EVENING COMMUNION.
[To TILE EDITOR OF MR "Sracraion."]
Sin,—The moderate Churchman has so little opportunity nowadays of making his voice beard that I venture to ask you to give publicity to the following facts. It has been my practice to attend evening service periodically at a certain church in my neighbourhood with a view to partaking of the Holy Communion thereafter, the church being one of the fast diminishing number at which one is able to enjoy this privilege. I have lately, however, received a personal appeal from the Vicar, asking me (in the kindest and most courteous terms, be it said) if I would mind discontinuing the practice, as he is very desirous of reducing the number of evening communicants as much as possible, with a view presumably to the ultimate extinction of the service as now held. He gives the exhaustion of the clergy as the main reason for his request, and there is doubtless much reason in this, in view of the early celebrations and numerous week-day services which the Church seems to require of its ministers. I cannot help thinking, however, that a determined effort is being made in high quarters to banish evening communions entirely from our English Church as being inconsistent with the practice of receiving the Elements while in a condition of physical fasting. I fully respect the feelings of those who prefer to take their communion at an early hour of the day ; but I cannot help thinking that it is a little inconsiderate on their part to endeavour to deprive those who prefer to com- memorate the Last Supper at evening time of their much- prized privilege, and to force moderate churchpeople to conform to a rule which is unacceptable and even painful to
Previous page
