n, until the end
of the general Prayer [_For the whole state of Christ's Church
militant here in earth_] together with one or more of these
Collects last before rehearsed, concluding with the Blessing.

135. And there shall be no celebration of the Lord's Supper, except
there be a convenient number to communicate with the Priest,
according to his discretion.

136. And if there be not above twenty persons in the Parish
of discretion to receive the Communion; yet there shall be no
Communion, except four (or three at the least) communicate with
the Priest.

In considering the operation of the two last rubrics, it must be
remembered--I. That the Prayer-Book gives the Curate no authority
to dismiss non-communicants.--2. That the system of separating the
communicants from the rest of the congregation, which underlies
the rubrics in the earlier part of the office, has generally ceased
to be observed.--3. That the order for signifying the names of
intending communicants, at least some time the day before, has
fallen into abeyance.--4. That the Curate has no opportunity of
interrupting the Service for the purpose of making inquiry among
the congregation of their individual intentions in this respect.
The Curate, therefore, has no means of obtaining information whereon
to exercise the discretion to which this rubric refers. It may
happen that there being more than three or four in the church when
he begins the Service, some may depart before Communion. If
there be fewer, some may arrive later with the intention of
communicating. In short, he cannot be certain whether or not
the number of communicants be below the minimum until he has
communicated himself.[h]

It seems then that the utmost he can do, in order to comply with
this part of the rubric, is to avoid any deliberate promoting of
Solitary Communion, or nearly Solitary Communion.

In accordance with the general protest of this rubric against
Solitary Communion of the Priest, he should, at all celebrations,
be very careful to allow ample time for the people to present
themselves for Communion, not beginning the Lord's Prayer until
it is quite evident that none who intend to communicate remain
without having done so.

137. And in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, and Colleges, where
there are many Priests and Deacons, they shall all receive the
Communion with the Priest every Sunday at the least, except they
have a reasonable cause to the contrary.

This rubric a