New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04
DRIFTING TOWARD A LITURGY.

The organization of a Church Service Society
in this city on Tuesday evening by number
of representative Presbyterian clergymen and
laymen is another evidence that the non-litur
gical churches are drifting toward a liturgy. 1t
IS not so long since forms Of prayer were abhor-
rent to evangelical Christians. Not only were
they looked upon as Popsh. they were denounced
as unspritual. How could any one really pray,
it was asked, IL he read his prayer out Of book?
And the example of Christ and the Apostles was
alleged in favor Of free extcmporaneous prayer.
This view of the case seemed conclusive TO
the Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptsts Of
the last generation that any one who questioned
it would have seemed to them little better than
a heather man and a publican.
Yet to-day there is widespread belief among
tho most intelligent people in these churches
that this opposition 10 liturgy has been a mis-
take. While they do not desire to have forms
of prayer made obligatory they do think that
their use ought TO be encouraged In theory
an extemporaneous prayer is TO be preferred. If
the person offering 1t is possessed Of devotion
and spirituality, II he understands the needs and
aspirations of the human heart, and can express
them in n petition reverent in tone, and char.
then it is an ideal prayer But no one needs TO
be told that the men who can make such prayers
not occasionally but hundreds of times year.
are few and far between. 1t may be said in
deed, that the ability to make such prayers re-
qulres as much genius AZ to preach a great ser
mon. And there are a multitude OF good men
who are not genuses. As education and culture
have increased in this country, it is becoming
more difficult for an average congregation to
listen to foundering and ungrammatical prayers
that either say nothing at all or nothing TO the
point. And then occasionally there are 10 be
heard irreverent, basphemous and vulgar pray
ers even to listen TO which seems n profana-
ton. These are few OF the reasons that have
produced the reaction in favor of liturglca forms
among the non-liturgcal churches When the
pastor OF such church sees his young people
straylng off to the nearest Episcopal church
because they like the service he is pretty apt
TO ask himself why he also cannot have ser.
vice that they will like. 1t is because a great
MANY pastors In the Presbyterian Church have
been asking that question during the last few
wears that this Church Service Society has been
organized.
OF course, the Presbyterian Church will never
make liturgy obligatory on It's members. But
It will throw no obstacles in the way of lndlyid-
ual congregations that prefer a llturgcal ser
vice The outcome OF the movement will be- In
fact. the restoration 10 the Church Of its free
dom OF choice in this matter which was virtual
" taken away from it by the reformers. In
matters that are non-essential. freedom of choice
and action Is always good thing in the Church
as well as the State, and is especially desirable
to-day. when so many people are thinking for
themselves The Introduction of furgIcal forms
in Presbyterian churches VIII do much TO in
crease its vitality and deliver It from the for