Efforts to Unite the English and Roman Churches.—
A movement to unite the American English and Roman churches has been started in Boston by the Rev. W. H. Van Allen, rector of the Church of the Advent, one of the powerful Episcopal churches in that city. He declares that he had received letters from prominent clergymen who were favorable to such an alliance; one of which was from one of the intellectual bishops of Italy. “The only barrier that now stands in the way,” he declares, “is the claim made by Rome of supremacy and infallibility;” but he thinks that stronger walls than these have fallen in the Roman church and it would not be difficult to break down this barrier. Of course, he says, “the bishop of Rome would be the first of all bishops. Some day a converted pope will be content with that and abandon the other claims.” He continues that “the Church of England never ceased to love the church of Rome, and the wall that has been built up by centuries has been built up on the Roman side.” It is safe to say, however, notwithstanding the desire of Dr. Allen, that when the union comes, it will be compromise on the part of the Episcopal Church and not on the part of Rome.