TO THE EDITORS OF THE CRIMSON:-

IN the article on "English and Etiquette" there is quoted from the College Pen (the publication of Neophogen) this passage, -

"The Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Christians, and Catholics all have churches here"; and the comment is added:-

"We do not understand by this, however, that the Methodists, Baptists, etc., in Gallatin are really heathens, because they are distinguished from the "Christians." We do not see clearly the distinction, but we cannot believe that heathens form a large proportion of the inhabitants of a place where the public taste is so elevated as to frown down any immoral or insubordinate action."

The writer of that article is correct in his conjecture; because Christians are mentioned, the implication is not intended that the other sects are heathens. Permit an explanation of the distinction which the writer did not clearly see, and of the error into which he hesitatingly, but blindly fell. Without descending to detail, which the encyclopaedia will supply, it is simply necessary to state that "Christians," here used, is the name which one sect in the United States has chosen to assume. Their locality is Vermont, and the Southwest; their doctrines are liberal, and their creed is the Bible; although they cling to total immersion in baptism, yet they make it no test of fellowship. The first syllable of Christian as applied to their denomination is usually pronounced as in Christ, probably incorrectly, but this serves at least to mark a distinction in meaning. The word is not defined in its narrow sense by Webster. Ignorance of these facts is very pardonable, but a critic, who confessed to no clear understanding of the use of the word, should have avoided making a point based on such ignorance.

E. K.