Dr. Cumming has actually succeeded in " drawing " the
Pope, who, however, does not write to him directly, nor acknowledge the receipt of his letter; but in an epistle to Archbishop Manning, explains how, having "seen from the newspapers that Dr. Cum- ming of Scotland had inquired" whether leave would be given to. Protestants to argue their case at the approaching (Ecumenical Council, and Dr. Manning having replied that this was a mattes to be determined by the Holy See, he (the Holy Father) takes the opportunity of pointing out that it would be quite absurd for the Holy See to discuss again errors which it has already considered, judged, and condemned. The Pope adds that, if by inspiration from above, Protestants should see their danger, and seek God with their whole hearts, "they will easily cast away all precon- ceived and adverse opinions," and "return to the Father from whom they have long unhappily gone astray." In that case the Pope will be too happy to "run to meet" the returning prodigal, and to welcome the dead who are alive again and the lost who are found. But "running to meet" them does not mean conceding anything to them by way of compromise. On the contrary, it means conceding nothing beyond a welcome to their repentance. Of course, the Pope, if he answered at all, could answer nothing else, but was it not inconsiderate of the Pope to answer at all? "Dr. Cumming of Scotland" will think it a feather in his cap even to have been written at by the Pope ; and we shall have to bear the unhappy consequences of his elation.
