such matters, he has allowed the Communion Table to be altered so as to give it, as much as possible, the appearance of an altar, by bringing it from the wall, placing it on a step covered with the same coloured cloth as that on the table, which is crimson velvet, handsomely embroidered with gold, and in the centre of it IHS, and a cross is very conspicuously worked, which emblematic device had never previously been placed there, and is generally regarded by the parishioners as an injudicious novelty. Had this been introduced at a time when the minds of the people were less sensitive on such matters, I do not think I should have been justified in calling your attention to it; but, in addition to this and in defiance of the eighty-second canon, he only covers the top and sides of the table with a white cloth (which is trimmed with fringe, and I believe its fabric not to be linen) during the administration of the Sacrament, which is evidently done to expose that symbol of Romanism. It is quite clear Mr. Yorke understands the former part of the canon, where it directs the table to be covered with a 'carpet of silk or other decent stuff,' but he disregards the same plain directions as to the fair linen cloth; and, lastly, he has the responses intoned. This no honest mind can consider a compliance with the spirit of the rubric, which says they shall be said or sung. Your Lordship may, on first reading the above, consider the complaint trifling in its nature, as doubtless it is, when compared with others which must have been brought under your notice; but, as I strongly feel these are no times to introduce novelties into our services which can give the slightest assistance to our subtle opponents, I have reluctantly resorted to my privilege as a Churchman, in calling upon your Lordship's authority for protection from innovations in the services of my parish church, whether they proceed from mere whim, or from admiration of the tawdriness of the whore.' I fearlessly state that, in consequence of Mr. Yorke's almost incessant changes, the number of sittings let in the church are now less than they have ever been since Mr. Yorke has been rector, and VERY considerably less than at the death of the late rector."-pp. 7-9.

Meantime Mr. Yorke had thus defended himself to a third party, Dr. Evans :

"I broadly deny the fact that anything has been done in S. Philip's Church which, either in intention or to my apprehension, can fairly be said to savour of Tractarianism. I have never preached or taught what can fairly be construed as the peculiar theology of that school, and surely the teaching of the Church should be taken into consideration in all fairness, to prove the tendency or intention of any particular act which may seem to have a doubtful character. I repeat that the Bishop of Worcester has been present in the church, and seen and heard quite sufficient to enable him to judge of the character of the services; and he expressed himself highly pleased with the conduct of them. What I understand by Tractarian practices, as distinct from the ordinary conduct of the Church in times past, are the following:

"I.-Using the surplice in preaching.

"II.-Using the offertory and prayer for the church militant when there is no communion and no collection.

"III.-Turning always to the east when the Creed is recited.

66

'IV.-Intoning and chanting the whole service, as in cathedrals.

"V.-Styling the holy table The Altar.'"

"VI.-Bowing thereto, and placing lighted candles thereon.

68

VII.-Using and enforcing auricular confession.

"VIII.-Rood screens and such means of distinguishing the place of the clergy from that of the laity as peculiarly sacred."

And again Mr. Yorke thus recalls to his memory Mr. Tarleton's former objections:

"I do remember his mentioning that he thought the children's singing had fallen off; and that I adduced the beauty of their singing in the 'Sanctus' as a proof to the contrary, and added that Mr. Simms had composed it expressly for them, and I also remember his saying that it was an old composition, to which the children long ago were accustomed to sing the Anthem, 'LORD of all power and might.'

And in a supplemental note to the same gentleman, he enters upon this excellent defence of " the monotone":

"After I had recalled the remark about the singing, then suddenly it occurred to me that something was said about drawling the responses, but certainly no remark was made to indicate that this was considered in connection with Romanist tendencies. I may as well here explain that the children do (in fact) nothing more than they have always done, and as all charity children do wherever I have been, except that they do it better and more musically. Formerly each drawled' in his or her own key, and was discordant; now they are directed by the Organist, and speak together on the same note of the voice, and the result is, in my humble estimation, far more pleasing than formerly. If this is thought to contain some ' Romanist Tendency,' all I can say is I am ignorant of it, and wholly guiltless of any intention but that of making the service as pleasing (within the limits and in the spirit of our simple and beautiful Ritual) as I might. Excuse this additional matter, but I should have been sorry to have omitted anything that was due to Mr. Tarleton.

"GRANTHAM M. YORKE.

"The children do not respond one note in the Psalms, except it may be accidentally."

