THE PRAYER BOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1927, Page 9

THE PRAYER BOOK

REVISION PRESENTED

ARCHBISHOP EXPLAINS

MEASURE TO MEET NEEDS OP DAY

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received Bth February, 11 a.m.)

LONDON, 7th February. The most important ecclesiastical event in the Church of England, in living memory, took place to-day, when the Convocations within the dioceses of Canterbury and York mot at Church House, Westminster, to receive from the Archbishops a draft copy of the Revised Prayer-book, consisting of nearly 400 pages. '

The Ar&hbishop of Canterbury, presenting the revision, said that v new background had been given to men's minds as the result of war expefiences and it had become inevitable that there must be some modification in the direction of enrichment or elasticity, some facility for less rigid thought, "if they were not to get out of touch with a greater number of present-day familiar thoughts. Though the new book was termed provisional and subject to amendment, it was in a- larger sonse final.

He was aware that their-brethren overseas were watching their deliberations keenly. Perhaps none would regard the new book as an ideal alternative, but he -believed that it would meet the requirements of, many who felt that their requirements had not been met hitherto. He believed that it would draw closer some now disunited, though some might be disappointed.

Summarising the proposals, the Archbishop of Canterbury said that the new book was permissive and in no sense forced upon unwilling members of the Church. It was composite, as it contained the old' Prayer-book. The ma-jority-of changes dealt wholly with uucontroversial things, permitting a shortening of the Litany; making the use of the Athanasian Creed voluntary enriching the Office for the Burial of the iJead; and omitting some references to Old lestament patriarchs from the Orders for Baptism and Matrimony Turning to matters which, he" said, could not be called uncontroyersial the Archbishop- continued: "On Holy Communion we adopted your own suggested rubric. In regard to clergy vesture we are giving sanction for the optional use of an alternative order for Communion. This, no doubt, will bo challenged .in some quarters, but I am sanguine that we have found a satisfactory solution of the problem. "Regarding "the anxious question of the reservation of'the consecrated elements for the communion of the sick, there is no question that a demand has grown up which calls ior consideration. Accordingly, the rubrics provide for the reservation of the. elements to be used for the communion of the sick and for no other purpose, conditions under which we authorise reservation are set forth with unmistakable clearness in the proposed rubric. '' Other alterations include the deletion of the word 'obey in the bride's responses. Both the bride's and bridegroom's responses will be identical. The new prayers proposed to meet modern requirements, are for the peace of the world; for the League of Nations; for election times; for seafarers; 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 an extempore prayer. "It is an experiment which sonio will deem rash. Its possible danger is indisputable, but we believe, that ou the whole it will be a great gain. "Having summarised what seems to mo the more important proposals, let me say emphatically that in my deliberate judgment nothing we have suggested makes auy change in the doctrinal position of the Church .of England. Its distinctive basis remains sure, and is enriched by the development of thought, the acquisition of fresh knowledge, the upgrowth of new theories for the exposition of a truth manifold yet one and indestructible. I remind you that our proposals are only permissive. Those who find in the old Prayer Book all they desire can rest content in those pastures still." Concluding, the Archbishop of Canterbury pointed out that to-day was the anniversary of his 25th year as Archbishop. . The Archbishop of York said: "The Bishops recommend the issue of a composite book, in which the existing book of Common Prayer and the permitted additions, alterations, and alternatives are placed side by side. Only in one small respect has the position of the Prayer Book -been modified, namely, new rubrics. These are neither numerous nor of great importance. We have sought, however imperfectly, to make the Prayer Book as inclusive as our Church. ,Our desire has been to obtain not a compromise for the sake', of peace, But rather comprehension for the sake of truth, fullness and richness of the one fellowship of faith and life."