Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 28, 8 November 1895, Page 1

Current Topics

A'l HO ME AND ABROAD.

Mr Ward is represented by the political gossips as ODDS AND ENDS, hankering after a Teturn as Agent-General to the

scene of his lato festivities— with the additional object of obtaining an Irish seat in the House of Ccmm ns. This, we are told, has long been an otjectcf the hon gentleman's ambition. It is not, meantime, on every Irish member that the British public is anxious to bestow unlimited roast beef and plum pudding. It is besides, possible that Mr Ward, as an Irieh mamber, might find himself more roughly handled even than he haa been as a colonial Minister. It would be hard to foretell what still lies before the Irish party in Parliament. Iv whatever character, however, Mr Ward returns to London, if he does so, it may be safely predicted that he will still, mutatis mutandis, giveas good an account of himself as before.

Sir Julius Vogel has been appointed to replace Sir Penrose Julyan as financial adviser of the Government in London at a salary of £400 a year.

A curious instance of how great public situations may he turned to private account is the following— related recently, in (2. ct, by a French writer :—ln: — In a railway carriage on the line from Paiis to Boulogne, one morning ia the spring |of 1878, Mr Bancroft, Mr Clement Scott, end Mr Stephenson were travelling. The previous evening they had been present at a repnsentation of " Dora." Ban. croft had bought the right of translation from M. Michaelif who himself had bought it from M. Sardou. The puzzle was how to convert the piece iuto an English one. Some one suggested the Eastern Question which at this time, carefully handled by Disraeli, was exciting— to put it mildly — British self-esteem. All thp music halls were echoiog with the famous refrain — " But by Jingo if we do.' 1 The thing was to interest Jingoism in the matter, and make D sraeli cooperate with Sardoa. "On stoppi >g at Amiens to swallow a mouthful," says one of the three accomplices "the problem was solved." We know how, under the name of '' Diplomacy," ' Dora" had in England a succoss still greater and more marked than in France.

Ireland and Scotland it would appear hava made their indelible mark on the language of the colonies — and possibly of the empire at large. The Atlienaum in reviewing a book recen'ly published by " Tasma," a colonial authoress, writes as follows :—": — " Tasma is still so colonial that she naes 'will' for ' shall ' and 'would' for 'should,' but as not only all Australia, but a la-g.i part or America doen this and as the error is based upon Irish ani Scotch authority, we f^ar we shall have one d*y to bow to the majority."

A French political writer of some authority gives his opinion as follows, respecting the existing state of affairs .-—More than one point in the world remains obscure. Something undefined is expected of Lord Salisbury. All that can be said is that we are arrived at one of those moments in history when diplomacy has need of all its vigilance to make up for what the moat wide-awake perspicacity cannot alwayß foresee,

The Atlienaum, in speaking of thelnstituteof Journalists recently foun'el in London, commtnts on the varied nature of the profession referred to :—" Even when it attains maturity," says our contemporary, " it is not likely that the Institute will be much more than an organisation for promoting good fellowship amongst those who belong to it. It can never be a trades union, or everi, as some prefer to call it, a formidable guild. The functions of journalists ara so various, end the conditions of their work are so diverse, that they can scarcely be expected to organise themselves into one compact body. They are discreet, therefore, in not attempting to become one, and in giving themselves up mainly to enjoyment.

Irisbmer, we perceive, are Bt ill doing service to England in foreign parts. A concert of English music, for example, waa announced to be given in Ber in at the beginning of October. The musicians engaged in the matter were Professor Villiers Stanford, Mr Plunket Greene a- dMr Leonard Borwick* The two first are Dublin men. The second named is, we conclude, a grandson of tht late Baron Greene, and of the third Lord Planket. The familiei in ques» tion, at ltast, were connected by marriage,

Among more recent scientific discoveries was one to the effect that the surface of the moon— somewhat as that of the planet Mars— wag crossed by mysterious lines. To these also imaginative minds had attributed an artificial origin. A recsnt writer argues that they are dried up river-beds. !' They often extend," he flays, "for handreds of miles ia approximately straight lines over portions of the moon'i surface, frequently traversing in their course ridges, craters, and even mort formidable obstacles, without any apparent check or interrup. tion, though their ends are Bometimea marked by a mound or crater."

