Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1857-01-10
No. 26
Abridgcment of the Church Service.


The principle of progress has at length penetrat-
ed within the walls of the Established Church. and
its enlightened members now fully understand
the wisdom and policy of adapting their institu-
tiOns to the spirit of the age. Liturgical reform
is earnestly advocated by considerable numbers of
the clergy, and the movement has received episcopal
sanction. Of course there is no desire to shake the
main pillars of the venerable fabric; on the COR
trary, the object is to impart strength by rcnoru-
tiOn. The Rev. A. 0xenden, Proctor for the do
cese of Canterbury, has shown that the existing
Service OF the Church has expanded into its present
magnitude by sundry accretions, of which he gives
the following account:
- The first Liturgy Of Edward VI commenced
with the Lords Prayer, and ended with the third
Collect for Grace. In 1852 Cr!nmer, avaiinr him
self of the advice of some learned foreigners made
the following important additions The Opening
Sentences, the ExhOrtatiOn the COnlession and the
Absolution also the Litany was ordered to be
used in the Sunday Service, and the Decalogue was
introduced into the Communion Service In the
first year of Queen Elizabeth the Prayers for the
Queen and the Clergy were added. But it was not
till the last review, several years later that the
! further addition made of the Prayer for all
Sorts and Conditions of Men" and also of the
g General Thanksgiving" supposed to have been
composed by Bishops Slnderson and Cunning.
! Thus we see that from time 70 time the bulk Of
I the Morning Service has gradually, and almost i'm
perceptibly, increased, until it has attai ,. its
present dimensions
in Matthew, VI. :, our Lord and Saviour gives
this almonition TO his disciples But when We
pray use not vain repetitiuns as the heathen do,
for they think they shall be heard lnr their much
speaking" George the Third complained that the
! Lord Prayer was pronounced three times in the
Morning Service and considered that these repeti-
tions detracted from Its solemnity and impressive
ness. In Mr.. Hildyards plan of hturgicil reform
this is to be avoided and he advises that the
- III II. =
whom the Epistle and Gospel read with it in the
Communion Service" He proposes to omit the
I" Gloria Patri,' and advises the prayer for the
Parliament be Onl y introduced into the Afternoon
or Evening Service. lie recommends that only one
creed be rehearscd at each service and that the
Anathasian be confined to Trinity Sunday He
would reduce the verses in the Psalter and revise
the Table Of Sunday Lessons leaving out such por-
tions contain catalogues cf names, and the Lit
any when the Lord's Supper is administered. As
an argument in favor Of aUridging the Service it is
observed that, where the reader and preacher are
the same person, the clergyman is to some degree
exhausted in the physical power of voice before he
comes to the sermon; and this union Of duty pre-
walls in Eine-tcntbs Of the country churches. To
those who meet this argument by urging the assis-
tance Of curate, 1t is replied that, from statistics
published IN 1858, there are 1882 benefces under
$500 per annum, and that the average value of
each Is not El4O a year out Of such noderate
receipts, barely suffclent 10 maintain clergyman
in that decent respeetabiity to which he is Justly
entitled by his position, there is no margin
funds 10 reward the services Of a curate. More
over, in rural Districts it would be often mpracti
cable to provide n curate with suitable residence.
One Of Mr.. Hildyard's recommendations is a SIN
gle sermon each sabbath. Under any view it
must be admitted that system well suited to large
cities may not be adapted to small villages. 1t
would be easy to name districts in the metropolis
where the reader and preacher are always different
persons, and several where the morning and eve
ming sermons are delivered by different cergymen.
However, for overwork and underpay enc equitable
remedy is obvous it is the more equal division OF
ecclesiastical revenues instead of the present lot
terry of blanks and prizes but into this question
Mr.. Hdyard does not enter for he distinctly says,
''what is now asked for is simply abridgment, with
power from authority to omit, vary, occasionally,
in public delivery, certain portions of the Liturgy
"a thing which is confessedly now frequently dOna
,cithom authority"
Mr.. Hildyard's pamphlet only reached US wien
it had passed into the fourth edition, or it would
have received an earlier notice. The eagerncss
with which it has been reld and its extended sale,
are the best proofs Of It's merits and we COM
mend it for its dispassicnate spirit and religious
tone.-rEagIish PGper.