ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 436, 19 February 1909, Page 5

ANGLICAN CHURCH.

-.. ■ __——-&—— ■-. - . ; LITURGICAL CHANGES. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. OPTIONAL USE OF VESTMENTS. [BY. IEIEGKAriI—rKESS ASSOCIATION— COPIBIGHT.) •(Rec.;February 18, lO'.SO'p.m.).-...;, London, February 18. A committee sot np by the Convocation of Canterbury about two-years ago to deal with the': Book of Common Prayer and o'er-" tain'ceremonies of tho Church has now presented its report. Tho committee makes,the following important recommendations :■— (1) A-revision' of the. Lectionary . (the "..collection' of thoso . passages of '..Scripturo which :aro read, as..les : . '...-' ■". sons. at. divine, service). .' • (2) The optional use of Eucharistio ''."":'■' vestments. ■■ - : (3) The optional uso of the Athanasian "• ..Creed. '-...''-•'• :(4)The optional omission froin the Cora- . 1 ■''"...-.- ' munion Service, when there are ;a .large. number of communicants, ./."of tho'words "in remeriib'rance '.'. that Christ, died .for thee,-,and 7 feed on'. Him in thy heart-by. '-.'•'.' ..faith with-thanksgiving," in ad- ' ; ministering the bread;, and of the., words "in remembrance .that; ...' Christ's Blood: was shed for. Thee, ■'. and. be thankful," in administer-/ .. . irig the wine. ~ ' ' : : (5) Immersion to be optional -inthe ,' baptismal■: service.- : ';:. : ;; : , ,', '..':... (6), A new alternative burial service of ', :■'.' great- beauty . and■,simplicity,,lias, : /..'".. also .beeii, compiled by thef.coni-';'.-.' .>. ' •'.:'■ mittee;, and recommended, for '..;', adoption. -■'■'<■; ■ ■;, ; . '. y "■).■■'■• ':■•■[ •''.■;■'.

\.V; ; '.'''; : :THE VESTMENTS.';^'.\-' vV.\ll The,.committee's recommendation';in'favour' of the optional use.of.eucharisfa'c.vestments, is sure to'give .rise to. considerable .controversy.; The sub-committee-of 'the Convocation-of' Can-, terbur.v, appointed',to draw up' ahistoricnl 'memorandum "Ornaments, of the. Church' and its.Ministcrs,"in summing up-the results, of their, investigations, state:— } ..;.■,.. :.;'•'. ;■ "We have 1 thought it ; :worth while.-.to. spend a : considerable time in summarising and discussing all the- evidence which, as far asiwe.know, is how.. available.". Some, of the, facts and' argu-., ments to which we; have drawn attention'.were riot brought. before the .Court ,(i;e., ; th'o;;i?fivy. Council, when it.'dealtw'ith the 'question);(Land the point of view from which the is now regarded "by historical inquiries .differs considerably from! that' from. which:"it'-was''re-garded more than' thirty year's ago. .'The ;po]icy, and methods of.action in.ecclesiastical matters followed by. Queen; Elizabeth; and -her advisers' are bettor understood; and it;is recognised that, their proceedings in the struggle with. ism, in the course of which the Advertisements, were issued;..aimed at securing a minimum of decency, and' order,'rather, than.'.cohiprihrice in' all coses with the full requirement of theilaw; We feel.bound to state.that .our-own'study of the r'facts leads us to "the. conclusion .that. the; Ornaments Rubrio . cannot "rightly.'.be', interpretedas excluding the. use. of nil- vestments for.' the clergy-other than the ■ surplice.: in :parish churches and,' in Cathedral,', and*'CoiJegiate Churches, the .turplice, hoodj .and.'cope."- I' ' One ..of the main objections to' the use of vestments raised by'the Evangelical party has ,been, that they, signify'certain doctrines which' are not in accordance with Ihd teaching of,;the Anglican Church; ,;On this point;' the report, states: :; . '■ - : :..--.y- ■■'.<■ :M"'/- "■■■'/■'■ ■ ".::■.■•■'■■' : - "ASRegards 'the'ornaments ofithe,minister' we.believe:that, the evidence,here.collected .indicates that' they, cannot rightly'iberegaided as expressive of doctrine, .'but. that- their use'. is a matter, or . reverent, and seemly : order.' "'. All questions of legislation, therefore,- in .regard .to .th'enf'ure questions of expediency .rather than of pTinicaple. What should be the faction of .tie Church, at-the piesent .time i'u 'extending J or' restricting liberty,' as- regards such' ornaments, or,, in making definite. requirements as to their use, or in leaving I the .'controversy' about' them where it stands, lies outside the reference of the sub-committee." ;" I!, /..;,..: