cloth upon it, shall stand in the Body of the Church, or in the
Chancel, where Morning and Evening Prayer are appointed to be said.

The word 'fair,' applied to the white linen cloth in the fourth
paragraph of this rubric, means 'beautiful,' and does not exclude
adornment with embroidery.

The words 'upon it' require the cloth to lie upon the Mensa, or
upper surface of the Table, but do not require the whole Table to
be covered or enveloped therewith. The linen cloth is to be laid
upon the covering described in Canon 82 as 'a carpet of silk or
other decent stuff.'

Bishop Cosin states that "among the Ornaments of the Church that
were then (i.e. in the second year of Edward VI.) in use, the
setting of two lights upon the Communion Table or Altar was one
appointed by the King's Injunctions, set forth about that time,
and mentioned or ratified by the Act of Parliament here named
(2 & 3 Edw. VI. cap. I)." If it be contended that Bishop Cosin is
wrong in his opinion that the Injunctions were obligatory, we are
thrown back upon the universal custom of the Catholic Church,
which undoubtedly required lights to be used on the Altar for the
office of Holy Communion.

93. And the Priest standing at the North-side of the Table shall
say the Lord's Prayer, with the Collect following, the people
kneeling.

One Priest only is here spoken of as celebrating: there is no
authority for a change of the celebrant in the course of the
Service; and only extraordinary contingencies of the gravest kind
were anciently regarded as sufficient cause for such a change.
Special provision is made for exceptions to this principle, in the
pronouncing the Absolution by the Bishop, if officially present,
and for the making the General Confession 'by one of the Ministers.'
The Epistle and Gospel are also permitted to be read by Assistant
Ministers, in accordance with customary usage recognised in the
24th Canon. The assistance of other Clergy may also be required
for administration of the Elements.

Lay Assistants are not mentioned in this rubric, but the principle
of assistance to the 'principal Minister' being recognized in the
twenty-fourth Canon, there can be no objection to the ancient
practice of employing clerks or choristers for other purposes than
singing.

The term 'north side,' whatever was its origin (possibly the
re-arrangements consequent on the transposition of the Gloria in
Excelsis), acquired a meaning during the changes made