27 JANUARY 1872, Page 15

THE ATHANASIAN CREED.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPEOTATOR:]

suppose that no one, unless it be a Montague in love with a Capulet, believes that there is nothing in a. name. I believe that there is a great deal in a name, and that the name of Athanasius las given vitality to the "Psalm Quicunque Vult."

Now whatever be the merits of that remarkable document, it -certainly is totally unlike anything ever written by Athanasius the 'Great. On the other hand, the so-called Nicene Creed is Athana- -sian in every line.

Now let us give honest titles to our Creeds. Let the Nicene .Creed be styled in the rubric, " The Creed of St. Athanasius, com- monly called the Nicene Creed ; " let the so-called Athanasian

• Creed stand simply as the Psalm " Quicunque Veit," a title which is at all events accurate, and which does not prejudge the question • of authorship. I believe that if this were done, and the use of the latter left optional, the " Quicunque Vult" would soon cease to be heard, without any formal abolition. Let no man imagine that an Amended text and translation will render that symbol more accept-