Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-11-10
THE BIBLE AND THE PRAYER BOOK.
What They Are and How to Use Them Dis
cussed by tho Archdcuconry OF Whining

What They Are and How to Use Them Dts
cussed by tho Archdcuconry OF whining
ton. go is.-
The Bible and the Prayer Book were
the subjects discussed before the Arch
dcaconry of Wilmington at its session
yesterday week in Odd Fellows
Hall, Highlands. Bishop Coleman pre-
sided. The Rev. G. N, Spalding, ID.
D., Of Laurel was the first speaker, and
his theme was 1.-THE Bible: What 1t
Is" He said that we received the
canon Of the Old Testament as the
word of God on the authority Of Christ.
The speaker emphasized its uniyer-
gies, Christ's sanction making Thorn all
articles of faith. Even the Old Testa-
ment prodigies convey spiritual lessons
Testament has the authority of inter-
nal evidence. If one would study
Americanism, he would study the writ
we find Christianity in the Bible.
"The Bible: How to Use It," was
presented by Charles b. Palmer, who
suggested tho personal use of the Biblel
Each should have plan of reading it,
morning and verse at night, or to fol-
low the topical system of rcading every
thing pertaining to subject, and
whatever the plan, it was to be con-
scientiously followed. After personal
use of the Bible, came consideration of
its use in the family circle, in the Sun
ay-school, in, business life and in the
sick room. With regard to tho use Of
| the Bible in business life, the Book Of
| Proverbs was mentioned as containing
many rules for guidance in the mer-
camille world. The simple Plan sug-
gested for the use Of the Bible was TO
know the word Of God and to apply il
as well rs we may To the various Cir
cunlstsnces of lifc. ~
| The discussion following the papers
was opened by the Rev. J. Harry
| Chesloy OF Claymont. Ao dvelt largely
upon tho problem of who is to be the
authoritative interpreter of the Bible.
lie showed that the great number OF
sects claim to get their truth from the
Bible and he traced the unhappy divi-
| sions of Christendom to the rnfortu-
mite use of the Bible in this regard.
! The first Christians received the truths
| of the Bible as grand facts; the atone
ment. the resurrection and the descent
of the Holy Ghost, were all grand facts.
| After those facts were received, they
were written down, so that the Bible
is the minute book of the church. He
i held that it would be right for the
church to say what should be the in
depreciation of the Bible.
DIR. Spalding, who charmed all by
his incisive remarks expressed the be.
lief that the modern sects had nc
reason for existence: that several Of
them only differed hairsbr eadth and
should be united. He held that the
German Reformed, the Presbyterian
the Methodist Episcopal and the Epis.
copal Church might all unite. But the
difficulty is the wickodness of man, fol
there are salaries and buildings anc
places by reason of the divisions
The Revs. Fletcher Clark of Phila
delphia, Harry Ransom and Chaplain
FIN. Munson were among the speaker.
in the discussion.
"The Prayer Book: What 1t Isl wal
presented by the Rev. G. A. Horne O
Christ Church, Christina hundred
who said the prayer book was owned
by no sect; there could be prayel
book according to the use of the Pres
byterian Church, as well as according
to the Protestant Episcopal Church
The prayer book is heritage from tn,
past and for the use of all. He shovel
by review of the morning prayer how
it was made up. The opening word
are taken from the Old and New Tesla
ment; the exhortation, the genera
confession and dissolution were frs
used in the Sixteenth Century; tn
Lords prayer is the example of com
mon prayer; the versicles date back t.
the Sixth Century; the Apostles Cree,
was written before the year 800 and tn
Nicene Greed about 325: the collec
for peace is from the sacramentary o
Galatius, who was Pope 1872 to 496; tn
prayer for the President is patterno'
after that for the King which was frs
used in the time of King Henry VIII.
the prayer OF st. Chrysostom is G
Greek origin, and other parts of tn
morning prayer are also from the earl
days. The whole is slowly acoumu
lated expression of the devotional spiri
Of ages. Before the Reformation, tn
minister had practically all the service
, the Reformation gave the people par
in it. With its penitence, its prais
and its. prayer the book Of Comma
, Prayer is the safeguard of the service
ouuiininR up, MI. IlOrnS Sdiu : u II
Prayer Book is the form of commo
prayer, because it comes to us from
| past in which we all have coinmo
ownership and interest. Common, BIZ
cause it expresses in universal languap
! the common hope and desire of q
) men; and is said habitually. 1t prt
! supposes private prayer, by each ind
5 vidual, but is itself the common praye
, of ALL" ea
The Rev. Mr. Clark of Philadelphis
J in speaking Of how to use the prayt
book urged that it be used confident
0 and prayerfully, and. that there be
deeper devotional spirit in its use.
: The Rev. K. J. Hammond opened III
: discussion of the subject and 9th,
: speakers included Archdeacon Hall, d
Spalding, A. +. Lewis of Delawai
r City and S. d. Day of Binghamtor
: N. Y.