The Court of the Archbishops began on Monday to hear
cases of disputed Ritual, in accordance with the directions contained in the preface to the Prayer-book, v,lich declares that when the clergyman and the Bishop cannot arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as to what is ordered by the Prayer- book the difficulty is to be referred to the Metropolitan for solution. The Court may not be a Court in law, but as it is admitted that both Bishops and clergy must obey its decisions if they are to remain loyal to their oaths, it has all the sanction that can be required or be of use to a spiritual Court. The want of power to enforce its decisions by fine and imprison- ment is not material. The cases which have been argued this week—those of Mr. Westall and Mr. Ram—involve the question whether incense may or may not be used ceremonially in the Church of England. Some of the evidence has been very curious, and of no little antiquarian interest. It appears that incense was used in Ely Cathedral as late as the end of the last century, and was then discontinued, not because of any Protestant protest, but because one of the Prebendaries objected to the smell and said it made his head ache. We cannot attempt to summarise the evidence, but it may be noted that the Archbishops conduct their Court with great dignity, good-sense, and patience. If it can secure the loyalty and obedience of the clergy, the Court will, we believe, be able to do all that is necessary for the restoring of order to the Church.
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