DEFENDER OF THE FAITH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10454, 28 May 1897, Page 3

DEFENDER OF THE FAITH.

TO THE EDITOR. ( Sir,—You have raised »n interesting controversy. Those who would uphold the title have failed to show any advantage iu continuing thii foreign feathery appeudage. They seem oblivious to the fact that this title must be obnoxious te Roman Catholics, Nonconformists, and many others of Her Majesty's subjects, and may cause some nualme to the Queen herself. The fact that the title was given to Henry VIII. by an authority he then owned, should debar his successor! from inheriting, for by law they must disown the potentate that rave and the faith that Henry held at the time. There can be no doubt that the British people still hold to what is so well expressed in the firat clause in article 37 of the Anglican Church. It was under Charles 11. 2000 ministers abandoned their livings rather than obey the King as the governor of the Church. But "Englishman" urges that the Qaeen acts with her advisers constitutionally. This plea only makes matters worse, for the House of Commons determines who are to advise, and it is possible that a majority there may interfere that way with the Faith of which the Queen is called the Defender. This very thing has been done during the present reign (see Prayer Book). In 1837 Her Majesty declared it her will and pleasure that in all churches, on November sth, there should be thanksgivings for the salvation from Gny Fawkes. On January 30 they were formally to deplore that a king who tried to be an autocrat wa* dethroned and decapiUted; and on May 29 a thanksgiving for the blessing of Charles 11., a dissolute hypocrite. And then in 1859 revoking' the abe've of her will and i pleasure, and prohibiting, thi printing •i these in future Prayer Books. Some

day the progress of truth in the mini of the nation, working on the Parliament, wit! cast out the Athanasian Creed, and the queen's or king's good will and pleasure will again be proclaimed and recorded. I think; it a good thing that there is no State Church in the colony, that all stand upon their merits without the aid of the sword j good even to the Anglican Church, with its many good aerricea tor the people.—l am, eto., Edwin Carr.