but it goes upon the principle that its validity "is a point which the Catholic Church hath hitherto avoided to determine by any synodical declaration." The words of the late Bishop Christopher Wordsworth of Lincoln may be also quoted as expressing the matured opinion of a ripe scholar and theologian, and as illustrating both the theory and practice of Conditional Baptism. "The Church," he says, "has not condemned Baptism administered by laymen, but I have no hesitation in saying that if I had been baptized by a person whose commission to baptize was doubtful, I should desire to be baptized with the hypothetical form by a duly ordained minister. *

Nothing can be gathered in favour of the validity of Lay Baptism, as conferring spiritual grace, from the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer. As a matter of fact these only deal with Baptisms performed by a "Lawful Minister "—either the "Minister of the Parish, or, in his absence, any other lawful Minister." And it should be observed that immediately before the prescribed questions as to the circumstances and details relating to a Baptism privately performed, in a time of extremity, there is a rubric which sanctions such questions only in the case of children who have been baptized by a lawful Minister— "If the child were baptized by any other lawful Minister, then the Minister of the Parish shall examine," etc. And, should it be asked why the Minister of the Parish is thus to enquire as to the due administration of Baptism by one of his own brethren, the answer is ready to hand in the wording of these questions themselves-" Because some

* The same Bishop expressed himself willing to confirm over again, after conditional baptism, a person who had already received the rite of Confirmation while she had only as yet been baptized by a dissenting minister. See Elwin's "Minister of Baptism," page 322.

things essential* to this Sacrament may happen to be omitted, through fear or haste, in such times of extremity,' therefore I demand further of you," etc.

For the meaning of the expression "lawful," as relating to the Minister of a Sacrament, reference should be made to the Preface of the Ordinal. There it is stated that no man shall be accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest, or Deacon in the Church of England, or suffered to execute any of the said functions, except he be called, tried, and admitted thereto, according to the form hereafter following, or hath had previously Episcopal Consecration or Ordination.

In the Ordinal itself the Baptism of infants "in the absence of the Priest" is specified as one of the functions that may be performed by a Deacon. But nowhere does the Book of Common Prayer hint at any other possible Minister of Baptism, who is neither Bishop, Priest, nor Deacon, or in other words, who has not received authority for administering this Sacrament from Christ and His Church.

66

some things essential" with the

* Compare this expression other-" which are essential parts of Baptism."

Prayers and Instructions

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