in the declaration made (in my own hearing) at the Ritual Commission by that eminently cautious, moderate, and conciliatory Primate, Archbishop Longley. A proposal having been made to alter the rubric so as to enforce the Prayer of Consecration being read at the north end, the Archbishop rose, and, while explaining his personal non-adoption of the west side, begged the Commission not to touch the question, as any attempt to prohibit the practice would produce "exasperation" among the clergy. In consequence of this emphatic appeal the question was never again raised in the Commission, either during his primacy or that of his successor.
As to the Exeter reredos decision, all I will say is, that if it is to hold good, I cannot see how any prelate or public body can consent to retain possession of the illuminated MSS. or early editions of ancient service-books, which have heretofore been regarded as among the chief treasures of great libraries. The Act on which the judge relied, the 3rd and 4th Edw. VI., c. 2, which orders the destruction or defacement by a day named of images then existing, not of such as may hereafter be constructed, condemns with greater stringency the non-destruction or defacement of those books; for while it enacts fines and imprisonment as the punishment of neglect in regard to them, it omits to name any penalty for the non-destruction or defacement of the images.
