At the present time, and during the present time’s singularly loose notions of manners, morals, and dignity of behaviour, it was perhaps to be expected that some one or other of the daily newspapers would, in sagacious appreciation of free “copy,” start a public discussion on the religious faith of this Christian Empire. It was perhaps as equally probable that considering the remarkable laxity of certain bishops and ordained ministers of the gospel generally, a “press” question should be put to the House of Tom, Dick and Harry--“Do We Believe?” Granting the premises, it was hardly to be wondered at that Tom, Dick and Harry should straightway arise in their strength and reply to the question,--and not only Tom, Dick and Harry of the laity, but Tom, Dick and Harry of the clergy likewise. Great was the discussion,--fast and furious waged the war of words, and the Penny Daily which provoked the combat was thus conveniently supplied with material for which the proprietors,--most of them Sons of Israel,--had nothing to pay. And now, the arguments being heard and ended, nobody is a whit the wiser, though some few may be several whits the sadder. For to speak honestly, nothing more reprehensible has ever smirched the career of an English journal than the fact that it should have lent itself to the advertized questioning of the nation’s religious faith. It was an open flaunting of infidelity in the face of the civilized world. To talk of the “conversion” of India, China or Japan, while a leading British newspaper openly invites the notoriety-hunting section of the British public to air their opinions of the Christian Faith in its columns, just as if the Faith itself were on public trial in a Christian country, is only one example of the many forms of utter Humbug in which we are nowadays so unfortunately prone to indulge. Our sometimes-called “heathen” ally, Japan, has lately taught us many lessons which perhaps we knew once and have forgotten, and which perhaps we need to learn again,--such as valour without conceit, strength without roughness, and endurance without complaint,--but one of the greatest lessons of all she has given us is that of her people’s pious reverence for the Unseen and Eternal, and their belief in the ever-present “Spirits of the Dead” whom they honour and will not shame. What a deplorable contrast we make in our pandering to the lowest tastes of the mob when, without a word of protest, we permit _our_ “Spirits of the Dead,”--the spirits of our gallant forefathers who fought for the pure Faith of England and sealed it with their blood,--to be degraded and insulted by a cheap newspaper discussion on the most private and sacred emotions of the soul, as though such a discussion were of a character suited to take its place among police-cases and quack medical advertisements! True, we are constantly being made aware that the British Press is no longer the clean, sane, strong and reliable institution it once was,