Page:Hints towards peace in ceremonial matters.djvu/12

8 to the decoration of our diurches with sculptures of sacred persons and scenes. Now, failing reversal, these two questions have lapsed into the contentious category. But I believe that I am advancing a reasonable proposition when I affirm that until they are recognised as allowable in themselves, there will be little prospect of stable peace for our Church. Those who feel deeply as to the position of the celebrant "before the table" can allege:—

(1) That the usage of the Universal Church (exception being of course made of those Anglican priests who have from time to time taken another position) points to the celebrant standing at the broad side of the Lord's Table, as the minister and representative of the congregation, offering in their name and in his own the commemorative sacrifice:—

(2) That the position of the priest in those old "Basilican" Churches, in which he stands at the further side of the altar and faces the people, is no exception to (1), inasmuch as in that case he faces the broad side.

(3) That the later usage, observed by the English Church before the Reformation, and by those members of it since who have taken the west side, is not, as falsely alleged, an attitude of turning his back to the people, but one of facing the same way as the people, of whom the priest is the præses and representative.

(4) That the usage of the Eastern Churches (