CONVOCATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 5

CONVOCATION.

PRAYER-BOOK REVISION. INVITATION TO NONCONFORMISTS HOTLY DISCUSSED. B* Telegraph-Press Association-Oopyricrht (Bee. May 5, 10.40-p.m.). London, May 5. By a majority of two to ono the Lower House of Convocation of Canterbury has agreed that tho celebrants at tho Holy Communion may, with the consent of the Bishop, after once using the full words of administration, subsequently use tho first half of the words to each individual communicant. - Convocation also adopted a new rubric permitting the consecrated elements to be taken from the church after the Communion service to tlie homes of sick'persons.- . The House of Laymen, dealing with the question of the revision of the Prayer Book, decided that tho Prayer Book should not bo touched, but suggested' that an appendix containing special services should bo drawn up. In the Upper House of Convocation, the Bishop of Winchester (Dr. Talbot) raised an urgency debate upon the invitation sent by tho Bishop of Hereford (Dr. Percival) to Nonconformists to join in a Coronation Communion service at Hereford Cathedral. The Bishop of Hereford defended his action, but tho Archbishop of Canterbury expressed disapproval, the subject being then allowed to drop.

In the Lower House-of Convocation, the question- was hotly discussed. REVISION PROPOSALS. "THE QUIET TIME WHICH NEVER COMES." i The question of the revision of the Prayer Book'has been keenly discussed in England ainoe 1906, when a Royal Commission reported in favour of the issue of Letters of Business calling upon Convocation to consider matters relating to tho conduct of divine service. The Archbishop of Canterbury, iu bringing the question before Convocation, said: — "I fully recognise* that it is an exacting and even a perilous task on which wo are engaged. It must be so, even though in the ultimata outcome wo find Uv changes recommended. But those who daily pray for and vcly on __ the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit ought not to be afraid of a task because it is exacting and even perilous. If it be this, task at a critical time, I would reurged that we are busying ourselves with ply that there seems to be a lack of faith and prudence in waiting for a quiet ■timo which never comes."

The proposed revision of tho Prayer Book has met with the greatest opposition from the High and Low Church parties, who have combined to prevent any material changes, the advocates of revision being found chiefly among the bishops, the broad churchmen, ami the great central body, which is not connected with any party. The discussion has mainly centred round the question of vestments, the Athanasian creed, and tho reservation of the sacrament for tho uso of the sick. As a compromise it has been suggested that instead of altering the ■ Prayer Book itself a supplement should bo drawn up containing additional services and providing in other ways for greater elasticity in the cc4/.uct of public worship. This course is the ono favoured by the House of laymen as stated in the above cablegram. The adoption of a. new rubric permittin? the reservation of Mine of the consecrated bread and wine wjth which to communicate the sick in their own homes is suro to cause a,, good.,deal of.. discussion. It has been advocated "by'Bigli Churchmen for many years. In 18S5 tho TJppor House of Convocation resolved "that tho praqfico of reservation is contrary to the wise and ca-refully-reviwd Order of the Church of England." Quito recently a conference of the Evangelical party resolved "that the proposal for permitting reservation of the consecrated elements for the communion of tho sick is inadmissable.'.'

, In spite of tho very strong opposition from the more extreme High and Low Churchmen, the cause' of revision has gained decidedly in the ranks of scholars, and it is claimed by its advocates that opinion has been steadily growing in its favour on the broad grounds that'enrichment, and, in some details, amendment, of the Prayer Book are urgently desirable, and that, failing this, the State may step in with fresh measures for the regulation of public worship.