HOLY COMMUNION AT THE CORONATION SERVICE [To the Editor of
THE SPECTATOR.] Sta,—In last week's issue Mr. Robert Bernays comments on the reception of the Holy Communion by the King and Queen in the presence of pagans. The same thought had occurred to me. In the early Church even catechumens were dismissed before the Canon began with the words " Ite missa est " ; hence the name " Mass " for the celebration of the Holy Mysteries. How much more would the early Church have been horrified at the thought of pagans being present throughout the service. How our ecclesiastical authorities justified to themselves this departure from primitive and catholic custom I do not know. Perhaps the " pagans " were in such a distant part of the Abbey that they could hardly be said to be " present " at the service. When one remembers that the Abbey is entirely taken over by the State in preparation for the Coronation ceremony, one wonders how far ecclesiastical scruples may have been overruled by " considerations " of State ; and I, for one, confess that I do not feel quite com- fortable about it.—Yours, &c., ROGER F. MARKHAM. Aughton Rectory, Ormskirk, Lancs.
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