Untitled - Rore Sanctifica

22 The Exigency of Truth.
To pass by this objection, however, and
admitting for argument s sake that our position
in the west would seem to render relation with
the Western Church more natural, there are
several circumstances which must be taken
into the account. Our empire in the east and
west alike has brought us into close relationship
with the Greek Church. Our colonies in
America are on the west and north conterminous
with those of Russia. In China our missions
and those of Russia touch. Besides this, many
of our fellow-countrymen have now their
residence in Russia, and numerous Russian
families reside, and several Russian Priests are
exercising o their office in England. o We are
thus, from no seeking of our own, thrown into
certain relations with these Eastern Christians.
Further than that, the similarity of our
position in Christendom excommunicated
and denounced by the largest division of the
Christian family has necessarily produced
some community of feeling. Even Count de
Maistre, in his now celebrated passage, could
recognise the value of the Anglican establish
ment in this
aspect. He saw her in
prospect
touching with one hand those whom his own
Communion could not approach, and with the
other, the mother from whose tender embraces
she was for a
which seems
time
now
separated. This
to be almost a
passage,
sort of