PRAYER-BOOK REVISION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17629, 5 December 1922, Page 7

PRAYER-BOOK REVISION.

* ENGLISH CHURCH UNION REPORT (from ope own coreespondent.) LONDON, October 27. For some time a Committee of the English Church Union has been considering alterations in the Book of Common Prayer. A report of the Committee's suggestions has now been issued. The aim'has been to "sketch out" the kind of alternative Prayen-Book which, we believe, would be desired by the great mass, of 'Oatholic-minded' members of the Church of England." The most interesting suggestions are those which refer to the Communion Office. It is pointed out that eve(ry Western rite now in U6e 'contains some kind of' solemn Form of Penitential Preparation to be recited by the priests and people, or by the priest and his ministers, before tne Liturgy proper begins:—

"In the English ritef it is generally considered that the Lord's Prayer and the 'Collect for Purity,' the sole surviving fragments of the Sarum form, now constitute the Anglican Praeparatio. Many English churchmen have, however, long felt that this is a somewhat brief and jejune preparation for the tremendous mysteries of. the Lord's Supper ; and we have consequently ventured to suggest the enrichment of our rite by the addition of an authorised form for optional use. This form is substantially identical with that borrowed from the present Latin rite by the nearest analogue to' our own Prayer-Book—namely, thei German 'Old Catholic' rite: • It will be noted that this form is suggested for permissive use only, and that we have not suggested itny rules as to the exact place where it should be said." The Nine-fold "Kyrie." The restoration of ~ the. Nine-Fold Kyrii© is recommended, and "if any-justi-fication be needed for the use of the Greek word we may point to the facts that our Liturgy already contains three Hebrew words—Amen, Sabaoth, and Hallelujali." The Gloria in Excelsis ought to be restored to its ancient place in the first part of the Liturgy, The words "Militant here in earth" should be excised and the last two paragraphs of the prayer should run as follows: — "And we commend to Thy gracious ke'eping, 0 Lord, all Thy (servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear, beseeching Thee to grant them mercy, light, and peace, both now and at the Day of Resurrection. And here we do give unto Thee, O Lord, most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all Thy Saints, and chiefly in the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord and God, and in the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs; 'beseeching Thee to give us grace that we, rejoicing in the Coimiiunion of the Saints, and following the good examples of those who have served Thee here, may be partakers with them of Thy heavenly kingdom; grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate, Amen.'' Additions to Preface. Certain additions are made as regards the Prefaces in order to add richness and interest to the daily Eucharistit is, for instance, suggested that the Proper Preface for Christmas may be used on all Feasts of St. Mary the Virgin. The transference of the Exhortation, Confession,.etc., to the point following the priest's Communion is recommended in accordance with the Prayer-Book of 1549, and the transference of the Fraction to the end of the Canon so that it takes place during the recitation of the Doxology which concludes the Lord's Prayer. The omission of the words "into their hands" would, it is suggested, regularise the custom of administration by instinction in cases of. infectious disease." It is proposed to insert the following after the Post-Communion: —"V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Depart in peace, or, Let us bless the Lord. R. Thanks be to God." The addition of three Red Letter Days is asked for. These days are St. Joseph, The Falling. Asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mar'-, and the Commemoration of the Holy Sacrament.