Where Peter held the heavenly key, But, mark, we never can come down Which, tost by faction's stormy breezes, Our lot within THE ARK is cast; We nail our colours to the mast; Our banner to all eyes unfurl'd, "THE ARK ALONE CAN SAVE THE WORLD." CHAPTER XIV. PRAYER BOOK OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. Propriety of alterations.—First plan of an altered Prayer Book.— Objections of the English bishops.—Further deliberations in Convention. Subsequent alterations.-New Offices.-Comparison of the American Prayer Book with that of England. -General inference. EXCELLENT as are its general arrangements, and venerable as are its services, the Prayer Book in America as in England constitutes no essential part of the ecclesiastical fabric. It rests solely upon the authority of the Church, by which it may be altered, newly arranged, or made to give place to another form of worship as circumstances render desirable. The Church of England in the Preface to the Prayer Book has laid down a rule that "the particular forms of divine worship, and the rites and ceremonies appointed to be used therein, being things in their own nature indifferent and alterable, and so acknowledged, it is but reasonable, that upon weighty and important considerations, according to the various exigences of times and occasions, such changes and alterations should be made therein, as to those who are in places of authority should, from time to time, seem either necessary or expedient.” The same Church has likewise in the articles and homilies declared the necessity and expediency of occasional alterations and amendments, and, accordingly, we find that "seeking to keep the happy mean between too much stiffness in refusing and too much easiness in admitting variations in things once advisedly established, she hath, in the reign of several princes, since the first compiling of her liturgy in the time of Edward VI. yielded to make such alterations in some particulars, as in the respective times were thought convenient." When the American states became independent with respect to civil government, their ecclesiastical independence, on Protestant principles, was necessarily included. The American Episcopal Church was therefore left at full liberty, in conformity with the rule of the Church of England, to arrange its forms of worship in such a manner as might be most conducive to its future prosperity. The attention of the General Convention was first drawn to those 4 alterations in the liturgy which became necessary in the prayers for civil rulers, in consequence of the revolution. But while these alterations were in progress, the Convention thought it proper to take a further review of the public service, and to establish such other amendments as might be deemed proper. The following brief history of these alterations is chiefly derived from Bishop White's valuable "Memoirs of the Episcopal Church.” When the General Convention first assembled in September, 1785, very few, if any, of the members thought of altering the liturgy further than to accommodate it to the revolution. In the course of the debates, however, arguments were adduced in favour of a further change, from the fact that some points not dependent on doctrine, were universally regarded as exceptionable. Some topics were also started which gave rise to much painful controversy. Thus, one of the lay-members proposed that the first four petitions in the litany should be struck out. This motion was lost without a division. A motion was then introduced for framing a service for the anniversary of American independ ence. This service it was understood would be a test of the political opinions of the clergy, as it was designed to imply a retrospective approbation of the revolutionary war. Dr. White, and other decided republicans in the Convention, opposed the many measure on account of the notorious fact, that of the clergy could not use the service without subjecting themselves to ridicule and censure. It was notwithstanding carried, but the service was read in but few places, and was finally abolished. On the subject of the articles, disputes arose in regard to those on justification, predestination, and original sin, which many desired to alter or set aside; and, accordingly, the 17th article was so modified as to express no definite idea whatever. A committee appointed for the purpose reported a great number of further alterations, which were allowed by the Convention with little controversy, and ordered to be printed. The book thus produced is commonly known by the name of the "Proposed Prayer Book," and corresponds greatly with the plan laid down by the commissioners of the King of England in 1689. It will be recollected that all these proceedings took place before any bishops had been consecrated; and it soon appeared that they had been conducted with too much precipitancy and too little discretion. The report of the alterations above mentioned reached the English prelates almost simultaneously with the application of the General Convention for the consecration of bishops. This report being accompanied by private statements somewhat exaggerated, produced on their minds unfavourable im |