Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-17
The FIRST OF THE COURSE.

/ Rev. George Hodges Lectures on the Gus
toms Of tho Episcopal Church at st. An
drew'IThe Origin Of the PrayerDook
Explained-soms Interesting Features.
Rev. George Hodges delivered the first Of
a course of four lectures on the Protestant
Episcopal Church at St. Andrews Church,
Ninth street, last evening. The subject
was "Worship," taking as his text Rev
Citations W, g. "Golden bowls of incense,
which are the prayers of the saints" Pray
ers, said Mr.. Hodges, are part form and part
spirit. He continued:
There is utterance and there IS aspiration.
The difference between the prayers oftthe
saints and of the careless is in the hidden
aspiration Of the heart, not in the form. All
public worship has in It the element Of form.
The moment a word Is spoken there begins
form OF prayer. The only way to have a
have it in unbroken silence. All Christian
people, even the Society OF Friends, agree in
the use Of some kind Of form. What is to
be avoided is not form, but Journalism. which
Is the use Of empty form, the utterance Of
the word Of prayer without the aspiration.
It does not depend upon the form pro-
yided for the use OF the " worshiper. 1t does
depend upon the individual Christian. We
have a great deal of Journalism in the Epis-
copal Courch, but not a monopoly of it; but
Journalism Is not due to any peculiarities of
.
or zeal and lack OF love.
There are two reasons for going to church.
We should go partly for the prayers and
partly for the sermon. The worship of the
Episcopal Church is set in order in the Book
of Common Prayer, which Is to be COM
mended on two grounds: first. antiquity;
second, excellence.
This book had its origin in the Hebrew
church, long before the Christian era. Our
Lord and His disciples used in the Temple
and synagogues the prayers read out OF the
appointed books. The phrases OF the formal
for the most part from the Hebrew prayer
book, the essential arrangement of which
was the same as is our prayer book to-day.
The Christian disciples in arranging the
service OF the Christian Church followed the
order to which they had been accustomed.
To this we owe the use of the psalms
In the prayer book. and tho three
and praise and prayer. The prayer book
was then translated into Greek. The
baptismal service, and the order for holy
communion took the place of the services
and elaborated. When the balance of power
in the church passed to Rome, the prayer
book was translated into Latin, and the
elaboration continued. When the balance
of power among the nations Of the earth
was transferred to the English, the prayer
book was translated into that language, and
all the false doctrine and misleading cere-
mony were taken out
The most convincing argument is that
from excellence. This is a practical age,
in which we are inclined to accept a thing
not because it Is old, but because 1t is good.
One advantage of the Church's form of wor-
ship is the securing of reverence; another IS
the maintaining of truth: that is, putting
these two advantages together the prayer
book makes the people somewhat 1ndepen-
dent ofthe minister. If all ministers were
saints, an heterogeneous service would
be the ideal service. But we must take men
not as we wish they were, but'as they are.
1t is better that our worship should be lifted
effectually above the littleness of men.
Moreover our worship should be we'll
rounded, and should omit ~ none Of
ice obviates the difficulties aris-
ing from the lack OF experience
on the part of many ministers OF all the
spiritual needs OF the human heart, and the
sarily somewhat one-sided. The prayer
book is continual guide. If It be followed
all the necessary truths and doctrines re-
ceive their due attention in the course Of the
Christian year.
Another advantage Of the prayer book is
joining in the service. The worship OF the
Church is not the minister's service only.
1t is the peoples service also. The prayer
book is the guardian Of the peoples rights.
general rule of the Episcopal Church is, in
regard to the conduct of individual Chris
tians in the service, that that may rightly
be done, which, without unduly offending
other people. is found to be helpful to each
Christian. Do that which is to help you, and
let your neighbor without any narrow judg-
ing do that which is OF help to him. That IS
the spirit of the worship of the Episcopal
Church.
The next lecture will be delivered next
Wednesday evening, at 8 o'clock. Subject:
'The Doctrines of the Church.