The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-03 00:00:00

RITUALISM AT ST. ALBAN'S.

An application was made on Thursday to the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council to declare that the Rev.
A. H. Mackonothie, incumbent of St. Alban's, Holborn, had
disobeyed the monition which had been served upon him
after the decision of the Privy Council in the case of
"Martin v. Maellonochio," by whiolk moinition lag was far_
bidden to elevate the paten and cup during the prayer of
consecration in the celebration of the Holy Sacrament, to
kneel or prostrate himself before the consecrated elements,
or to use Hinted candles on the altar during the celebra-
tion of the Holy Sacrament, when such were not required
for purposes of light. The members of the Judicial Com-
mittee present were the Archbishop of York, the Lord
Chancellor, the Bishop of London, Lord Chelmsford, Sir J.
Napier, and Sir• J. Colville.
Mr. A. J. Stephens. Q.C., and Mr. Charles appeared for
the promoters in the suit, viz., the Church Association.
In support of his case, Mr. Stephens was about to read
from affidavits which alleged that the practices forbidden
had been in force at St. Alban's Church on a certain Sun-
day in July in the present year, when Lord Chelmsford
isked if the defendant appeared.

The Rev. Mr. Mackonochie : I ask leave to appear in
person, my lords.
Lord Chelmsford : Very well.
Mr. Stephens then proceeded to read from the first affi-
davit, which alleged that at the commencement of the
morning service there were several lamps burning in the
chancel of the church, six candles in candelabras, and two
candles in candlesticks on a shelf raised a few inches above
the altar. These candles were extinguished shortly be-
fore the Communion Service commenced.

The Lord Chancellor : The monition forbids Mr. Mac-
konochie to use lighted candles during the administration
of the Sacrament. Your affidavits say they were ex-
tinguished before the office for the administration of the
Sacrament was commenced.

Mr. Stephens: The spirit of the monition was to forbid
the use of candles in a symbolical manner.

The Lord Chancellor : We must look to the letter of the
monition.

Mr. Stephens said after that intimation he would aban-
don the charge as regarded the use of candles. He then
continued to read from the affidavits that the Rev. Mr.
Mackonochie had disobeyed the other portions of the
monition, but their lordships pointed out that the affidavits
in question were by no means precise in their alle-
gations that at the time of the elevation of the paten and
the cup, and of Mr. Mackonochie prostrating himself
before the elements, these latter had actually been conse-
crated.

The Lord Chancellor : It seems to me that the affidavit
goes as far as this, that there was a prostration after the
bread had been consecrated, but no prostration after the
cup had been consecrated.

Mr. Mackonochie, addressing their lordships, said he
appeared under protest, for he denied the ability of the
Privy Council to issue and enforce the monition
in question. He then argued that the monition
was not in accordance with the terms of the Order in
Council. The judgment given against him in,the Arches
Court as to the elevation of the elements ordered him not
to recur to practices which he had actually given up
before the suit was commenced, and to those
practices ho had not returned. As to the
affidavits that had been read by Mr. Stephens, he denied
that they were correct—a fact which he could have demon-
strated by counter affidavits, but the notice of the present
hearing had been so brief.

A discussion then arose whether time should be given
for the production of these affidavits, the Lord Chancellor
saying that he supposed Mr. Mackonochie would be pre-
pared to make an affidavit himself.
➢ir. Mackonochie : Certainly, my lord.
The Lord Chancellor : I suppose Mr. Mackonochie you
mean to affirm that you have carried out the monition
in the narrowest sense ?

Mr. Mackonochie replied that that was so.
After deliberation their lordships decided that Mr.
Mackonochie ought to have time to produce the affidavits,
and adjourned the further hearing until Saturday next.

A Lancashire county meeting for promoting a me-
morial of the late Earl of Derby is to be held at Newton-le-
Willows early in January.

THE STORY OF A CIIRISTENING.—A. somewhat
singular incident occurred in the village of Kingsley,
Frodsham, last week. A little "
stranger " sck nets
appearance in the house of a labourer,
and as it was not
likely to live long, a parson was sent for, in order that it
might be baptised. After casting about, as is usual with
parents, to ascertain by what name the little one should
I.:e called, it was decided that it should be Frederick.
Accordingly the minister went through the baptismal
service, giving the child the desired name. A short time
afterwards a neighbour went in to see how " baby " was
getting on, when she horrified the parents by discovering
that the little one was a girl ! A too close attention to
the bottle was, it seems, the cause of the unusual mistake.
Of course the child will be requji:9d kere-jhrii4494.—
Cheiter .Guardian.