THE CONFIRMATION TEST FOR ENGLISH CHURCHMANSHIP.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE ''SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In your issue of October 29th, 1910, I read with great interest and satisfaction the article by the Bishop of Carlisle on " The Confirmation Test for English Churchmanship." In it the Bishop obviously answers the question, " Can Noncon- formists be allowed to communicate by Anglican priests ? " in the affirmative. Perhaps, in addition to the technical proof of this position, it will be of interest to add an instance of the practical need of this ruling. On a long voyage a Wesleyan, for instance, is cut off from all chance of attendance at the Holy Communion such as his denomination administers. On board the ship in which he is sailing a priest is borne who celebrates weekly. The Wesleyan comes to the priest, and asks permission to communicate next Sunday. The priest knows the Wesleyan well, in fact for months he has been in regular attendance at the weekly Bible class. He is known by his messmates to he a man who does his best to live up to the standard which his Christian belief sets before him, in spite of all the disadvantage under which the.
services. It "converted Christian " labours on the mess deck. Can the is altogether priest, in answer to such an appeal as this, refuse the request?
Z. Certainly not. To do so would only brand the priest as a man of the narrowest mind amongst a body of men who are no mean judges of what is expected from their "parson," bat would also go a long way towards bringing into disrepute the Church of which for the time being be is the official repre- sentative. This question is one of vast importance not only to "those who go down to the sea in ships," but also to those who, members of the Bush Brotherhoods, wander up and down in the back-blocks of Australia, or, for that matter, of any other country preaching the Gospel and adminNeriag the Sacraments to people who, but for their life of hardship and constant travel, would never have the chance of meeting together at religious services which from their youth up they have been in the habit of attending.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Australia. C. J. E. P., Chaplain R.N.
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