RESERVATION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
Sin,—Sir W. E. Bowen writes in the Spectator of August 5th that it is "a matter of notoriety," a phrase apparently equiva- lent to "an open secret," that the unanimous opinion of the
Bench of Bishops has prejudged the question of Reserva- tion lately argued before the Archbishops. But if your correspondent is right, why should not Churchmen who have signed certain resolutions be informed on authority that they are only "concurring in that decision " ? Surely these open secrets are a mistake; notorious facts should be com- municated to all whom it may concern, and not suffered to leak out indirectly ; such a striking unanimity of opinion makes the Archbishops' solemn investigation of the matter almost a farce, and the long delays incident to the hearing of the case and the final judgment increase the impression of unreality. All that can be added to their decision is the reasons on which it rests, and it is not always wise to give reasons which may present loopholes to some ingenious minds. It is the authority of the Archbishops, and here, at least, it seems of the whole Bench of Bishops, which is challenged by all who venture to disobey, and the Church of England expects that the authority with which it has invested them shall be used peremptorily to restrain a lawless minority.—I am, Sir, &c., DIACONIIS.
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