Mr. Vance Smith has written a very manly and sensible
letter to the papers about the monstrous bigotry shown as to the " West- minster Communion." He points out that the recital of the Nicene Creed is not required in the administration of the Communion to the sick ; that no rubric prescribes that every communicant shall join in it ; and that though he did not join in it, he did not parade this fact, but simply mentioned it when reproached with his conformity. He thought the occasion a very special one, and wished to show by it the solemn spirit in which he undertook the work, and his honour " both to the Church and the Church's Lord." " The whole matter is one in respect to which I feel that to his own Master only every one standeth or falleth." That is the view we have always stoutly maintained, and it would be difficult to put it with more simplicity or less trace of resentment than Mr. Vance Smith. If the Com- munion does not represent a principle of personal unity in Christ higher than any dogmatic conception whatever,—it is greatly de- graded from its first deep significance.
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