CHRISTIAN REUNION AND THE PAPACY.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE SPEETATOR:] SIR,—Dr. Macfadyen in the Spectator of January 4th does cruel injustice to Pius X. by the false light he throws on the Pope's words (quoted from La Croix) and the odious comparison he draws. The report professedly does not give the speaker's ipsissima verba ; and what he said was improvised and, spoken to his own, needed not to be guarded against sour misinterpretation. Whether to be exact it requires modification or strengthening it is impossible to say. One thing is certain, nothing could be more painful to the heart of the Holy Father and of all Catholics, or else more despicable, or, again, more ridiculous, than the imputation that the loyalty he claims to himself is comparable in degree or kind with the devotion he requires to his Divine Lord. The "evangelical" mind seems to be obsessed by Wiclif's notion that the Christian minister's one and only title to reverence is personal goodness. Where such a theory of authority prevails any attempt to lead ought to be credited with "egotism" not to say priggism. But to the Catholic the ministry appears primarily as official. The officers are apostles, or ambassadors for Christ, dispensers or stewards of God's mysteries, and as such, apart from personal worthiness, have a title to leadership. And they, deeply convinced of what they are, cannot but magnify their office and honour their ministry; especially their Head, believing himself heir to that tremendous legacy of privilege, " he that heareth you heareth Me," dare not do less than claim the loyal obedience of all who would obey Christ Himself—such egotism is laid upon him by his exalted office.
—I am, Sir, &c., EDWARD J. WATSON. St. Charles' House, Brentwood, Essex.
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