CONFIRMATION AND HOLY COMMUNION. Cro rex Mures Or MI spreraxoR. - .1
Sit,—The case of John Evelyn fully bears out the correctness of "A. CL's" contention. Evelyn was a convinced and loyal High Churchman, the son of wealthy parents, and an under- graduate of Oxford. Had confirmation been an essential condition for admission to Holy Communion, it would have preceded it in his case. Yet he received Holy Communion in 1637 (NB.—Laud had been four years Archbishop of Canter- bury), and was not confirmed until the end of 1639. Here are the entries in his Diary :—
"[1637] Upon the 2nd of July, being the first Sunday of the month, I first received the blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, in the college chapel, one Mr. Cooper, a Fellow of the house, preaching; end at this time was the Church of England in her greatest splendour, all things decent, and becoming the Peace, and the persona that governed." "[nag] 14th December. According to injunctions from the Heads of Colleges, I went (amongst the rest) to the Confirmation in St. Mary's, where, after sermon, the Bishop of Oxford laid his hands upon us, with the usual form of benediction prescribed."
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