THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CONGRESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2427, 19 September 1900, Page 18

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CONGRESS.

A PROTESTANT PROTEST.

SYDNEY, September 14. The Evangelical Council have issued a protest against the Governor attending in his official capacity mass at the recent dedication of St. Mary's Cathedral. In doing this, and in listening to Archbishop Redwood's attack on Protestantism, which was a direct calumny on the Queen as head of the Anglican Church and her Pro- j testant subjects, it is claimed that he did what the Queen, by her coronation oath, is precluded from doing. A paper prepared by Mr Mulhall, the well-known statistician, we<s read at the Reman Catholic Church Congress. It showed thai of 1450 millions of people in the world at the end of 1898, 501,600,000 were Christians, made up as follows : — Roman Catholics, 240,000,000; Protestants, '163,300,000; Greeks, 98,300,000. As to the interesting question. Which phase of Christianity. Roman Catholic or Protestant, increases numerically faster? there was no doubt the principal Protestant nations advanced with great strides, while Catholic countries show little or no increase yearly, but, making a general survey of Christendom, it would be found the figures were pretty equal. September 15. The Evangelical Alliance's protest against the Governor's listening to Archbishop Redwood's accusation that the leaders and founders of Protestantism were notorious for their 'vices, was based on remarks Avhich were never uttered. Archbishop Redwood has written to the press stating that, out of consideration for the mixed nature, of Iris audience, lie had omitted the

statements attributed to him, but on handing, the proof of his sermon to the press he forgot to correct it similarly. The Congress have practically concluded their sittings. Archbishop Redwood stated that it was determined to hold a congress every threa years. September 16. The Catholic Congress" has concluded^witk a requiem mass for Catholic missionaries in .China.