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Esq., of Delaware; the Rev. William Smith, D.D., bishop-elect, and Dr. Thomas Craddock, of Maryland; the Rev. David Griffith, subsequently bishop-elect, and John Page, Esq., of Virginia; the Rev. Henry Purcell, D.D., and the Hon. Jacob Read, of South Carolina.1 Little appears on the pages of the Journal of this Convention to mark the progress of the discussions with reference to these alterations; and the story of their preparation and adoption can only be gathered from the brief recollections of Bishop White,2 and incidental allusions occurring in the unpublished correspondence of the time. As the result of the action of the Convention, certain alterations, rendered necessary by the issue of the war, were approved of and ratified.' Further changes, comprising a thorough review of the Liturgy and Articles of Religion were proposed and recommended '4 for adoption at a subsequent Convention. These alterations, prepared by a subdivision of the committee on the changes in the Prayer-Book, were presented to the Convention without reconsideration by the whole committee; and even in Convention 'there were but few points canvassed with any material difference of opinion.'5 They were mainly the work of the Rev. Dr. William Smith,6 who received the thanks of the Convention for the assistance he had rendered in perfecting the business before

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them, and to whom, with the Rev. Drs. White and

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Wharton, the duty of publishing the Proposed Book' was assigned. At the close of the session, Dr. Smith preached by request a sermon suited to the occasion of the introduction of the new Service, in which he alludes to the work of the Convention as that

'Of taking up our Liturgy or Public Service where our former venerable Reformers had been obliged to leave it; and of proposing to the Church at large such further alterations and improvements as the length of time, the progress in manners and civilization, the increase and diffusion of charity and toleration among all Christian denominations, and other circumstances (some of them peculiar to our situation among the highways and hedges of this new world) seem to have rendered absolutely necessary.' 1

Authority was given to the Committee of Publication to prepare a proper preface or address, setting forth the reason and expediency of the alterations.' 2 Liberty was granted them to make verbal and grammatical corrections; but in such manner, that nothing in form or substance be altered,' and they were further authorized to publish, with the Book of Common Prayer, such of the reading and singing psalms, and such a

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1 'A Sermon preached in Christ-Church, Philadelphia, on Friday, October 7th, 1785, before the General Convention of the Prot. Epis. Ch., in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina; on occasion of the first Introduction of the

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Liturgy and Public Service of
the said Church, as altered and
recommended to future Use,
by the Convention. By William
Smith, D.D., Principal of
Washington College, and Rec-
tor of Chester Parish in the
State of Maryland,' p. 25.
2 Journal, 1785, p. 17.
3 Ibid.

Kalendar of Proper Lessons for the different Sundays and Holy-days throughout the year, as they "should think proper."'

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With these powers the Committee set about their work; Dr. White, the chairman, at Philadelphia, Dr. Smith at his college and parish in Maryland, and Dr. Wharton by an occasional communication and by visit now and then to his colleagues, all engaged and interested in the task. The result of their labours appeared the following spring, and has always been known as the 'Proposed Book,' published in Philadelphia in 1786; it was reprinted in London in 1789, and subsequently formed a volume of the 'Reliquiæ Liturgicæ,' edited by the Rev. Peter Hall, M.A. From its rarity and the circumstances of its preparation, exhibiting as it does the peculiar views of those who were among the foremost of our clergy and laity at the period of the Church's organization, and presented by them to the archbishops and bishops of the Mother Church in connexion with the request for the episcopal succession, it cannot fail to receive attentive study as a most important volume of our ecclesiastical history, both in respect to liturgies and doctrines. We give from the original manuscripts, still preserved among the archives of the General Convention and in the keeping of the writer, these important alterations, noting the further changes made in the work of the Committee of the Convention by the Committee of Publication in their revision of the same. 1 Journal, 1785, p. 17.

Alterations agreed upon and confirmed in Convention

for rendering the Liturgy conformable to the Principles of the American Revolution, and the Constitutions of the several States.

1. That in the suffrages after the Creed, instead of O Lord, save the King, be said O Lord, bless and preserve these United States.

2. That the Prayer for the Royal Family in Morning and Evening Service be omitted.

3. That, in the Litany, the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th petitions be omitted, and that instead of the 20th and 21st petitions, be substituted the following: That it may please thee to endue the Congress of these United States, and all others in authority, legislative, executive, and judicial, with grace, wisdom, and understanding, to execute justice and to maintain truth.

4. That when the Litany is not said, the Prayer for the High Court of Parliament be thus altered: Most gracious God, we do humbly beseech thee, as for these United States in general, so especially for their Delegates in Congress: That thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of thy people, that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations, &c. to the end. And the Prayer for the King's Majesty altered as follows, viz.: A Prayer for our Civil Rulers. O Lord, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the Universe, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold all in authority, legislative, executive, and judicial, in these United States; and so replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may alway incline to thy will and walk in thy way: Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant them in health and wealth long to live, and that, after this life, they may attain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

5. That the first Collect for the King in the Communion Service be omitted, and that the second be altered as follows:

instead of the hearts of Kings are in thy rule and governance, be said that the hearts of all Rulers are in thy governance, &c.; and instead of the words, heart of George thy servant, insert so to direct the rulers of these States, that in all their thoughts, &c., changing the singular pronouns to the plural.

7.1 That in the answer in the Catechism to the question, What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour? for to honour and obey the King, be substituted to honour and obey my Civil Rulers, to submit myself, &c.

8. That instead of the observation of the 5th of November, the 30th of January, the 29th of May, and the 24th of October, the following service be used on the 4th July, being the Anniversary of Independence.

9. That in the Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea, in the prayer 0 Eternal God, &c. instead of these words, unto our most gracious Sovereign Lord, King George, and his Kingdoms, be inserted the words, to the United States of America; and that instead of the word Island, be inserted the word Country; and in the Collect O Almighty God, the Sovereign Commander, be omitted the words the honour of our Sovereign, and the words the honour of our Country inserted.

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Service for the Fourth of July. With the Sentences before

Morning and Evening Prayer.

The Lord hath been mindful of us, and he shall bless us; he

1 No sixth paragraph appears in the manuscript, or in the printed copy appended to Bishop White's Memoirs, pp. 262-377.

2 This simple title was amplified by the Committee of Publication to the following:

'A Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the inestimable Blessing of Religious and Civil Liberty; to be used yearly on the Fourth day of July, unless it happens

to be on Sunday, and then on the day following.'

The Committee added three sentences (Deut. xxxiii. 27, 28, 29), restricted their use to Morning Prayer, and supplied an Epistle (Phil. iv. 4-8) and Gospel (S. John viii. 31-36). This office, Bishop White tells us, was 'Principally arranged, and the prayer "composed."' by the Rev. Dr. Smith.' The Bishop also informs us that he kept

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