no doubt desired. As long as the Roman Catholic Church exists the Anglican Church needs the word " Protestant" as well as " Catholic." What we object to is the attempt to lay the term " Protestant " under a ban as if it connoted " anti- Catholic." That it may have occasionally been so used by ignorant people cannot possibly decide the matter. Plenty of words are misunderstood by the ignorant, but that is no reason for acquiescing in the misuse.
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