THE FREE CHURCHES [To the Editor of Tim SPECTATOR.] SIR,---T
happen to possess a copy of" The Form and Order of Their Majesties' Coronation" used for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. (I presume that a generally similar proce- dure was followed in the case of King George V and Queen Mary.) It consists of XIX Sections, of which "The Com- munion" is Section XVIII. Allowing, of course, that the Sacramental portion can only be taken in an Anglican church by ra priest in Anglican orders, it is evident that ample scope exists in the other sections of the long and elaborate service for the participation of clergy of other orders. Mr. G. W. R. Thomson's argument that only Anglicans can properly officiate in this national sacrhig of our common Sovereign therefore Jacks validity, 04 If this " non-disqualification " applies to the English Free Churches, a fortiori does it attach to the Church of Scotland, whose s" established" position in the eyes of the State is equal with that of her southern sister? Moreover, when conducting worship, non-episcopalian ministers do not wear " secular academic gowns," but their proper ecclesiastical garb. " The aesthetic point of view," therefore, need not be perturbed.
In kindly hoping that representatives of other Christian communions may be invited to the Coronation "as guests," your correspondent fails to recognise the realities of the situa-
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