By Candlelight
Stn,—Rather than animadvert upon the Southall candle case, Janus might well have asked for more light to be thrown upon this curious affair. For example, it appears to have been stated in court that the Bishop had approved the scheme. Surely the Bishop's word must be final; why then was a faculty necessary ? After all the Chancellor is only the Bishop's agent. In any event a faculty can only be necessary for permanent additions to the walls or fabric of a church. It' is absurd to suppose that a faculty can be wanted for portable articles like candlesticks. Again, the _Chancellor's judgement does not seem to have been founded in law—whether ecclesiastical or secular—but rather upon his personal views and opinions. Candles, as a part of Christian worship—particularly in connection With the Eucharist— were abolished at the Reformation as being superstitious. Candles, it is true, have come back, but only by fraud and trickery. In order to make candles respectable in a reformed church they must be used solely for the purpose of. giving artificial light; that is why such strange and unusual argumentS were employed in the Consistory Court. Candles have always been used as a part of Christian Worship,_ as a perusal of the New Testament will show.. In the Old Testament sense candles show forth the great gift of light given by God. When complete darkness -covered the, earth the Lord said: "Let there be light," and there, was light Janus should be profoundly thankful that he does not have to pass his life in total darkness.—Yours faithfully,
13 Kings Hall Road, Beckenham, Kent. G. W. R. THOMSON.
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