A writer in a la'e number of the Forum attributes a decline of agricultural profits in America to Protection. Its promise, he Bays, was that the factory and the farm would be placed aide by eide. This promise has not been fulfilled. «■ Tha farmer has found the articles he needei made artifici illy dear, but there are every year fewer factories in his vicinity and lower prices for his products. The universal depression of agriculture, east and west, the dwindling population of agricultural communities, would seem to indicate that the cultivators of tne soil are being exploited for the benefit of manufac'urers, and that ths cities are appropriating the largest part of the profit.

A traveller as perplexing to guides as Mr Mark Twain and bil comrades of the " Innocents Abroad " — though not quite so lively--was lecently encountered at Cairo, by an American writer. The traveller in question was an English lady, who had engaged a boy to conduct her to the mosque of the Sultan Haman. A dragoman, indignant at the violation of his rights, called out. " Do you think that lad will be abe to explain to you anything you are going to see " 1 " The Englishwoman turned her smiling face. I fancied she would be angry at the impi-rtinencp, but she was Dot. Bhe had that absolute comm >nd of hers 'If and of the situation, which is the birthright of her race. 'It ia prtcisely because I know he can explain nothing that I take him with me,' she said. If I could be equally sure of your silenc , I should be willing to take you.'"

A remarkable paspage in the address to the British Association receniy deliver d by Dr Douglas Galtoa, the president, is that relating to electricity. "It is only within the last few years," be payi, "that we have begun to realise tt at electricity is closely connecttd with the vibrations which cause heat and light, and which seem to pervade all space— vibrations which may be termed the voice of the Creator, culling to each atom and to ench cell of protoplasm to fall into ita ordained position, each, as it were, a, musical note in the hapmonioua symphony which we cah the universe."

A French missionary in China recently expressed himself «• follows— to one Mr G E. Morrison, an Australian traveller. So, at least, says Mr Morrison in bis book, " An Australian in China " :— "No Chinaman can resist temptation ; all are thieves. Justice depends on the richness of the accused. Victory in a court of justice is to the richpr. Talk to the Chinese of religion, of a God, of heaven, and hell, and they yawn ; speak to them of business, and they aro all attention. If yoa ever hear of a Chinaman who is not a thief and a liar, do not beheve it, Monsieur Morrison, do not believe it ; they are thieves and liars, every one."

One note only of humility do we find in the address delivered last week by the President of the Women's Franchise League. It referred to the capabilities of those women who, in 10 or 15 years might perhaps become members of Parliament. The President, however, although in a rather mixed sort of way, has disclaimed on the

part of her Bex all desire for such honours. The lady's humility was shown by the estimation placed by her on the Abilities of existing Members, to whofe intellec u*l level, she exprissel a belief. Bune women might possibly in 10 or 15 years attain. The Parliament now existing she denned as "The Wellington Farce of Follow my Leader to the tune of £240 a year," adding tdat no more ability was required forplaying the part of Member than for paying lawn tennis.

"Her Cherished Idol— Alice (sobbing): 'What cm be more cruel or heartrending than the disappointment a girl suffers when she discovers that her ideal is unworthy, that her cherished idol haa but feet of clay ? ' Kitty (consolingly) :'lt is terrible, my dear ;«n' Mr Notman's Toet were the biggest part of him,'"

Indifferent, meantime, as, according to the President, the Legislative Chamber ie, the Legislative Council is much worse. " A most material modification of their powers of veto " is the mildest correction which the lady proposes.

The address in short, was throughout a glorific\tion of petticoat government. In fact an improvement on that motto which these ladies propose for their combined political organisation " The New Zealand women's Federal Council" would be " Self-righteousness (rather than righteousness) exalteth the nations." These ladies cvi. dently regard themselves as strongly — even violently, exhaling the the odour of sanctity, and they are firmly convinced that on them —and on them alone — the salvation of the country, if not of the world, depends.

"A gouty old gentleman, after making his will, cilled his serviog man and remarked : ' Michael, I've left you in my will all the impudence I possess.' Michael : 'I'm glad to see by your generosity I inherit the greater part of your estate' ' Well, well, Micnael, you have come into your inheritance remarkably soon.' "

The Presbyterian Synod of Otago has a'so expressed a "down ' ( on the Legislative Council, Tbe Bynod'e temperance report lays it to the blame of the Council that the Liquor Bill introduced by Government has not been passed in a satisfactory form.

Of the cause of temperance generally the report takes a hopeful tiew. It thicks, however, that "the spirit of aggressive work i 8i 8 perhaps lacking " — in which probably old topers and their kind will discern something of a threat. The Clutba district is referred to commendingly and the Clatha report — to which we recently alluded as defective in grammar but gußhing in c nfidence — is quoted.

