The Bishop of London's letter to the Rural Deans of
his diocese announcing the decision of the Archbishops, published on Wednesday, is in many ways a model document. After noting that the points under consideration had to do with
incense and moving lights, the letter continues The Arch- bishop, after hearing all that was urged on the subject, has concluded that there is no authority for these usages accord- ing to the existing regulations which apply to the conduct of Divine worship in the Church of England. This being so, it becomes a universal duty to abandon these usages ; they are matters which are in no way essential to Christian teaching, and they give offence to many." That is well put, and still better is the direction to the Rural Deans to communicate to the clergymen who have introduced the usages in question "my request that they will quietly abandon them, and will explain to their people that they do so at my desire. It is the duty of a Bishop to consider what is best for the whole body of the Church, and before this general consideration personal preferences must give way." That turns the judgment or resolution into a clear episcopal order, which surely cannot be disobeyed with a clear conscience by any who hold that obedience is due to a Bishop. We can under- stand an Evangelical hesitating to disobey an order from a Bishop couched in such terms, but not a High Churchman.
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