REVISED PRAYER BOOK

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1927, Page 3

REVISED PRAYER BOOK

ITS ACCEPTANCES

[Australian A N.Z. Cablo Association.]

(Received this day at 0.30 a.m.)

LONDON, Feb. 7. Tho most important ecclesiastical event in the Church of England in living memory, occurred to-day when tho Convocations within Canterbury and York met at Church House, Westminster, to receive from the Archbishop. the draft copy of the revised prayer book, consisting ol’ nearly four hundred pages. The Archbishop of Canterbury in presenting the revision said the new back-

ground given to men's minds as a result of the war experience, it had beI'oiiic inevitable there must he some modification in the direction of tho en-

richment or elasticity, ami some facility for less rigid thought., if they were not to get out of touch with a

great number of present day familiar thoughts. Though the new book was termed provisional and subject to amendment, it was in a larger sense final. Tie was aware tho brethren overseas were watching the deliberations keenly, and perhaps more would regard the new honk as an ideal alternative, hut lie believed it would meet the requirements’of many who felt their requirements were not met hitherto. Tie believed it would draw closer some now disunited, though some would he

disappointed. Summarising the proposals the Archbishop of Canterbury said the new hook was permissive and would in no sense ho forced upon those unwilling to receive it. It was composite, containing the old Prayer Book. A majority of the changes dealt, wholly with uncontroversial tilings, permitting a shortening of the Litany, to make the Asathenian Creed voluntary, enriching the office for the Burial of the Dead, omitting some references to the Old Testament patriarchs from the orders of Baptism and Matrimony. Turning to matters which could not he called uncontroversial, the Archbishop said : “On Holy Communion we adopted your own suggested rubric in regard to clergy vesture. AVe arc giving sanction to the optional use of the alternative order for communion. This will no doubt lie challenged in some quarters, but we are sanguine we found a satisfactory solution of tho problem regarding the anxious question of tl reservation of the consecrated elements for (lie communion of the sick. There is no question that a demand has grown up, which calls for the consideration. Accordingly the rubrics provide for the reservation of tho elements to he used for communion of the sick, and for no other purpose. Condi-

tions under which wo authorise the re serration are sot forth with unmistake-

able clearness in the proposed rubric. Other alterations include the deletion of the word “obey’’ in the bride’s responses .which will he identical with the new prayers proposed to meet modern requirements. They arc for peace of the world, for the League of Na-

tions, for election time, for seafarers and for industrial peace. The burial service contains a permissive prayer, less stern and gloomy than the existing committal prayer, and referring directly to the dead person. Permission is also given, under certain conditions to use extempore prayer. It is ail experiment and some will deem it rash. Its possible danger is indisputable, hut we believe on the whole that it will be a great gain. Having summarised what seemed to he the more important proposals, T say emphatically in my deliberate judgment, nothing wo have suggested will make any change in the doctrinal position of the Church of England. The distinctive basis remain sure, and is enriched by a development through the acquisition of fresh knowledge and the up-growth of new theories for the exposition of a truth, manifold, yet one and indesliuetahle. I remind you our proposals are only permissive. Those who find in the old Prayer Book, all they desire, can rest content in those pastures still.

In conclusion the Archbishop pointed out to-dav was the 25th. anniversary of his Archbishopric.

The Archbishop of York said : “The Bishops recommend the issue of a composite hook in which is the existing Book of Common Prayer, and permitted additions, alterations and alternatives. These are placed side by side. Only in one small respect has the position of tho Prayer Book been modified, namely uew rubrics; these are neither numerous nor of great importance. AY 1 c have sought, however, imperfectly to make the Prayer Book as inclusive as the Church. Our desire has been attained. not by compromise lor the sake of peace, hut rather comprehension for the sake of truth, and the fullness and richness of the one fellowship of faith and life.”

SOME CRITICISM. LONDON. Feh. 7

The Bishop of Birmingham has issued a statement declaring: “T cordially support the majority of proposals which are desirable, ns two and a half centuries have passed since the revision of the prayer hook. T cannot agree with all unfortunately, as such a variety of worship is now permitted that a visitor to a strange church might not he able to follow the service. Extempore prayer may lead to invocation to Saints. The new consecration prayer brings the Communion Service nearer to the Rinnan Mass, although it is difficult to derive the doctrine of Transsuhstantiation. Therefrom dexterity of theological casuists iiiiiv misinterpret innocent formulae.” He suggests the possibility of consecrated elements being placed on the tabernacle before which simple people are taught to pray and states':- ‘‘Thus

- e whole cult of Transubstantintion can he started with tho apparent consent of the Church. I urge the Church to adopt noneontentious proposals and postpone the new consecration prayer and reservation of the Sacrament for a generation, when the demand for them may have disappeared.