PRAYER BOOK REVISION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 190, 14 May 1928, Page 10

PRAYER BOOK REVISION

Sir. —is it not well to learn' an important lesson from the revision of the Prayer Book that has taken place in England, mid so avoid rancour and strife, and by carefully informing ourselves of what lias been done elsewhere, be able to arrive at a definite and reasonable conclusion that will satisfy. the majority of Godly mid reasonable minds? Of tlie revisions that have been made mid which have given satisfaction, are those of tlie Irish and Canadian churches and their success lias been due to 'the avoiding of anything likely to cause division mid by enriching in the same spirit ami on tlie same lines, the dear old Prayer Book, and which the majority do not wish to change. There are those who think that New Zealand should do tlie revision and produce a distinctive type; but as quite half of the New Zealand Bishops have stated, this is somewhat of an impossible ideal, for have we a sufficient number of capable persons,' who have the time to carry on such a work which would run into many years? Some suggest that it should be done by a small company, but this would spell disaster. Whatever is done must be that in which the greatest possible number have had a direct voice, if •it is to give general satisfaction. In Canada the revision was carried on by all the Bishops and witli them some one hundred each of clergy and laity, delegates from all the dioceses. These all met. happily sitting, all mixed up together, mid freely discussed the matters before them. 'When a consensus was arrived at the findings were sent down to the Diocesan Synods for their consideration, and their findings were sent baek to the Central Committee. This went on for about twenty years, and then a tentative book was circulated for a three years’ trial, and in 1921 the Central Committee met and by mi almost unanimous vote declared the book to lie that of the Canadian Church, which book came into full authoritative use at Easter, 1922, and which lias given very general satisfaction ever since. All the laity arc mostly concerned, and they should procure those books which will give them clear ideas as to what is the most desirable conclusion. Such books should be studied, and these arc "The Canadian Prayer Book,” "The Irish Prayer Book,” "The Story of the Canadian Revision,” by Arch. AV. J. Armitage, D.D.,” “The Story of the English Prayer -Book,” by Dr. Dyson Hague (one of the Canadian revisers), mid Bishop Lightfoot’s "The Christian Alinistry.”

Alay New Zealand be blessed with a Book that all will revere and which may become a uniting power to all the churches. — I am. etc., FRED. 11. SPENCER. Rotorua, May It).