Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-06
COMMON PRAYER BOOK
REVISION COMPLETE
Commission to Report to Epis-
copal Church Convention
in September.

The report OF the commission on mo
Revision of the Book OF Common
Prayer OF the Episcopal Church.
which will be presented TO the trien-
NAL General Convention OF that church
In September next at Portland, Ore.
son. has been made public. The Com
mission. consisting OF eight bishops
eight presbytcrs and eight laymen
of the Church. which is under the
Craftsmanship OF Rt. Rev. Cortlan1t
Whitehead. ID. D., bishop OF Pittsburg.
and OF which Rev. John w. Suter, ID.
D.. of Boston, is secretary, and Robert
n. Gardiner. ESQ, of Boston, is
treasurer. includes many of the most
noted churchmen in the country.
The Book OF Common Prayer Is the
official manual of worship of the Epis-
copal Church. and is of required use
m all the regular services OF the
Church: 1t is also the most generally
used teaching manual and manual OF
private devotons 1t is substantially
the same book as the Prayer Book OF
the Church of England, the latter hay
ing been adopted with necessary
,hanges TO AT American conditions. by
the American Church upon its organ
xation after the Revolution. 1t ranks
with tho King James version of the
Bible. the wellknown version of uni
Vcrsal use, as among the noblest eX-
amples OF Fifteenth Century English.
AS n liturgy 1t is recognized as un-
surpassed in dignity. beauty and de-
Notioual spirit. And II is treasured
ard used by many who are not of the
Anglican Communion.
The American book remained I'M
changed for about n century, but was
revised in 1892. In 1913, feeling the
need of further revision, the General
Convention OF the Church appointed
the commission, which is now making
its final report. Reports were made
10 the General Convention meeting in
1916 and 1918, at the latter convention
limited number of changes being
finally adopted. This present report,
by express direction. is being publish
ed six months in advance of The meet
ing of the General Convention of this
year in order that the people of the
Church may be fully informed of the
changes proposed and have ample
time for consideration.
The Commission has proposed such
revision and enrichment of the Prayer
Book as will adapt il TO present con-
uitions and make it more helpful in
meeting the religious needs of the
prnplc in life and worship of today.
The revision Is extensive, as is shown
i,N the fact that more thar $50 al
tcrations and additions, some involv-
,ug many detailed changes, are pro-
posed. Seven entirely new offices or
firms OF worship are suggested.
Though extensive, the revision Is
not revolutionary. No change in the
doctrine of the Church is involved.
Among the changes proposed are a
iearranger.ent OF the contents. making
for more convenient use; the permits
sive shortening OF some OF the SER
wires; the addition of many new
nrayers, such as For a State Legis-
lature." "For Memorial Days" For
Social Justice" For Every Man in
His Work" For Our Country" and
For All Nations" additional collects.
cuistles, and gospels for special oc-
,asions. including independence Day;
She enlargement Of the catechisr'.
. famous as a condensed statement Of
christian faith and practice, and its
transformation into a catechetical Of
nce OF instruction: form OF service
,,.rmissive use in commemorstion Of
the saints md for the departed; and
snecial form for a missionary service
Under the constitution Of the Epis-
copal Church. no change can be made
IN the Book of Common Prayer except
through favorable action At two sue
Cessive ,ricnnial meetings of the Gen
eial Convention. Between these meet
iuss the matter is officially reported &c
all the dioceses for consideration. II
is believed that the present process OF
revision will reach completion at The
General Convention Of 1925.
The personnel of the Commission or
Revision of the Prayer Book is a:
follows: The Rt. Rev. Cortlandt White
head, D. D.. Bishop of Pittsburg; Ri
rev. William CabeIl Brown, D. d.
I9ishop OF Virginia; Rt Rev. F'reder
ick Burgess. d. D.. Bishop of Lont
Island: Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Davis, d
n. Bishop of Western Massachusetts
TT Rev. Joseph II. johnson, d. D
Bishop OF Los Angeles: Ri. Rev. Ed
ward l.. Parsons. D. D., Bishop o
sacramento; TT. Rev. Philip NJ. Rhine
lander. D. d, Bishop Of Pennsylvania
Ri Rev. Nathaniel S. Thomas. d. D
Bishop Of Wyoming. Rev. Charles N
Addison, author Of several devctiona
works. notably Prayers for Specia
Occasions and Prayers for Parent
and Children; Rev. Herbert NJ. Densl'
D. D., professor OF pastoral theolor
at the General Theological Seminar!
New York City; Rev. Milo Hudso
Gates, vicar OF the Chapel Of the In
;ercession, and warden of the Ne'
York Training School for Deaconess
rs; Rev Henry r. Gummey. D. d
author Of various articles and review
in the Church publications and certai
devotional books; Rev. Lucien Moor
Eobinson, D. D.. professor of liturgic'
ecclesias;ic polity and canon law
he Philadelphia Divinity School, Re
charles l.. Slattery. d. D.. rector {
Grace Church, New York City. an
author of various books on sacre
subjects; Rev. Howard b. St. Georg
j. D., a member OF the faculty &
'Nashotah House" Theological Sen
mary in the Diocese Of Milwaukee;
J.. Anderson. Of Savannah, Ga; T.