of the ‘Free and Candid Disquisitions,’ urged the propriety of weekly celebrations.  And before the end of the century there was doubtless some improvement.  In many parish churches the general custom of a quarterly administration was broken through in favour of a monthly one, and in many cathedrals the Sacrament might once more be received on every Lord’s Day.[1146] But Bishop Tomline might well feel it a matter for just complaint, that being at St. Paul’s on Easter Day, 1800, ’in that vast and noble cathedral no more than six persons were found at the table of the Lord.’[1147] Before leaving this part of the subject, it should be added that, previous to the time when the Methodist organisation became unhappily separated from the National Church, the sermons of Wesley and his preachers were sometimes followed by a large accession of communicants at the parish church.[1148]

Kneeling to receive the Sacrament had been one of the principal scruples felt by the Presbyterians at the time when the great majority of them were anxious for comprehension within the National Church.  Archbishop Tillotson, acting upon his well-known saying, ’Charity is above rubrics,’ and in accordance with the practice of some of the Elizabethan divines, was wont to authorise by his example a considerable discretion on this point.[1149] Bishop Patrick, on the other hand, though no less earnest in his advocacy of comprehension, did not feel justified in departing from prescribed order, and when Du Moulin desired to receive the Sacrament from him, declined, ‘not without many kind remarks,’ to administer to him without his kneeling.[1150] After all schemes of comprehension had fallen through, the concession in question became very unfrequent.  A pamphleteer of 1709 speaks doubtfully as to whether it still occurred or not.[1151] A greater licence in regard of posture was one of the suggestions of the ‘Free and Candid Disquisitions.’

Through the Georgian period, a negligent habit was by no means unusual of reading the early part of the Communion service from the reading desk.  Dr. Parr, in 1785, speaking of the changes he had introduced into his church at Hatton, evidently thought himself very correct in ’Communion service at the altar.’[1152]

Even in Bishop Bull’s time the offertory was very much neglected in country places.[1153] Later in the century its disuse became more general.  There were one or two parishes in his diocese, Secker said, where the old custom was retained of oblations for the support of the church and alms for the poor.  But often there was no offertory at all:  he hoped it might be revived and duly administered.[1154]

Some remarks have already been made upon the traces which were to be found in a few exceptional instances, during the eighteenth century, of the Eucharistic vestments as appointed in Edward VI.’s Prayer-book.