DEEP INTEREST

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 33, 9 February 1927, Page 9

DEEP INTEREST

EEVMED PRAYER BOOK

STILL ON PROBATION

NEWSPAPER COMMENT

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, Bth February. Deep interest in the revision of the Prayer Book is shown in the prominence with which the subject is displayed in both the evening and morning newspapers. The "Daily Telegraph," in addition to an editorial, devotes sixteen columns to it, setting out lengthy passages in parallel columns. The book will be available to the public this morning in paper covers at half a crown. The next stage in the alterations will be their submission to the Convocation again on 22nd February; then they will be returned to the bishops for final revision on 2nd March, and finally be presented to the Convocation on 29th March. They will go before the Church Assembly on 4th June, and will be submitted to Parliament in the autumn. "WHY ALTER AT ALL?" The "Morning Post" says editorially: "We have reluctantly to confess that the Archbishops of Canterbury and York avoid the main issue, which is, 'Why alter the Book of Common Prayer at all?' The inspired wisdom of the original framers insisted upon a uniform use. The proposals for revision are particularly unfortunate, coming at a time when the need of the laity is for definite and authoritative guidance. The revised Prayer Book must lead to endloss confusion, which is not mended by the suggestion that the Parochial Church Council should decide which usage should be adopted. We cannot believe either Church or Parliament will accept the revision " The "Daily Telegraph" says: "It must be borne in mind that the new Prayer Book is not offered as likely for the moment to satisfy completely any single section of churchmen. It is submitted as the only kind of alternative Prayer Book for which the rulers of the Church at the present juncture can anticipate a general acceptance. It has at least-the merit that: it is not the book of any party in the Church. Probably it is not the ideal of any single person, and should it receive legal sanction it will yet be-not more than a permissible alternative to the book of 1662. _ It will be on probation long after it has received the imprimatur of Church and State."