Our readers will scarcely be prepared, however, to find the Bishop of Worcester, in his reply, thus stoutly maintaining a sound ecclesiology :

"The first, [objection] that the versicles after the LORD's Prayer in the Morning Service are sung and not said,' is almost too trifling to deserve notice. It is not strictly correct, still there is nothing Tractarian in it, as it is, as far as it goes, a deviation from the Rubric, of which the Tractarians are notoriously the most strict observers. Still, as it has been objected to by one of his congregation, I will request him, for the future, to have these versicles said. The second complaint is not more serious than the first-that after the Third Collect a Psalm or Hymn is sung instead of an Anthem. This is constantly done in all Churches. Probably, the Anthem is directed to be used as a guide to Cathedrals, where a regular choir is employed; but in Parish Churches it is more usual to sing a Psalm or Hymn, on account of its being so much easier of execution. The Third Complaint is the singing of the Sanctus, instead of a Psalm or Hymn, before the Communion Service. This I have myself heard; and I think the effect so good that I should be very sorry to have it discontinued. With regard to your fourth complaint, that Mr. Yorke has had the Communion Table altered so as to give it the appearance of an Altar, by removing it from the wall, I must inform you that Stone Altars, as they appear in some of our Churches, (viz., Worcester Cathedral,) are usually attached to the wall. The removal of the Communion Table from the wall cannot, therefore, have been done for the purpose of giving it more the appearance of an Altar; and, as to the I H S worked on the Altar

Cloth, this is to be seen on too many of our Communion Tables to be considered objectionable. I do not approve of crosses being ostentatiously introduced where they have never before been; but I should as soon object to the Cross on St. Paul's Cathedral as to its use on the Cloth used to cover the Communion Table, which is no innovation, but may have been seen on such Cloths, probably, at any time since the Reformation. Again, when the Canon directs that the Table should be covered with a fair Linen Cloth during the Administration of the Sacrament, it is not meant that the legs of such Table should be all concealed by the said Cloth, but that the top, upon which the Elements are placed, should be so covered."-p. 12.

For such Tractariauism his Lordship is well rated by Mr. Tarleton :-

"Your Lordship admits the Sanctus' is not in order, but on account of its effect,' you should be sorry to have it discontinued.' I would humbly submit that these are no times to be introducing unauthorised novelties, because ANY individual may 'think the effect so good.' With regard to the removal of the Communion Table, or as you prefer to name it Altar,' from the wall, I was fully aware of the fact alluded to by your Lordship. I merely mentioned that circumstance to aid my describing the effect produced. You state that you do not approve of crosses being ostentatiously introduced where they have never before been.' You do not appear to have understood me with regard to this Romish emblem. It is a novelty introduced most injudiciously into our parish church at this particular time, and is very 'ostentatiously displayed, and yet you do not advise its removal. You do not refer to the fabric of the white cloth. The mode of placing it on the table was slightly improved on Sunday last-it then did not reach the platform or step at the sides, and was brought rather lower in front, so that the deep fringe just touched the top of the cross, which is still ostentatiously exposed. On the whole, this cloth had the appearance, and irresistibly reminded one of an ordinary toilet cover. Your Lordship also omitted to express an opinion as to the intoning of the responses.”—pp. 14, 15.

A second demand elicits something further from the diocesan :

"I told you in my former letter that the only point among your charges against Mr. Yorke, with regard to which I should require him to make any change, was the practice of having the versicles after the LORD's Prayer in morning service sung instead of being said; this, though a very trifling matter, is not, I think, quite correct, as the congregation are at the time all kneeling. I have, therefore, requested that it may be discontinued, and that the organ should not play till the Doxology immediately before the 'Venite.'"— P. 16.

But as the Bishop refused to interfere further, Mr. Tarleton, against the wish of the Bishop and of Mr. Yorke, publishes the correspond

ence.

It would be insulting to our readers to do more than commend the above extracts to their entertainment. It would be indeed difficult to determine which of the three parties displays the greatest number of ritual blunders and ignorance. But there are some excellent admissions, made by his Lordship, which must be remembered.

216

ECCLESIOLOGICAL LATE CAMBRIDGE CAMDEN SOCIETY.

MEETINGS of the Committee were held on April 28, and May 21, 1851, and were attended by the Rev. Dr. Mill, V. P., Mr. Chambers, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. France, Sir John Harington, Rev. T. Helmore, Rev. G. H. Hodson, Mr. A. J. B. Hope, M.P., Mr. Luard, Rev. J. M. Neale, Mr. Strickland, Rev. B. Webb, and Mr. Wegg Prosser, M. P., and for musical purposes, the Rev. J. L. Crompton.

J. Leonard Fish, Esq. of Wantage, was elected an ordinary member. A sub-committee was nominated to examine, and draw up a report upon the Ecclesiological aspect of the Great Exhibition, to be read at the anniversary meeting; for which the time was fixed, and various arrangements made.

