Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-10

with new changes, enrichments, and amend
ments, the Latin book was translated into
English, and in that form is used to-day,
either in entirety or in selection by almost
all English speaking Christians. The value
of the use of form of prayer has thus the
attestation of the Christian past
Not Only Old But Good.
But the argument from antiquity 10 not
the most convincing argument. The most
persuasive kind of reasoning to-day is that
which is based on the solid foundation of
actual excellence. We have no great rev.
erence In these days for things that are old
clined to believe that the new il the better.
We have improved upon our fathers In
deed, is it not true that the young men are
older than the old men, because they have
had the benefit of whole generation more
Of human experience?
We are'practical people, little given to
sentiment Ws do not care very much
where things came. from, no matter how far
back in the past, but whether they can do
their work. We are on the watch, not for
the Oldest but for the best We are ready
to put away any, even the most venerable,
institution that We have, If We are assured
that We can get something more serviceable,
something really better, in the place Of It
We insist upon testing all things to-day.
not by their age, but by their excellence
Accordingly we lay most emphasis upon
the real spiritual advantages which attend
the use of form of prayer. One advan-
tage is the securing of reverence. Another
is the maintaining Of truth.
To Make tho Worship Reverent
A form of prayer helps to make the
church's worship reverent. 1t is necessary
for the securing of reverence that the
service should be taken in large measure
out of the ordering Of the minister. All
ministers, unhappay, are not men of pro-
found spiritual gifts If we could have the
Archangel Gabriel in every parish, there is
no doubt but that an extemporaneous
service, such as he would arrange Sunday
after Sunday, would be the best arrange
ment possible. An extemporaneous service
conducted by saint is the ideal service of
the Christian Church.
We must take men, however, not as we
wish they were, but as they are. And as
they are, with all their imperfections,
shallownesses, prejudices, low ideals, some
times in the spirit, and sometimes out of
the spirit, We account 1t better that the
service of our worship should be lifted
efectually above the littlenesses of men,
above the fuctuation of spiritual heat and
cold in the human heart, out of dependence
upon the weather or the size of the congre-
cation or the health fthe officiating minis
ter, and made permanently reverent, worthy,
uplifting, religious Let us make sure, at
least, of the golden bowl.
Leaving to Individual Preachers.
Nor is it enough to have golden bowl.
We want golden bowl that is large enough.
We want bowl that is round, that bears in
its shape the circle of completeness and of
N0 han Va NJ p1U
ence but truth.
Not all ministers, unfortunately, are men
either of wide experience Of the spiritual
needs of human nature, or of deep &C
quaintance with all the phases of religious
truth. The chances are that If the services
are left to the individual minister, some
spiritual necessity will 60 unheeded, some
prayer will be without Q voice. All men,
indeed, even with the best intentions and
with the largest advantages, are one-sided;
that is, they naturally look at truth more
from one point Of view than from another.
1t is natural, and probably inevitable, that
men should dwell most upon those truths
which most appeal to them. With all the
helps that can be provided in form Of
prayer, there is q constant temptation to
teach religious truth unequally. Without
prayer book the temptation meets with
but little hindrance Some ministers will
teach that God is our Father, and say little
about God as our judge; some will empha-
size the first . nd great commandment 80 as
to obscure that second commandment which
is like unto it; some will dwell much mora
upon the doctrine Of the incarnation than
upon the doctrine of the atonement.
Not Monopoly OF the Parsons. ell
Every religious teacher knows how diff
cult It is rightly to divide the word of truth
and to preach the whole gospel Of God. But
here a prayer book is constant guide and
inspiration. Week by week, as the Chris
tian seasons pass the church herself in the
prayer book, whether the minister wishes
it or not, can set forth the great round of
Christian truth. Not one essential or help
tul article of faith can be left out.
Finally, the use of form of PRAYER Sc
cures reverence and maintains truth not
only by taking the worship of the church
out of the exclusive ordering of the minis
ter, but by putting considerable part into
the lips of the people. Religion has always
suffered, has always fallen into superstition
and falsehood when it has been allowed to
become monopoly of the parsons. The |
church needs the good sense OF the people,
The people, too, have their rights in the |
church. The people are the church. The I
worship of the sanctuary ought to be the peo-
ple's worship. In the prayer book 1t is
GEORGE HODGES