The Late Arohbishop of Canterbury.

Manawatu Herald, 29 December 1896, Page 2

The Late Arohbishop of Canterbury.

A Home paper draws attention that the pre-eminent distinction of Dr Benson's Primaoy was hia judgment in the celebrated case of tha Bir-hop of Lincoln. It was heard in the Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop was it quired to cite the Bishop before hid Court for the following practices :— (1) The use of lighted candles when not required for the purpose of giving light ; (2) adopting the eastward position during the antecommunion office ; (8) mixing water with tho sacramental wine used in the Holy Communion ; (4) administering water and wine so mixed to the communicants ; (5) standing in such a position during the prayer of consecration as to hide the manual act 3; (6) permitting the singing of the Agnus Dei immediately after che prayer of the consecration ; (7) making the sign of the Cross over the people ; (8) rinsing the paten and chalice and drinking tha ablutions. Tha Arohbishop delivered an elaborate judgment in November, 1890, and prefaced it with some observations which bore with some severity on both sides, especially, ife was thought, on those who had initiated the proceedings. One party in the Church, be said, seemed to spend its tiina and money in " inde* cently" hiring persons to intrude upon the worship of another party for the purpose of espial. Eaoh party was blameworthy — the one for giving, tha other for taking, offence in connection with trivialities 1 . Public worship has thus become an occasion for internecine strife instead of a maans of promoting the fraternal union of mankind ; and the time, attention, and money of Churchmen had been diverted from the reil oontost with evil. Tlje judgment held that the use of lighted candles was legal, as also Ihe eastward position. Of -the oiher practices enumerated, 4 and 0 were deolared legal ; and v 8, 5, and 7 - tho sign of the Cross in, absolution and benediction— illegal, while charge 8 was dismissed.