REFUSING THE HOLY COMMUNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2060, 11 February 1889, Page 3

REFUSING THE HOLY COMMUNION.

A Commission, under the Ohuroh Discipline Ac, sat at 28, Great George ■'reet, Westminister, on Tuesday to Inqulre into and report upon a complaint made to the Bishop by Mrs Swayne, wife of Dr Swsyne, a parishioner of St. Wcrburgb's, Hbo.ln the Dloces? of Rochester, t r «t the Rev Percy George Baoson, 8.A. , vleac of the parish, bad refuted to administer to her the Holy Communion on the gronnd that eha sometimes attended % dissenting ohapel. Mr Buokmaster appeared m support of the claimant, and the Rev P. G. Benson appeared m person. The Commissioners were Mr Chancellor Dibdln (Chairman), Canon Oolion, R.D.; Oanon Burrows, the Rev B, R Wens'ey, and Msjor General Erskloe, Mr Buckmaster, m opening the ease, said that Mrs gtrayne was a member of the Ohuroh of England, and had regularly attended the ebnrobf and bad taken oommuuion there. Jn the spring, however, she began also to attend services at the Wesleyao Ohapel on Sunday afternoons. That being so, on March 11 the vlear wrote to her a letter, In whleh he stated that a report was •broad that she btd taken seats at the Hoo Dissenting Ohapel. .He hoped that this was not true, for that auoh oonduot was sjoblsm. and was Incompatible with the administration to her of the Hcly Comnuoion. Mrs Swayue did not reply to thi* letter, and on March 18 Mr Benson wrote to her again as follows :— •' As you have not replied to my note of the llfcb, I am thinking that possibly you have •ome intention of presenting yourself at the altar,. And It seems to me that my former note did not perhaps express with anfflelent cltsrness my resolve not to admit yon to Holy Communion until yon gnu to lira m year present state of wilfol sohism aid separation from the Church. It is right that I should give you ample warning of my Intention, and, tfeatefon, I hereby give it Even if the ntbrlo did not require me, at it does, to give my bishop notice of my intention, ay own wish would lead me to do io. Unfortunately, his Lordship is now •broad, bat I shall take the first opportunity of laying the «a«a before him. 1 am acting entirely from a sense of duty sad of faithfulness to my ordination yows, which require me to the best of my power to uphold the Obaroh's discipline as well as to presoh her doctrines " Thereupon Mrs Swayne sent noiioe of her intention to present herself for Communion on May 6. On that dsy she attended, Mr Benson pissed her over. Evidence was about to be caUad, when the Chairman suggested thai both sUUs might agree to certain admiisiooa. This was done, and it appeared that the faots were practically undisputed. Mr Beoaon In addressing the Oommfstioo, «»Id he rested bit case purely npoo the question of sohlsm. Mrs Swayne bad separated hersol! from the Oharoh, and was not entitled io receive the Sscrament. She had even received the Obapel Communion. The Chairman asked whether schism was mentioned m the canons or rubrlos as a lawful causa for a refusal of the Communion, and he pointed oat the speoifio offenoes named In the Pr»yer-Bjok aud canons by which aoeh aotlon oonld bu justified. At tho conclusion of the arguments, the Commissioner* deliberated In private for some time, and then annonnoed thatjthere was • ptima fade case foe further proceedings. —"Record."