"Letters of Business."

The Royal Commission, set up to deal with disorders in the Church of England, reported in 1906 that "Letters of Business" should be issued to Convocation with instructions to consider the necessity for the preparation of a new Rubric, regulating the vesture of Clergymen "At the time of their ministrations, with a view to its enactment by Parliament." A scheme was set on foot, by means of what the "Times" called "an honourable collusion" between the Bishop of Chester and the Archbishop of Canterbury, for the purpose of obtaining Canonical sanction for the use of Mass vestments. The scheme was nipped in the bud, however, by the powerful protest of the Laity. Of course, the object of the Archbishop was to secure the passing of a Canon, without consulting Parliament, which it was hoped might legitimate the discarded vestments in use before the Reformation. Eventually, through the action of the Church Association, a promise was obtained from the Premier, "That His Majesty would not be advised to consent to any such step until after a full and free discussion in Parliament itself of every proposed change."