REVISED PRAYER BOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19557, 9 February 1927, Page 13

REVISED PRAYER BOOK.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND. MEETING OF CONVOCATIONS. IMPORTANT PROPOSALS MADE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received Feb. S. 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.2. LONDON. Feb. 7. The most important ecclesiastical event in the Church of England within living memory occurred to-day. The Convocations of Canterbury and York met at the Church House, Westminster, to receive from the Archbishops the draft copy of the revised Prayer Book. This consisted of nearly 400 pages. In presenting tho draft the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr. R. T. Davidson, said a new background had been given to men's ininds as a result of their war experiences. It had become inevitable that there must bo some modification of the Prayer Book in the direction of its enrichment or elasticity and some facility for less rigid thought, if they were not. to get out of touch with a great number of present-day familiar thoughts. Although the new Prayer Book was termed provisional, and was subject to amendment, it was in the larger s£nse final.

Hopes lor End oi Dissension. The Archbishop said he was aware that their brethren overseas were watching their deliberations keenly. Perhaps no one would regard the new Prayer Book as an ideal alternative, but he believed it would meet the requirements of many people who felt their requirements had not been met in the past. He believed it would draw closer some who were now disunited, although some others would be disappointed. In summarising the new proposals the Archbishop said the new Prayer Book was permissive. It would in no sense be forced upon those who were not willing to receive it. It was composite and contained the old Prayer Book. Tho majority of the changes dealt wholly with con-controversial things such as permitting the shortening of the litany, making the use of the Athanasian creed voluntary, enriching the office for the burial of the dead, and omitting some of the references to the Old Testament patriarchs from the orders for baptism and matrimony.

Some o! the Chief Revisions. Turning to matters which could not bo called non-controversial the Archbishop said: "In connection with Holy Communion we have adopted your own suggested rubric in regard to the vestments of the clergy. Wo are giving sanction to the optional use of an alternative order for the Communion. This will no doubt bo challenged in some quarters, but we are sanguine that we have found a satisfactory solution of the problem. " Regarding the anxious question of the reservation of the consecrated elements for thd communion of the sick there is no question that s demand has grown up which calls for consideration. Accordingly the new rubrics provide for the reservation of the elements to be used for the communion of the sick, but for no other purpose.

" The conditions under which we authorise this reservation are set forth with unmistakable clearness in the proposed rubric

Ho Cnange in Doctrinal Position. " Other alterations include the deletion of the word ' obe.v ' from the bride's responses in the marriage service. The bride's and the bridegroom's • responses will now be identical. " .New prayers proposed to meet modern requirements are for the peace of the world, for the League of Nations, for election times, for seafarers and for industrial peace. " The new 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 extemporary prayer. This is an experiment which some people will deem rash. Its possible danger is indisputable, but we believe that on the whole it will be a great gain. " Having summarised what seem to be the more important proposals I say emphatically that in my deliberate judgment nothing we hav. suggested makes any change in the doctrinal position of the Church of England. The distinctive basis remains sure and is enriched by the development of thought, the acquisition of fresh knowledge and the upgrowth of new theories for the exposition of truth which is manifold and yet one and indestructible.

Book as Inclusive as the Ghurch. " I remind you that our proposals are only permissivo. Those who find in the old Prayer Book all they desire can rest content in those pastures still." The Archbishop pointed out that the day marked the 2otb anniversary of his appointment to the See of Canterbury. The Archbishop of York, Dr. C. G. Lang, said " The bishops recommend the issue of a composite Prayer Book in which the existing Book ot Common Prayer and the permitted additions, alterations and alternatives are placed side by side. "Only in one small respect has the position of the old Prayer Book been modified, namely, in regard to the new rubrics. These ar3 neither numerous nor of great importance. We have sought, however imperfectly, to make the Prayer Book as inclusive as the Church. Oar desire has been to obtain, not a compromise for the sake of peace, but rather a comprehension for the sake of truth, fullness and richness of the one fellowship of faith and life." Reservations by 3 Uishcp, Tlie Bishop oi Birmingham, Dr. E. W. Barnes, issued a statement declaring that he cordially supports the majority of the proposals. Thes- are, he says, desirable, as two and 3-hah centuries have passed since the Prayer Book was last revised. He cannot agree with all of them, however, " Unfortunately, such a variety of worship is now permitted that a visitor to a strange church," says the bishop, 11 might not be able to follow the service. Extemporary prayer may lead to invocation of the Saints. " The new consecration prayer will bring the communion service nearer to the Roman Catholic mass. Although it will be difficult to derive the doctrine of transubstantiation from it the dexterity of theological casuists may misinterpret its innocent formulae.

"Their© is a possibility that the consecrated' elements will be placed in a ' tabernacle ' before which simple people •will be taught to pray. In that way the whole cult of transußstantiatlon can be started with the apparent consent of the Church.

" I urge the Church to adopt the noncontentious proposals and to postpone the new consecration prayer and the reservation of she sacrament for a generation when the demand for them may have disappeared. Merely a Permissible Alternative. The deep interest in the revised Prayer Book is shown by the prominence with which the proposals are displayed both in the evening and in the morning newspapers. The Daily Telegraph not only devotes an editorial article to them but also 16 columns in which lengthy passages are set out. The Telegraph says: " It must be borne in mind that the new Prayer Book is not offered as being likely for one moment to satisfy completely any single section of churchmen It is submitted as the only kind of alternative Prayer Book for which the ruleis of the Church at the, present juncture can anticipate general acceptance "It has at least the merit that it is not the book ot any one party in the Church. Probably it is not the ideal of any single person. Should it receive legal sanction it will yet be no more than a permissible alternative to the Prayer Book ol 1662.

"It will be on probation long after it has received the imprimatur of the Church and the State."

Need for Alterations Doubted.. The Morning Post says it reluctantly confesses that the addresses of the Archbishop of Canterbury and York avoided the main issue, which is: Why alter the 13ook of Common Prayer at all? The inspired wisdom of the original framers insisted upon a uniform use. " The proposals for revision are particularly unfortunate at a time when the need of the laity is for definite and authoritative guidance," says the Post. " The revised Prayer Book must lead to endless confusion, which will not be mended by the suggestion that the parochial Church Council should decide which usage should be adopted. Wo cannot believe that either the Church or Parliament will accept the ievision."

A book showing the original passages and the revisions in parallel columns will be available to the public this morning in paper covers at a price of half a crown. Tho next stage will be the submission of the alterations to Convocation again on February 22. They will be returned to the bishops for final revision on March 2, and will finally be presented to Convocation on March 29 and the Church Assembly oh July 4. Thea they will be submitted to Parliament, in the autumn.