New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-31

MFNTs-A CHARGE THAT lie HAS PERVERTED Tx
MEANING or A PRAYER
TO heEditor Of The tribune.
SIR Prof. Fisher observes that | should have
had better right my signature OF "Neritas II had
OF self garbed Prayer for all Conditions of Men
(which he does not trouble himself TO entle arighD,
"by stopping at the word unity, where there is not
even a comma" He quotes the comma. though he has
elsewhere implied dislike OF minute criticism
Though have initiated somewhat this peculiar mode
OF controversy is new 30 But suppose reply is
demanded even by Outgiving so original, and my
reply of course that it is original outgiv-
ing OF Prof Fishers pure invention that the comma"
does not appear in my communication that the word
unty' does appear there that 10 short, incredi-
BILE IL may appear.a single look at my letter Will
show did not not stop where Prof Fisher says that
did and that, again. his assertion is entirely
and infinitely untrue. I did not garble the prayer
ut ALL 1t anteeedently improbable that should,
after requesting my readers to verify my statements
from the Prayer Book There portions Of the prayer
to which made reference but they are portions TO
which Prof Fisher also made no reference and was
bnsy with what he said, not, after his manner with
what he say. The prayer includes several pc
titons OF which were concerned with but one Prof.
Fisher quoted but one-quoted that but in part and
altered he chose. Iquoted the whole OF that one
with scrupulOus accuracy and put not comma, but
period the end, because the quotation happened 10
conclude a sentence. had no objection then, to say
unity spirit, in the bond OF peace and in righteous
ness of lfe." Ihave no objection to saying so now
but am unable what this has TO do with the mat
ter under discussion
That is, my grave and serious complaint against Prof.
Fisher that hethad: the columns Of great journal.
ingeniously and forebly perverted the meaning Of
prayer In use by Episcopal Church. To this lie
plies that the prayer was written by Dr. Peter
Ming" and that IL is modelled on another prayer. The
question is not Of authorship, nor OF modelling. The
question Is what does the prayer say, and what did
Prof Fisher say that 1t said The reference to Gun
ming who certainly composed the prayer, affords an op
portuDity for saying that careful scholar Blunt,
treating of Cummings authorship. remarks
1.-THE petition THAT all who call themselves Chris
tans may be led into the way OF truth. was evidently
framed with reference 10 the Puritan Nonconfor
who had sprung up such large numbers during the
great Rebellion bat It is equally applicable as PRAYER
Of charity for eG ct all ha snd RS words
nected with the petitions for unity, peace and right
eousness which follow"
This is very different from Prot Fishers Catholic
idea Of the Church" 1t is the Catholic idea
Anothenthing brought out by the reference TO Gun
Ming OF less consequence is still interesting showing
how curiously wrong Prof Fisher goes in the least
details Of his statements This prayer Of Cunning,
of the Prayer Booa Which really is in both the morn
ing and the evening services OF the American Church.
aud 10 neither OF the Englsh-GunniDR himself, when
he was Master of St. Johns COLLEGE, Cambridge. would
not allow to be used at evensong. declaring that he
u
the Ltany The reference to the model is s
unfortunate. To model is to plan or form in par
upon another but while the form like, the intent
was very unlike. The two prayers different in
purpose two be, and the difference is set forth
with complete cearness in their titles One is "A prayer
for all conditions of mon" The of the other is
first suppcates for the whole world praying for ts con
version to Catholic faith. The object Of the second
Of the Chuich at the time when the Offering up OF the
Eucharist makes ntercessicn special duty OF love"
npn nf oh ~ he rinn fha 9TH
prayer of love-" for the faithfu Can any more di.
verse intent, purpose, and use be imaeinedi
But there Is deeper misfortune for Prot Fisher In
this reference He calls this lastnamed prayer the
w 90 Holy
used the equivalent OF the Universal Church."
thug The trouble that the prayer is too ancient"
for Prof Fishers use, and dates from time when al
who did confess the holy Name OF Goa Were Episcopal
equivalent The prayer exists In the yernasuld ar a. It
very similar form. in medieval hturgies. and
Hssss :. Of in h
urgies OF BE-. Mark, Chrysostom, Clement, and James
seems to establish the quotation Of the iastnamed by
o. Paul IN his Epstie to the Corint1ans II follows not
Church began uss these equvaents but that il they
mean VIVA, pr9i Fisher says they mean she has used
% economy Oi prophecy which only Yale professor is
sufficiently competent scholar'' to discover.
Church defines sica Of Christ " as
blessed company OF Al faithful people she does not
aver tnns tasy ere s company for whom abe
truth" nor that those faithful people for whom
che increasingly duplicates that they may "ho,d the
faith" The faithful are her children The words
quoted as definition occur in form OF thanksr,vinr 70
be said by them for the nefbe cOndescenson NJ The
real presence Of Z" the mOst precious RoNy snS
Blood Of tho Redeemer and for the as as
surspce thereby" that they are very mem
bers incorporate In His my body" Andt form
ends with prayer that they may continue in thai
holy owshiP" The blessed company" the
Universal Church." are indeed equivalents. But the
Universal Church" the Catholic and Apostolic
Church OF the Nicene Creed, or, AZ even more ex
plcity described In these words OF prayer from the
o01cA of InstitufiOn. O Holy Ieaua who hast nnt