Protestantism Shocked.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 191, 12 February 1887, Page 3

Protestantism Shocked.

The restoration of the north porch ot "Westminster Abbey (says our London correspondent) is now approaching completion! and, judging from what may even now be seen of the work, it promises to be in every way worthy of the ancient glory of that famous building. One feature of the sculpture is the introduction of the figures of the Virgin and Child on a pedestal in the centre of the doorway. Mr A. H Guinness, the Secretary to the Protestant Alliance, asks why " this image " has been " so con epio.uouely placed in the very face of all tbe worshippers who attend the Abbey ?" He is not satisfied when he is told that the erection of the figure of the Virgin is merely a restoration of one that was there in former times, but he fancies that it may have been set up in recognition of the protecting care of the Virgin over her devotees, or because the Dean and Chapter desire toconciliate Roman Catholic pilgrims. It does not appear to occur to Mr Guinness that there is such a thing as religious art and that it is possible to produce a presentment of the mother of the Saviour which would be free, as this is, from any trace of supersition. The Protestant Alliance and kindred bodies are also much exercised by the exceptional privilege which they say was granted on October 13 to certain Roman Catholic pilgrims to recite the devotional service of the ** Hosary of the Virgin " and the " Invocation of Saints" at the shrine of Edward tbe Confessor. Mine reasons are given by the Protestant Societies, in a letter to the present Dean, against the Popish innovations which he is supposed to have sanctioned, and they ask him to revert to the practice of his predecessor, who closed the Chapel which contains the famous shrine <m Edward the Confessor's Day. Mr duinness and his friends frame a formidable iudictment against Dean Bradley, who as little sympathises with sacerdotalism ac ever poor Dean Stanley did. The present Dean, in a very dignified letter, assures them that they have been misinformed, and that so sanction or ceremonial such as they have Imagined took place on the day in question. Be adds— " lam quite aware that amongthe numerous visitors to the tombs of the Kings some of our Roman Catholic countrymen iaave knelt for devotional purposes before the shrine of the Confepsor. But they had done this as individuals without any approach to a public service of any kind, and without unduly interfering with the throng of ordinary visitors. It is not our practice to discourage any visitor to the Abbey from offering private prayer within its walls or to ■ question those who oesumo the attitude of devotion as to the nature and object of their personal petitions." This i? the Dean's answer to the complaint, and with it he closes the correspondence; but the Protestant Alliance ip not satiffied, and is still haunted with ttie apparition of the Pcarlet Woman. Mr JBeecher has come and gone, but not without creating pome theological stir in the Nonconformist world. His parting message ■consisted of a protest against the Calvinistic idea of the Almighty as a Ood of retribution. He made other remarks in tbe same vein which might have been expected to make Jonathan Edwards turn over in his grave. All this excited the indignation of Mr Spurpeon, who, although ho now keeps the doctrine of election somewhat in the background, is still close'v identified with what Mr Beecber and Dr. Parker regard as the narrowest school of Christians. Mr Spurgeon dubbed Mr Beech6r "a blasphemer.' One naturally asks " Who made •Mr Spurgeon his brother's Judge ?" Moreover, many of hie admirers think that the application of such an ep'thet to Mr Beecher In a prayer in itpelt smacks of irreverence.