Sir Brynmor Jones is introducing a Bill, one portion of
which is intended to make clear that Nonconformists cannot be refused the Communion in the National Church merely on the ground that they have not been confirmed. We regret that he has not adopted the form suggested by the repre- sentative and thoughtful body of Ohurchmen, including Archbishop Tait and several Bishops, who formed the Royal Commission on Ritual which reported in 1870. The Commis- sioners in dealing with this question recommended, with only one dissentient, that the proper way of settling the matter was to add the following rubric to the Communion Service : "2ut note, the foregoing directions are not to be held to authorize the refusal of the Communion to those who humbly and devoutly desire to partake thereof." That would clear up any doubts which a clergyman may now have as to the legality of giving the Communion to persons whom he knows to be un- confirmed. It has also the great advantage, as we have just pointed out, of having been recommended by a body of men as to whose orthodoxy and loyalty to their Church there can be no possible doubt, headed by one of the greatest of modern Primates.
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