nted its report. In that report the committee expressed the
"earnest hope that the Second Federal Council will make yet more
clear certain fundamental facts as to the churches of the country,
through their federation." And the first of these was "The fact of
the substantial unity of the Christian and Protestant Churches of
the nation."
No sooner was opened the discussion of the report, than that
word "Protestant" was challenged as if it were a mortal enemy.
"Why emphasize a word that is not a uniting but a dividing word?
a word that recalls a most unhappy and trying experience," said
one. "By using this word, you make it more difficult for many of
your Christian brethren to work with you," said another. Discussion
was soon cut off by a motion to resubmit the report to the
committee for revision eliminating the word "Protestant." And this
was so done as to express the "earnest hope" for the "fellowship of
Catholic unity." Then the report was promptly and unanimously
adopted, and with applause.
ORIGIN OF "PROTESTANT"
Now what is the meaning of such a transaction as that? What is
the meaning of the word "Protestant"? How came it
