Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/206

 the use for which it was originally intended. The font was no longer allowed to be the receptacle of dripping umbrellas, or to be adorned with the worshippers' hats and cloaks. The altar was respected as a Holy Table, and it was considered sacrilege for the wardens to count their offertories upon it, as was often the case before. Of course it was very hard work to restore these decencies of worship, and many were the protests raised against it. Riots and law suits arose over the legality of the doings of some of the clergy. Some of you may recall a few of these troubles. When Tait was Bishop of London he had many difficulties to meet of this character. Before this, when Dr. Blomfield was Bishop he was distressed at the events which happened at S. George's, London, where King was rector. The rector used vestments in the Celebration of the Holy Communion, and an organized conspiracy was set on foot to interrupt him in his services. "The rabble," says a writer, "unchecked by the Churchwardens, gathered strength; and Sunday after Sunday S. George's became a scene of rioting and blasphemy." &hellip; "The mob were masters of the situation, and held it for eighteen months, and the rector was driven from the parish." But these doings only served the purpose of a good advertisement. This brought the Ritualistic Movement more directly under the eye of the people, who in the end are bound to judge justly of all persecuted movements.

Opposition similar to this was raised to the new Movement at S. Alban's. The Dean of Westminster was sent to visit this Church by his old friend Bishop Tait, and he was to report on the doings there. "Well, Mr. Dean," said the