The result of the judgment in the case of "
Jenkins v. Cook" is that Mr. Flavel Cook has resigned his living at Christ Church, Clifton, rather than administer the Communion to Mr. Jenkins.
Five hundred and forty members of his church addressed to Mr. Jenkins a memorial begging him not to press his legal right, but to join some other church in the neighbourhood, where, as a matter of course, he would be admitted to Communion. This course, however, Mr. Jenkins appears to have declined to take, stating that he deeply regrets to hear that Mr. Cook is not prepared to comply with the law of the land and of the Established Church. It is his present inten- tion to apply as usual for Communion in his parish church, whenever it is administered after morning service. Thereupon Mr. Cook signed his resignation, saying that he could not con- scientiously give the Communion to Mr. Jenkins ; and having resigned, of course he cannot be required to administer the Com- munion to one who is no longer his parishioner. This is a bad ending on both sides, showing a want of magnanimity in both the victor and the vanquished. The victor should have waived the personal triumph, when he had fought successfully for the principle ; the vanquished should have hesitated to identify the " higher law " with the infallibility of his own judgment. Neither party conquered himself.
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