New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-03

"A layman. william Paca, Governor OF Maryland Ihat
meeting or convention drew up memorial or petition
10 the General Assembly Of tho State OF Maryland IN
which 80 Tar as we are ,s te or the proesant
Episcopal Church. I'VE, the Clergy OF the Protestant
CpTGn Hl by law they saw
consider undoubed right OF the Protestant Epis
under the Revolution to complete and preserve
herself entire Church. agreeab!y 20 her ancient
usage and profession and to have the full enjoyment
and free exercise Of those purely spiritual powers when
essential 70 the being o. every hgo ShG or S0 rS
Christ aud his Apostles, are 10 be maintained lndepthu
ent OF every foreign or otaSI an 10 so M Them
they continue a. sb s is tne cb rg When
dnly organized and represented In Synod or Conyen
ton of the different orders OF her ministry aud people
Worship in order to adapt the late Reyolu
lion and other local circumstances Of America which II
is humby conceived may and Will be done without any
| other or further departure from the yener-
able order and beautiful Forms OF Worship
Daughter to sister Caurch" This paper was signed
the Convention was the Rev. William Smith, D. d.. Rec
tor OF 1t. Pauls and Chester Parishes, Kent County
Md. In May 1884, the second step WAS taken toward
the organization OF the Protestant Episcopal Church In
the United states few Of the clergy OF the states OF
| Brunswick, ~ j., on the 18Th and 10th OF May
1874. to confer together CONCERNING the Interests OF
deceased clergyman. Here" says Bishop White, it
was determined TO procure larger meeting on the Sth
for the purpose OF serving the said charitable ntitu
ton bur To confer and agree on some general principles
OF an union Of the Eplocopa Church throughout the
States" Accordingly on the 5Lh day OF October, 1884,
commended Seven Principles of Ecclesiastical Union
basis for future organization. They also recon.
test d bN pr @ n anu
be convened in the City OF Philadelphia the 2ith Of
| september iIs2.
| TIiE AMERICAN CHURCH ORGANIZED.
The fourth step in this movement was the assembling
OF the first General Convention OF the Protestant Epis
cOpal Church in the United States" in Philadelphia, on
the day above named Convention composed of regu
larry elected Deputies from the different Conventions
Seven States represented New.York, NewJersey
pcnpsylyania Delaware, Maryland Virginia and South
Carolina. The President Of this Convention, chosen
| unanimously, the Rev. william White, ID. d., and
among the members venerable and grave who
mad passed through the tolls and suerngs ~ the evO-
! lntonary War, and whose names are dear to every
TIE great work this Convention the revision OF
the Prayer Book Of the Church OF England not only 10
adapt IL to the new cyl ana political status Dut eise 10
make ".such other alterations in the Liturgy as It may
be advisable for this Convention to reconaGnd 10 t1e
Sept Is. the second day Of the session, committee
was appointed 10 take this important work In hand.
consisting Of one clerical and one lay deputy from eac
state represented The chairman OF This committee OF
| land formerly tho Provost OF the College and Academy
Of Philadelphia 1t believed that to him and to Bishop
accomplished the proposed PrayerBook set forth and
| recommended for use by that Conyenuon
ADOPTION OF THE PRAYER-BOoK.
On the 9th day October, 1885, the work Of revision
L
same day the Convention passed the following resou-
| tion:
prepare and preach sermon suited TO the solemn ocea
OF the present convention, on Friday next; and
that the Convention attend the same, and that the
service OF the church as proposed Tor future use, be
then read for the first time
Ihc Liturgy, as thus revised was read for the first
time public worship, by the Rev. William White ID. ID.
Tho sermon preached on that occasion by tine Rev Dr.
smith now IN my possession, and l make the follow
ing attracts from IL: (Ong extracts were then readJ
TIE PRAYER-BoOK PRINTED.
A Committee consisting OF the three most eminent
olergyUen Of the Convention the Rev Dire White Whar
ton and Smith appointed with instructions 10 pub
lish the Book Of Common Prayer with the alterations
well as those ratified In order to render the Liturgy
consistent with the American Revolution aud the Con-
stuoDs Of the respective states as the alterations
and new Offices recommended TO this Church; and that
The hook be accompanied with proper preface
OF address, setting forth the reasons and
have the liberty TO make verbal and grammatical
corrections, bat in such manner as that nothing ~
was printed n Philadelphia in 1886 and reprinted
exact repiint OF the London edition Of that year
Another fact connected with the history Of this repub-
usled book he recorded. The General Convention
OF 1885 petiun 10 the Archbishop and Bishops OF
the Church Of England asking them to confer
should I've elected to that Office by the
several conventions OF the States and forwarded copy
of the proposed prayerbook TO them for their inspec
ton To tins request the Archbishops and Bishops of
England returned an answer encouraging the Conyen-
lion 10 hope Tor success IN Their application, Dnt OBJECT
ilg TO some OF the alterations in the proposed prayer
book. The things objected to were only tue relec,
lion OF the Nicene and AthanaSan Creeds ana
the clause, " lie descended lnto hell IN aeo tne
the other alterations. The exceptions taken by the
English bishops were received kindly, and at the meet
iig Oh III. ueH Y @ ,oinod ~ ~ rcsnre tbe
Nicene Greed and the omitted clause OF the Apostles
Creed but the proposition 10 restore the Athanasian
Creed was almost unceremonously rejected AT the
mex trenn session of the General Convention In l8s
most OF the alterations In the proposed book failed To
receive the sanction Of that body and tue present
Prayer-Book OF the Protestant Episcopal Church
Articles of Religion, the Ordlnal, the Office OF
Justification ana the form OF conseeraton OF church
today that Church the proposed Prayer Book had
become standard Of its doctrines and worship stu
1885 bears with IL the sanction, Endorsement ana recon-
mendaton, unanimous rs far as we Know OF tue WISE
venerable, and sanity men composing that Convention
In returning its use We are only accepting their
recommendation, and restoring " the OLD pains
The TWO PRAYER-B0oKs
What then arc the chief points difference between
the TWO Prayer Books They substantially the fol-
lowing: The words priest and altar" are not to be
found IN tho proposed book, and consequently many
now called priesty acts either omitted or deyoyed
upon the officiating minister" Thus the present
DECLARATION OF AbsOuton or Remission OF Sins, to be
made by the Priest simply "A Declaration concerning
IN the Commission Office what at present restricted TO
the priest alone, as placing upon tne table 90 nucn
made the duty OF " the minister"
The difference IN the Baptsmal services Is very
marked In that for children the words IN the address
of the minister Seeing now dearly beloved brethren,
that this child Ia regeneratc aud grated into the body
OF Cbrss Church not found in tho proposed book
and the Collect which reads 1--WE give the hearty thanks
most mereinIl Father that II hath pleased Thee TO re-
ceneraie this INFANT Wih Thy Holy SPIRIT, to receive hun
Tor Thine own child by adoption etc." Ia the proposed
hook without the words IN italics.
Wherefore this infant must also faithfully,
for his part promise by you that his suretes until
he come OF take upon HIMSELF that he Will re-
nounce devil and all his works and constantly be-
ieve Coos holy word, and obedently keep His com
maud ments." In the proposed book this becomes
Wherefore - you must also faithfully for your
part promise and answer To the following questions
(which take the place Of those now in the servlce)
Minser-Dost thou believe all the articles Of the
Christian faith M contained in the Apostles Creed and
wilt thou endeavor to have this child Instructed ac
.Ar..ln 4