been that the highest judicial authorities have declared that the interpretation of the Ornaments' Rubric as above given is incorrect, and that when properly understood it only authorises the Surplice in Parish Churches with the use of a Cope in Cathedrals. But besides this, my own examination of the subject has guided me to the conclusion, that the interpretation which the Courts have put upon the Ornaments' Rubric is most probably the true one. I say. most probably, because the Rubric when carefully studied in its historical connection is undoubtedly obscure, and the interpretation must necessarily rest upon a balance of probabilities.

The view given by me of the Ornaments' Rubric did not appear to myself as having any very important practical bearing, partly because I could not expect my little plain uncontroversial book to be ever quoted as an authority upon such a matter, partly because I had expressed myself so strongly against the introduction of obsolete vestures, even though they might claim the sanction of the written law of the Church of England. I found however not long since, that my opinion and authority were solemnly claimed in favour of the legality.

of the Edwardian vestures, as they are sometimes called; and when this took place it seemed to me that the time was come, when the suppression of an opinion which I no longer held became imperatively necessary.

I do not think that I ought to trouble the reader of such a book as this Guide to the Parish Church with arguments concerning the interpretation of a document, which has given rise to so much controversy. He will find when he comes to the chapter on vestures, that I have omitted the passage, quoted above from the first Edition, but that I have substituted no other interpretation, confining myself simply to remarks arising out of the ordinary usage of the Church of England, and so preserving that practical tone which I have ever desired to make a characteristic of the Guide to the Parish Church.

Having determined to recall the book as it had previously existed, I further determined entirely to rewrite and recast the book. It seemed to me that in this way I could best deal with the general change of feeling and practice with regard to public worship, to which I have already referred, and avoid the danger of pro

ducing a book bearing evident signs of having been patched. This plan also offered the additional advantage of enabling me to make such insertions and additions, and to introduce such miscellaneous modifications, as may have been in any way suggested to my mind by the more varied experience which has fallen to my lot since the work was originally offered to the Church.

The "Guide to the Parish Church" therefore goes forth once again, as announced upon

its title page, 66 revised and rewritten".

In

some sense it may claim to be a new book; but it is substantially the same, and it appeals to precisely the same class of readers as before. To use words which occur in the Preface to the first Edition: "If the perusal of the book such as it is should lead any members of the English Church to a higher sense of their privileges, and a more reverent as well as more intelligent participation in the public worship of God, my end in writing it will have been attained."

H. CARLISLE.

ROSE CASTLE,

Advent, 1878.