" ' My task in life,' said the pastor complacently, ' consists in s »v ing young men.' ' Ah,' replied the maiden with a soulful longing •save a good one for me.' "

Among the methods proposed for the advancement of the cause is another experiment on that corpus vile the schoolboy. He is to have a text book on alcohol sm and its tff .ct on the human system introduced into his course. No doubt it will be compiratively harmlees. The schoolboy, as a rule, ia not yet advanced eDough to seek a common relief from an enforced attention to dry subjects.

"'Schoolmaster: 'What's your father?' New Boy: ' Diad.' Schoolmaster: "No, no. What was he?' New Boy: 'Buried.' Schoolmaster : ' No, before that, I meaa.' New Bjy : ' Alive, sir.' "

The Legialative Council, however, remains under a cloud. It may be a question for Governors in fu'ure to consider as to whether sanctioning appointments to it does not involve a complicity in demoralisation. The majority of the hon Councillors are evidently) to cay the least of it, no better than f hey ought to be. It would be impolite not to receive tbe dictum of the Women's Francoise League) and disrespectful not to regard the Presbyterian Synod.

What are we to understand, therefore, of the defensive condition of New South Wales 1 Tbe Colonial Secretary says tbe colony was never in a better state of defence. He, at the same time, accep'e an authoritative statement to the effect that certain high military officers fail in qualifications and that large quantiti.s of tbe powder on hand are useless. For efficient defe oe, he explains, there must bj a larger expenditure. On the whole it seems reasonab'e for us to conclude that — if, in the respect in qusstioa, there was never a beUer Btate of things, bad, as the saying is, has been the best.

Lord Salisbury boasts great things of the late eke ions. He claims them as the turning point in the political history of the Empire. There is, however, a turn down as well as a turn up. Lord Salisbury must wait a little while to realise which has been taken. Meantime, he promises aid to the farming industry. He evidently judges, and judges rightly, that a steadier and less critical support

might be gained in the country districts than in the towns. Foreign opintoD, as we have seen, expected something — it did aot exactly know what — from Lord Salisbury. His Lordship's Appeal to the conservatism of Hodge— through his personal interests— is clever, if — considering (he power attained to by the towns— it is not too late.

" Magistrate (to prisoner): 'Way did you leave that town?' 'Didn't ihit.k I w is strong enough, your worship, to bring the town with ra<\, He was sent to prison for fourteen dsyß in order that he might guess again."

Sir Robert Stoui'a periodical charge against tbe Government, with respect to advertisements, is not borne out by the Parliamentary returns. From the eit may be seen that the Opposition papers have bad a very fair share in the plunder. We do not know that it is the first time for Sir Robert Stout to make a mistakeperiodical or otherwise, We should be rash to predict that it would ba the last. Still, they Bay, it is never too late to mend.

Here is news that seems to promise at least a postponement of any immediate breach of the peace. The Czar, we are told, has fixed his coronation for May 18. If the Czar can help it, then, nothing will occur during the intervening months to prevent the ceremony from taking place or to mar its splendour. Those who recollect the Crimean war will remember tbe coronation that followed it— that of Alexander ll— as particularly marking the reconciliation of Russia with her late enemies. May the coming event be more propitious still, as further promotive of friendships that have not been broken.

On dit, that a uniform consolidated debt, proposed for colonial federation, would save, ia interest, one million per annum, or sufficient to C'>ver the cost of federal government ; that a man at Ballarat named Kelly has invented a torpedo to fly as well as dive, and render protecting nets useless to ships ; that French opinion pronounces Bussia unlikely to neglect a chance of squeezing Obina ; that an expedition of British troops against the ABhantees is impending ; that the French htve annexed certain islands in the Society group ; that it should be cheering to Mr Seddoa and others to learn that the Dunedin Women's Franchise League take a " watchful interest " in them.

