IT WAS A MERRY JEST

IREGRET Frank R. James (September 12) has taken exception to my letter of the previous week. It was not meant to he taken too seriously. but rather as a "merry jest" alter the manner of my
illustrious namesake. Mr. James's reaction prompts a reply in more serious vein.
I would remind him that the sermon was preached in St. Giles' Cathedral at the opening ceremonies of the Edinburgh Festival. Mr. Muggeridge evidently used the vernacular this academic congregation expects on such occasions.
The important difference between this sermon and some of the recent articles of Mr. St. John-Stevas is this. If one strips away the rather fulsome vocabulary there remains much meriting serious attention and we are left with a glimmer of hope. Strip away the journalese from Mr. St. John-Stevas' recent contributions and much remains to disturb us with no "let-up" in the enveloping gloom. Muggeridge emerges as the optimist, St. John-Stevas the pessimist!
I'd rather be bored than gored.
It is all very well for followers of Pope Norman to imply he will stop us short of the abyss. They should bear in mind that some of us weaker brethren haven't their mental agility and may blunder on and over.... Are they equipped to rescue us when we have fallen and are in trouble?
My respects to Ss. Mugg and Stygiah. Thomas-More Davis London. S.W.20.
Mass for Czechs
S Czechoslovakia is so much in the news these days—some of your readers might like to join the Czech Community in London — in prayer for the unfortunate country — on the Feast of St. Wenceslaus — Sunday September 28 — when there will be a special Mass at Farm Street Church -at 5 p.m. Archbishop Roberts will preach. Last year we had a similar service in the Cathedral.
We also intend to have there a candle in barbed wire burning a symbol of today's foreign oppression.
J. Lang Si. (Rev.) Chaplain to Czech Catholic Commun ity. London. W.I.