Untitled - Electric Scotland

i86o-68] JUDGMENT OF THE ARCHES COURT 429
years taken a keen personal interest in all that concerned
the district, although his actual residence was in another
part of London. The case was sent by letters of request
to the Court of Arches, where it was heard in December
1867 before the newly appointed Dean of Arches, Sir
Robert Phillimore. On March 28, 1868, in a long and
elaborate judgment, the Dean of Arches decided, inter
alia, in favour of the legality of the Altar Lights, but
against the (ceremonially) mixed Chalice, and the censing
of persons and things. Immediately on the delivery of
this judgment Mr. Mackonochie wrote to Bishop Tait
as follows :
The Rev. A. H. Mackonochie to the Bishop of London.
" MY
"
ST. ALBAN S CLERGY HOUSE,
March 31, 1868.
DEAR LORD BISHOP, It is due to your Lordship that
I should communicate to you, as soon as possible, my intentions
with regard to the judgment of the Arches Court in the case sent
to it by your Lordship by letters of request. According to the
account of that judgment in the public papers, which I assume
to be correct, I am admonished to abstain for the future from
the use of incense and from mixing water with the wine, as
pleaded in these Articles ; and further, not to recur to the
practice, which I have abandoned under protest, with regard to
the elevation of the Blessed Sacrament, and the censing persons
and things. I have taken a few days to consider what course it
is my duty to take under this judgment, and have decided to
abide it by without appeal to the Higher Court, unless compelled
to do so by any act on the part of the promoter. It will I know
be most satisfactory to many of my friends that I should thus
accept the decision of the Highest Court which claims Spiritual
Authority, rather than appeal to a civil tribunal. At the same
time I cannot but feel the deepest thankfulness that a judgment
conceived in such a spirit of deep and true Catholicity should
have been pronounced at this time. It will do more than any
thing to calm the minds of those who have been much troubled
by many past events. Believe me, my dear Lord Bishop, yours
very truly and respectfully,
ALEX. HERIOT MACKONOCHII .."