Tbe bicycle also, it would appear, has baen pressed into the service of Satan. Not that, in horns and hoofs — with a tail or without it, — a. tail, too, would form a remarkable adornment for the wheels, he visibly figures on them. But invisibly be occasionally sits behind, or, possibly, avoiding the tradiuoaal place of his offspring, pallid death, before the rider, directing his course. The bicycle also, in a word, is made an instrument of Sibbath-breaking. So much we learn from the report on religion delivered to the Presbyterian Synod. Religion generally, in fact is not in quite so flourishing a condition as v might be. But here is the climax :: — ■' Pleasure-seeking is also spoken of as involving serious desecration of the Lord's Day. It appears in several forms, such as bicycling, fixing football and cricket matches on a Saturday, feasting the visiting teams afterwards, and sending them to their homes on Sunday not always in the best mood for being considerate of the feelings of othera. Shooting and fishing are also ludulged in by som\ Eveu amongst professing Christians, who have a regard for iha sanctity of th^ day, it is reported tbat Sabbath visiting, not for religious edificatioD, but for ordinary social intercourse, is common,

" Bacon : ' Did you notice Miss Fussanfeathers on her wheel to-day V Egbert : ' No, I didn't, and she ran into me.' "

Sanily, then, can take strange shapes. So much, at least, we seem to gather from the following cablegram, dated London, October 29.

" The Lunacy Commission has released Miss Lanchester, aged 2-i, whom her parents seized and coofiaed in an asylum owing to her desire to live with Socialist agitators without marriage."

A defeat of the French Ministry took place last week, by a momentary union of Socialists and Conservatives, on a question of inquiring into a recent railway ec ndal. A new Ministry has consequently been found, with M. Bourgeois for Premier. Under the circumstances cf the times the new Minister for War may possibly Also attain to exceptional prominence, He is M. Cavaignac.

An official announcement his been made of the engagement of Princess Maude of Wales to the son of the Crown Prince of Den. mark— the prince, that ie, to whose ra ional ideas of homan nature, even as contained in royal v ssels, we referred a week or two since. His royal consort, perhaps, may give him a belter conceit of himself. The marriage, meantime, will be, once more, a family affair — bride and bridegroom being fi st cousins.

Mr Ward then, still considers himself a mao of honour. So we perceive from his protest last week that Mr Dathie had placed hiß (Mr Ward's) honour at stake. The occasion was Mr Dutbie'e charge that Mr Ward bad been detected iv confabulation on the wharf in Wellington with Mr John Murray— the subject being necesearily some nefarious plotting connected with the Banks. Mr Ward, it must be admitted, waxed somewhat hot on the matter, bnt not hotter pprhaps, than the circumstances excused. The hon gentleman was able to give quite another account of himself than that which Mr Dathie had received. But a man who remains conscious of rectitude, in spite of all the assurances to a contrary effect that Mr Ward has received, may at leabt be accredited with some considerable strength of character.

The Emperor William appears to be less sensitive to ridicule abroad than to that at horns. A cablegram, under date Berlin October 30, runs as follows :— " Dierle, eiiior of the Vorwarts Berliner Volfoblatt, a daily newspaper, has b. en sentenced to six months' imprisonment on a charge of Use majeste in ridiculing the Emperor's remaika at the Sedan ceremonies." Such a tyranny of conceit must necessarily deserve the laughter of 'he world. Its effects in Germany may possibly be more serious.

Consistency is always to be ad mi re i. It may perhaps deserve special admiration when it is shown by people whom, as a rule, it does not characterise. There, for example, is Sir Robert Stout. He has been consistent to the last, His speech at the close of the session, which took place last week, was as full of dissatisfaction and complaint aa thoße generally delivered by him since the Ministry assumed their present form.

Sir Robtrt said, in effect, that everything was wrong and that nothing had been done. With regard to this, however, Mr Ward rather had him. The Government, he said, had carried important Bille, notwithstanding the persistent opposition of Sir Robert Stout and other Opposition Members.

We may point out, too, in passir g, that Sir Uobert Stout has been impolite enough to give a flat contradiction — indirectly indeed — and, no doubt, unintentionally, to the ladies of the Franchise League, who had accredited the Government with a great deal of useful work — laying the blame for any failure on the Legislative Council. This however, was but a s ight inconsistency with the well proved admiration of Sir Rjbcrt for the qualificatory of the sex.

Where a groundless, and a rather petty res, ntnv nt against the Government is concerned Sir Robert Stout has be n c nsistent throughout.

On, dit, in Russia, that Great Britian is seek'ng a pretext to declare war against China ; that the plague of rabbits is increas ng *n Victoria; that owing to the drought the prospec's of the whtat harvest in Australia are gloomy; that th^ situation in Turksy has depressed the continental bourses ; that the present value of alienated lands in New South Wales is £140 800,000; that Messrs Huddait Parker and Co will obtain an imperial subsidy of £75 000 for a Cana-dian-Pac.fic service.

