THE question of the possible revival of the sub-diaconate has been raised in the Convocation of the Northern Province, and we may expect to hear more of it in the future as the shortage of clergy becomes more acutely felt. One of the dangers of the situation which the dearth of priests is likely to create is the adoption of ill-considered measures to relieve the stress, and it is much to be hoped that no steps will be taken without due caution. The Church of England must act in a matter like this as a group of Provinces of the Universal Church, and ought to avoid any action which in future days may engender confusion in view of Catholic reunion. The sub-diaconate is one of the minor orders of the Catholic Church, with a long history behind it, and with fairly clearly defined limitations and characteristics. It would be most unwise to forget this or to confuse our policy by creating what would be in effect a novel office disguised under an ancient name. We are apt to create spurious antiques. We copied the Lutheran Deaconess from Kaiserswerth and then spent vast erudition in identifying her with the Deaconess of the primitive Church. There was once a similar movement to identify our Lay Reader with the primitive Order of Readers, with which he has little in common but the last part of his name. Do not let us do the same with the sub-deacon. If we are ever to have sub-deacons, let us try to mean by them what the rest of the Catholic Church means, and jealously guard the principle of Holy Orders. This is a safer way than to discover in some obscure by-path of Church history that the sub-deacon occasionally exercised functions abnormal to his office, such as administering the chalice, and then to make this exceptional and dubious procedure his distinctive duty in the Church of England.

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