New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-31


history Of the PrayerBook with its several revisons. is
here given with come Of the most important points OF
difference among churchmen.
After the Reformation II was considered necessary 70
have new servcebook free from tue corruptions that
we're In the Romish Prayer-BoOk. In the time OF
Edward VI service-books called Uses had been pre-
pared and were IN use and 1t Is upon three OF these
the Uses Of Hereford. Of Sarum or Salisbury ana OF
York. with notifications TO conform to the Reformed
faith that the present Ia based the nrst
PRAYER Book Of the Reformed Church OF England was
prepared during the reign Of Edward VIZ In los pu'
that still retained some Romish corruptions especaV
in the office for the administration OF Holy communion
These were removed by revision In 1904 VIM" .o"
formed TO q lower view Of the Lords supper Du'
Immediately after came the accession Oh Vueo"
Mary and England came under the oomiha-
ton Of the Romansts again. At the beginning VI 'o
reign OF Elizabeth another revision OF the fray
was made resulting 10 a sort OF compromise po'"o
the two PrayerBooks of the time OF Edward VII in,'
sprane from desire to retain Romanlsts In the commu
MON OF the national Church of England The Prayer
Rook remained substantially unalered until the time OF
Charles H. when In 1862 a revision was MADE drected
particularly against nOn-conformity TO the hauonai
Church The Prayer-Book Of Charles lis time Is now
in use In the Church Of England. The CHIEF rubricai
change In 1862 was what is called the Block Rubric,
directed against the whole idea and practice OF eucha-
ristc alteration After referring to the order for the
kneelng Of communicates In paraking OF the Sacra-
men this rubrc (Which derives its name from the DOCK
letter text in which it is printed has these words:
Which order well mean. for ns9scation of our humble and and
for The avoiding Of such and disorder S.t se Es UG hat
intended ought be done either unit The
Presence cb Flesh and Blood For the bread
remain still in their natural substances and therefore may
not be adorei
As a matter of course, changes were made in the
rubrcs and Prayer Book the time Of the establish
meDt Of the Church In country. in 1882 but these
for the part caused by changes In the cond
ton OF civil and political affairs here after the separa-
ton England The change made In the rubric con-
nected with tho Apostles Creed, which allowed the
omission Of the clause. descended into HE'LL OF the
substitution Of the words event into the place o. de-
parted spirits" was very important as showing the
view OF those by whom the Church here was esta6-
shed that they had the right to change even the prm
tive creed OF the Church. Another important change
was the introduction into the Communion ONCE OF what
is called the Invocation taken from tho Communion Of
flee Of the Scottish Episcopal Church This arose in the
following way No bishops were consecrated In TINS
country before the Revolution and after the Revolution
an attempt to get the conservation Of bishops from En-
gland failed, and Samuel seabury, the first Bishop
fish Episcopal Church. Subsequently the Church IN
this country secured the conservation of three bishops
monze the relations of the representative Of the scotch
Episcopal Church. on the one hand and OF the repre-
English Church the Otner, ana tue
result of the effort to do this was the Introduction OF ne
Invocation from Inc 70 the ONCE
than it in the Church Of England II to be noted
that the directions In the present PrayerBook Tor the
LAYING of hands upon the bread and upon the vessel
containing wine in the prayer OF conservation seem
to Imply that they the vehicle OF special grace ana
that before the time of the Revision OF 1862 there
directions Of the sort III the PRAYER OF
Church in this country the Promise of Conformity was
made much more general and less stringent ID ts terms
hat time The purpose Of the change was to
less rigid conformity With regard to the present state
PRAYER Book, it may be stated that there is large
school in the Church which finds difficulty In the Ian
be revised These churchmen would be satisfisd with
rubrlcal change which would make the Language not
actually Imperative they would be satisfied with any
recognition OF loyalty the Church In the exercise
of their CONSCIENTIOUS scrupes IN the omission OF the
favor of granting that indulgence While some Church
do not think that the in i tine ra5r
they desire that 1t should be changed to may as has
been proposed the minister DO left wholly at liberty
TO omit the words which absolutely the
spiritual regeneration Of infants, "Seeing now dearly
the body of Chrsts church, aud expression In the
Thanksgiving. II hath pleased Thee 10 tDis
dency in the Church toward to the conscien
difficulties felt by many concerning this part OF the
PrayerBOok is expected to result In sort OF tacit
understanding IN the Church that those who omit these
expressions in the Baptisma Office VIII not be pro
ceeded against for doing but not considered very
probable that any changes Will be made In the Prayer
Book for the relief of these conscientious difficulties
In time OF much excitement and controversy. IL Is
not unlikely, however. that when circumstances are
favorable and there is less heat in discussion and
less pronounced difference In position an attempt may
be enrich the Prayer Book as to provide for
varied services but 1t is thought That In the pres
emit condition OF things such attempt Is hardly desra
be and 1t Is asserted that there is strong FEELING IN the
Church that any material changes in the PrayerBook
should be made only in connection with the other
branches OF the Anglican Communion
to the action of the General Convention concerning
rituastic practices. the opinion Is expressed Dy
thoughtful churchmen that the decided position TAKEN
adoption OF the canon on Tuesday, will act as a
check on rituastic PRACTICES aud will arrest to some
hat mn nal
passed Will be a moral rather than a disciplinary
check rather than an obstacle or another sort, Tor
profess TO fnd serious objections and grave difficulties,
and 1t asserted that not few members OF the House
United the existence OF these objections. put
thought Il so important to take some ,, aGt,on
practices that they advocated this imperfect measure
This ut least indicates what practices are now 10
renders superuous further setting forth Of the claims OF
different schools in the Church as to what Is really
TO this that under it, minister NAV be convicted
of violation of the doctrine and order OF the Cnurcn
titled in ecclesiastical trial In an ecclesiastical trial
he would be tried by his peers and would have the Sc
the protection OF the rules Of evidence but by this
he is tried by the Bishop and Standing Committee OF
the the Selection for the trial Of those who are
to try him. II he do not obey their Judgment he is TO be
brought before ecclesiastical court but there the
question to be whether he has violated Church
law not but whether he has obeyed the lndgment
not Moreover Is objected that the adoption OF this
canon parakes OF the nature OF change
and should through the course Of proposal IN one
Convention, action upon 1t by the dioceses and hnal
action by another Convention Again 1t Is objected that
this canon will check rituastc practices IN doceses
cause he would be apt to nd ground for admontion
against minister against whom charges were made
EPISCOPAL CONVERTS TO CATHOLICISM.
TO the Editor of The TRIBUNE.
SIR: Will your correspondent, AN Epis-
with MIA auth o.