M, Rourgeous seems desirous of signalizing the beginning of his Premiership by a bold strokt of policy. It would seem that bis plan is to declare an annexation of Madagascar without any conce >liru>nt> and to edtttbli&h a cjlonial army. The Press is reprrseuiel as hostile to the Ministry — and more especially with respect to 'he exclusion from office of M. Hannotaux, as likely to endanger fore go relations. M Harm itcux had opposed an annexation of M-tda^si-car. Are we therefore, to conclude — and pos&ibly with con^ratu sUio-iS — that a Ksi vigorous foreign policy commends itself to France?

The impe- dine campaign against ihe Ashantees appears to b" a source of enthusiasm. Officers of all rank?, we are informed, are offering their services for it. It is to be hoped that Lord Wolselry, by bis wieduni in directing the matter as Commander in Chief, rnt)y add complc iog 1 lurela to the wieatb he won by his daring in years gone by.

It is reported that, to prevent the resignation of bis Premier. M. Stoil ff, who no doubt acts under Russian influences, Prinoe Ferdinand of Bulgaria consents to have his son bap'ised into the Russo-Greek Church. If this be true the Bulgarians have made a tai exchange. Prince Alexander was a mm j Prince Ferdinand is a poltro n,

General Booth seems to have rather doubtful views with regard to the disposition of people in New Zealand. He represent? them aa willing enough to countenance an amelioration of their own disreputable neif hbours, or "submerged section" as he calls it,— but not anxious to receive his over-sea colony. Tho General possibly concludes— and is right in concluding— that if he is considered worthy of confidence in the one case, he may be so considered in the other.

Meantime, is not General Booth moving somewhat slowly in the matter 1 Iv proportion as he himself advances in years, it would appear, doubts as the success of the colony may reasonably increase. The General is certainly possessed of very uncommon powers aa an organiser and leader. His sincerity also is unquestionable. Who shall answer for his successor? The over-sea colony, without the personal superintendance of General Booth, might seem open to bob* picion.

The eitnation in Turkey ig increasing in gravity. A plot for the murder of the Sultan has been detected among the guards of the palace, and his Majesty is said to fear a Moslem rebellion. The Armenians, too, are gathering in armed bodies, and show a menacing attitude. A fight of more or less importance teems inevitable.

A horrible caße of Iynchiag is reported from Texas, where a negro— who indeed had committed an atrocious crime,— has been burned alive. In this chbo too, crowds of lookers-on were present — a very sinister proof of the feeling existing among the people.

The attendance of childreu at the Catholic schools of France had increased from 916,253 in 1887 to 1.127.5G0 in 1892— an increase ol 211307. In the same period the attendance at the secular schools had decreased from 4,505,109 to 4,281,183 -a decrease of 223 926.

The kernel of the question of the re union of Christendom (sayß Cardinal Vaugban in a recent sermon) coosists in the admission of the Roman claim that the Pope had received by Divine right authority to teach and govern the whole Church as defioed in the Councils of Florence, Trent, and Vaticarj, and as set forth by Thomas Arundell Arcbb shop of Canterbury, in the formulary drawn up as a test of Catholic doctrine in 1413, and approved by the Convocation of Canterbury.

The essence of the Anglican position on the other hand and the raison d'etre of tbe Anglican Church (explains his Eminenoe) is the negation of the Roman claim. It declares that the Pope has njt authority by a Divide right bestowed on blessed Peter to teach and rule the whole Church of God ; that the Pope has no jurisdiction in England.

The whole question of re-union lay, therefore, within a nutshell. It was not question of examining and accepting a long list of Catholic doctrines. It was simply a question of the fundam ntal and e-sential constitution of the Church.

A French contemporary has recently published soma extracts fr. ra memoirs, brought cut in weikly numbers, by Miss Diana V»ugbao, aa an ex-member of Palladic Masonry. Miss Vaughan give" an interesting acconnt of a visit of some days paid by her to a convent— and of the kind consideration with which she was treated by the runs. She quotes the prayer of repentance and contrition wh eh, in the convent chapel, on the eve of beginning her work f wntinp, and befoie the Blessed Sacrament— longiog to make reparation for the outrages committed by her late confreres, she poured

forth from her heart to Almighty God. The prayer is of great beauty and fervour.

