The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

One OF the earliest known instances of
| combined national humiliation throughout
England was at one time when the awful
| Black Death was beginning its ravages
among us. In September 134S the Prior
of Canterbury issued orders TO hold pup
lie professions to pray Gods aid against
the mortality.
The practice, however, OF putting forth,
on authority, occasional services, whether
of humiliation or thanksgiving for tempo
rary use in our churches received a con-
siderable and definite impetus at the time
of the Reformation, partly, no doubt, on
account OF the different vein in which the
| religious fervor of those DAYS ran. but
mainly because of the facility then given
through the printing press of readily ssu-
ing uniform and diffuse directions
Owing to much rain and other unsea-
sonable weather" Henry VIII, on August
! 30 1913. wrote to Archbishop Cranmer re-
! Quiring him to enjoin all the Bishops OF
! his province to cause general rogations
and professions to be made within their
| diocsses. On August % Cranmer issued in
! structions to his suffragaDs enjoining the
| observance of the following Wednesday and
! Friday. In July. 1915 occurred the tenn
| porary landing OF the French both in the
| Isle of Wight and at Newhaven. In the
next month the King gathered together "a
puissant navy" and the Archbishop issued
orders for the use of special supplications
| and suffrages on the appointed days Of the
procession 0itany) TO implore victory and
good success in chastising the French.
Prayer During Scotch Troubles
Two instances occur in the reign of the
boy King Edward VI. In May. 1913. the
Privy Council instructed the Archbishop to
put forth prayer for victory and peace
in connection with the Scotch troubles.
This long state prayer is of a curiously
definite character; it invites the Almighty
10 especially have an eye to this small
isle of Britain and to bring about peace
by the most happy and cody marriage
of the Kings Majesty our Sovereign Lord
and the young Scottish Queen" The re-
bellion in Devon, of 1919, which SUISSE
quently spread elsewhere in the West, was
met by order enioining fasting.
During the long reign OF Elizabeth,
considerable variety of occasional services
were enjoined on the church including
several seasons of humiliation. In 1863
Elizabeth entered into alliance with the
French Pedestrians against the Duke of
Guise. and a long prayer was issued, to
be used at the end Of the Litany, in sup
port of our troops. The English soldiers,
on their return in 1868. brought back with
them the plague, -whereupon- there was put
forth, "A Forme TO be used in Common
Prayer twyse aweke, and also order Of
publique fast to be used every Wednesday
in the weeke during this tyne of mortal
lite and other Affections.
In May, 1855, the Turks attacked the ISL
and of Malta after gigantic preparations,
but were beaten off in the autumn with a
loss of 10000 men. The Church OF Eng
land. excited ''all godly people to pray
unto God for the delivery of those Chris
tians" in the three Litany days according
TO special form. The massacre Of st.
Bartholomew Day, in 1872, produced an
other special office book of humiliation,
which was issued on October q.
An alarming shock of earthquake was
experienced in Lordon and throughout the
greater part of England on April g. 1880
Theretpon' an or6er OF prayer for use in
all parish churches on Wednesdays and
Fridays was issued Ito avert and turn
Gods wrath from us, threatened by the
late terrible earthquake"
In the same year, when Parliament was
sanctioning fierce laws against the Recus-
ants, prayer was put forth for the es
tat of Christ's Church, to be used on Sum
days" which is simply appalling in its
phraseology.
When first the Spanish fleet was sighted
off the Lizard on July 10 1858, the Privy
Council requested Archbishop Whitgift i'm
mediately to prepare a form of prayer and
supplication. This was instantly done; the
FORM probaly for lack of time, was in the
main reproduction of that issued in 1872,
in connection with the massacre of st.
Bartholomew Day.
Immediately on the accession of James
/ there was a terrible outbreak of the
plague in London and elsewhere through
out the kingdom. A Manual of Service
was put forth, which was in most particu-
lars a reproduction of that issued on a
like occasion in 1863. The elaboration"
however, to be used in place of a homily
is quite original. The people were to be
warned to forbear on that dav from all
bodily working and buying and selling
(save of necessity:
But especially they are to take heed
that they spend il not in plays, pastimes,
idleness, haunting of taverns. lascivious
wantonesse. surfeiting., and drunkenesse,
for which shines tthe proper shines of our
nation) the heavie displeasure and wrath |
of God is fallen upon us
The Plague Under Charles 1.
When Charles came TO the throne the |
plague was as severe in its ravages as had |
been the case when his father entered the |
Kingdom. On June "a, 1879, the hlnS In |
structed the Archbishop OF Canterbury and |
the Bishops OF London, Durham, Winches- |
ter, Norwich, Rochester, and st. David's !
UaudD to advise together concerning a
public fast. in consequence OF the pesti- |
lence and extraordinary wet weather. and !
also for the purpose of invoking the bless |
ing of God on the fleet. In the following |
year, after Charles had dismissed his sec
ond Parliament, two foreign expeditions |
were planned-namely, for the relief of the |
Protestant seaport Of Rochelle, and for the |
succor Of the King of Denmark in Ger
many. Meanwhile the plague had again
broken out, and day of fasting and sup
plication Ito be held in London on July !
and in the rest of England and Wales on
August p was appointed as necessary to
be used in these dangerous times OF war
and pestilence."
Immediately on the dissolution Of Par
Lament in 1929, followed by eleven years
OF arbitrary government, indirect but
clever appeal to the people on behalf of
the royal prerogative was made in "a
Forme of Prayer, necessary to be used In
these dangerous times of Ware; wherein
we are appointed to Fast according to
His Majesties proclamation for the preser-
walton of His Majesty, and His Realm. and
all Reformed Churches"