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 pun
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 issu-
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 rogatlons
| and professions to be made within their
dioceses. On August % Cranmer issued iu-
! structions to his suffragans enjoining the
observance Of the following Wednesday and
I Friday. In July, 1545. 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 Nitany) 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 a 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 godly 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 an order enioining fasting
During the long reign OF Elizabeth. a
considerable variety of occasional services
were enjoined on the church, including
several seasons of humiliation. In 1868
Elizabeth entered into alliance with the
French Professionals 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 1858 brought back with
them the plague whereupon there was put
forth. "A Forme TO be used in Common
Prayer twyse aweke, and also an order Of
publique fast to be used every Wednesday
in the weeke during this TYNE of mortal
lite and other Affections.
In May 1856 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
tiaus" in the three Litany days according
10 a 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 London and throughout the
greater part Of England on April 6. 1880.
Thereupon an order Of prayer for use in
all parish churches on Wednesdays and
Fridays was issued "to avert and turn
Gods wrath from us, threatened by the
late terrible earthquake"
In the same year, when Parliament was
sanctionng fierce laws against the Recus-
ants a prayer was put forth for the es-
tat of Christ's Church, to be used on sun
days, which is simply appalling in its
phraseology
When first the Spanish feet was sighted
off the Lizard on July II. f5ss the Privy
Council requested Archbishop Whitgift i'm
mediately to prepare form Of prayer and
suppHcation. This was instantly done. the
FORM probaly for lack Of time, was in the /
main a reproduction Of that issued in 1872, /
in connection with the massacre Of st. !
Bartholomew Day.
Immediately on the accession Of James /
l 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 "exhor tation,'
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 |
(saye Of necessity:
But especially they are to take heed |
that they spend it not in plays, pastimes, |
idleness. haunting of taverns. lascivious 1
wantOnesse. surfeiting.. and drunkenesse, /
for which shines 1.-THE proper shines Of our
nation1 the heavie displeasure and wrath
of God is fallen upon us"
The Plague Under Charles I.
When Charles l 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. 1925, the King in
structed the Archbishop OF Canterbury and
q VI