Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-09-30
The Episcopal Convention Committee
From the Philadelphia Record

lfIOlu iuc LuiLauOiPhia hS|oAN'J
More prayers, will be the cry heard al
the next general convention of the Protes
tant Episcopal Church soon to be held in
New York. TIE committee of fifteen ap
poiaied at the last convention to suggest
| needed changes or additions to the present
liturgy mas just prepared its preliminary re-
| Tort for the October meeting. The princi
| pal features of the committees report are
the Book of Offices" series of services fol
special occasioDs, and numerous new pray
ers Among the latter are petitions for the
upiop oi ChrsteDdom, for children, for
you.g men, fc- those who serve God under
difficulties, for tbose who are obliged to
work Oh the Lords day, for the rich. and
for the army and navy. The prayer for the
rich lie as follows Almighty God, we be.
sesch Thee to send Thy grace upon those
whom Thou hast intrusted with great pos
sessions, that they may pfaee Thee 10 their
hvss, honor Thee with their wealth, and lead
others by their example to seek for that iu-
heritance which the beloved Son will give
! TO all those who have followed Him. Have
mercy upon such as neglect to minister to
the wants of Thy poor and grant that, re-
me 90 berpg the account of their stewardship
which they must one day give, they may be
faithful aimoDers Of Thy bounty, and 30 at
asst attain to Thy Heavenly kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"
"Chang.s in the liturgy were first pro
posed u 1880 said Bishop 0. W. Whitta.
Ter as, evening. 'At first public opinion
seemed to favor amendments and additions,
| but In the convention of 1888, and still more
u that of 1856, reaction appeared, and 1t
| is 10Y belief that there Ia DOW decided oppo-
siion to any further changes. Slight alter
atious in the pray er book we're finally deci.
ded ou three years ago, and other modltica.
tioas passed on favorably at that time will
come up for final adoption In October. The
move for new prayers is not at all party
affair, and has won little strength. The
| chsi ges proposed do not affect the e'sen
tials of church teaching, but are Simply e1'
| conditions of life"
Our prayer. book has rot been changed
q auy extent for hundred years." said
DR.. s. D. Mcconnell, Of st. Stephens Prot.
estant Episcopal Church, and it has there.
fore appeared to some people that 1t stand;
| in need Of revision. 1t is very plain, how
ever. that sympathy is not all generally fell
for the changes. At the last General con.
yention this opposition to change showed
ITSELF and it is likely to be at least as pro
noupced this year.
"As to change in the name of the Church
hardly per cent. numerically of those attending
the Conventions in the past have advocated it, and
I hsve no idea that the movement will assume any
| impo! !tance. However the committee which will
propose changes in the rubric at the October Con
vention has nothing to do with the Churchs name
That matter is in the hands of no committee, and
it would not be surprising if no references at al
were made to the subject"
"Many changes are urged upon the Protestant
| Episcopal Church these years, remarked another
Clergyman. "Ihe High Church party would like
to see still more forms and ceremonies introduced
and practices OF the Roman Catholic Church adopt
ed, such as the hierarchical arrangement of Bish
| ops aud Archbishops There are Archbishops Of
course in the Anglican Church. The same school
would like to have the name of the Church changed
but this like all other propositions. is looked OF
with dstrust by the strength and vigor of the
| Protestant Church."