-4-- [Under this heading we notice such Books of the
week as ham not been swerved for review in other forms.] The Legal Position of the Clergy. By P. V. Smith, LL.D., (Longmans and Co. 2s. 6d. not.)—Mr. Chancellor Smith has, it is possible, experience of the need that the clergy have of knowing their "legal position." Few situations are so apt to bring about an exaggerated notion of powers and privileges as a parson's, especially a country parson's ; in a town he is likely to hear the memento te mortalem cue. Dr. Smith adds a wise caution: don't go so far as the law permits. He gives information about the general status of the clergy, about the law of benefices, about the 'performances of various duties and functions, about the relation between the clergy and the laity, official and non-official. And he has a specially valuable chapter on "Divine Service." Some things mentioned in this are frequent occasions of illegal action. Not a few priests who take the Eastward position fail to perform the manual acts in the sight of the people ; many elevate them above the head in administering, and many make the sign of the Cross. The omission of lessons and psalms is common. In a church well known to the writer of this notice one of the special psalms was omitted on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Day. Much of the advantage of a fixed liturgy is surely lost if the form is not strictly followed.
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