THE PRAYER BOOK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 974, 15 November 1910, Page 5

THE PRAYER BOOK.

Work , of revision. By Telegraphs-Press Assooiation-'Copyriekt. Upndon, November J3. The Archbishop of Canterbury, in a Statement to i the Convocation of Canterbury, indicated that the work of revision of the Prayer Book was being steadily pressed on. SOME INTERESTING OPINIONS. The question of Prayer' Book revision has been before Convocation for some considerable time, and . reports have been presented suggesting many important alterations. The matter has naturally aroused a, good deal of controversy, especially as regards. the Athannsian Creed and the use of euoharistio vest, ments. Broadly speaking, the great middle party in tbo Church favours revision, the opposition coming. mainly from the more extreme sections of the High and Low Church parties. At the recent Church Congress at Cambridge the Corn Exchange was crowded to the dooTS with an audienoe eager to hear the debate on Prayer Book revision. Professor Swcto stated that a book which in .its present form. belongs to the time of Charles II must call for jnajiy modifications, if it. was to continue to appeal to the English race, • The Bishop of Sodor and Man . pleaded for an alternative- ending to the Litapy, admitting of considerable, modifications after, the I/ird's Prayer. It would also bo desirable to havo the right to scleot suitable Sunday lessons. Archdeacon Burrows said. that the Prayer Book as it stood was in part' obsolete; tlie clergy broke rubrics, and the laity oft«n insisted that they should do so, What they .had now was not the Prayer Book - revised independently in every paTish.

Chancellor P. V. Smith said it might safely be asserted that thero was not a single parish in which the existing law was obeyed in its iutegrity, or ooulil be, so obeyed without the gravest inconvenience. • Legalised liberty should be. substituted for unauthorised license. Canon Warren contended, that there was no lay demand for revision. Hfi said the Broad Church party wanted them to drop the Athariasian Creed, . Prebendary Webb-Peploo did not think it ns possiblo to altpr the Praye.r Book itself by one woTd at the present day. They must not touch that great inherit tance purchased for them by th> bkod qf their fathers at tlw Reformation, ■