ANGLICAN INTOLERANCE.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR:] SIR,—For some weeks during last year I was under surgical treatment in a nursing home attached to one of the great hospitals in London. It needs no words of mine to suggest that, as a resident for nearly thirty years in South Africa, I felt lonely and friendless at such a time in such a place. With joy, therefore, I hailed the intimation, conveyed to me one Saturday evening by a charge nurse, that an opportunity would offer early on the Sunday morning for my participation, if I were so disposed, in the Holy Communion. I accepted her in- timation with alacrity, and next morning was wheeled in my bed to the dining-room of the Home in readiness for the service from which I hoped to receive help and comfort. Another patient was there, and for more than half an hour we awaited the coming of the Chaplain. Finally I asked a nurse to ascertain what had prevented the arrival of the Chaplain. She at once made inquiries, and then returned to say that the Chaplain had been, and was gone again. Early next morning this gentleman came to my room to say that he felt that some explanation was due to me. It was that he had seen my name on the list of those desiring Holy Communion, and, knowing that I was a Wesleyan minister, had hurriedly left the place so as to spare me the pain of repelling me from the Lord's Table ! I was not in a fit state of mind or body to argue, but for some time I had to listen to his narrow talk on his duty and the exclusive nature of the sacred ordinance.
Can such intolerance be justified in a great public institu- tion? I bad some thought of inviting the attention of the Diocesan to the exclusiveness of his subordinate, but it occurred to me that the excellent nurse might be reprimanded for her action in suggesting participation in the Holy Com- munion to an "outsider," so I refrained. I think it right, however, to communicate the facts, even at this late date, to you, as an instance of what I must term bigotry. You fre- quently plead that the Established Church of England shall be comprehensive.—I am, Sir, 86c.,
[All true friends of the Church of England will be deeply grieved by this incident, presuming, of course, that the facts are as stated. We think that "Presbyter" made a great mistake in not appealing to the Bishop of London.—En. Spectator.]
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