FOR PROTESTANTS TO PONDER.
By W. N. G.
A COMMITTEE of a Catholic society in Norwich, Conn., have found occasion to express to the Protestant pastors of that city a great "respect for, and confidence in, the Christian gentlemen of all denominations whose lives are consecrated and devoted to the spiritual welfare of the people" of that city. There had been a note sent to the society, in the name of the pastors, inviting the members to attend the revival meetings of B. Fay Mills, who, it was alleged, would "point out the error of their idolatrous Romish worship." The society had divined that the note was a forgery, and in connection with the above-quoted expression of confidence so assured the pastors. Of course the object was to get a pat in return, and they got it, in part as follows:— "We profoundly appreciate your unwillingness to believe us capable of an utterance so uncongruous with the spirit of tolerance and charity, which are the characteristics of our common Christian faith. And we beg you to believe that we shall always study to maintain and strengthen those relations of amity and good will which should ever exist between those who call themselves by the Christian name. With assurances, gentlemen, of our sincere and cordial regard, we are your friends and fellow Christians." It is well to publicly disown a forgery prominently brought before the public, and for the injured party to absolve the one falsely represented in the matter, but the expression of a "common Christian faith" between Catholics and Protestants, and such a wonderful confidence in each other's work, indicates one of two conditions,—either an insincerity of expression, or an astonishing convergence of Protestant and Catholic lines. How those lines could come into such confidential and sympathizing proximity when "Rome never changes," is a problem for Protestants to ponder. W. N. G.