Sir Charles Anderson forwarded for inspection a sketch of part of the pavement of Thornton Abbey, composed of five incised crosses, laid contiguously, and marked with an octagonal plan, as if of a pier of that shape.

Mr. Gordon communicated an interesting account of an ancient embroidered cope, supposed to be of Hungarian work, now on sale at Stockholm.

Letters were read, among others, from the Rev. J. F. Bourne, Rev. Dr. Nicholson, Rev. D. Fraser, Rev. Bryan King, Mr. Giles, Mr. Withers, and Mr. Warrington; and some applications for pecuniary aid towards restorations were refused.

The Committee was consulted about a new church for S. Helena, proposed to be entrusted to Mr. Carpenter, and inspected the designs of a wooden church for Otago, by Mr. Hugall, for a school at Inkpen, and a parsonage at Treverbyn, by Mr. Street, &c.

Some conversation took place about the possibility of obtaining designs for timber churches from Dahl's work on the Wooden Churches of Norway and some subjects for the Instrumenta Ecclesiastica were approved.

:

The New York Ecclesiological Society applied, through their Secretary, for tracings of the Society's church-plate, they having established a manufactory, on true principles, at New York.

THE twelfth anniversary meeting on Thursday, May 22, was held at the Music Hall, in Store-street. The chair was taken at half-past one, by the Archdeacon of Bristol, president of the Society, and the meeting was most numerously attended, many ladies also being present. We noticed, among others, F. H. Dickinson, Esq., A. J. B. Hope, Esq., M. P., F. R. Wegg-Prosser, Esq., M.P., Sir John Harington, Bart., and Lady Harington; H. S. Le Strange, Esq., Rev. W. Scott, Rev. B. Webb, J. D. Chambers, Esq., Rev. T. Helmore, W. C. Luard, Esq., Rev. J. F. Russell, R. C. Carpenter, Esq., Rev. W. H. Walsh, Rev. W. U. Richards, Rev. Dr. Dean, Rev. J. Murray, Rev. J. L. Crompton, Rev. T. S. Evans, H. Parnell, Esq., H. Webb, Esq., J. F. France, Esq.,

G. E. Street, Esq., R. J. Withers, Esq., W. White, Esq., P. Boyce, Esq., Rev. S. S. Greatheed, &c. &c.

The annual report was then read by the Rev. B. Webb, the secretary. "THE Committee of the Ecclesiological Society, in meeting the members on this, the twelfth anniversary, have first to report that the society has lost, during the past year, one of its episcopal patrons, the Bishop of Nova Scotia, by death, and several members in consequence of a call for arrears of subscription, besides others, including some members of the committee, one a vice-president, from more painful reasons. The losses, however, have been more than supplied by the election of sixteen new members.

Mr. Bevan, who was elected treasurer immediately after the last anniversary meeting, was obliged, in the early part of the present year, to resign his office, on the grounds of the inconvenience of his residence in the country, and his expected prolonged absence abroad. The committee accepted, with regret, his resignation, and elected Mr. Luard, one of their number, to fill the vacant place. The new treasurer will be able to present to the meeting a very satisfactory financial statement.

"The committee have made a small grant of five pounds to the project of filling with stained glass one of the windows of the Lady Chapel, at Hereford, in memory of the late dean of that cathedral; and a grant of ten pounds to the very interesting restoration of the round church of S. John, Little Maplestead. This latter grant was intended originally to be applied towards the expenses of the proposed coloured enrichments of the interior; but, at the request of the committee managing the restoration, who found unexpected difficulties in their task, it was agreed to devote it towards the completion of a screen. A complete set of the publications of the society has been. presented to the Library of S. John's College, Auckland, New Zealand; and another, at the request of the managing committee of the proposed Institution, to the Free Library at Manchester.

"With respect to publications, the committee have first to report the regular appearance of the society's organ, the Ecclesiologist. A sub-committee, appointed for the purpose, made careful inquiry into the financial state of this publication, and reported that if the society made no profit by the magazine, its publisher incurred no loss. They were unable, however, to suggest any scheme, owing chiefly to the great number of non-paying members on the society's list (many of whom had compounded when the sum fixed for a single payment was very small), by which the long desired project of delivering the Ecclesiologist gratis to each member might be put into operation. Several numbers of the Instrumenta Ecclesiastica have appeared, and testimonies to the usefulness of the series have been received from members resident in the colonies. A third series of working drawings for ecclesiastical embroidery has been published by Miss Blencowe, under the superintendence of the committee. The various publications connected with the Hymnal Noted are mentioned here in their place; but will be referred to again when the proceedings