Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-27

day voted against federation but
continued it's committee for con-
ferences with other branches OF
the church.
Winona Lake, May 26. X Whether
the Presbyterian General assembly
should depart from the laws and trar
ditions of the church in America and
adopt form of worship even to the
extent of saying the churches might
use this form or not, as they like,was
the principal question which came be-
fore the general assembly here today.
The report of the committee on forms
| of service was read.
DR.. Horny Van Dyke, chairman Of
the committee, led the forces in favor
Of the adoption of the report on the
floor.
An Extensive Investigation.
The report reviews an extensive In.
| Ivestigation which was made by the
committee following its appointment
by the General Assembly of 1903. OF
this investigation the report says:
Historically, the use Of forms Of
service, was practically universal
among the early Calvanistic or Re.
4 formed Churches. In most of the Re-.
4 formed churches holding the same
faith and order with ua. the use of
these ancient service books, modified
to meet present needs, still continues.
Coming to the consideration of the
present condition and needs Of wor-
ship In our Presbyterian churches the
opinion is prevalent that there has
been a movement among Presby-
terians In the direction of a more
thoughtful and beautiful worship; and
that this movement, beginning in the
Sabbath schools with various exer.
cises and proceeding among the
churches with orders of service and
more or less elaborate forms, has be.
come SO widespread as to need recog-
milton, wise guidance and some meas.
ure OF prudent restraint.
Ministers Desire Improvement.
Letters Of inquiry to the churches
as to TIE extent of this movement
: brought replies showing that the
movement toward an order of service
with responsive features is already go-
ing on in three-fourths Of our
churches; second that nine-tenths OF
our ministers desire improvement and
better order in the conduct of worship
generally in our church; third, that al
most all of our ministers wish the
people to take part in the service;
fourth, that nearly nine-tenths Of our
ministers wish for more unity in Pres.
byterian worship, If 1t can be volun.
tarily brought about: and finally that
more than four-fifths of them feel the
need Of a book of forms,
Continuing the report says: "These
results encouraged the committee to
begin the preparation of "A Book oi
Simple Forms and Services which
shall be proper and helpful for volun
tary use in Presbyterian churches ii
q the celebration of the Sacraments, in
: marriages and funerals, and in the
e conduct of public worship
l. To make book merely to suit oul
s own personal tastes would have beer
s easy. But our desire was to make q
book which would suit others and the
s work of the subcommittee was sub
d Jected to the most minute and search
n Ing criticism. The abundance of the
t material increased the difficulty Of the
9 choice. 1t was not possible to include
all OF the beautiful prayers which
: have become familiar in differen,
parts Of the church.
Certain Forms Amended.
we found it necessary also, in some
2 cases, to abbreviate or to amend Ger
tain forms, in order to bring them into
closer harmony with the living faith
y and the practical needs Of oul
= churches. For example, the spirit oi
y missions, the evangelistic impulse, the
3 interest In civic and social welfare and
/ temperance, the desire for the triumph
of the kingdom Of Christ, demanded !
= clearer and stronger expression thar
It we could find in the historic liturgies
Y 1t Is to be added that Prayers for Ou,
y Country as we found them, were evi
q IDENTIFY adaptations Of ancient prayers
e in which fundamental distinction be
y tween the rulers and the people was
l. taken for granted. 1t seemed to us
d needful TO write new prayers recogniz
h Ing Gods goodness to our country II
e. establishing the commonwealth ac
e cording to the peoples will and givins
IS us officers whose authority Is a public
trust Adaptations of this character
is are VITAL and nour Judgment neces