The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1895-07-13
RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
F. a. Argo, Editor.
Why Does the Episcopal Church Use
a Prayer Book?.

Undary motive prompting him, the de-
sire to gain more intimate knowledge
of the will of God. Thus emphasizing
the idea of worship, the Episcopal
Church offers her members Prayer
Book, because she believes the best in
terest of worshipers to be conserved
through the use of prescribed FORMS
This opinion was held by all christians
until comparatively recent date. Look
ing back to the very beginning of the
Christian Era, one finds liturgy in
use everywhere, no other custom was
known. Even our Lord and His Apos-
ties were familiar with the use of pre-
scribed forms because the services of
the synagogue and temple which they
attended were conducted in such man
ner. When asked by His disciples to be
instructed how to pray our Lord gave
as a model "The Lords Prayer" which
comprises certain petitions taken from
the synagogue liturgy. Accustomed
to follow this method and aware that
their Lord had sanctioned such use by
His presence and commentator, it was
only natural that the christian disciples
in arranging a service for the new So
ciety, would follow the use with which
they had been familiar from childhood.
That they did so, is evident from our
present Prayer Book, which betrays
many likenesses to the old synagogue
service, not merely in the reading of
prayers from a book, but in the order
of arrangements, both of the divineser-
vices and of the different parts ofindi
vidual service. The Prayer Book then,
at first, was the property of the Jews, a
Hebrew Book; no great while elapsed, |
however. before it wss translated into
Greek. The rapid spread of christian
missions made necessary a rendering |
into the common language of the east
ern world and while the original pat
lore was highly valued and carefully
preserved, yet as the Church grew and
the christian consciousness developed
the Book was enlarged and enriched by
additions. The beautiful prayer of St.
Chrysostium, placed at the close OF the
service of morning and evening prayer,
was introduced into the book at this
time. Yet another translation was de-
manded when the great west which had
long been the seat of missionary en-
deavor, gained the supremacy over the
east. The western Church became
more powerful than its mother, the
Book was translated into Latin. More
additions were made, the book was en-
larged to express all the spiritual wants
of man, and so the book grew in size
and value. 1t was destined, however,
to suffer at a latter time through the
introduction of false doctrine and
strange practices. As the churches be-
came corrupt, erroneous doctrines found
their way into its pages and the Prayer
Book was Romanized The English
Reformation freed the ancient book
from the false doctrines and Imprint
tive and uncatholic practices which
had latterly characterized it and also of
the people for the Prayer Book in their
own language, translated the volume |
out of Latin into English. The book t
was simpliied and purified and beyond g
it to the spiritual needs of the a
people, no change was made; it re- I
NAMED the old book which had come ,
down the centuries, and stands to-day /
a mark of the continuity of the English n
Church with the primitive Church. l
The Episcopal Church received it from b
the Church of England, glorious her
tage, indeed; she does not hold it, I
however, in slavish devotion to the
past, but within few years has intro
1uced changes designed to bring it into Y
closer touch with the present time d
Such, briefly reviewed, is the history
If the Prayer Book The antiquity Of 4
he Book is one argument in favor of
is adoption and use; this would appeal
o those who revere things old because "
hey come from past time, but would
all to convince that large majority who
fleet to despise whatever cannot boast 10
modern origin. And while the Church nj
:annot but respect as venerable vol al
lme and cherish book of snch hall pr
owed associations, and while she does n
ppea to antiquity as an argument in p'
avor of her Prayer Book, she yet has a OF
till more convincing argument to Offer no
he practical advantages that attend CT
Ter words Of worship. at
To be Continued. 10
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Mrs. Robert Anderson. widow of Fort ~