A DIFFICULT TASK

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

A DIFFICULT TASK

TWENTY YEARS OF STUDY

ELIMINATING THE UNIN-

TELLIGIBLE

For nearly twenty years the revision of the Prayer Book ha? been debated in the Lower House of Convocation. Seven years ago the passing of the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act lead to a rediseussion of the whole

question; but it also opened the way for effective action, and, now, so far as the Church Assembly is concerned, the penultimate stage of revision has been reached. The Houses of c Clergy and Laity have said their say; they proposed a large number of amendments to the draft of the Eevised Prayerbook (Permissive Use) Measure, and itonly remained for • the Bishops, after considering these recommendations, to make up their own minds and to decide upon the form in which they should finally present the measure to the final sitting of the Assembly. The Constitution of the Assembly contains a provision that any measure touching,doetrine or worship must- after it has been voted on by the Houses 'of Bishops, Clergy, and Laity, sitting separately, be either accepted or rejected by the Assembly in the terms in which it is finally proposed by the Houso of Bishops. The long discussions, therefore, which have eventuated have been of practical rather than spectacular importance. On their outcome, especially before the House of Bishops, depended whether there should be any revision at all, and if-so, of what kind. The discussions have brought to some sort of conclusion the unwholesome disorder which many contend has seriously weakened the influence of the Church for more than a quarter of a century/ A satisfactory solution has been the objective of all, and right.through the discussions there can be no question that the ordinary layman has shown his chief desire to be to see the Church of England as an efficient instrument for the promotion of true religion. Over and above all has been the need for the restoration of order, which has, in fact, dominated the whole question. The layman has been completely mystified by unintelligible diversities which mot him as he visited different churches. The layman's allegiance had accordingly been weakened when he saw that officers of the Church appeared to set but little store by tho claims of obedience to doctrine..

ONE IDEAL.

Reviewing the question of revision some time ago, the "Times" said: "One ideal, passionately sought in the past and still wistfully desired by many, is definitely excluded by the circumstances of the times. It is impossible to impose absolute uniformity. In the Church of England, as in <sther spheres of the national life, wo have grown beyond the standard of the drill sergeant. A certain elasticity is essential to a body which claims to be comprehensive and to be capable of healthy development.''

The solution of the Church's.troubles has been found, so far as can be seen at present, along the lino of maintaining the form of the; existing Prayerbook, and of making permissible variations and alternatives at certain points. This course of action has, to some -extent, the sanction of the Prayer-book itself. There have always been alter-" natives in the Communion Service and in Ev.ening and Morning Prayer. The extension of the principle,may be unwelcome to some who quite naturally dislike change, but the gain in other directions will probably be great. It is, in. fact, "the first step in the .restoration of discipline." • ;

The recognition of this is now almost universal. But there are still many who protest at the introduction of alternatives in the most sacred service of all. The Sacrament of Communion fails in its high purpose, according to these, if it take on different forms in different churches. That is an attitude with which it is impossible not to sympathist, but at the same time the argument has very little upon which to base its contention. It is in the Communion Service where most of the troubles of recent years have originated. The unauthorised versions of many of • the clergy have done muchharm, and clearly defined alternatives, which at the same time provide for all legitimate needs, and which the Church officially sanctions, are at least an advance on the situation created during the last few years, particularly in England. '

TEAES OF WOEK.

As far back as 1906 a Royal Commission was set up to deal with the question of Prayer-book revision, specially authorised by Royal Letters of Business, which have since been renewed for the benefit of further Convocations enjoining them to consider "the desirability and the form and contents of a new rubric regulating the vesture, of the ministers of the Church at the times of their ministrations, and also of any modification of the existing law relating to the conduct of divine service, and the ornaments and fittings of churches." These Convocations had reached some degree of finality.in 1920, but the proceedings, have been necessarily slow and complicated, since each of the four Houses of Convocation have had to debate every proposal in detail. Many of the amendutions had been merely verbal,, whjile others had raised questions the most sharply controverted between sections of opinions, in the 'Church. '

One of the sharpest of all the controversies has raged round the Athanasian creed, of which a new translation, prepared at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, was published in 1917. After prolonged discussion it was decided that the creed shall be retained in the Prayer Book, without the existing rubric, and with a new rubric prescribing that on Trinity Sunday it may be said in place of the Apostles' creed. The revision of the' Holy; Communion permits the priest to celebrate in a surplice or in "a white alb plain with a vestment or cope." The Commandments are shortened, and they may bo omitted altogether at certain services, provided they are said once every Sunday. The collects for the King are omitted, the reader of the Epistle and Gospel is to turn towards the people, and the sermon becomes permissive. Altered prefaces occur in several places. Of the prayers of oblation and thanksgiving one or both may be Baid, and the words of administration may be said once to "the whole number" of communicants, either the first or second half of the words being recited to the individual. There'are also several other more or less important «mandations. • • ■

In the main the revision of the Prayer Book has consisted of an amending of the unintelligible, miselading, or obscure phrases, archaic punctuation, and the discarding of words which have change their meaning or fallen into disuse. The Psahrj. are appointed for each day, but may ue altered, with the permission of the Bishop, while certain Psalms and portions of others are dis carded altogether from public reading. Coming to the lectionary, it is found that alternative lessons are provided for Sunday, and to. make it possible for congregations to hear' selections from the less familiar parts of the Old Testament, and from some /books of the Apocrypha, alternatives ■ have been chosen to the lessons taken from the Pentateuch, ttio historical books, and the Book of Proverbs. Two series of second lessons have -also been provided. A new calendar has been provided, to which have been added many, new saints, while All Souls' Day has been added to the saints, doctors, and martyrs of the „ Church on Bth November. Alternatives have been provided for Christmas and- Easter days, and there are several new collects.

Any parish and any person is still free to use the present Prayer Book if they so wish, though it is important to note that certain complications will arise in regard to rubrics. The directions of the Prayer Book in common use are hardly anywhere fully observed, and it is for that reason that the noiv laws-nnd alterations havo been drafted. The Church is 210w looking for restoration of order and constitutional' government in place of diocesan vagaries and individual whims.