Miss Vaugban's special devoion is to the Blessed Joan of Arc :— " Vous Jeanne," she pray b, " vaillante et puce martyre, eoyez mon interpiete celeste et deTendeE ma cause devaut le tr6ie de Dieu. Portez mon amende honorable a Jdsoe, dont vous inscrivi. z le norn triompbunt k cole de celui de sa ties sainte Mere, snr votre e'endard et dites aa Tout- Puissant, au seul Tout- Puissant, gui vous a admis dans sa gloire, quo je lvi offre ma vie pour la conversion de quiconque me bait."

Miss Vanghan's identity was known to two of the nuns only. To write her memoirs she was obliged to retire into a secret retreat. The publication is of intense interest and high importance, unveilling, as it does, the mysterious and Satanic^ practices of the Luciferian Triangles,

A letter from a Catholic missionary in China to the Missions Catholiques narrates the inconveniences that may sometimes arise from the action of imprudent neighbours. The scene is laid at 8uTcbnen, where suspicion had been excited against foreigners by an operation unsuccessfully performed on a Chinese woman by a Protestant missionary. Other imprudences in the same quarter filled up the measure of discontent, and brought on an attack on the Protestant million, whose houses were burned down. The Catholic mission was then attacked, and the missionaries, the bishop especially, ill-treated. The whole missionary establishment, in short, — orphanage, church, and all— was destroyed. At the time at which the letter was written reports of violence agaiost the Christians were coming in from all tides, and the writer expressed himself as very uneasj.

A Bad state of affairs, too, was reported from Pekin. The peace bad done nothing towards amending matters. Deaths from hunger were no longer to be counted ; abandoned children were innumerable ; the orphanages were full, ard the purses of tht missionaries empty,

In cursorily looking over the mission report of the Presbyterian Synod, wejeame upon the.following paragraph— whioh, by the evident marks it bore of the boor and the ignoramus, arrested oar attention. On referring to the heading we found that the report bad been snbmitted by the Rev W. Bannerman, and that explained the matter.

Here is the specimen in question :— " Rumours are again current that the French are renewing their designs to obtain possession of the New Hebrides group, and increan ig iff uts are being made by French Romish priests to obtain a footing there. It is needless to Bay tbat success in either of thece directions would be highly injurious to the interests of the natives, and hinder their progress towards civilisation and their reception of a pure Obris ian faith. It is to be hoped tbat the British and Australasian authorities will strennously and 6DCC. Etfully retist the aggressive action of the French Government, who c agents the Romish priests are unlerstood to be."

11 French Romish priests," then, and Scotch " Holy Willies.' Between them it is, as the saying go^s. The choice does not appear very difficult,

As to the Rev Bannerman and bis sort, we fancy that even the most polite French official would know where, for example, deservedly and with the best effect, to plant on their respective persons the toe of his boot.

Dr Nevill, too, has been going in rather heavily— not indeed boorishly, though, perhaps, not altogether according to knowledge— in his Lordship's rather lofty style, in short, and with the pretty fancy, it not conceit, by which be is distinguished.

Was it, then, as marking his longing for unification that his Lordship assumed the tone of a Cnmming or a Baxter ? At any rate he entered upon an interpretation of prophecy and the signs of the times— finding especially in the loss of the Temporal Power a notable fulfilment— of exactly what his Lordship acknowledged himself doubtful. This fulfilment, he acknowledged, was far less evident than others. Let us hope the good Bishop may survive to see the restoration, which will certainly come in God's good time— and to puzzle his brains as to what it aleo can possibly mean.

Dr Nevill, we need hardly say, is much conceraed about the reunion of Christendom, chiefly concerned, however, that it should not take place in the manner proposed by the Pope.

Dr Nevill'a reliance here is once more on the Gieek Church— which he declares has not hearkened aad will not hearken to the Pope's appeal. The Greek Church, he says, in effect, does not recognise the Papal claims. But, says Dr Overbeck — a high authority on

the subject — " the Orthodox Church does not recognise the English Church to be a Church at all."

More to ;he point still, however, does Dr Nevill find the attempted reunion among the Wesley ans. And here, undoubtedly, we mast agree with him. The Church of England has much more in common with the Nonconformist sects than with even the most degraded of those Eastern communions — whose claim, nevertheless, to valid Orders and the Apostolical succession cannot be called in question.

Dr Nevill among the prophets, in s\ort, taking up the ton* of a Second Adventist or a Litter-day Saint, dots not seem very far off from the bosom of the spiritual family to which, as a matter of fact, he belongs.